I fell in love with this restaurant as I walked in for the first time. The atmosphere reminds me of…read morethe long gone haunts of "The Rat Pack." The walls are adorned with Garozzo family pictures and Frank, Dino, Tony and other Italian crooners. The staff harkens back to the fine dining style that is so lacking at corporate restaurants. AND THE FOOD is EXCELLENT Italian with some original recipes by Mike Garozzo. One entree, "Frankie's Chicken," brought tears to my eyes in remembrance of my friend Frankie. I watched as the evening staff came on duty and was amazed at their professional appearance, attractiveness and huge smiles. I have not had such a wonderful restaurant experience in MANY years.

Absolutely delicious! It was our first time at Garozzo's Ristorante, and what a treat. We arrived…read moreshortly after they opened without a reservation and were quickly seated in the bar area. The ambiance is great, with low lighting and candles on each table. The bar area has a couple of TVs, a bar that seats about 6-8, and 4-5 tables. The staff was pleasant and took great care of us. Now for the food! I ordered the seafood ravioli, and my son ordered the Penne Victoria. While we each enjoyed the dish we ordered, we both ended up preferring each other's dish...lol. The sauces on both dishes were so good and really made the meals stand out. This was a great pick for our February restaurant of the month. We'll definitely be back!

We brought friends who hadn't ever been and once again it didn't disappoint! They have recently…read morerevised their menu and EVERYTHING is STILL amazing! (I highly recommend the caramelle pasta w/marsala mushroom sauce!). Fabulous cocktails! Our server Mary was fabulous and we appreciated the owner/chef Michael Smith himself making the rounds and checking on everyone. Put this one your list of top notch KC restaurants!

**Update** I went…read moreback to farina again recently and I think I'm ready to move it from a 4 to a 5 category. Every dish, every drink, every worker, it's all fantastic. This time I went I tried the clam toast, a new pasta dish (I forget the name, whoops, may have been a special) and the coconut cake. My oh my, they're all SO good. If you live in KC or are passing through, do your self, and your tastebuds, a favor, and try this place.

Bagged wilted lettuce In salad. Service mediocre at best and slow. Food only average. Serving…read moresize was adequate.

This place is awesome! Food is fresh and delicious…read moreService is a-plus Comfortable, quaint, friendly

Ragazza was completely booked the first time we stopped by, which told me right away it's a popular…read morelocal favorite. The dining room is small and cozy, and it has that welcoming neighborhood feel where it seems like everyone knows each other. Reservations are definitely recommended. On our first visit, we ordered carryout. The Roasted Goat Cheese (baked goat cheese with red sauce and oregano) had great flavor, though the crostini was missing from the order. The Lasagna Bolognese was outstanding -- easily some of the best I've ever had. Rich, perfectly layered, and full of flavor with the bolognese, parmesan béchamel, red sauce, and mozzarella. For dessert, the Limoncello Cake was bright and delicious, and the NY-style salted caramel cheesecake was dense and so good. We were impressed enough that we went back -- this time with reservations -- and dined in. On our return visit, we had the Swordfish with lemon caper butter, sautéed greens, and rosemary potatoes. It was cooked perfectly, with bright, balanced flavors and generous portions. We ordered the Lasagna Bolognese again (it's that good), and it did not disappoint. For dessert, we tried the Tiramisu, and it was hands down the best I've ever had. The imported cookies, mascarpone, espresso, and cocoa were perfectly balanced -- light, flavorful, and not overly sweet. The service was excellent, the portions were large, and the flavors were spot on across the board. What started as a convenient spot near our hotel turned into a place we'd absolutely go out of our way to visit again. Ragazza truly lives up to its reputation as a local gem.

went in for happy hour on saturday (you can only get the happy hour menu if you sit at the bar),…read moreand it was pretty packed, but the maître d' was very attentive and made sure our names were on the list. the limoncello cocktails were perfectly refreshing, and the happy hour menu has killer prices. literally everyone here was so nice, it felt like trader joe's. the roasted goat cheese was a great mix of creamy and tangy, and the meatballs were well spiced. definitely need to return to try the eggplant fries.

When the Rieger Hotel left Crossroads there was a hole in my heart that I didn't think could be…read morefilled but then one wise guy moved in and I think my heart is whole again. The Wise Guy describes itself as an Italian tavern and that is an impeccable description because it's laid back, not too stuffy but still a classy joint. The food is stellar, the happy hour prices are great and the drink selection has something for everyone. First off, happy hour is from 4-6 pm Monday-Friday and has some great options for eating and drinking. The appetizers are all $2 off and with reasonable prices to begin with it's just icing on the cake. I would recommend some classics like the mozzarella sticks, which are fried golden brown and filled with ooey gooey cheese -the portion is large enough to share but beware because you won't want to- also, the tried and true Garlic Parmesan Fries are excellent. If you're in a cheesy mood but don't want anything too heavy then the whipped ricotta is a memorable choice, it has a nice tang from the citrus as well as a little bit of sweet heat from a hot honey drizzle. Of course it's served with pillowy fluffy seasoned focaccia bread. Now onto a MUST order! You may think of salads as boring or an afterthought or a healthier side option but, one of my favorite things on The Wise Guy's menu is the Chopped Italian Salad. It is literally just divine. If I'm at The Wise Guy and I don't order it then call the doctor because something is seriously wrong with me. They don't skimp on the toppings so this salad is filling not flimsy. The tangy roasted garlic vinaigrette is something that if they bottled it up I would buy it. The salad is always perfectly tossed and coated without being too soggy or slippery. It's hearty because of the trio of Italian meats that are studded throughout and on top the bed of romaine lettuce, think prosciutto, soppressata and capicola. The holy trinity of cured meats if you ask me. There's also briny peperoncini peeking through and chopped up squares of creamy provolone cheese adorning the top. If my ode to this salad didn't convince you then I don't know what else will! Just get it! Next up is the drinks, at happy hour they do $10 martinis which is a deal worth celebrating especially when there are a few to choose from. My all time favorite and most ordered is Amalfi Coast which is a fruit/citrus forward martini but, is always well balanced and strong. I love the slight sweetness from the peach infused vodka which pairs so well with the intensely citrus forward limoncello, these flavors are all balanced out with the herbaceous notes of basil. It's finished off with bubbly prosecco which makes it effervescent instead of syrupy. Last but not least are their pizzas, you didn't think I could cover an Italian restaurant without mentioning pizza did you? This also happens to be one of the best happy hour deals, all pizzas are $15 when some are normally priced as high as $25. The pizzas have a thin tavern style crust which is how I justify almost eating a whole one the other evening. My favorite pie is the prosciutto mozzarella, which is simple but notable. The prosciutto is crispy and not chewy or stringy, the robust red sauce as the base is comforting paired with the melty mild creamy mozzarella cheese. And to top it off a generous helping of fresh basil brightens it up a bit. Though this one is my personal favorite all four options The Wise Guy offers are incredible, you really can't go wrong!

Wise Guy is overall pretty good. I stopped in on a first Friday with a couple of friends, and they…read morewere able to add us to the list and get us in in about 20 minutes. I appreciated that they had a text feature to let us know that our table was ready. We shared the fries, a caesar salad and the rigatoni alla vodka, and the fries were a shining star! The rigatoni was a little too al dente bordering on chewy, but some people prefer that. I do think they could benefit from some better tables for three or four people, there is mostly just bar seating and 2-top stool seating. We had a server who was a bit awkward and it seemed like she was trying out different accents on us, which was a bit weird and confusing and it threw off our table's conversation every time she stopped by. Definitely want to come back for a happy hour!

Everything Bacaro Primo does they do well. And they do it in a room reminiscent of the great…read moreItalian restaurants of New York and Boston. There pasta dishes are uniformly excellent, especially the Pappardelle, a lamb ragu with dried apricots and pignoli. The missus is a fan of steak tartare and a tough critic. She was rhapsodic over Bacaro Primo's rendition. The small bar makes very good cocktails and their wine list has some terrific bottles at various price points. We went pretty safe with tiramisu from the dessert selection. As an inveterate ogler of my neighbor's choices, I can say that the Pork chop Saltimbocca and Chicken Parm looked realllly good. Service is pleasantly familiar, friendly but not hovering. All in all, a wonderful dining experience.

Finally got a proper date night dinner here, and while it was pretty good overall, I wasn't quite…read moreblown away. I think sometimes, quite unfairly, restaurants can be a victim of their own hype. Living somewhat near here and seeing how packed it is, and how hard it is to get a reservation... the lore grew and grew. I thought this must be the best spot in town! And you know what? It is really good. Really solid, good service, and a good restaurant to check out. Put it on the to-try list. One area that didn't fully land for me was vibe-wise, or if I need to act my age, I could call it the atmosphere. It's such a small space (totally fine) but the back row of tables is essentially shared. Normally fine, but the night we were there we were right next to a large group that was super loud. Kinda dampened the energy, and felt better when they left. Basically, wanting date night but the energy here is more "brasserie" and slightly more casual than I expected. Anywho, the food was good. Loved the focaccia starter with a garlicky olive oil. The Italian salad was pretty good, a bit marked up on price, but pretty good. I had the chicken parmigiana and wanted to love it, but I'd say a solid four stars. Good, not great. The red sauce was very good, and the serving size is generous. Passed on dessert and headed around the corner for after-dinner cocktails. All in all, a great neighborhood spot where I feel the prices are a bit high, but I see most of the appeal. I thought this might be a regular spot in the rotation, but it's more likely to be an every now and again kind of spot.

Great food, KC mainstay From Indian Springs to today it's…read morehard to beat. Calzone is what a true calzone is

The name says it all... Italian Delight. NY style pizza delivered with good flavor and thin crispy…read morecrust.. Pepperoni pizza roll and pepperoni slice had enough sauce and pepperoni in proportion to the pizza crust. Each bite was very satisfying. Tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese was not overpowering at all just enough sweet and tangy flavor. Pizza is foldable in true tradition function however I prefer direct flat approach.

Holy cow did I LOVE this place!…read more I had just worked a 12-hour shift with my last ride taking me from STL and dropping me in KC! My options seemed limited that late at night, but pasta seemed to be calling my name so I landed here. I may have been a little under dressed, but no one treated me any different. From the moment I walked in and through my visit, the customer service was exceptional. My server, I wish I remembered his name, was amazing and everything he recommended was totally chef's kiss! I couldn't decide between the pasta I craved, or the highly recommended hanger steak, so I got both! Excuse my yelling but, THE HANGER STEAK WAS ABSOLUTELY TO DIE FOR!!! I had no idea!! All I know is that I thought there would be leftovers and I was ready to lick the plate! Nothing went home with me. I haven't been able to stop talking about the hanger steak since. I would probably order a different pasta next time, or none at all. Also, the focaccia was incredible as well. (Excited about that, but it wasn't the highlight clearly) I'm ready to drive back to KC JUST for the steak. Absolutely phenomenal.

Another great restaurant for the northland! Love the limited menu, which is seasonal, with all…read moretheir pastas being made in house. For starters, we had the squash salad with burrata which was delicious. The focaccia was incredible so don't pass that up! For pastas, we had the lumachi and the rotolo, which is a rolled pasta filled with butternut squash. The hanger steak entree was probably our favorite of the night. And to finish off the meal we had the soufflé which was very delicious, and the creme puffs. Overall really good meal, nothing mind blowing in terms of flavors, but it's definitely a restaurant to add to your usuals. Service was very good.

Oh man this place was BOMB!! Delivered to work and enjoyed happily…read more I ordered the sandwich and salad combo, to which I picked the fresh turkey and tomato salad. I mean look at that tomato salad. I was nervous it would be overwhelming with pesto with how green it was, but my oh my I could absolutely have this salad every single day of my entire life. Super fresh, light and just perfection. Could use a tad pinch of salt, but I'll get over it. Turkey sandwich was also fresh and I liked the caramelized onions in the sandwich. I'd come back!

Cupini's has been around so long it's become part of the fabric that anchors this part of the Plaza…read morearea together. I say Plaza area as it's sort of Plaza adjacent, and has a certain charm to this stretch of the city. That being said, Cupini's is known for being a charming Italian deli/ eatery and I love how it's kept that lowkey neighborhood energy over the years. The food is great - I usually go for something light as the tiramisu is great. All in all it's a great little spot in KC and worth a visit in this neighborhood.

Love eating at North Italia! The food is consistently delicious each time I come. We brought our…read morechildren and the kids menu was great. There is always a steady hum of noise without being too loud. I love the outdoor space. Our server was very attentive. It was a busier time and we had to wait a bit for the check but other than that, nothing negative to report.

What a welcoming restaurant! We had a large party coming on a Saturday night and the servers were…read moreso flexible and kind!! The atmosphere was incredible especially on the patio dining. Pizza was light and fluffy, as well as very quality, well-made pasta. Exceptional service and what a fun resteraunt! Will be coming back!!