As I've pounded into your thick skulls about 100x now, I'M ITALIAN. So, like, I rarely eat at Italian restaurants because they just don't do much for me. Most of them anyway. Pranzo did something for me though. Their pasta was just as good as my nonna's macarones. I honestly wasn't too impressed with the wood-fired flat bread we got. It wasn't terrible but I've had much better. I dunno, I think they may have just cheaped out on the toppings. This place has great ambiance. It's very Tuscan-esque (that's a real word.) However, if I were you, I would sit on the patio if it's a nice night. It's cozy, adorable, and lovely. Plus you can smell that beautiful wood-fired oven smell out there. If you're smart, you'll bring your own wine or beer or whatever sort of cocktails you'd like. We didn't remember this place was BYOB and so we just drank water. Booooring. Some people had fully stocked coolers out on the patio. Friggin' smartasses. read more

I love this place!! Very authentic Italian food, wine and atmosphere! Everything is fresh and homemade and it's the only place that I have found amazing Cavatelli that's not in Little Italy! read more

Pranzo! - Cavatelli alla Romana - Italian Near Me - Willoughby, Ohio

I came here thinking this was a pizza joint. Don't let the name fool you. This restaurant is definitely a fancier Italian place. Nevertheless, we ate here and had a good experience. The combination of prompt service and wonderful authentic Italian food won me over. In particular, the pumpkin tortellini as well as the eggplant flat bread were both fantastic. Prices are definitely a bit steep; however given the generous portion sizes and the high quality of the food you tend to get what you pay for. The addition of complementary valet parking seals the deal. So why 4 stars? Maybe I'm being superficial, but I still feel like I was played. Drop the "pizza" from the name so as to not be misleading! read more

My friends and I had dinner here last night, it was our first time but it was a long time coming. This is my Grammys favorite place and she always tells me how she has loved it since they were on vine and she had to bring their own wine. That is no longer the case they have a nice and very reasonably priced wine list. The beer list is super limited but wine compliments the food better anyways. I don't believe there was any spirits or liquor there. We were lucky enough to get a table on the patio which was very nice because the inside is a little cramped on busy nights like a Friday and because we got to watch the pizza go into the oven outside and the pasta being made which was super cool. We had a super sweet young server who shared my love for food network. He was very on top of everything, everything did take a bit longer but I don't think it was him at all, it was definitely a busy night for the kitchen and the bar. When the appetizers he recommended came, they were worth the wait. We ordered this bread with mozzarella and asparagus. I can't recall the name but it was good. The asparagus particularly was the best I had ever had I instantly regretted ordering an entree that didn't come with it. All the entrees come with salad which I love and their house dressing was amazing. Our entrees were all perfect. I ordered off the specials menu, It was a white fish in a white wine cream sauce with tomatoes, over these amazing buttery potatoes. It was so good, I wish it was on their standard menu because I predict craving it in the future. My bf got the frutti de mare, I think it's really cool that he was given the option of how spice he wanted it. It was tons of fish and shellfish over linguine in a spicy sauce. I tried a clam, it was very good. Our friends got chicken parm and eggplant parm and both loved it. I really like that the eggplant isn't breaded, that's up my alley, I may order that next time and there will be a next time. Plus I was too full to try the creme brulee, I definitely will be needing to try that. read more

At Pranzo I would recommend the Burrata! So amazing! Their apps and salads are great to share! The pizza was not amazing - but decent if you're hungry. The staff was casual and friendly and willing to explain the entire menu if requested lol! Delicious bread comes with dinner :) read more

Hands down the best Italian on the east side of Cleveland. The food is beyond amazing, every time. I would suggest asking for Darryl if you go...he provides amazing service and knows their food incredibly well. It does get a bit cramped inside, so if you can snag a seat on the patio I would. PS...super cheap corkage fee for those looking for better wine. You can't go wrong with anything you order, but the handmade papardelle and pizzas are INCREDIBLE. read more

Hi, This is a review of Tuesday vegan night. In October 2018 my wife and I where disappointed by menu, three entrees, and two appetizers. We split the bowl ($7 split charge). It contained cold squash, under cooked Brussel sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower in quinoa base with polenta. (The on line description was farro and tofu.). Topped with arugula pesto which was tasty. Please stay home, you could make a better bowl! read more

Menu had a nice selection of entrees, we opted for flatbreads - a bianco with feta and spinach and one with tomato sauce, cheese and eggplant. They were good, well at least the toppings were fresh and tasty; however, the bottom of both were completely burnt, like almost all black. I have had coal fired pizza before, but the crust never was that burnt. I would recommend asking waitress that the crust not be burnt or try another item, they had some really good specials. We chose a wine bottle under the wines under $25, which is decent for the high mark up of wine at all restaurants. The restaurant is small and cozy. The waitress and hostess were very friendly. Service was quick. I will probably be back to try something else. read more

Very good food and the price was reasonable for the quality and atmosphere. I have to say I wish there was a place like Pranzo when I was drinking. The bring your own beer or wine style really saves money. This type of restaurant would surely charge top dollar for beers and wines. You also do not have to rely on the restaurant's wine selection. The choice is limitless. I do however have to rate my overall experience as poor since the valet service, Park Avenue, really blew the night up for me. First, the man who took my keys seems uninterested in me in many ways. I guess he may have judged his potential tip by the car I drive. Being a 2010 Mazda, I imagine it did not compare to some of the of the other cars (I am only saying this in retrospect since I can figure no other reason for the mans cold attitude and I would not have thought of it had this been the only issue). When dinner was over I went outside to give my ticket to the attendant. This attendant seemed either overwhelmed or just ignorant to me standing outside waiting to give him my ticket. Then the guy jumped into a car and left for several minutes to park the car without looking to me. When he returned once again he went to another arriving car. I now called to him and he said to give him a minute. Funny I had already given him 15 to 20 minutes in 30 degree weather, but I did. When he finally took my ticket he could not find my keys. He looking on the board and then I looked after him. Sure enough the keys were not there. The man then said he was going to go find the other person who parked my car, and he left for another several minutes. When he returned he helped another person get their car checked in but when I went to ask him what was going on he put his finger in the air for me to wait. After a few more minutes I asked my wife to see if she had her set of keys. She did, so I began walking through the lot behind the restaurant hitting the unlock button to track down the car. Sure enough I found it and pulled the car out. I drove the car up to the front of the restaurant to wait for the man. As I stopped the car I saw someone in the lot and called back if he found my keys. The man said yes I dropped them and he walked over to where my car was parked and picked up a set of keys. He was not an employee, but luckily he was a person walking out to his car while I was pulling out my car. He heard my keys fall on the ground. So it appears the first attendant must have left my keys on the car and went on to other people. Luckily I did not see anything missing from the car. Due to the extra 45 minutes to an hour I waited to get our car back I have to say it ruined any good experience I had going to Pranzo. The major reason I limit the times I go to downtown Willoughby for dinner is the pain of parking. My wife and I were planning on going to a movie after dinner and we chose Pranzo for the valet parking. NEVER AGAIN. We missed the movie and had to settle for just dinner and a parking fiasco instead. This makes my overall experience of Pranzo as it sucked. read more

The food was so-so at best and really OVER-PRICED. Does anyone remember when Pranzo was located on Vine Street, in a hole in the wall ? And their prices were much, much less ? Well, it's the exact same food only they charge much more now that they moved to downtown Willoughby. It's just not worth it. Save your money and go to Davatino's or Mama Roberto's. read more

It's been awhile but I wanted to add my 2 cents. Got the lasagna special. I vaguely remember it being excellent. Then I got the bill. $24 for lasagna that came with a crappy iceberg lettuce salad which included yellow core nastiness. Are you serious? It's lasagna! It doesn't get much cheaper to make. $16, MAYBE. And this was our second attempt to dine here as we had previously and a bit rudely been denied for the lack of a reservation. If you've seen the movie then you will understand - "Claw, you're welcome". If you haven't seen the movie then just think - self righteous - and you will understand the vibe here. read more

Pranzo! - Can I tell you about our specials? - Italian Near Me - Willoughby, Ohio

Okay...this place is an incredible find...especially for those who would love to bring their OWN favorite bottle of wine to drink with their dinner. I have done a lot of fine dining and will say if you can get the Purse Pasta enclosed with a Black Truffled Cream Sauce (Sacchetti?), then you most likely will think you have died and gone to food heaven. It is absolutely one of the best pasta's I have ever tasted! The fennel and Arugula salad rocks as do many of the Risotto's. Also, if Ben is working, you should most definitely ask for him. He is an amazing server and watching him serve is performance art! read more

Another great meal at Pranzo. Made reservations a few days ahead and the place was full so it was a good thing. Had a window seat. Ordered the Beef Braciole (sp?) and took half of it home since it included a salad and bread. Love the BYOB policy, saves on the usual 100% plus markup on wine. Paid the $2 corkage fee PP and my wife and I enjoyed our wine with meal. Ben was our server and he does an exceptional job, we asked if we can request him on future visit. read more

Every dish is awesome! Excellent service. If you can, treat yourself to something that can be cooked on the wood fire grille. Seafood, pasta, steaks, pizza are the best in town. Took a tour of the kitchen, very clean and organized. read more

Food was great and service was excellent! We brought our own wine, and ordered a variety of pastas and apps. Everything was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and we left feeling fat and happy. It was everything I hoped an Italian restaurant [in Cleveland] would be! read more

A bit pricey for me. But the food is wonderfully authentic Siciliano and intimate atmosphere intoxicating as their exciting wines. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a special evening. read more

Hands down one of the top Italian restaurants in the Cleveland area. In my opinion it is better than any establishment on Murray Hill. This is my first review of Pranzo, but I have now been 3 times. Each time the experience has been more enjoyable. The restaurant is somewhat cramped, but don't let that steer you away. They don't sell alcohol, so it is bring your own booze! We always bring a bottle or two of our favorite wine. As for starters, I have had the bruschetta and meatballs. The bruschetta was out of this world fresh. Others use a spread, this is all fresh tomatoes and basil. The meatballs were cooked perfectly and were soft on the inside. I hate when places overcook them or make them to dense. Its about the meat, not the bread crumbs! The main courses are unique and most offer fresh cooked pasta. Overall, a great local place that has excellent food and is the exact atmosphere I have been looking for. read more

The good...Went with a party of four and got seated right away for our reservation time. And that is where the good ended. The bad... wait staff unatttentive would be putting it nice. Food average at best. Try this place once put don't expect a lot, or just do yourself a favor and skip it. read more

They have an actual chef. You can request more spice bold flavors and if it's the right night just ask the chef to pick. I believe the frutti to be the single best play on sea food I have ever had. read more

Pranzo! - If your not a fan of shrimp or mussels try the frutti with fish only - Italian Near Me - Willoughby, Ohio

The scallops were absolutely delicious, and this would have been a 5-star review, but the waiter was the rudest I've ever had. I asked him a question about the menu, and rather than answering me or politely telling me that he'd be back momentarily to go over the menu, he coarsely said, "I'll tell you when I come back." When I was ordering, the scallop dish that I selected came with a choice of risotto or ravioli. I asked if I could please substitute asparagus for the pasta, and the waiter responded, "It doesn't come with pasta." I replied, "I thought ravioli was a pasta." He glared at me. Even if the scallops didn't come with pasta, which they did, that wouldn't be an appropriate answer. read more

Absolutely a great service experience and food experience. All six of us were very satisfied with food quality, atmosphere and service. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a real foodie experience. read more

We've been going to Pranzo since they opened the downtown Willoughby location. It used to be a tasty menu with seasonal specials, a cozy interior and ambient patio with the attractive option to bring your own bottle of wine. Service has always left something to be desired, but over the last year, the entire experience has gone downhill. As another reviewer put it, Pranzo seems to be aging poorly. This is disappointing given the potential it has. The last two times my husband and I went there this summer we were let down by the food, the service and the atmosphere, in particular. We tried calling ahead both nights and no one ever picked up the phone. We assumed the place was busy, but arrived both times to find a table or two seated and the rest of both the inside and patio empty. Once in the door, we've been greeted by an empty hostess stand and waited several minutes before even seeing any staff. The server who eventually greeted us did so reluctantly and with an uninterested expression. The patio now seems dreary, with no candles, empty, wobbly tables and the lonely wood-fired oven with nothing to cook. Instead of the cheerful, ambient expression we came for, we were met with weary-looking servers and sidelong glances from someone tending the oven. On our last visit, we waited for almost 10 minutes for water or to have our bottle of wine open, even though there was only one other small party on the patio. When our server arrived, we weren't even informed of any specials. The food itself came out in a rushed manner and lacked the robust flavor we had anticipated. It seems as if the food has fallen under the spell of indifference that has been cast over the whole establishment. We can only hope that someone who cares steps in to save this downtown Willoughby gem. read more

We're in town visiting family and took them here for a night out. We had an absolutely wonderful dining experience. Pranzo features an extensive menu with options including traditional pasta dishes, seafood, pizza and amazing specials. All eight of us raved about the taste, portion size and overall quality of our meals. The service was outstanding and the atmosphere was cozy and classy. You will not be disappointed! read more

Everything about this restaurant is fantastic! The ambiance, the menu, the staff is all five stars. The specials change constantly with fresh, house made choices. You can start with a bottle of wine (they have bottles starting at $25), and enjoy fresh bread and dipping sauce while you wait for your meal. I ordered the shrimp linguine in a Rosemary cream sauce, which was fantastic. They have a great selection of Italian desserts as well. This is my favorite date night restaurant. My fiancé and I ordered a bottle of wine, the stuffed hot peppers appetizer and two entrees. Our bill was just shy of $100, but there were both cheaper and more expensive options as well. If you're looking for a rustic, upscale Italian restaurant, this is it! read more

Great meal. The eggplant parm was fantastic and kale ravioli was also very good

I love Pranzo's Italian food. My family has been going here for year and it is always great. The service is great and we love Carla The Waiter. A couple of my favorites are the Chicken Parm, and the Gnocchi is wonderful. Best restaurant in Downtown Willoughby! read more

Was there last night with a party of 8! Service was very good! Everyone enjoyed their food from start to finish!! Apps were very tasty! read more

We use to come here once a week (about 2 years ago), now we hesitate to keep trying it and last night proved why..once again! Can't really mess up caprese pasta, there were no complaints there, but the eggplant parm & filet were definitely lacking! Cutting into my filet, it came apart in layers (top half from bottom half)-It didn't slice right. Almost like it was frozen & boiled! It was grey, rubbery, unseasoned, watery (not juicy) & worried me. I showed the server how weird the filet looked but he wasn't interested. I can't get over how strange it looked! It definitely wasn't a filet! Not worth $25 by any means- do not waste your $! They use to do seasoned filet medallions over mushroom risotto which was great, but now quality is just gone. Eggplant-bland & had no spice (asked for an 8 of 10 spiciness) & the last 3 times here gave us all stomach problems. Sad it's gone so downhill! No more trust here at all. read more

I will say up front I am a food snob when it comes to Italian food - I am Italian and my Mother and Grandmother (95 years young), as well as aunts, etc, are excellent cooks. Add to this I am a New Yorker, so you know I am going to be a pain in the ass when it come to Italian food. This place was great. We had the meatball appetizer and a burrata appetizer - both excellent. Then we had the chicken parmigiana and the eggplant parmigiana - both excellent!!! Service was great - very attentive, remembered special requests and even went the extra mile to make things just right. Will definitely be back!!!!!! read more

Nice place! Fun, happy, great food! The best thing, is you can bring your own wine for a small fee!

Excellent restaurant !!! Fresh food ... It's fancy restaurant classic ... Not bar or fast food .. valet parking next door .. Easy .. read more

Pranzo! - It's fancy Italian restaurant .. Fresh fried chicken and pasta ... Champs .. friendly waitress & More patient with our son crazy ... - Italian Near Me - Willoughby, Ohio

See all

Where do I start? My wife and I including our families have been coming to Pranzo since I could remember. Birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, celebrations, date nights, long nights and special days. In the summer we love to dine outside on beautiful patio and in the cooler months we enjoy the cozy inside by the fireplace. Every time we go it's always the best food and wonderful service. Every time! Regardless if my wife and I go on a Friday evening after a long tough work week or a Saturday celebration with the whole family; Pranzo never disappoints. This is our "go to place" Food: Excellent food and HUGE portions. Quality matches Quantity here which is extremely hard to do in today's world. Most menu items and dishes are cooked in their outside wood fire oven. Please get a wood fire pizza even if it's just an appetizer. The pizza is so good, so fresh, so amazing. Most of their pasta is homemade and extremely delicious. They pair the pastas with an array of marrinaras and cream sauces. Try the cavatteli with cream sauce this is a fan favorite with our whole family. You will leave with a smile on your face as the homemade pasta is cooked perfectly swimming in a big bowl of creamy sauce. Me? I always order the fabulous veal parmesan that comes with penne pasta. I can litterally write a whole review just on this dish its that good, but I am going to be short sweet and simple: Order it!!!! All dinners come with a tasty salad as well. Even the complimentary bread is wonderful and could probably be a $5-6 dollar app on other places menus. Drinks: Good drink menu but what I love about Pranzo is that it's BYOWine for a small fee. Tip- bring a big bottle! :) Service: Service is always great! Fast friendly and always going above and beyond. I feel like we have had every server in the establishment and never had an issue. Great people. All around great place! read more

Was not very impressed with Pranzo. We had an 8:30 reservation. We did not get seated until 9:15. Was another 15 minutes before any of the service staff showed up to give us water. After that we had to ask for bread 3 times. Another 20 minutes or so before the waiter showed up to take our order. Once the food finally came, both my friend and I ordered the same Salmon dish. His was excellent. A nice piece of fish that was properly cooked. Mine on the other hand was (if I'm lucky) 1/2 the size of his serving and significantly over cooked. I realize meats very from cut to cut, but there is no way there was the same amount of food on each dish. So outside of being extra starved due to the long wait and slow service I only got half portion. When I reported this to the management, they didn't seem to care and did nothing to correct the situation. By the way... this place is tiny/cramped. At least the wine I brought was good. read more

Food is awesome! But watch your bill.......they may add the gratuity and not tell you. Not happy about this at all !

No more BYOB!! Increased prices!! Super disappointed. Used to love it here but you can no longer bring your own wine or beer or liquor and their prices have skyrocketed!! Not worth the cost. Little Italy is 20 minutes away with half the prices and better food. read more

Had a great meal there with another couple Saturday night. They really know how to cook a tender piece of veal. My husband and I both got different veal dishes (Veal Parm and Veal Limone). Both portions were so big, we took part of them home. Both meals came with a side of pasta and a salad. No b.s. a la carte salad and side here. Also, the BYOB is awesome. In all one appetizer, four meals (all with bread, salads, and a side dish), and two deserts (delicious light and fluffy tirimisu and chocolate hazelnut ice cream) came to $106.00. Great meal and great value. read more

great meal which includes side of pasta, small salad & thee BEST homemade bread! nice atmo. everyone on staff goes out of their way to please - Excellent service!! read more

visited twice in the past few months- last night dinner excellent! shrimp risotto - meatball app- fantastic. only suggestion- the amount of tables/guests that are crammed into one room- is very uncomfortable. the waiter to our left, had no choice but to set his rear end on our table several times. touching the people at your table (eating shoulder to shoulder) is one thing- but the crowd around us- was far too tight. guest sitting at the mini bar in the back room- also had their back side in the face of our party. I would not go back soon- only for this reason. Nice that you want to take care of all customers- but its a high price to pay- feeling so claustrophobic... read more

I had my wife's birthday party here and the staff effortlessly took care of 29 guests. Everyone raved about their dinner. Several people who live out of town insist that the next time they are here, that we must return. I have no problem with that. read more

I had dinner at Pranzo! Saturday early evening. We did not have reservations but were seated quickly. Our server, Darrell, was amazing! He was attentive, explained many of the entrees to us, provided great service and we were very pleased with both the food and the service! We started with a meatball appetizer with the best bread I have ever tasted. My daughter had the Cavatelli alla Romano and I had their Stuffed Pork Chop, a special for that evening. I wish this entree was on their "regular" menu. Definitely worth going back for. Yes, the entrees are a bit pricey, but I knew that before deciding that's were I wanted to dine. I definitely recommend this restaurant in Willoughby. read more