When the Rieger Hotel left Crossroads there was a hole in my heart that I didn't think could be filled 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! read more

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Wise Guy is overall pretty good. I stopped in on a first Friday with a couple of friends, and they were 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! read more

The Wise Guy - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Overall 4.5. This is my second time here. This time around I got the Caesar salad, whipped ricotta, spicy rigatoni pasta, and wise guy pizza. Minus 0.5 for the Caesar salad being underwhelming, maybe ask for more dressing? I appreciated the whipped ricotta, but I think more crostini is needed. The entrées were definitely my favorite! The rigatoni definitely has a spicy kick to it but I enjoy that! Wise Guy, pizza blew me away, you definitely get plenty of toppings. Will return again and hope to try the Caprese salad! read more

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Wow! This place is so highly recommended but I really came with no expectations. Our server was great and gave us lots of suggestions on what to order. I had the chicken parm, rigatoni alla vodka, and the caprese salad. Bury me with that salad because it was SO good. The pasta was also amazing. I can't believe I hadn't been here yet, and I will definitely be coming back. read more

The Wise Guy - Chicken parm - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Finally visited the restaurant that now occupies the location once Rieger Hotel Grill and speakeasy and namesake of tv show I loved. The ambiance is befitting of a Italian sophisticated scene with moddy dark/dim lighting, bar, dark table/chair and red booth dining in both spaces. The main dining is right passed the bar seating with a modern touch of wall-to-wall tvs for your sports fans. On other walls, you'll find framed Italian-themed art and prints. If you take a turn down the hall towards the restroom, it's lined with black & white photos of 40s - 50's era famous Italian spots in the US, celebrities known to play in those fabulous Italian movies & roles. Now that's setting a vibe then you move to the menu where you'll find Italian staple entrees. We came desiring some pizza. For starters the Fritto Misto which had all the fried finger foods: calamari, shrimp, zucchini, mushrooms and broccolini with marinara sauce. Each of us found a favorite on the plate to enjoy. The coated batter was light, but crisp and held great flavor on each piece. Pizza was NY style, thin crispy and same great flavored sauce. My only regret is getting the espresso martini, the coffee liqueur and espresso was very overpowering. I asked for a shot of irish cream and boy did I pay for another drink, it was $8. It helped balance out the taste for me, but I won't do that again. I did speak with one of the managers about it, he was very receptive of the feedback. It was nice to hear the backstory on the evolution of the restaurant too. I definitely plan to revisit to try an actual entree. Our waiter started off being one gentleman whose name escapes me but I believe per the receipt Collin is who took over and he was phenomenal- courteous , attentive and personable. read more

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We had another wonderful meal at The Wise Guy. Our server was a delight! She was so engaging and attentive. Never rushing us, and chatting each time she came to check in. You really can't beat their happy hour specials! It's quickly becoming one of our favorite spots. The marinated olives are delicious! Not too salty and just slightly citrusy. The frito misto was perfect! Not one soggy piece in the entire batch. Every piece was so crispy and hot. read more

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I lucked into a reservation at 545. Reservations are almost required as this neighborhood joint is popular. I booked a high top, which is actually an intimate booth with a chair opposite the table. Happy hour goes till 6 pm ( Monday - Friday 4-6 ). We ordered a Pizza, Fritto Misto, and Fries. The cocktail menu is fun, with a mix of updated drinks and a classics. The wine list is succinct and bottles are available for take out. We split the chicken sandwich with the truffle fries, which are even better than the Parmesan Fries! The Lighting is low. The atmosphere is almost romantic, but i can't call a place romantic that has flat screen TVs on the walls.... Next time i will have to make an attempt to try an entree, it'll be tough because the appetizers are great and the pizza is Incredible!! My server told me I had to try a drizzle of hot honey. I completely agree and echo that. There is a back room that eas not open across from the restrooms. It was semi-private. read more

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The meatballs & deviled eggs were delicious, service is great and restaurant is well lit. Highly recommend for a date night with a loved one. Absolutely loved the vibes, definitely will be coming back for more! read more

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Went with a group of 9 of us work colleagues. There were a bunch of appetizers on the menu that could have been vegetarian but weren't. The Mozzarella Sticks has prosciutto in the crust and the Fritto Misto had veggies but they were all piled together with the seafood items so that was disappointing. The red sauce for all pasta dishes also has meat and the only pasta sauce without meat is a white wine scampi sauce. Thankfully the red sauce for pizzas was safe so I built my own pizza since there was no veggie one on the menu. Was tasty. Server was nice and food and wine were good so really just points against for making things strangely not vegetarian-friendly. read more

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I have been to the Wise Guy twice now and both times have been delicious! The service was excellent. The garlic knots were so good- definitely recommend. The rigatoni alla vodka and chicken Parmesan were both great. The ambience inside is very cool- definitely an old school vibe. The only thing that took a bit away from the ambience was the number of TVs in the dining area- although my boyfriend appreciates the TVs haha read more

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Absolutely hands-down the best Italian sandwich I have ever ordered and put in my mouth. Now that I'm writing this review almost a week later I'm going to have to go there for lunch today and get another one. Although I've gone there for dinner and happy hour, now I have all the more reason to show up for lunch, I guarantee you, it won't disappoint. I'll say it again , hands-down the best Italian sandwich ever so good.. read more

The Wise Guy - Italian Sandwich with homade chips - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Sauce: spicy and tangy. Crust: super thin and crispy. Recommendation: the wise guy restaurant should rank highly on the local pizza scale. Unique Feature: A hot honey drizzle is available, recommended for trying on a few slices. read more

The Wise Guy - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Loved the Italian atmosphere. We came after the Chiefs beat the Colts and there were customers in the late afternoon. However, it definitely began to fill up as the dinner hour approached. We like to taste the meatballs at Italian restaurants and they didn't disappoint. We decided to get the Italian Beef sandwich with a Caprese salad and both were very good. My husband enjoyed the bit of spiciness, but I could have done without the spicy kick. All in all we enjoyed our impromptu meal at The Wise Guy. read more

The Wise Guy - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Not my thing, the restaurant had cool decor and it was nice and moody.. the service was great too. But the food and drinks were not it. The spicy vodka pasta was so spicy I could only eat one bite. And then it gave me horrible indigestion later. The drinks were okay but not my favorite or near best I've ever had. The garlic knots were pretty good. I wish they had more on the menu and more options. Also our food was cold. read more

The wise guy is easily one of my favorite spots in KC. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it also has such a cozy, inviting vibe that makes you want to stay awhile. The food and cocktails are absolutely superb. Honestly, I don't think there's a single bad dish or drink on the menu. Everything I've tried has been phenomenal. Sadly, I'm lactose intolerant... but every time I come here, that rule goes out the window. The food is just too good to pass up. Get yourself a nice martini and some scampi, and trust me--you'll be in heaven. read more

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It took me way too long to make it here! I've heard such great things for years so I was excited when I finally had a reason to stop in for a lunch meeting. It was fun to see the space fully transformed from the Rieger days, and it's a great, intimate, Italian spot now. I did feel that for lunch it felt super dark and I was a bit sad they didn't have a lunch menu so it's the same prices and same items for lunch as it is for dinner. Not a deal breaker but might impact my decision to go back during the lunch hour in the future. Now onto the food. My burrata salad was great. I added shrimp which were also wonderful. Overall it was a fun time and I can't wait to return for a late night date in the winter as the ambiance definitely lends itself to that kind of date. read more

The Wise Guy - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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It was a Thursday night and we kind of stumbled in to The Wise Guy. We had made plans to dine at another place in the area. However, they were closed with a plumbing issue. So I looked at my bookmarks and found this place a mile or two away. I remember seeing it from the street car and wondering about it. We walked in after 8 PM and approached the hostess stand right inside the front door. I love the ambience here! Dark, classic, retro, a little bit swanky, but not pretentious. The hostess asked if we had a reservation. We did not. No matter. We were seated within seconds in the back right by the kitchen. I personally love that. They have a mix of high top tables, seats at the generous and cool bar and low top tables. Our server, Taylor, who is excellent, greeted us right away with cold water to drink. We had had a heck of a day, including having to call an audible for dinner so we each ordered a martini. Totally out of character, but it felt right in the moment. I had an extra dirty vodka martini. They make theirs with Tito's by default. It was spectacular, including the Gorgonzola stuffed olives. I only had one because I was driving. Three or four would've gone down very easily. It was one of the better martinis I've had in my life. My wife had the Amalfi Coast martini and she loved it. She went to the Amalfi coast a couple of months ago, and it was a nice memory for her. Taylor recommended the housemaid mozzarella sticks that The Wise Guy makes in house and does not pour into a fryer from a frozen bag. I have not had a better mozzarella stick. Score another point for Taylor! My wife was not very hungry, but after eyeing the table for six next to us and all of the various options, we wanted to try some pasta. I opted for the spaghetti and meatballs. It was outstanding! The meatballs were cut into halves or quarters, which I actually appreciate because they weren't so damn hot. They were very flavorful and the spaghetti was coated with delicious sauce that had a little bit of zing to it. I don't usually order spaghetti and meatballs, but the menu isn't enormous, which I can appreciate. This is a restaurant that does not have a super extensive menu, but the things that are on it are all high-quality and well done. Personally, I prefer that to a vast menu of mediocre food. The pizza that was coming out looked incredible. Being seated right next to the kitchen entrance, we were able to see everything coming in and out. It was very impressive. We are both excited to try other items next time. We want to thank Taylor for taking such good care of us. We will most certainly ask for her when we return. read more

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Sent email asking for reservations and they were nice enough to squeeze a in. 1st time there and it was phenomenal! read more

The Wise Guy - Wise Guy Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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We came here to use our AMEX dining credit and we were pleasantly surprised. We started with cocktails at the bar and then move to the table. The dirty martini was delicious, I loved the stuffed olives. We got the mozzarella sticks, prosciutto pizza and vodka pasta. The mozzarella sticks came with fig dipping sauce that was amazing. Pizza could have been crispier but we still enjoyed it. read more

The Wise Guy - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Really like Wise Guys--this place just has a great vibe. The bar seating is awesome and makes it a fun spot to hang out. Good selection of food, and the pizza we had was solid. Honestly, it's the atmosphere that stands out most. Cool venue, great energy, and definitely a place I'll keep going back to. read more

The Wise Guy - Half margaritas pizza and half meat - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

You want a vibe? Sit at the bar at The Wise Guy for some food Italian American eats. I prefer sitting at the bar here over a table. The bartenders are cool and it's fun to talk to a stranger. Part of me wishes they got rid of the TVs and just kept it simple without leaning toward a sports bar moment. I get it, we're in KC. Expect a wait if you're trying to walk in, though. It can get buzzy. I've been a few different times, including the first week The Wise Guy opened. I really love the Mozz Sticks (which come with marinara and a fig marsala sauce), the Caesar Salad (huge a perfect for 2), The Spicy Sausage and Giardinera Pizza (on a perfectly thin tavern style crust cut into square slices), The Chicken Parm (with Spicy Rigatoni Alla Vodka) and the Shrimp Scampi (the sauce is punchy with garlic!) They also have a Happy Hour M-F from 4-6 PM with discounts on pizza and drinks. Best of all? It's one of the few KC restaurants open every day of the week! My only qualm is on one visit, the Chicken Parm was *slightly* overcooked. Keep on improving consistency and I'll come back even more often! read more

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Another great experience at The Wise guy! Super quick service and the food and ambiance were great as usual! One of our favs in the city read more

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I totally regret not getting more pictures! This place is a gem. The dim lighting, cozy interior, and overall vibes are just amazing. I had the best dirty martini I have ever had. Like. EVER! the apps are great too and they made splitting a breeze by bringing extra plates. Staff was incredible and speedy, i'll be returning for sure. Perfect for a girls night, date night, anything in between. read more

The Wise Guy - dirty martini - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Where to begin! I have been to this restaurant 4 times since they have opened and it always hits the spot. I highly recommend starting with the deviled eggs. It may not sound like something you would order at an Italian restaurant for an appetizer, but I promise you will not regret it. I love the spicy rigatoni. The noodles are cooked to al dente and the sauce has just enough kick that you certainly can taste the heat but it's not overly spicy. I would say in a mild, medium, hot scenario-- it's a medium spice level. Don't sleep on the pizza with hot honey or the cocktails. My favorite is their white wine, Fini. Very tasty if you like a Pinot Grigio! The service is great and the ambiance is perfect for a date night. It is low lit with rich old wood accents, and the penny tile floors are beautiful. read more

The Wise Guy - Deviled Eggs - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Great ambience and food! This place takes the old Rieger restaurant location to new and more comfort food heights. Their menu also has a happy hour from 4-6 pm on weekdays with $15 house pizzas and $2 off apps! We were seated quickly by friendly staff, and were in time for happy hour. The prosciutto mozzarella pizza was well-seasoned, although the prosciutto was cooked for too long that it was basically just crusty bits (I typically prefer a prosciutto pizza where it is just placed on top after baking so you get the most flavor). The seasoned tomatoes were a nice touch though. There is a hot honey drizzle at the table which is a nice touch. The chicken Parmesan is where it's AT! Delicious with the spicy rigatoni in tomato vodka sauce. The chicken is done well, seasoned well, tender, and deep fried just right. We get this every time. The garlic knots are alright - goes well with pasta but a bit too small for the price. We didn't try the drinks this time - would like to try that next time! read more

We love this place. So much so we rented the place and had our wedding reception here. Service is usually incredibly friendly. Food is always fresh and fairly quick. You must get the chicken parmesan. It's hands down our favorite. Almost all of the apps are 10/10. We found the pizza to be mid. Very nice area. I'd suggest walking to the green lady lounge after. Decent alcohol and N/A selection of drinks as well. read more

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This is my new favorite spot in KC. Everything is perfect about it, everything! The music, the staff, the food, the drinks, the atmosphere. If you want the perfect Italian spot this is it!!! read more

Hit up The Wise Guy in KC for a lil Italian comfort and they did not disappoint. Started with the Fritto Misto and that plate was giving fried goodness... mushrooms zucchini and broccoli all crispy with that marinara to dip. I coulda just had that and been good but of course I did not stop there. Got the Chopped Italian salad too and it was fresh with just the right kick. The garlic parmesan fries came out hot and crispy... dipped em in both sauces like I had no home training. Big shoutout to India behind the bar... kept my drink full and had good energy the whole time. A vibe. Good spot if you want solid Italian eats and a lil old school KC gangster feel to the place. I'll be back to run it up on some pasta next time. read more

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Lunch here was perfect. The food, drinks & service were just spot on. Espresso Martini, it was amazing, definitely hit the spot. Rigatoni Alla Vodka w/ shrimp - phew. Slightly spicy but it was full of flavor! The service was great! We were constantly checked on - but also were notified when a car was getting towed (in case it was your vehicle). This place is 100% a lunch spot, quiet and quant for work..but I brought a baby (who was quiet herself). Luckily, parking is right around the corner. It's a 2 second walk - I normally do lunch spots anywhere near here but The Wise Guys' parking is *chefs kiss*. read more

The Wise Guy - Espresso Martini - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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This is hands down my favorite place to recommend to someone. It's where I take all of my friends and always the first place on my mind. For this visit, I was organizing a party of 10. I emailed the restaurant and they were able to go above and beyond to accommodate us, so kind! The vibes are immaculate. It's somehow the perfect mix of upscale and casual, not stuffy at all but you know you are at a nice place. Our waiter was awesome, he made a ton of suggestions and the food and drinks kept coming. I ordered the chicken parm sandwich and and aperol spritz. You can't go wrong with a spritz here and it was terrific as always. The chicken parm was also great. The cutlet was thin and it was a great ratio of sauce and cheese. We tried nearly every app on the menu and they were all good too. You have to try this for your next spot! read more

The Wise Guy - Chicken Parmesean sandwich - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Wise Guy is an easy 10/10. The food doesn't feel like an afterthought either--everything we had was fresh, flavorful, and came out fast. And the happy hour!! One of the best parts. Great deals without sacrificing quality, which is rare. read more

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Cozy, Italian spot with a great cocktail menu! Excellent service. Our waiter was very attentive and answered any questions my cousin and I had. I got the chicken parmesan with spaghetti. It was very good, great portions for the price. I'll definitely be going back soon, especially after seeing their happy hour menu. read more

The Wise Guy - Pizza Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Man was this place great! I brought my friend here on her birthday and had the best experience. Our server was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, giving us recommendations and catering to our needs. We were eating again just a few hours later so we opted to split the Chicken Parmesan and a salad. Initially we ordered the Chopped Italian salad but, at no fault of the restaurant, a gnat flew into the lettuce and was crawling around. Our server immediately replaced it when we told her and even let us change to a different salad. We ended up getting the Caesar salad and it was delicious. The croutons were light and crispy and the salad was perfectly dressed. When it comes to the chicken parm, I'm still thinking about it a week later. The chicken was thick and juicy with the perfect amount of pasta to go with. Everything tasted fresh and was also very filling without making me feel bloated like some pasta can. Lastly, the cheesecake for dessert was absolutely amazing. They had two other great options for the dessert too but my friend is obsessed with cheesecake so I had to choose it. I've never even been a big fan of cheesecake but this one was great. The crust on the bottom and the blueberry crumbles on top were so good. I'm not sure how much it would cost but it's awesome that they do a free dessert for birthdays. In my opinion this is definitely a great place to come for any occasion. It's classy but also casual in a way so it could be nice for a date night or just hanging with friends. Overall, The Wise Guy was delicious and the service was top tier, very accommodating the entire time. I'd highly recommend checking them out! read more

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We went in for pizza and ended up ordering the salmon and the chicken Parmesan. Service was excellent. We would definitely go back. Next time we have to try the pizza. read more

Food was AMAZING! Service was fabulous. Ambiance is so fun. Would eat here a million times over! read more

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The Wise Guy has the absolute best chicken parmesan in the city. The service is great! I've been a couple of times and also ordered carry out and they're always so nice. It's small with moody lighting but it works very well for a restaurant like this. The homemade mozzarella sticks are delicious especially with the curry sauce! The garlic knots are good too, not the best i've had but you can never go wrong with knots. The drinks are good and strong! I love getting The Wise Guy and recommend it to everyone! read more

This place is exciting! This inside is very inviting with a huge bar. The drinks may not come in the size glass you imagine due to today's standards. Great place for conversation with eclectic music over the speakers. The menu is light as far an entrees but I am sure you can find something you like. Our server was very engaged and helpful. If you never been downtown make sure you read the signs on parking. read more

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The restaurant has been receiving buzz since it opened. I finally got to check it out for lunch. Its dark clubby decor is sexy and intimate, reminiscent of the rat pack days. Friendly service. Large portions. Everything was delicious. Ordered the truffle fries and meatballs as app. Yum. Entrees- caprese salad and veggie pizza and my friend had the chicken parmigiana. Yum! The portion was huge! For dessert we splurged and had the tiramisu cannoli. It was just meh. Can't wait to go back for dinner so I can try their cocktails and more of the menu items. Ladies - you have to check out the lovely restroom decor. I'd definitely go back. Very nice addition to the crossroads. read more

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Nice dining experience. Excellent service overall and everyone enjoyed their food. I had the Rigatoni alla Vodka and loved it! read more

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We stopped in here on a whim on a early Saturday evening and stayed for quite a few hours the vibe and the service were top-notch as well as the food. You may want to make a reservation if you do go later it seemed to fill up pretty quick, but I would highly recommend if you're in the area to stop by Wise guys. We enjoyed the pizza, the calamari, the meatballs, and a salad as well as some wine and excellent espresso martinis. read more