Service stinks. Long long wait. Food came out cold and tough (I had the chicken parm) the sauce is so sweet it should be classified as a dessert. Horrible place- stay away! read more

Fantastic night! What great food... thank you for the suggestions from our server, the amazing wine and the all around perfect evening. We felt like we were having a huge Italian family dinner! Try the calimari! We'll be back! Thank you SO MUCH!! read more

We ate at Tuscan Blu to celebrate a friend's birthday. The atmosphere of the restaurant was intimate and charming; I thought it was a great space. The service left much to be desired. Although well intentioned and friendly, our server was inattentive, forgetful, and at times almost seemed a bit confused. One member of our party was served the rigatoni alla norma despite having ordered rigatoni alla bolognese. My gnocchi was excellent; the dumplings were tender and not a bit doughy. Portion sizes were appropriate for a single serving and in general offered a reasonable value, with many dishes being in the $13-16 range. We had a very positive experience, but Tuscan Blu certainly didn't distinguish itself enough for a return visit. read more

I absolutely love Tuscan Blu. The food is very good, the wine superb, but most of all I thrive on the family atmosphere provided by Chef Maurizio. Maurizio loves people as much as he does food and wine. He leaves the kitchen often to talk with his guests, and doesn't hesitate to pull up a chair at your table if he senses you're okay with that - as if he is hosting you in his home. I've read some of the concerns listed by others about the service, and in the early weeks after opening they admittedly had some issues with newly hired staff. I highly recommend this place, it's our italian vacation spot right here in Raleigh. My wife and I go there when we have plenty of time to savor the delicious food and wine, and to enjoy the friendship of our hosts Maurizio, his wife Patrizia, and the head waitress Hillary. It's right nearby the Pitt, so go there if you're in a rush (they cater to that) and really just want loads of food heaped on your plate. read more

The food was fantastic.. this was a spur of the moment choice and was a pleasant surprise all around.

Excellent! The best Italian food I have eaten in a long time -- even better than mom's! When in Raleigh, the Tuscan Blu is our go-to restaurant for an authentic Italian meal and very friendly service. Also, the menu is very reasonably priced. Give Tuscan Blu a try -- you will be happy you did! L. R. Fiorentino read more

The food was okay but the service was awful. The waitress was very rude (the lady with the mole). She continued to make rude comments to members of our party. When we complained to the owner he said they were busy and there was nothing he could do about it. The only reason you should go here is if you don't mind being disrespected by your server. read more

Went here today for a Valentine's date. Was not impressed at all. I ordered the lobster bisque, and there was no lobster in it. My date ordered a Caesar salad, and it was the smallest portion i had seen. For my entree I ordered the chicken Parmesan. It came out luke warm and kind of soggy. Could of made it myself. My date ordered the spicy shrimp with noodles. They all had tails on them, which is a little more difficult to eat in a pasta dish. We also made a reservation and when we got there they seemed fairly unorganized. I was just expecting a lot more for their prices. I don't think I would go back. Probably would have had the same quality experience at an Olive Garden. read more

Excellent food!! The fiocchhi was amazing! Love the detail of providing children with their own utensils, have never seen this at a restaurant! Great service will def be coming back!! read more

I gave Tuscun Blu 2 stars for the food and only the food!! The service is deplorable!! Our so called waiter was sent to our table by the owner after about 10 minutes of sitting at the table, and then greeted us with a friendly "what do you want?" The service only from there. The bus boy brought out our food and I had to ask for all of our food he didn't bring my daughters dinner. When we finally got all of our food it was good...really good. When we asked for our bill we got someone else's check. When we got "our" bill, our kids (2) dinners were full price. When we ordered we asked about kid portions, it says on the menu 40% all pasta dinners not ordered from the kid menu... my kids ordered from the adult menu... When we brought the full price to our waiters attention he tried to tell me I was wrong...he brought the issue to the owner who was sitting at a table with friends drinking, the owner tried to tell me I was wrong and when I brought up the website and showed him him he huffed at me and waved his hand as if dismissing me. If you want really good food with lots of bad attitude this is the place for you!! read more

Tara was our waitress and she was GREAT! Awesome service, and didn't leave us hanging on anything at all. We celebrated valentines day there yesterday, and I got back in town yesterday morning so wanted to call and confirm the reservation....especially after reading some of the reviews. The owner answered the phone, and told me he had us all set up- even had us in a booth. Which, let me add...I never asked for a booth... didn't ask when I booked the reservation through Yelp- or when I confirmed the reservation. I was told we would be in one though, so that was great to hear....upon arriving for our reservation we were told to hit the bar and he would have us right to our table. Which is where we ended up. A table that was so small, we were playing tetris with the stuff on the table to make room. I don't care that we weren't in a booth, and to be honest I didn't even see a booth in the restaurant? But don't tell me you have me in a booth for us to be at a small table with another couple within arms length. Zero intimacy in a situation like this. The waiters and waitresses couldn't even get between the tables, the had to serve us from behind our chairs. The food wasn't bad at all, my mother's family is from Sicily so it's super rare we go out for Italian when we go out. I would definitely and will definitely be back. The owner, you can tell cares about his establishment, but he just needs to turn it down a notch. read more

I went here right after they opened up with a friend of mine. We are both very familiar with italian food. Have eaten at some great NYC restaurants, I was excited to find out that this was an authentic italian restaurant here in Raleigh. It was just ok. Maybe since it just opened... will try again.. read more

I'm not sure how I feel about this place. First of all the female busser that spoke broken english to us was probably the best customer service that we received. They limit your Parmesan cheese. The poor gal brought over a bowl of the stuff and told me I couldn't scoop it myself. I could only have her sit there shoveling it on my pasta for so long. They do have a parking lot, even though the parking attendant seemed sour at be world. It's good enough I guess l, Raleigh just doesn't have a killer Italian place downtown that's reasonably priced. This one even is a little high. read more

Recently went here on a slow night. The location is in a good place and the decor is inviting. That is about the only positives I can say of this place. The food is of 'Olive Garden' quality, only with prices that are at least twice as expensive. I ordered the Cinque Terre Fettuccine dish, because the Cinque Terre region in Italy is one of my favorite areas in all of Europe, and there was nothing in that dish which reminded me of the region. Certainly not the small frozen shrimp which were used in the dish... A friend had the Fiocchi dish, in which the pasta was very much overcooked and therefore tough. I suggested that she send the dish back, but we were quite hungry, and as I said, the food is of Olive Garden variety, which means it is edible but certainly not anything to write home about, so we decided not to make a scene. But I can't see myself ever visiting this place again, which from the experience I had and the lack of customers, won't be much of an issue as I don't suspect they will be in business much longer. Also, I seriously doubt Tom S' comment on here that the pasta is homemade. If so, it certainly isn't made fresh daily. But that review was from 2011, and if you look at all of the reviews from 2012, none have been higher than 2 stars, which could be an indication that something has happened within the past year that has made the owner and/or chef just not care anymore. read more

I had a really great experience at Tuscan Blu this evening. I love the Warehouse District, but this was my first time there. We started with the crostini appetizer, which was very good. My boyfriend had the lobster bisque, which he really enjoyed. I had the Gorgonzola salad and it was good. I probably wouldn't get it again, but I would try another salad. For the main courses, my boyfriend had the linguine alla scoglio and I had linguine with pink sauce, which I requested and they accommodated. The pink sauce was perfectly flavored. The wine selection was great and the server was very knowledgable about both food and wine menus. I would definitely recommended this spot when you're looking for a nice, quiet Italian meal. read more

First of all, my entree, spaghetti with shrimp in a spicy tomato sauce was amazing! Amazing! Fresh pasta! Delicious sauce! I wish I could ave finished it! I'm giving them three stars because the oil that came out with the bread tasted on the rancid side. Loved our waiter. Love the menu options. We will probably eat there again. I'm sure the bad oil was jut a fluke. read more

Love this place when want Italian and don't want to cook we come here. The desserts are wonderful you want to lick your plate. Nice wine selection I have had several things on the menu and have always been wowed. read more

Was here for an office holiday party. My dish was fantastic, had the linguini allo scaglio. The calamari in it was fantastic, maybe some of the most tender calamari I have had. My wife got the lasagna, and thought it was just OK. Other people seemed pleased enough with their food. Service was a bit sketchy. Slow at times, and gave us a bit of a hard time about splitting the check. A mixed bag. read more

Went for restaurant week!! Awesome food, service and ambiance ! Perfect for date night , will definitely return !

It was my first time at Tuscan Blu. From making the reservation via Yelp (totally seamless) to arriving early and being seated right away with a smile, to a wonderful ambiance, to an attentive staff, to an excellent meal (I had the gnocchi w/ pesto... OMG the cheesecake!)... My Valentine's Day was made w/ the help of Tuscan Blu. It's a new fave, indeed! read more

My friends and I came out for a girls night during raleigh downtown restaurant week and had a fantastic experience. We had our reservation and were seated immediately. Shortly after tables were being seated one after another and Tuscan Blu became VERY busy. Even throughout the chaos we were very pleased with our appetizer, entree, and dessert. The timing of all 3 courses was perfect and the dishes were DELICIOUS. We each had the caesar salad and ordered the lasagna, lobster ravioli, and the portobello stuffed ravioli. All fantastic dishes and highly recommended! The service was outstanding and the owner was very welcoming. I love when the owner is able to walk around and make conversation with his guest! Great place and I will definitely be back! read more

This restaurant is a good place to come to, relax and enjoy the food and not feel rushed. My husband loves the pasta (Puttanesca or Shrimp Fra Diavolo) but I'm partial to the fish- amazing sauce with the Branzino served with broccolini. The lasagna is an old family recipe and is also a good option. The chef can prepare any dish so ask if there's something you desire that is not on the menu. Also, the Chef/owner, Mauricio likes to greet the customers and recommend a wine. If the weather is nice-sit outside. You can people watch, hear the trains and watch the sun go down. read more

If you are looking for a nice classy, take me out on a date, non-chain, Italian food restaurant, you should definitely come here. The service is great although slow, I guess they do it so that you enjoy your dinner date. The food taste amazing and the plate sizes are a bit big but sufficient enough if you want to take some leftovers but if you are hungry I guess they are ok. Enjoy this great place! read more

I had a birthday party for my sister here. They were able to accommodate my large party at the last minute during the holiday season. When I arrived my table was set, and my server was ready to help me as soon as I walked in. The server was very nice and attentive, and the the owner even went the extra mile to retrieve my sister's balloons when they floated into the high ceiling. My only concern was that the lights, at least where we were sitting, were very dim. I'm sure it was for the ambiance, but it was just a little hard to see the presentation of our meals on the plate. But the food was still GREAT! read more

So delicious!! A mom-and-pop italian place where the food is scrumptious, but I'd come back anyway just to support the sweet family that owns it. My friends and I came here before a dance at our school-- we were concerned about finding a place to park downtown for the dance so the owner (i forget his name!) offered to drive us. It was so random but so sweet!!! The food: SO delicious. I had the mushroom ravioli-- the cream sauce was out of this world. All my friends also enjoyed their dishes-- even those trying to watch their calories that didn't get a pasta entree. Last time I went, my mom got their special: it was a cheese & pear-stuffed ravioli-- sounds weird but it was so good!!! read more

This is a super place to have a great meal, good wine and personal service. The lasagna is terrific - a 100 year old recipe from the owners family. It has a very smooth even taste like true old world pasta. The pear pasta, as odd as it sounds, is also very good and very tasty in a delicate manner. The Caesar salad is also good, my teen's favorite in town. But what makes this place truly spectacular are the owners. It is extremely rare to not find them in the restaurant. They always check on the meal, and if you follow their recommendations you will never regret it. They know their wines. But most important they know their patrons. You can always count on being greeted with a smile and maybe even a hug on a return visit. If you want loud, bitter Italian go elsewhere. But if you want a great meal with subtle flavors and personalized service spend your evening at Tuscan Blu. You won't regret it! read more

I like this place. It is off the beaten track of DT eats but still DT. It is the place you want to make it. I had a simple late afternoon meal of Caesar salad, soup and a glass of Chianti, and felt very good afterwards. You know it is good when you still enjoy the taste an hour later. Italian food is not that hard to do but I felt they did a good job. read more

Whenever I'm in need of Italian I come to Tuscan Blu. The ambiance is great and the food is always delicous. My wife was delighted to see that Tuscan Blu has a gluten free menu. I def recommend it to anyone. read more

Tuscan Blu - Red Snapper - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

While traveling through Raleigh, we looked on Yelp for an Italian Restaurant recommendation. We were not disappointed. The owners are "hands on" in every way. Greeting us as if we were family, recommending outstanding pasta dishes, and created the food from complete scratch. Fresh ingredients, tasty sauces, and great service. Love that they are from Italy and have opened this fantastic restaurant. Highly recommend. read more

We visited Tuscan Blu for the first time last Saturday. I have Celiacs disease so we read reviews and ratings before visiting a new place and I found raving about the restaurant. When we sat down I told the waiter that I have the gluten allergy. He seemed knowledgeable and easily pointed out all the dishes that I could order with GF penne pasta. When it came time to order, I again reminded him of my allergy and ordered the GF penne pasta. When the dish was delivered, the waiter said "here's the gluten free penne" as he put it in front of me. It tasted good - even had my husband taste it. But, unfortunately, it was not gluten free. I am not sure if I was given the wrong (wheat) pasta or if given the correct GF pasta that was contaminated, but the end result was that I had a severe reaction to it. I called the restaurant on Monday to speak to someone about my experience. I wanted to let them know what happened so that they could use it as a learning experience and re-enforce correct procedures to their employees so no one else got sick. I was not looking for anything from them. However, when I spoke with them, their initial reaction was to immediately start defending their actions without even listening to what I had to say. I was told he would "put his hand in the fire" and ensure me I was given the GF pasta if that is what I ordered and that it was my fault for eating it - I should have been able to look at it and tell a difference - which was impossible as it was covered in sauce. He was very rude on the phone. I will say it did taste different than the pasta I am used to but gluten free pasta has come such a long way that I simply thought they had a recipe I hadn't tried before. Bottom line: be cautious eating here if you have Celiacs disease. Please question them thoroughly when they deliver your food so you can avoid going through what I did. read more

Plenty of open seating when every other nearby restaurant has over an hour wait for a table is a sign of an issue. Fair warning. The good: The owner & his wife were mostly friendly. They greeted us when we came in and asked how everything was before we left. One friend said the salmon was ok. The busing staff were pretty prompt about getting our used plates out of the way for new food and keeping the water replenished. One server that came by later into our meal seemed nice. The bad: 1 - At least one server needs retraining. When someone asks what type of liquor is available (because it isn't listed anywhere) you don't tell the customer that you aren't sure, but offer for the customer to check with the bar themselves. When someone asks for clarification about what's in a salad, you don't tell them it's listed in the menu. You tell them what's in the salad and avoid the awkwardness of turning dining into a scavenger hunt so they can get back to their conversation with friends. 2 - The food is overpriced for the quality. Given how few people were in the restaurant at the time, I expect much more attention to detail. My friend's chicken was bland and overcooked and my ravioli tasted like it came out of a bag at the grocery store with the sauce that comes in a tub. The bread was quite stale and unsatisfying. Presentation was lacking. $8 for a shot of Jim Beam seams excessive, but I could be wrong. 3 - Given the amount of times I made the server clarify things, you'd think she could get 2 separate checks correct. Didn't happen. 3 total people eating and the entrees were mixed up on the bills. I am more often than not a general tipper, but this was the last straw. There's no reason to go back unless the owners make some sweeping changes. They seem like nice people, but they really need to bring in an independent taster to give them honest feedback on the food's present state and recommend improvements. read more

Delicious pesto. Large portions. Great wine pairings and suggestion.

I went with my wife on a whim. What a great surprise. The food was fantastic and the atmosphere was very soothing. Nice to find authentic italian here in Raleigh. The service was excellent and we also meet the owners who were very attentive. All in all an excellent meal. We will be making this one of our regulars. read more

Save your time and money and go to cafe luna...they have the same menu, only better...and better service. Avoid the lobster bisque it's very runny. The lobster ravioli was good and the penne chicken in pink sauce was very good. The rigatoni with zucchini was mediocre. We started with the mozzarella appetizer, it was ok, but really only big enough for two people. read more

horrible! had the expensive fish special. Biggest waste of money ever! Even the salad was terrible - worse than the cheapest fast food place. Uncaring management with such inferior ingredients I doubt the restaurant will continue to be in business read more

Wow! I enjoyed a delicious plate of ~ linguine with fresh Crab Meat in Tomato Sauce ~. You can truly taste and see that there wasn't any short cuts when preparing the dish. The atmosphere was elegant. The wait staff and owners where very personable and willing to offer food suggestions. What a great experience. Jacqueline :) read more

Delicious, authentic Italian food. Great wine and service as well. The owner and his wife came to speak with us several times to make us feel welcomed and appreciated. I will definitely return! read more

No thanks, was not impressed at all. The food tasted like it was $3 a plate and the service was very slow seeing how no one was there.

My son went there last with a group of teenagers going to the prom. They were treated very poorly by the waitstaff and they all said the food wasn't good. They need to learn that teenagers have parents who will tell others not to go there. Very rude customer service to teens. Too bad the tip was already included. read more

I literally stumbled into this restaurant. I had gone into the Tex-Mex restaurant nearby, and was neither impressed with their menu, nor, after one sip, with their beer. So I sauntered down a few yards and found Tuscan Blu. I was not disappointed. I had a very good Caesar salad with an absolutely delightful piece of grilled salmon. Honestly, I do not recall ever having had a piece of salmon so fresh and so good. As others have said, the hosts are from Italy and do all they can to help you out with the menu. The prices are very reasonable. My server was quite new...this must have been her first or second night... but she was quite friendly. I definitely would recommend this place if staying/visiting downtown Raleigh. read more