Little Italy Restaurant

Reviews 6

JE

Jeff Turpin

I had some high expectations for this place after reading some reviews and hearing from some Italians who enjoy this place. Unfortunately, the starters and sides were the highlights. I judge Italian by the Romano Tagliatelle (i.e. Chicken Alfredo) and the Lasagna, paying special attention to the texture of the noodles as well as the richness and purity of the sauces. Additionally, I pay special attention to the bread and any sauces/spices that accompany it. At Little Italys, they provided a very tasty toasted white bread with butter containers on the side. I was disappointed that the bread was not already buttered and/or there was no olive oil dip. The salad with house-made Italian was delicious. The sample of pizza they brought out also was excellent, and it is definitely better than most of the pizza in SA. The wife ordered the Italian Stallion, which is spaghetti with tomato sauce, Italian sausage, and beef meatballs. The sauce was fresh but tasted "off." By that, I mean there was some spice (that Im not too familiar with) that was too prevalent. The same was true of the meatballs. The Italian sausage for me was a complete miss: tough, dry, and a bad mix of flavor. The Romano Tagliatelle with chicken was... okay. The chicken was not too plentiful and a little dry; it did have a fairly good taste however. The noodles were cooked well and tender. The cream sauce was well-made but missing adequate Parmesan cheese. It was far too subtle. I personally make better at home. In short, Little Italy might be fairly authentic, and others might like it, but as for me, Id probably pass on any subsequent visits. Piccolos is far better in my opinion. My Italian top 5: 1) Piccolos, 2) Tre Trattoria, 3) Sorrento Ristorante e Pizzeria, 4) Osteria Il Sogno, and 5) La Foccacia.

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RA

Randy Barnes

Really surprised by the positive reviews after my disappointing visit. Be careful entering the parking lot at night. Poorly lighted and you have to be careful to avoid steel posts blocking driveway. Building and décor getting shabby and a bit dated a la 1970s or earlier? Saturday night at 8:00, few customers, though. Friendly greeting from employee sitting at a table near the front door rolling dinnerware sets..hmm. Wait staff was friendly and prompt. Bread was good. Wine brought promptly. Dinner salad was shredded like cole slaw..house (hard to get and keep on the fork). House (Italian?) dressing was served in side dish and was, oddly, as thick as mayonnaise. Sample spaghetti was watery and sauce was sour from overcooking. Sample cheese pizza was OK, but nothing out of the ordinary. Ordered lasagna and chicken cacciatori. Both dishes used the same sour, overpowering marinara sauce as the spaghetti so it all tasted the same. The lasagna was almost cold in the middle, cheese was unmelted and the consistency of cottage cheese. Chicken recipe was a real loser. Undercooked vegetables. Just plain terrible..left most of it on the plate. This restaurant reminds me of a once excellent local dining spot that has declined over the years due to inattention to basics or lack of owner interest. Im afraid its just surviving on its old reputation. Maybe this place has some trademarked dishes, but they certainly are not what we ordered. Sadly, I cant recommend this restaurant at all.

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AR

Armando

Well we were there this weekend because the front-desk staff at the Hilton we were staying at recommended it over Olive Garden, which I think Olive Garden would have been better after trying this place, but I wanted to try something new and "real Italian". The wait wasnt bad having a party of 7. Everyone ordered pasta. I think the only thing that was good there was the cheese sticks and the waiter waiting on us. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs and added Italian sausage. All I can say is that if this is real Italian food, I will make sure not to order the spaghetti when I go to Venice next year. My spaghetti is 1000x times better than this stuff I had. The Italian sausage was pink in the inside and looked more like a huge Hormel sizzler than an Italian sausage. The meatballs were so bland with no taste whatsoever. The spaghetti sauce was "runny". I think that 186.00 dollars for dinner was a rip-off especially with how the food tasted. I was very upset at having to pay for such a high bill for all the food we ate. I would have done better taking my party to Olive Garden. NEVER AGAIN!

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DI

Diane Trinidad

Great food and service. I Cant believe Ive never been to Little Italys, living my whole life in San Antonio. Passed it a million times. Big fat Italian mistake!!! Growing up in an Italian family, all the family (moms brothers, sister and their kids came for supper to grandma and grandpas house where shes feeding 30 - 40 people every Sunday. Like a tv show only better cuz your living it!! From Little Italys Cesar Salad to their stuffed Gnocchi in meat sauce (I grew up on Gnocchi from northern Italy which is a little different), their fresh hot French bread and finally probably the freshest and tastiest Italian wedding cake in history!! Split the meal with my mom, feeling full (not stuffed) and happy!! From the owner that sat us to the super sweet waiter, service was impeccable. Coming to Little Italys for dinner reminded me of my childhood growning up and the great fresh foods we ate. Grand parents owned a grocery store) Loved little Italy and we will be back next week!! Thanks for the great memories of wonder foods growing up... Jk

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FO

FOCUS FOCUS

I was there with my wife for late lunch, I could not understand why waiter #22 was rude from the start. He performed his job well, but kept giving us the "Why are you here? look"...It was at the end when he, (not jokingly) handed me the check and told me to "Do not go and kill a cop if you see one on the street"... It all made sense to me. Ironically the latino waiter with the heavy Spanish accent happens to hold prejudice against Mexican Americans, he thinks we are all "cop killers" The Shrimp Alfredo is great and the Baked Lasagna is a bit small but good non the less, I loved the iced tea, but I hope he did not spit into it. In contrast to Waiter # 22 a lady host was very pleasant. Dont get me wrong, even though I am a US Citizen of Mexican Heritage, getting discriminated by an immigrant (in San Antonio of all places) is not an excuse not to leave a 15% tip. I hope the owner is not as ignorant as this particular waiter. (11/28/16 at 3:03 PM)

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H.

H. Daniel Kelly

They have the best pizza in San Antonio! Ive eaten pizza in Little Italy in NYC many, many times and Little Italy SAs pizza is ever bit as good. I have never had anything in the restaurant that I didnt find fantastic ! Despite my last name, Im half Italian & a member of the Sons of Italy. Little Italy is our home base and that is great with me. They treat us well and feed us even better ! You can find a fancier Italian restaurants, but the food isnt any better, it is just more expensive ! If I want Italian food, especially pizza, Little Italy is the ONLY place I would go ! PS I was just there today (9-26) with a friend from Pennsylvania. He gave it a great review and wants to return to Little Italy to eat every time he returns to San Antonio ! They have made a new customer for life !

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