Ritorno

Terrible experience. I made a reservation but still waited 1/2 hour when other tables were not being used. Very unorganized and requires better management. If you cannot accommodate do not accept reservation we can go elsewhere. I will never return.

Great place, bad experience

I really wanted to be able to say my visit was perfect but....well, it wasn't. My mom wanted to treat me to a dinner out since I got a job, so it was me and my parents. We were seated promptly at the crowded restaurant, at about 7. The atmosphere was gorgeous and intimate. The noise was unholy, I had to practically yell to be heard above all the other patrons talking. Half the tables were filled, but we got wine (a delicious Chianti) and our orders taken immediately. The menu was good, very Italian (aka. darn near impossible to get some without gratuitous use of tomatoes, oil or cheese) The prices were 6-25 for appetizers and about 15-30 bucks alone for a main course. The waitress seemed distant and hurried. She didn't really introduce herself, just quickly got our orders taken. It was kinda off putting, but understandable. We had a little bread basket for free...Thin slices of bread that was obviously not fresh, but still soft. (Cobb’s has spoiled me it seems) Along with the bread, we had this tiny little dish of oil and balsamic vinegar. We were not sure how were supposed to share it (double dipping is supposed to be bad thing, isn't it?) Thankfully it didn't take long for our soups to show up. Mom had the special, which was a corn chowder. The corn chowder was brilliant. It was strongly flavored with pancetta, creamy, and full of flavor. I got a potato soup with what I assume was pesto oil and some greens. It was decent.....subtly flavored, a bit too thick , and the additions were a nuisance. The waitress quickly asked us how our soups were, we said it was good. Our entrees was were the trouble started.....We waited about 20-40 minutes, though it felt much longer. Nearly all the seats were filled. Poor dad had eaten next to nothing, and it was over an hour past when he's used to eating. Our veal chops, penne bologesne, and polenta primavera showed eventually. I wanted dessert (my favorite part of the menu was the dessert options), so I got a menu to mull over while eating my entree, but it was snatched up by a waitress and given to another table while I was distracted. Wtf? Dad had ordered medium rare, but it was rare at most. Like my polenta dish, Dad's meal was plied on and mixed together. He couldn't cut his chops without squishing the vegetables and getting mashed potato on everything. My polenta was delicious (had this great melt-in-your mouth consistency), but it was overpowered by the tomato sauce and the huge serving looked sloppy. I have a small stomach, so I was full by time I was half way done. Mom was the most upset though....She claimed she could taste cheese in her meal, even though she asked if there was cheese in it while ordering. A check with the waitress, the kitchen, and the manager insisting (not really confrontational, but pushy) that there was no cheese was not enough for my mom. The service was polite, considerate, and thorough....but mom didn't want to risk it. We skipped dessert (I was kinda pissed b/c they looked amazing at other tables) and asked for a bill and a doggy bad for my polenta. That took us a while too. It was hard to get the waitstaff's attention, since they were so busy. As we left no on really noticed, but that's fine. It would be kind of pretentious of me to think that the waitstaff would have to say goodbye on a night were there are roughly 30 people to serve. *hint hint to other reviewers* Overall, it started out great, until the long wait for huge and sloppy entrees began. The staff reacted pretty well to mom's allergy scare, but was obviously distracted most of the time. The menu was great and the atmosphere was lovely. If I could go another time, I'd skip the entrees and just enjoy a few hearty appetizers. Then stuff my face with desserts. All while drinking red wine until I forget what my name is. PS: How can I write a 5 paragraph review with ease yet feel like I’m pulling my own teeth writing an essay?

Amazing Place!

We decided to visit Ritorno based on reviews we had read. We were definitely not disappointed! The restaurant is phenomenal, it looks really professional, with wonderful decorative pieces. They even have a nonna wall! It's a whole wall dedicated to pictures of customers' grandmothers, it is really touching. When we were seated, we were greeted and given menus right away. We decided on the calamari to start, then the short ribs and vitello parmagiana for the main course. We were served complimentary bread with dipping oil, the bread was really fresh and tasty. The calamari then came. It came with two different sauces, which were both amazing! The calamari were crispy and tasted great. Then our main courses came. The short ribs were WONDERFUL! They were so tender, with amazing sides such as asparagus and stuffed mushrooms. The vitello was also good, cooked to perfection. The service was also amazing, all of the staff were friendly and helpful. The bathrooms have some interesting sculptures on the doors in order to distinguish the difference between men and women. I was confused at first, then I understood. I will leave it as a surprise for all of you who decide to go!

Will Returno to Ritorno (har har)

My boyfriend and I have been trying to get to Ritorno since last summer. We finally went last Friday for Dinner around 8 pm. They don’t take reservations on the weekend but we managed to get seated immediately. Although the atmosphere outside is uninspiring, it’s set in a regular plaza, the atmosphere is nice. Ritorno was dimly lit and the room is a blend of modern and rustic. There is a wall of inspiring women on the wall. Another nice thing about it, was how it was not too big but not too small. Anyway, maybe it was my company, but I found it romantic. Our server Jessica was extremely nice and funny. She seemed genuinely happy to be at work there. The other servers we encountered also seemed enthusiastic. After we ordered drinks and an appetizer, a seat by the wall (more intimate) opened up and we asked to move. They were very accommodating. but because we’d moved, the kitchen cancelled our appetizer order and Jessica came out with a complementary bruschetta because it would be another few minutes for our appetizer. We honestly didn’t have to wait that long! We got the Piadina al Forno to share. It was a perfect blend of sweet and savery, with some pepper from the arugula. Definitely an interesting flavour, but in a good way! For the main course my boyfriend ordered the Penne Con Vitello Ragu and I ordered the Butternut Squash Ravioli. His was great, mine was better! My only complaint would be that the tiger prawns were a smidgen overcooked--but I’m a sushi and seafood lover so that may just be my texture preference. The sauce was fantastic and the Ravioli was excellent. Definitely recommend it if you don’t want a heavy, meaty dish like my boyfriend ordered (and thoroughly enjoyed). Even though we were practically bursting, there is always room for dessert and we ordered the chocolate Semi Freddo to share with some cappuccinos. The mousse was super rich and large enough to share—extremely satisfying. Would go back just for that. The cappuccino was perfect. Way better than starbucks! Overall, we really enjoyed our Ritourno experience and will be going back. The service was excellent. Often, when we go to restaurants we feel like they are rushing us through to get to the bill. At Ritorno, the pace was slower. We never felt rushed or like we were bothering the server. They let us eat and enjoy each other and the atmosphere. Also, the bill was not steep, not for the experience we had. Try Ritorno for your next date night!

Great Place

Food was great, service was a bit slow but overall good. We enjoyed the free bread at the beginning of the meal. Would recommend to anyone.