Il Localino

I have been here loads of times and I have never had a bad experience. My experience with the restaurant and staff is completely opposite than some of the reviews I read. Every time I go there, the food is delicious and the staff is extremely attentive! The last two times I stopped in I had the prawns. They are so large, they could easily be confused for lobster! The bread they serve at the beginning of the meal is incredible. It's always freshly baked and still warm and squishy. The pesto oil they serve it with is amazing. Clearly, I love the food. And to make the restaurant even better, the ambiance is playful, entertaining and hilarious! I wouldn't reccomend this place to the stuffy! Go with an open mind, plan on dropping a few bucks, and have fun! Pros: Music, Food, Staff more

This is the best Italian food I have ever eaten and I am a very picky NEW YORKER> I have been all over the world and the people that are complaining are just CHEAP. This is no run of the mill restaurant. People that know good food, know it can't be made in 5 minutes. It is well worth the wait ! The ingredients are always fresh , And if you are lucky enough not to have a wait then the whole city must be out of town ! Just ask for Gale -Eddie or Mimi and i'm sure you will get the royal treatment I always have when I am in town............ Pros: fresh food , great service Cons: I live in New York and can't get there enough more

Oh my God, the worst dining experience EVER. 4 days later and I'm still so mad I can't sleep. My husband and I took 7 of us for my 50th birthday. We already new about the entree deal and STILL managed to get completely ripped off by the supposedly FREE appetizers, birthday desserts, and after dinner drink. None of which were asked for. The place was way too noisy and pushy. When I finally asked for the bill, 10 minutes later comes a tray of after dinner drinks! Pad the bill some more, would you! Please, don't go there. They should be shut down for blatantly ripping people off. I feel like a fool. Not a good way to remember my 50th birthday. Cons: THEY SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN more

I'm quite amused at all the negative reviews, and I just have to disagree. I went with a very good friend, my partner, and we had a wonderful time. Very large menu, and you just have to wander through it. Place your order, and if something comes to the table you didn't order, shake your head no, and no matter what the language is, that nod says it all. The food was good, and certainly it was not like Little Italy in NYC, but we had no complaints. And yes the place is Loco, and crazy fun. When the disco ball starts with the music, jump up and give it your best Travolta! Pros: Good Italian Fare! Very Fun Atmosphere! Cons: Pushy Italian Waiters!, So What! There Italian! Can Get Pricy! more

Anyone who writes a positive review about this place is drinking the Kool Aid. For seven people, each ordering 1 entree, no bottles of wine. 5 people had 2 cocktalis, 1 person had none, and no desserts, we walked out after a tab of $530...Thank you very much. A huge mistake is to trust the staff when they offer to bring you a ""sampling"" of apps...2 plates of grilled eggplant (4 peices on each plate), 2 plates of salami (6 peices on each plate), 2 small plates of roasted peppers, 1 bowl of mussels, and 1 bowl of calms...$160 later...that's $20 per app. I eat out frequently, especially with clients. I enjoy a good dining experience. I have no problem paying $100 per person when the experience meritts. This was mediocre food and a first rate con job. Don't let it happen to you!!! STAY AWAY!!!!! Pros: They are pros at what they do....jacking up the check . Cons: The overall experience ruins anything good. more

We were referred to Il Localino by the concierge at the Renaissance Hotel downtown on our first night in Atlanta -- he told us that ""mama"" would take care of us. Well, she sure did -- financially at least. We're not sure if or what we ordered, but the appetizers just kept coming and we didn't have the communication or the will as a group to figure out at the time that we were being taken for a ride. Fortunately, we realized what was going on before ordering main dishes and escaped -- but not before paying $50/person for what amounted to finger food and some mediocre pasta. It was some welcome to Atlanta. Chalk it up to being an ignorant tourist I suppose. Beware. Pros: noisy Cons: deceptive more

It is now two days after our ill fated night at this place and I'm still enraged. The negative comments that others have posted are the exact things that we encountered. Food appeard from the kitchen and when we instructed them that we did not order it, they suddenly couldn't understand English, only shrugging their shoulders and pointing to the kitchen like it was sent compliments of the chef. We had two friends (in a party of 12) that were not eating. With all the wine & champagne that we were ordering we thought they'd overlook the ""1 entree per person rule"" but no such luck. The disco ball and loud music are not for entertainment purposes, but to confuse and divert the patron from what is really going on around them. Smoke & mirrors while the wait staff is sneaking items on the table, and before you realize that nobody ordered it, its too late. My meal, Chicken Madeira, was horrible. Reminded me of a Lean Cuisine, only worse. When I complained to the waitress it fell on deaf ears. Her response?? A sheepish smile and, ""I don't like it either. Honestly, I can't stand the food here, but I can't say anything."" Whaaaatt?? So even the wait staff hates the food. Had I not been with guests from out of town, I would have made a huge stink and argued about the bill. In hindsight, I'm really sorry I didn't say something. Although, quite honestly, I don't think these people would even care. They get enough suckers in there to make up for 1 lost customer per night. Well, make that 12 because I doubt any of our group will EVER return. I'm in such shock that they get away with it. No matter what the other posters say about how great it is, do yourself a favor and stay away. There are plenty of better quality Italian restaurants with honest management & service in the Atlanta area so that you don't have to waste your money by giving it to these scam artists. Pros: NONE, only that it is next to a great bar, Highland Pub Cons: Food, price - its all a con more

Our party of seven had a fabulous time, great food and outstanding service! We had our choice of two large tables on a Saturday night. Yes, the music is loud, and yes, they turn on the disco light, but it was so much fun! Wild purple hair hat and cute headband of flowers set the tone for a hilarious time. The waiters were very attentive, the food was prepared perfectly and fresh, the wine list was so-so, but they had the wine we wanted, so the other selections were extraneous. The tiramisu was the second best in the whole city. If you know not to go with the waiter's high priced recommendations and just order what you want, you can keep the tab in mind. Yes, it is expensive, but the food justifies the price. The owner comes out to speak with each and every table. Go with a group, or just the two of you - you'll have a wonderful time! Pros: Perfect Italian food, tons of fun Cons: Pricey, loud more

I have been to this restaurant dozens of times and been highly impressed by the incredible food and very friendly staff every time. Yes, there are times when the music gets cranked up and everyone begins to party, but it is fun! \r \r My husband proposed to me in this restaurant, and we make a date to go back every year on our anniversary - this week is our 4th. When he told the staff he was going to propose, they changed the music to romantic Italian just for us. They made it one of the most memorable evenings of my life, and that is why I keep going back every time I have an opportunity and I'm never disappointed. This is the place I bring out of town friends to impress them.\r \r It is crowded every night because their food and atmosphere is so wonderful that people keep coming back! Pros: Food and service Cons: Can be crowded more

I have been to this place since it opened a number of times a year and I always have a wonderful time. Yes, it is pricy, but if you know how to have fun, you will have a blast when they start playing fun music and engaging the crowd in the party with silly hats! And yes, the food is great too. I have never had a bad meal in my many meals at Il Localino. However, I do not suggest this place to quiet-natured stuffy people. Parking is limited, but they have Valet's, so no problem for you. My advice--have fun with your servers and they will have fun with you! Pros: atmosphere, service, food more

I will never return to this place again. The menu was VERY overpriced. I felt pressured by the waitstaff in ordering items. The food was below average. The portions were very small for the high prices. I ended up paying $50 for a meal that I could say was taken out of a box from the frozed food section. Please dont go here. more

I agree with the other reviewers - don't go here on the cheap. This is NOT the place to share entrees, just eat appetizers, or just have a glass of wine. It is a small place in a restaurant crazy city they need to maximize their income on the hot night or go out of business. My wife and I went for our anniversary. I called ahead and told them to have the chef pick out our menu and serve wine with each course. Expensive? yes. Worth it? every penny!! We have never had more fun or better attention at any anniversary dinner including them clearing the tables back so my wife and I could have an anniversary dance. Highly recommended. Pros: Atmosphere, food/wine, good times more

We read the mixed reviews on CitySearch and were cautious at best. Some of what you read is very true. They require that you purchase an entree $20-$42 each. Salad $10. You receive baguette with olive oil for dipping, butter, olives, cheese slices for table appetizers-free. Calamari appetizer $10. It is a white cloth restuarant. I dont recommend that you go here on a first date or any date. Before you're finished with dinner they start playing very loud ""disco"" music and lights start flashing. If you're with a group though, this is wonderful. People start singing and some people start getting up to dance (wine helps at this point). So if you have a group looking for a nice meal, interesting decor, and that have the tendancy to get up and dance after a few glasses of wine, this place is for you. Prepare to spend approx $50 pp. Pros: great for groups Cons: pricey, bad for dates, entree a MUST more

Have you noticed how many people complaining here were all trying to share, or ""just"" have a glass of wine with their free appetizers? If you want to share or eat for a few bucks, then go to McDonalds! I have been to this restaurant several times. It's one of my favorites. The food is very good, the service is excellent. It's crowded because it's good! Don't complain about the crowd. Would you rather you were the only ones there? Then stay home and you can be the only ones there. Folks, if you want a really good dinner and a fun time while you are at it, and you aren't pinching pennies to do so, then eat here. If you are trying to save a buck and don't like a festive atmosphere, then don't come here. more

Went here for dinner and found the food ok. The restaurant was crowded that night and we were seated near the bar. The crowd at the bar and waiters were constantly rubbing up against our table and it was really loud. The final thing that really ruined the night though was that the bill came as we finished eating and I put my credit card with the bill. In hindsight, I should have sat on the bill for a while given that I didn't realize they would boot us from our table once they had our money. My date and I still had 1/2 glass of wine each, when another waiter came up to us and asked us to move to the bar. I now realize the disco lights and party hats are just a distraction so that people don't focus on the service. Pros: Food Cons: Service, Rudeness, Parking more

Look, if you want to go to an Italian place, do yourself a favor and go someplace else. If not, and you ""just can't wait to have a bad experience"", at least read the reviews and you'll know what to expect. Lets break it down here. All bad reviews say its a scam, over-priced, bad service. There's a reason for that! Pay atten to the review writers, all of the negative one's give real life, fact giving accounts, reasons and examples of why this place is BAD. Most of the positive ones talk about broad ""great"" service, and ""great"" food. My personal favorites are the one's that say ""Trust the owner"" . Look, 2 things are happening here, the reviewers are too stupid to realize they are face to face with a scam artist, so they write reviews that rave, or (now pay atten) the owners keep creating profiles to write good reviews just to counter all of the negative ones just to pull in the next idiot/out of towner! Look at all of the positive reviews and you'll see a common thread, they all lash out at the negative reviewers. If they were real patrons, they would write their review and thats it. Look at other restaurant reviews. There isn't such a vast difference/lashing out at all of the neg reviewers. Take a look at the review ""Scam"", that guy was SO right. I can't believe this place is still in business, See what happens when you get food on the table you didn't ask for and then see you were charged for it. Or when someone at a table of 12 wants to eat a small appetizer and wine and gets charged $50 bucks for sitting there. Its called STEALING. Hey, someone fight back and call the police. You would if someone mugged you out on the corner wouldn't you? What makes it ok behind a smirk and a table? But by all means, go, see for yourself, don't say you haven't been warned! Pros: Nada Cons: Read on... more

Please,if you do not enjoy great food,service and a good time,stay away from this place.Everyone is allowed to have an opinion,but most that have wrote reviews of this little gem are wrong.We went in with a party of 12 and were treated as if we were the only ones there even though the place was packed.After looking over the incredible wine list which fits any budget and placing our food orders which were also incredible,the place turned into a festival!! Suddenly the music turned retro-disco and the lights began to swirl and party hats were given to all with dancing and laughter abound!! If you cant have a good time there,you dont know what a good time is!! I highly suggest you try this place!!! Go in expecting a good time and leave with a smile from ear to ear and a satisfaction that most restaurants could never supply. Pros: Fun Fun Fun, Easy parking, Great wine,food more

My friends and I decided to try this place out. The people I was with wanted to have a light dinner and I wanted to sit and enjoy a glass of wine while they ate. When I ordered the wine, the waitress told me, ""Honey, eveyone is required to order an entree. If you want to only order wine, you'll have to sit at the bar."" I was shocked. When my friends asked about ordering appetizers as their entree, she told them the same thing. Needless to say, we left. I definitely do not recommend this place when there are plenty of other fabulous and friendly Italian restaurants in Atlanta. Cons: Bad Service, Expensive Food more

Their interest is to serve you as much as possible so you become a good profit. As soon as they notice you are not a good profit, if you will not go for all the antipasto(appetizers),wine and food they expect you to go for. You are not part of the familly any longer, there is NO-REAL customer interest. Our reservation was for-12, a waitress told us we had 3 tables but when the owner noticed we were using a third he rudely asked to empty the table. NOT-flexible, could not believe my ears when they said: ""We can't do separate checks because we don't have a computer."" We did not take computers so it took us 5minutes to divide the check. Even for sharing you have to pay a 5 dollar charge. If you go for the food be prepared to pay a full $100 for antipasto,salad,entrée,wine and dessert per/person. Pros: Good Food more

I find it interesting that a place like the Macaroni grill rates higher than this little treat. Between that place and the Olive Garden, no wonder ... I'm Italian. It's all about the sauce, and I have never found better sauce than I have found at Il Localino. I go there about once-a-month and have never ever had nothing but the best food and service. It's loud, but hey, when you're there you're family! Pros: Excellent sauce, Doting service, Fun Atmosphere more