Italian Garden

This restaurant has become a favorite of ours. Despite only 3-4 visits per year, the waitstaff recognizes us by name and even remembers our favorite wine! The food is fresh (and you will wait a little longer than at the Italian chains for it to be served) and is served in several courses at dinner time. The atmosphere is very casual, but the furnishings are showing their age, so don't expect ""elegant."" Portion sizes are pretty big. The quality of the food is excellent; I've never had a bad experience with anything I've ordered.\r \r Don't visit the restaurant at dinner time if you are in a big hurry as much of the food is cooked to order (even the coffee is made fresh when ordered!). If you want a quiet place without many distractions to enjoy good food, good service and good conversation with your spouse and/or good friends, the Italian Garden won't disappoint! Pros: Great food, great service and quiet! Cons: Furnishings are showing their age more

Thought the prices were too high - although you did get several courses. Lasagna was a bit watery (or was that grease?). Nice mini-pizza first course, though. No wait - as in no other people there. more

Too often people turn their noses up at any ""Italian"" restaurant that isn't either on the snobbish side or dripping with romantic settings (or both). I eat out Italian for the FOOD, not for bragging rights or the atmosphere. Italian Garden has the food down, from the pre-meal soup to the pre-meal mini-pizzas (both included with supper entres!) to the main courses. Skip the big pizzas and go right for the pasta dishes - piping hot with the cheese baked crisp around the edges - fantastic! And it's all a great value with supper entres averaging about $10. You'll be seated quickly but may have to wait a bit on the food beause at Italian Garden it appaerently ""takes as long as it takes""... Pros: inexpensive, good food, not crowded Cons: slightly dumpy, long cooking times more