Riccardi's

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 01-21-2014, 11:31 AM
philmonaco philmonaco is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Hemmingway
Posts: 16
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default Riccardi's

We visited this new Italian restaurant last night and am very glad we did.
They have several vegetarian appetizers which were quite good. The escarole was our favorite but the broccoli rabe was also quite good, especially the large pieces of garlic sauteed just right.
My wife enjoyed chicken Marco Polo and I had the Shrimp and Scallops over pasta. It was prepared with a brown sauce which I found unique and very tasty.

The selection of wines were good and pricing very reasonable.
Very nice decor and good service. Met the owners (father and son) and they seemed to genuinely want you to have a positive dining experience.

Riccardi's is a welcome addition to the Villages and if they keep the standards that we experienced last evening we will be back often.
  #2  
Old 01-21-2014, 12:11 PM
l2ridehd's Avatar
l2ridehd l2ridehd is offline
Sage
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Bridgeport At Miona Shores
Posts: 3,605
Thanks: 1
Thanked 352 Times in 121 Posts
Send a message via AIM to l2ridehd
Default

Where is Riccardi's located? I googled it and it did not come up.
__________________
Life is to short to drink cheap wine.
  #3  
Old 01-21-2014, 12:55 PM
Mikeod's Avatar
Mikeod Mikeod is offline
Sage
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Caroline
Posts: 5,021
Thanks: 0
Thanked 49 Times in 27 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by l2ridehd View Post
Where is Riccardi's located? I googled it and it did not come up.
Brownwood
__________________
"the difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits."
  #4  
Old 02-16-2014, 02:29 PM
hema54 hema54 is offline
Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 68
Thanks: 5
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Not impressed. The food was very bland, lacking flavor. We ordered a pizza and Veal parm. Neither was very good. I was really hoping the pizza would be good. Doubt we'll return.
  #5  
Old 02-16-2014, 02:44 PM
justjim justjim is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Illinois, Tennesee, Florida, Village of Caroline, Sanibel, LaBelle
Posts: 5,617
Thanks: 61
Thanked 1,297 Times in 535 Posts
Default

We haven't been yet----looking to go soon. I am always amazed at the different experiences at the same restaurants within approximate same times.
__________________
Most people are as happy as they make up their mind to be. Abraham Lincoln
  #6  
Old 02-16-2014, 08:35 PM
jpschlat jpschlat is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 13
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

We'll give it another chance but the first experience was not good. I had the seafood zuppe. It was rather bland and not a large portion. I had a similar dish at Hacienda last week It was $4 less, the portion was much larger and the flavor was great. My wife had the shrimp and scallops. The scallops were overcooked and the overall flavor was bland. By the way, the service was not good. They had only been open a couple of weeks, so maybe it will improve.
  #7  
Old 02-16-2014, 08:37 PM
MikeV's Avatar
MikeV MikeV is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Village of Charlotte
Posts: 1,380
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

We have been several times and are happy with it. We feel it is much better than Mezza Luna.
__________________
New Jersey, Texas, Mississippi, Delaware, Mississippi, Viet Nam, New York, Guam, New York, Massachusetts, New York, The Villages.
  #8  
Old 02-16-2014, 08:41 PM
Happinow's Avatar
Happinow Happinow is offline
Sage
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Queensbury, NY, The Villages
Posts: 2,626
Thanks: 64
Thanked 308 Times in 58 Posts
Default Follow your nose

Walked by there on Saturday and it smelled so good! If the aroma is indicative of what the food tastes like I think it will be a hit. I sure hope it does well.
  #9  
Old 02-16-2014, 09:05 PM
ugotme's Avatar
ugotme ugotme is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: The Village of Charlotte
Posts: 1,185
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by hema54 View Post
Not impressed. The food was very bland, lacking flavor. We ordered a pizza and Veal parm. Neither was very good. I was really hoping the pizza would be good. Doubt we'll return.

I usually avoid posting about restaurants because everyone has different tastes.

However, I must agree with you on this. Everything we had was very bland - need a lot of cheese and salt to give it flavor.

I sometimes wonder if places do not add spices because they think it may affect "older" people!
__________________
Brooklyn, NY; Bethpage, NY; Tamarac, FL and N O W The Village of CHARLOTTE !!!!
  #10  
Old 02-16-2014, 10:24 PM
almark45 almark45 is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 12
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Been there twice and it has been quite good. Going again this week with 20 people, so I'm hoping that the service and food will be as good as it has been on my last 2 visits.
  #11  
Old 02-17-2014, 05:27 AM
al & jane's Avatar
al & jane al & jane is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Little Rock AR - San Diego CA - Memphis TN - Ft Myers FL - Macon GA, Roswell GA - TV St Charles
Posts: 103
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

We went with friends a week after opening and would give it a C+ overall. One of our salads had a bug in it so our friend gave it to one of the owners who didn't apologize, just walked away with it and never returned with a fresh one. She finally had to ask the server to bring another one and the server didn't apologize either. I had chicken francese which was good but it was served over the tiniest portion of pasta I have ever had. Since that is the least expensive part of the meal, restaurants normally pile it on. Wife's pizza was good but nothing extraordinary.

Probably will not go back but predict that, like Red Sauce, it will stayed packed during the season and be a success not because of the food and service but because of the prime location in the square and that most of us love Italian food.
  #12  
Old 02-17-2014, 11:22 AM
RedChariot RedChariot is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 631
Thanks: 1,049
Thanked 367 Times in 106 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by al & jane View Post
We went with friends a week after opening and would give it a C+ overall. One of our salads had a bug in it so our friend gave it to one of the owners who didn't apologize, just walked away with it and never returned with a fresh one. She finally had to ask the server to bring another one and the server didn't apologize either. I had chicken francese which was good but it was served over the tiniest portion of pasta I have ever had. Since that is the least expensive part of the meal, restaurants normally pile it on. Wife's pizza was good but nothing extraordinary.

Probably will not go back but predict that, like Red Sauce, it will stayed packed during the season and be a success not because of the food and service but because of the prime location in the square and that most of us love Italian food.
We thought the same. I don't understand why they are not more generous with the pasta. Mezza Luna does the same thing when ordering an entree that comes with pasta. We were sitting across from a couple and they brought the gentleman what appeared to be chicken parm. I thought wow he ordered it without spaghetti. You could see his look of disappointment, but said nothing. Wrong. The mini portion was under the chicken. So little you could not see it. Restaurant owners listen. The pasta costs so little, but it will make your customer feel satisfied and that he got his money's worth. I must also address the noise and harried atmosphere at Riccardi's. Nice lighting etc, but I find the staff literally running here and there. This does not add to a relaxing dining experience. Been there twice. Not impressed.
__________________
Forgive My Edge-I'm from New Jersey.
  #13  
Old 02-17-2014, 11:47 AM
Finallyfree Finallyfree is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Smyrna,GA
Posts: 205
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Been there twice, first time with 10 ladies, everything was good portion wise and excellent in flavor. Next time with another couple again, food, service etc. was great. I have brought home a box both times and I can eat. I did tell the owner their wine prices are high comparatively speaking and he said they will eventually be doing a happy hour. We will definitely be going back!
__________________
Village of Charlotte
TN, Chicago, Army, Atlanta, TV
  #14  
Old 02-26-2014, 05:06 PM
dmssenick dmssenick is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 1
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Had lunch the other day, great food and the bartender server Ashley was a real gem, returned the following night with some friends from out of town, I wish I hadn't raved so much from my lunch, they were very crowded, dinner service was very poor and slow, food was same it seems when the crowds get very large the kitchen can not keep up with the quality I experienced at lunch. I sent my chicken marsala back it was dry and tasteless, manager Joe seemed unconcerned did not offer anything other than he would take it off the bill ( no kidding ) everyone else said food was OK except my wife's Tortellini was like soup.

I will wait until they get there act together, I will post again if I ever decide to eat there.

Bill S
Oxford
  #15  
Old 02-26-2014, 07:59 PM
Xmrsj Xmrsj is offline
Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 55
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

We were there last Sunday. Food was awful, bland, tasteless. You can buy better sauce in a jar. We have yet to find a good Italian restaurant in this entire area. Red Sauce and Olive Garden seem to be better than any of the other Italian restaurants we have tried, including Giovanni's and Mom and Pop's if whatever it is called. We tried the Greek a Restaurant in Spanish Springs and that was awful too, although they had the best calamari other than the one Lopez serves. The better food seems to be at the country clubs.
Closed Thread

Thread Tools

You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:05 AM.