Ricciardi's disappointing

[MMarco]

Our dinner experience at Ricciardi's last night was disappointing. It started with a refusal to be seated in the restaurant with an excuse that all of the tables were "reserved" when there were numerous tables for four evident to us. Also, when was the last time you were able to make a reservation anywhere in the Villages with less than 8 in your party? We didn't enjoy dining outside near the bar especially when the restaurant allows pets in this area. The real disturbing issue here is the waiters who pet the dogs and them come to serve you at your table. A lesson in restaurant hygiene may be in order.

The food quality and preparation has been changing too. My fish was not well prepared and the sauce that it was to be served with was pitifully almost non existent on the plate.

There are a few good choices for Italian dining in the Villages, Ricciardi's seem to be working itself down to the bottom of our list.

[golfing eagles]

Our dinner experience at Ricciardi's last night was disappointing. It started with a refusal to be seated in the restaurant with an excuse that all of the tables were "reserved" when there were numerous tables for four evident to us. Also, when was the last time you were able to make a reservation anywhere in the Villages with less than 8 in your party? We didn't enjoy dining outside near the bar especially when the restaurant allows pets in this area. The real disturbing issue here is the waiters who pet the dogs and them come to serve you at your table. A lesson in restaurant hygiene may be in order.

The food quality and preparation has been changing too. My fish was not well prepared and the sauce that it was to be served with was pitifully almost non existent on the plate.

There are a few good choices for Italian dining in the Villages, Ricciardi's seem to be working itself down to the bottom of our list.

Ate there last year about a month after it opened. It was, well, less than a spectacular restaurant experience. Disappointed to hear that there doesn't look to be much improvement, love Italian and live close to BW

[Villager Joyce]

I'm sorry to hear this. Riccardis is in our restaurant rotation. We almost always ask to be seated outside. I almost always order the vegetable stack off the appetizer menu and have never been disappointed. Hopefully this will be true next month.

[Jima64]

If I saw a waiter petting a dog and not washing hands before handling food the minimum I would do is ask for the manager. Depending on how they responded I would also contact the health dept. i know I sound grumpy, love my two dogs.

[TheVillageChicken]

The last time I commented on this joint it resulted in the thread being closed, so I won't say anything about the waiter whose shirt was saturated with sweat.

[asianthree]

but I don't think that I should infringe my pet on your life. Especially at a restaurant so what the bad posting begin. asked for the manager. I do not like to sit outside no matter what the weather is. And if it was a problem I probably would've chose to dine somewhere else.

[Chatbrat]

Went to Ricciardi's once, asked the owner-"is this your bread" he said yes--walked out never been back--an Italian restaurant that doesn't have Good bread is not an Italian restaurant

[KeepingItReal]

The real disturbing issue here is the waiters who pet the dogs and them come to serve you at your table. A lesson in restaurant hygiene may be in order.




It is not only disturbing but against the law and it requires a permit which outlines their requirements to allow dogs on patios. There are many threads on the subject but it's like trying to push a rope. On our now last visit there some time ago a lady had a small lap dog inside some kind of a large purse at a booth with it's head right up on the table. Dog's outside are one thing but inside up at the table is just toooo much... To make it worse a waitress was right at the table talking to them and just wiped the table as usual when they left and then seated new customers in the booth.

[Callaway Guy]

I have nothing against Italian food; growing up in the South, it was always Southern food. I swear that my wife could eat it 3 meals a day so I'll always get spaghetti and meatballs; one time at the aforementioned place I ordered that and the waitress rolled her eyes. Needless to say, we've never been back. Meatballs tasted like what I imagine Old Roy dog food would taste like anyway.

[Kent4Cardinals]

Even though I see that I am in the minority I would like to reverse the trend here. I have been to this restaurant on numerous occasions. I greatly enjoy the place and have not had any issues with the food, wait staff , nor the managers. And, I have many friends that also enjoy Ricciardi's on a regular basis.

[kaydee]

Never HAD a complaint about this place but I do now. If serving staff are allowed to touch a guests animal & then serve my food then that's a problem and I won't chance eating there.

[Skip]

Got a cell phone?
Take a photo of the petting server and send it to The Florida Department of Health ( 850-245-4299 ).
That's a serious violation.

Skip

[Skip]

Here's the law in part:

(c) In order to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public, the local exemption ordinance shall include such regulations and limitations as deemed necessary by the participating local government and shall include, but not be limited to, the following requirements:
1. All public food service establishment employees shall wash their hands promptly after touching, petting, or otherwise handling dogs. Employees shall be prohibited from touching, petting, or otherwise handling dogs while serving food or beverages or handling tableware or before entering other parts of the public food service establishment.
2. Patrons in a designated outdoor area shall be advised that they should wash their hands before eating. Waterless hand sanitizer shall be provided at all tables in the designated outdoor area.
3. Employees and patrons shall be instructed that they shall not allow dogs to come into contact with serving dishes, utensils, tableware, linens, paper products, or any other items involved in food service operations.
4. Patrons shall keep their dogs on a leash at all times and shall keep their dogs under reasonable control.
5. Dogs shall not be allowed on chairs, tables, or other furnishings.
6. All table and chair surfaces shall be cleaned and sanitized with an approved product between seating of patrons. Spilled food and drink shall be removed from the floor or ground between seating of patrons.

Skip

[Skip]

And the only restaurants in The Villages with OUTDOOR exception permits are...
Square One Burgers (CR466A)
Cody's Original Roadhouse (Brownwood)
Crispers (Southern Trace)
Johnny Rockets (LSL)
Flipper Pizzeria (SpSp)
++++++++++
Ricciardi's isn't one of them.
So pets in any seating area there (in or out) is against the law.

Skip

[banjobob]

I was a restaurant owner for many many years and to me its stupid for people to bring their pets to a restaurant , unless its a service animal for cripes sake leave them at home not at a restaurant, I would visit a restaurant only once if they allowed animals in eating areas.

[Chatbrat]

If you have enjoyed quality Italian food, I'm not talking excellent, but good. You would have one mouthful of what Ricciardis calls Italian food & walk out.

Pizza makes a pizza parlor not an Italian restaurant-Flippers & Bravos are pizza parlors, they are not Italian restaurants.

IMHO, you have to go to Sy.Pete for Italian food--it doesn't exist here.

[Villager Joyce]

I don't judge a restaurant by its ethnicity. I judge it by its cleanliness, staff and if I like the taste of the food. I like the taste of the vegetable stack I get at riccardis. It is food, not Italian food, and I like the way it tastes. I order seafood in a steak house, but that doesn't make it a bad steak.

[graciegirl]

If you have enjoyed quality Italian food, I'm not talking excellent, but good. You would have one mouthful of what Ricciardis calls Italian food & walk out.

Pizza makes a pizza parlor not an Italian restaurant-Flippers & Bravos are pizza parlors, they are not Italian restaurants.

IMHO, you have to go to Sy.Pete for Italian food--it doesn't exist here.





The best Italian meat sauce I have ever enjoyed....and I am a person raised in a German Community in Ohio, is the meat sauce on spaghetti at Stavros in Leesburg. And very inexpensive too. half an order is as big as a full order other places and costs$4.99. Really, really, really yummy.


This is for the folks who don't know good Italian. I just know what tastes yummy. Stavros is not fancy, but the servers have all been there for years and years and are very nice. I hate the salad...it is Greek and I don't like it but the meat sauce served at Stavros is deeee lish a mus.

[CFrance]

Got a cell phone?
Take a photo of the petting server and send it to The Florida Department of Health ( 850-245-4299 ).
That's a serious violation.

Skip
But also have a photo proving the server didn't wash his hands.

[Skip]

But also have a photo proving the server didn't wash his hands.

Not necessary.

Employees shall be prohibited from touching, petting, or otherwise handling dogs while serving food or beverages or handling tableware or before entering other parts of the public food service establishment.

If they are on the clock and walk back into the seating area, they violated the law. This statement doesn't talk about washing hands.

Skip

[raynan]

Several of us in our neighborhood are in total agreement that the food at Ricciardi's has deteriorated in the last few months. Management doesn't seem to care when brought to their attention. Don't know what has changed there recently but definitely not for the better and you will see many more complaints once the birds get back and see and taste the difference.

[Sage327]

We still enjoy Ricciard's and think that their veal is the best. Never a problem with staff or management. A couple of weeks ago we had dinner at popular Italian restaurant outside of The Villages and the chicken Parmesan was so over cooked it was like shoe leather.

[rubicon]

The best Italian meat sauce I have ever enjoyed....and I am a person raised in a German Community in Ohio, is the meat sauce on spaghetti at Stavros in Leesburg. And very inexpensive too. half an order is as big as a full order other places and costs$4.99. Really, really, really yummy.


This is for the folks who don't know good Italian. I just know what tastes yummy. Stavros is not fancy, but the servers have all been there for years and years and are very nice. I hate the salad...it is Greek and I don't like it but the meat sauce served at Stavros is deeee lish a mus.


GG: The best Italian meat sauce I ever had was from one of the best Italian cooks ever, my mother. Italian sauce is an Italian's lifeblood.

The best veal scaloppine I ever had was at a restaurant in my home town called the Italian Rex (now Lasca's). Even my mother raved about this woman's cooking. What a treat this restaurant was until her husband got middle age crazy and flew the coop with a young waitress causing the restaurant to fold. I was a young kid when this happened and I still hate that guy for denying my hometown this wonderful chef and restaurant.

In my view Giovanni's presents a decent meal. I believe he does so because he emigrated from Naples and so when he calls his restaurant an Italian restaurant it rings true. too many call themselves Italian and all they do is apply Italian ingredients to food and any ethnic cooking is more than ingredients, its attitude..its like my mother would say "can't you hear that pasta dough speaking to me knead me more if you want your gnocchi to turn out well" and don't forget to rice the potatoes

[Wandatime]

I agree Ricciardi's isn't the most fabulous Italian food in the world but I wouldn't call it horrible. It is just mediocre -- like most restaurants around town. However, it sure is convenient to be able to jump in the golf cart and go there every once in a while. On occasion I'll accept mediocre for a five minute cart ride versus over the top fabulous but I have to drive a ways to get it.

Every time I've been there the owner is walking around talking to guests; on my last visit he came by our table three times. He seems very personable. If someone had an issue with a dish it appears they would be given every opportunity to let him know about it.

I've never seen a dog there, but if I did I would ask for the manager, as this is a violation of health code.

[Jima64]

Would some explain to me exactly why their dish was so horrible. I see all the negative reviews.

[Villager Joyce]

Would some explain to me exactly why their dish was so horrible. I see all the negative reviews.

Because it isn't as good as his/her mama made or you could eat in a GENUINE Italian restaurant from wherever he/she came from.

[rubicon]

Would some explain to me exactly why their dish was so horrible. I see all the negative reviews.

Jima: I suspect a part of the reason for negative reviews has to do with expectations. Expectations have to do with previous eating experiences at other restaurants, etc.

I also suspect part of the reason has to do with the manner or use of ingredients, ergo taste, taste being individual. I for one do not like the aroma of cumin or boiled chicken .

I also suspect it has to do with the quality of product. Ask a person from Maine what they think about lobster here or people from Maryland about grab cakes, New Yorkers deli or pizza places.....

I also believe a part of it has to do with the quality of service and the cleanliness of the restaurant. Let a restaurant close once for failing a health inspection and I will never return...never

In my view you can't blame people for complaining because they spend a good deal and expect value for their dollar.

what surprises me is that given that we have people from all over the world here. People who are captive customers that there are not more quality restaurants...and I don't equate five star with quality. I'd be satisified to have a few of those triple D restaurant that Guy Fiera brings to TV.

Finally I believe a good part of it has to do with very poor management

Personal Best Regards: