Ricciardi's review

[hchiava1]

Four of us had dinner at Ricciardi's last night. This was not our first time but it might be our last. The only decent dinner out of the four was the chicken marsala. I had fettuccine alfredo and it had "0" flavor to it. The tortellini with garlic sauce looked like it was served in a very watery sauce with no flavor. The rigatoni and sausage was overcooked and tasted average at best. Our waiter was great and tried to get someone to help him like the manager but to no avail. We saw the manager several times but he failed to come over to our table. Maybe he has been neutered - I don't know. I guess if you want good Italian food you should go to Chef's of Napoli.

[DonH57]

Four of us had dinner at Ricciardi's last night. This was not our first time but it might be our last. The only decent dinner out of the four was the chicken marsala. I had fettuccine alfredo and it had "0" flavor to it. The tortellini with garlic sauce looked like it was served in a very watery sauce with no flavor. The rigatoni and sausage was overcooked and tasted average at best. Our waiter was great and tried to get someone to help him like the manager but to no avail. We saw the manager several times but he failed to come over to our table. Maybe he has been neutered - I don't know. I guess if you want good Italian food you should go to Chef's of Napoli.

If the food was bland and watery maybe the chef had been been the one fixed. Did I just say that? Thinking aloud again!:shocked:

[billethkid]

Bad management remains bad and count on folks not seeking them out.
Richiardi's is supposedly family owned and certainly sounds like, based on many similar posts, they are uninvolved, uninformed or are and do not care!

It is so simple to have a successful place for good food.

Too bad. I hope more people seek out the owners. I think they have another place in Tampa or Orlando.

[Chatbrat]

Honestly they don't care-went there twice after they first opened-tastes more like nursing home or hospital food- their bread is the worst in the villages. The place is a personification of a tourist trap. Get suckers in who don't know anything about Italian food.

[Jeff/Tracy]

We went last night and wish we'd went somewhere else. Disappointed in the service and the food.

[rubicon]

I have been there once ..ONCE

[Chatbrat]

Luigino's went away for basically the same reasons- drove around the square last night-the only restaurant doing REAL business was City Fire.

[Ecuadog]

... I guess if you want good Italian food you should go to Chef's of Napoli.

Bingo.

[raynan]

What is going on? 8 of us at Mezza Luna last night and we got there at 4:30. Lousy service, meals cold, sent back and took forever to get them back again. Manager too busy to help out having his help lighting candles and washing the front door. They are understaffed and none of the 8 meals were good. Our veal parm, which we have enjoyed there in the past several times, was very tough and edges were like they were freezer burned. The place was freezing cold and nothing was done when several people, other than us, complained until a couple came in and realized how cold it was and they refused to be seated and left, then the manager turned down the A/C and blowers.

[Chatbrat]

Dumb & dumber management- sons of owners-better smarten up-whatta are you gonna do when your dad goes bankrupt

[themachoman]

What is going on? 8 of us at Mezza Luna last night and we got there at 4:30. Lousy service, meals cold, sent back and took forever to get them back again. Manager too busy to help out having his help lighting candles and washing the front door. They are understaffed and none of the 8 meals were good. Our veal parm, which we have enjoyed there in the past several times, was very tough and edges were like they were freezer burned. The place was freezing cold and nothing was done when several people, other than us, complained until a couple came in and realized how cold it was and they refused to be seated and left, then the manager turned down the A/C and blowers.

When will you folks get the message that these two joints are awful. Yes, I know they originally got great reviews from a small hand full of your buddies but by and large they are pretty bad. Perhaps you should be thinking of which restaurants not to go to depending on which regulars recommend them.

[fredthefisherman]

The good food at restaurants in New England is something I miss here.

[simpkinp]

Had some great food to go yesterday from Francescos in Baylee Plaza. Give them a try. Some of their dishes are BOGO to go only. Add a salad at home and you have a nice meal The food was well seasoned and their San Marino Tomato sauce is excellent. Manager is on site and very involved. It makes a difference.

[raynan]

Ricciardi's had gone downhill as far as service and food so we switched to Mezza Luna in the last year. I know they were awful a couple of years ago but we gave them another shot last year and they've been great for about the last 10 months. Now they're terrible again. It won't take long for the word to get out about the food and service and management. It's a shame because Kathleen Kane was the singer last night and she was great.

[Northwoods]

We've been to Riccardi's multiple times. We've been happy with their food and service. We really like their pizza. I think you have to compare Riccardi's to the other restaurants in Brownwood. We prefer to it every other restaurant... except maybe City Fire. So if you want a restaurant that is golf cart accessible... I think Riccardi's is a good choice.

[Chatbrat]

Pizza doesn't make a restaurant Italian. Dominos is not an Italian restaurant.

[Taltarzac725]

Ricciardi's Italian Table - Gourmet Italian Dining The Villages, Fl - Ricciardi's Italian Table - Our Table (http://www.ricciardisitalian.com/ricciardis-italtian-table/)

We went there last month for lunch and it was OK. I do not have a very educated palette however.

[perrjojo]

Went there once.....awful food, good waiter.

[Chatbrat]

Lots of people in the Villages love paying for Chef Boyardee as long as a server brings it to them. Golly I really wanted to eat some real Italian food. Things are pretty bad when they have to water down canned sauce.

[onslowe]

Ah yes, it's Sunday here in America's friendliest hometown. :(

[Chatbrat]

Nothing to do with being friendly-I don't like seeing neighbors & residents getting ripped off by restaurant who should know better. Chef's of Napoli is above average, so is the Italian restaurant next to Publix @ Virginia Trace.

[RickeyD]

Been here several times. Never a problem with the food or service.

[KathieI]

Nothing to do with being friendly-I don't like seeing neighbors & residents getting ripped off by restaurant who should know better. Chef's of Napoli is above average, so is the Italian restaurant next to Publix @ Virginia Trace.

I'm assuming you mean Giovanni's, in Southern Trace plaza???

[Sandtrap328]

Chefs of Napoli was the absolute worst Italian food that I ever ate. I ordered Eggplant Parm which is very tasty at most places and is not hard to fix.

The eggplant was sliced wafer thin, boiled, and stacked betwen unmelted slices of cheese and covered with a very bland tomato sauce. It was not even browned in the broiler. No waiter or manager stopped by our table during the meal.

A friend who was with us ordered the veal "special of the day". She didn't ask the price and about choked when she found out it was $29.95.

Stay away from Chefs of Napoli!!!

[RickeyD]

Chefs of Napoli was the absolute worst Italian food that I ever ate. I ordered Eggplant Parm which is very tasty at most places and is not hard to fix.

The eggplant was sliced wafer thin, boiled, and stacked betwen unmelted slices of cheese and covered with a very bland tomato sauce. It was not even browned in the broiler. No waiter or manager stopped by our table during the meal.

A friend who was with us ordered the veal "special of the day". She didn't ask the price and about choked when she found out it was $29.95.

Stay away from Chefs of Napoli!!!

The eggplant was sliced wafer thin, boiled, and stacked betwen unmelted slices of cheese and covered with a very bland tomato sauce. It was not even browned in the broiler.

GROSS !!!

[Chatbrat]

Looks like Giovanni's is the only Italian restaurant to go to in the villages. Haven't been to Chef's of Napoli in close to a year. Restaurants change just like the weather,

[Pharmer]

My wife and I ate at Mezza Luna about 12 days ago. The food was okay but our waiter's clothes smelled like he had been working on his car's motor. When he brought us the check I noticed that his hands and finger nails were black with grease. I sent a polite email to their website but never received a reply.

[Villager Joyce]

When will you folks get the message that these two joints are awful. Yes, I know they originally got great reviews from a small hand full of your buddies but by and large they are pretty bad. Perhaps you should be thinking of which restaurants not to go to depending on which regulars recommend them.

I don't make decisions based on reviews because people judge food by what they are used to eating or where they ate it and those people think their opinion is the ONLY opinion. I look at restaurant reviews on cleanliness not flavor. Besides, lots of posters, regulars or new, are hateful people that you can't please. Why would I go on their opinion? You might be missing out on a good meal because someone else bashes it. Look first to see if the poster bashes everything.

[cmj1210]

I don't make decisions based on reviews because people judge food by what they are used to eating or where they ate it and those people think their opinion is the ONLY opinion. I look at restaurant reviews on cleanliness not flavor. Besides, lots of posters, regulars or new, are hateful people that you can't please. Why would I go on their opinion? You might be missing out on a good meal because someone else bashes it. Look first to see if the poster bashes everything.


[emoji106]

[Jimigolf]

Nothing to do with being friendly-I don't like seeing neighbors & residents getting ripped off by restaurant who should know better. Chef's of Napoli is above average, so is the Italian restaurant next to Publix @ Virginia Trace.

Do you mean Southern Trace?

[Chatbrat]

Yep its Giovanni's

[JoMar]

I don't make decisions based on reviews because people judge food by what they are used to eating or where they ate it and those people think their opinion is the ONLY opinion. I look at restaurant reviews on cleanliness not flavor. Besides, lots of posters, regulars or new, are hateful people that you can't please. Why would I go on their opinion? You might be missing out on a good meal because someone else bashes it. Look first to see if the poster bashes everything.

I agree. Most haters on here base their comments on one visit and will never go back....give me a break. Fortunately TOTV is a small % of total population and have minimal impact based on the crowds at most of the restaurants. If you don't like the food or service that's your choice, just don't try to influence others....we are adults and can make our own choices.

[Villageswimmer]

I agree. Most haters on here base their comments on one visit and will never go back....give me a break. Fortunately TOTV is a small % of total population and have minimal impact based on the crowds at most of the restaurants. If you don't like the food or service that's your choice, just don't try to influence others....we are adults and can make our own choices.


Really? I find opinions offered a very important aspect of this forum. Has nothing to do with "haters." It's just opinions. Seems people like to throw the "hater" word around with any one they don't agree with. Take away opinions and you don't have much of a forum left. Just MHO.

[Miles42]

I do read the reviews as the saying goes where there is smoke there is fire. To many complaints can't be good.

[dotti105]

We went to Riccardi's as a group of 10 on Friday night about 7pm. Not the ideal time to be seated and served. The place was hopping.

We took a high top at the bar. Our waiter, whose name I did not get, unfortunatley, was great. He made sure we had full drinks and yummy crusty cheesy bread to snack on as our order was prepared. It look longer than usual, being such a large party, but all the orders were correctly prepared and everyone enjoyed their meal.

It was crazy busy and our waiter had 3 other large groups at the same time. great service, great food and lovely atmosphere.