Ricciardi's Italian Restaurant ...ugh
 

We dined @Ricciardi's Italian Restaurant last night and I have to say it was the " Worst " Italian food I have ever eaten Yes the " Worst ".

I have spoken to the owner Joe twice in the past regrading the food served at his restaurant. The last time about 4 months ago...and thought we would give it one more try.

We had Chicken Sorrentino it was horrible slop..obviously sent it back after talking with the manager.

We had a salad, bread sticks, a glass of wine each..and hit the road.

Never again....a heads up to those who are planning on going there.

It has actually gotten worse since Joe has taken over from his Father. How this place stays open is a mystery to me. The location is prime, the interior terrific...but it's all window dressing. :plane:

If you tell us how you really feel it might be more helpful :icon_hungry:

We tried twice after they opened- had similar conversation with Joe--you're absolutely correct its location & convenience
--the only place we frequent in Brownwood is City Fire--Ricciardi's has to be the worst so called Italian food in the area--their food reminds me of bland nursing food home I experience when I visited aging relatives.

We went there about 10 months ago and it was not that bad.

we like to sit @ the bar all the time, this way we get a chance to interact with different people and we can actually see how the drinks we order are made.

slop may be the correct word, for food that is just thrown together with zero care or attention

We have gone there twice and were satisfied with the food.

This is interesting as we and several couples have eaten there on several occasions, and never had a bad meal. Cannot speak to the Chicken Sorrento as I have never ordered that particular dish.

I'm not trying to counteract your experiences. We love going to Ricciardi's for their excellent food. One meal is better than the one before. They stayed late on the first night when we arrived after I explained we were tired, had traveled all day and asked for a quick meal. These people are like family to us. We wish them success. I'm qualified to be critical of food, I'm a professional, trust me.

Glad you liked them. Brownwood is a ways from the Historical Side of the Villages.

There was another gem in Spanish Springs--Luiginos--they're gonzo

Chefs of Napoli III is the only Italian restaurant that has really good food. Giovanni's is OK and close to home, but that's about it.

We like Giovanni's. Flippers Pizzeria is good too. The Villages

I listen to food criticism from people who say the squid was overcooked. Too heavy a hand with lemon. The oysters were not fresh.

I don't know the people who own this restaurant. It was fine the times we eat there. I know that things like this can really hurt a person's business and I feel for that.

Perhaps I don't know what slop is. But I kinda think you are wrong.

I never liked Luigino's==their bar was OK-tried to eat there once, but we split, when the wait staff didn't know anything, when we asked them a few questions

Little kids aren't paying the bill so an adult has every right to claim a restaurant is serving slop.

My mother said it was starving children in Europe. She had no concern for Africa.

It was on the arrival day. We were looking for a room at the inn and they took us in. Forever grateful.

I've had several rough meals at other places but made the best of it and nobody knew I suffered through a meal. I wouldn't tell the name of the places even under cross examination. It makes it like you have a cloud over you and you become known as a NUDGE. Talk :cus: about something positive, its hard enough to stay in business, nobody was injured or died at one of these establishments.

We tried them about 2 months after they opened. 6 of us went and I have to say 2 said it was okay and 4 of us didn't like it. We decided to try them again about 6 months later and we thought it was good. We have only been a couple of times and liked it.

Another food thread. Clint Eastwood...........The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Okay, I will play along.

Been there a number of times. Slow, slow service one time. No complains about the food by me or anyone in our groups during all our visits.

Qualifications to judge: I eat every day.

:pepper2:

Ricciardi's Italian Restaurant ...ugh
 

Too fancy. I enjoy a good pizzeria doing mostly take out with a few tables for sitting in. Typically good Italian meals for a fraction of what the pretentious joints cost.
Not into the atmosphere or fancy tableware. It's all about the food, nothing else matters.

We used to enjoy them and the last 2 times didn't care for the restaurant at all.
We no longer go to any Brownwood restaurants.
Even Toojay's we go to the one in LSL.
It's sad since we live a little closer to Brownwood.

Go to Brownwood for a movie and a snack @ City Fire--nothing there that interests us,else

We love the go to Ricciardi's! The menu offers a lot of variety and the food is very good. They have also been accommodating to offer us food items not on the menu when they have the meat or fish available. Service has usually been excellent and the management frequently stops by and asks if we need anything or how we enjoyed our visit.

So some food for thought. Those of us who live nearest to Brownwood should support our local businesses. If there is a constructive criticism, share it with the management, or don't go back. These restaurant and retail owners have made a large investment in our growing community. We would like Brownwood to grow as Lake Sumter Landing has, which won't happen by tearing down the small businesses that have elected to be here in The Villages.

We have our right to be critics, let the out of town tourists make a mistake, if I can prevent a fellow Villager from making a mistake,the--I will never recommend Tire Choice--maybe you will if they open a store in Brownwood go there and learn for yourself

This is making me hungry for Italian;

Menu

We love Carrabbas. It is closer to us than Ricciardis.

We get a pizza takeout, eat on the lanai with good wine

:bigbow:

That's why there are choices....for those that slam a restuaraunt we appreciate they don't go back but please, don't let your ego get in the way......you are not the definative word on what's good and what's not....only the expert on what you like. Trying to set yourself as the expert and then blatanly telling people you are the expert and therefore we shouldn't go to a specific place because you say we shouldn't go is just rude. I was ok with the post until the "heads up to those who are planning to go". We can make our own decisions as unbelievable as that may sound.

Great comment! :bigbow:

That's incredible, especially since there's an Olive Garden here, and that IS just awful food.

:BigApplause::BigApplause:

In my Google Newsfeed an article from The Exception Magazine, which is published in Portland Maine, listed the top ten Diners and Cafe's for Hardcore Foodies in TV. Ricciardi's was number 7, City Fire was number 9. Everybody is entitled to their opinion. If you want to read it you can find it through Google search.

I must take exception with The Exception Magazine. First of all Wikipedia describes them as "The Exception Magazine is an online news magazine that covers Maine. It is headquartered in Portland, Maine." Why should I trust a magazine about Maine to tell me about the restaurants in The Villages?

My search for their reviews of restaurants in TV resulted in four different listings listed below in addition to the article noted in the quoted post. One of them begins with the statement "The Villages, Florida simply has the best grub joints in the country. Don’t believe us? They will cause chaos in your stomach because you will stuff yourself to sleep." That statement is absurd! All of the lists are fairly recent also based upon the restaurants listed.

We have lived in TV for just over six years and have eaten in over 270 different restaurants, many more than once, in that time. While we do enjoy many of the restaurants in TV, there are many, many options within a 90 minute drive and many are better than ANY of TV restaurants.

The Exception Magazine articles I found. There may be more:

13 Destinations for a Fun Time in The Villages, Florida

9 Swank Restaurants for Business Travelers of The Villages, Florida

12 Stunning Restaurants to Understand Life In The Villages, Florida

10 Dining Destinations That Turn Food Into Art in The Villages, Florida

Not to praise or criticize Carrabba's, but do they really fit into all four of these categories?

As I said, everyone has their opinion. Food is a personal choice, and one person's tastes shouldn't be the benchmark for everyone. You enjoy Carrabba's and that's great then you should eat there. Those the don't like Carrabba's should go somewhere else (yeah I know a few that don't). My point was that Exception Magazine was just one more opinion....nothing more.

We go to Ricciardi's Bloody Mary Bar on Sunday's. It is great with a breakfast pizza. Try it ! Love their Bolognese sauce. No complaints here !

Give me a break! Exception "Magazine" is nothing more than an ad mill. All the listings are not opinions - they're just ads.

And what exactly does "12 Stunning Restaurants to Understand Life In The Villages, Florida" mean? You eat at Carrabba's and you have better understanding of what?

Besides, all their categories have the same winners.

Even YELP accepts reviews from the restaurant owner and his/her competitor. So you don't know what's real and what's made up. It's pretty worthless. I've seen YELP reviews on restaurants that were not even open yet. !!!

The internet is no longer an information channel - it's a big advertising channel.

Skip

Don't disagree but no worse than posters on here telling Villagers what they should consider a good place to eat and tearing down an establishement because they don't like it. As I said earlier, we can make our own decisions and should.

THANK YOU!!! Great post. I've taken my grandchildren to Riccardi's to "make their own pizza." It's their "go to" place in The Villages. What great memories. I have also had good meals at Riccardi's. Love the Brownwood location.
I just get tired of people who are self-proclaimed experts.

Double Billed
 

dupl post

Double billed??.........did you give them too much cash??....did you sign a credit card slip for twice the amount?? How did they double bill you without you knowing it??

If it shows up on your CC statement as a double bill, your CC company can reject the charge.

dupl post