We recently held a remembrance gathering at 411 West Italian Restaurant to honor my wife of 70 years who passed away recently. Before reserving our private dining room, I was concerned that we might encounter the usual delays and miscommunication I've experienced several times in the past with other restaurants. Instead, we received professional, compassionate, timely, and reassuring service at every step. Coordination meetings with Mr. O'Connell took minutes instead of hours because he seemed able to anticipate exactly what we needed. Each concern was answered with "You don't have to worry - we'll take care of it" - and they did. The dining room was set beautifully, and it nicely accommodated our nearly 20 guests. Every detail was beautifully executed and timed just as we had requested. The special menu prepared for us was a major hit with or guests. And our server, Marley, was absolutely superb - perhaps the best, the friendliest, and most efficient in my memory. I'm now in my 90s, and I've seldom seriously used the word "perfect" to describe anything. But Mr. O'Connell and his staff, the dinner, the beverage service, and the attention to detail deserve a "perfect" rating. They have my family's and my highest recommendation and our sincere appreciation. BVC Chapel Hill, NC read more

Went last Wednesday our server Angus was wonderful, polite, and attentive. Food was amazing! Loved my chicken marsala actually wanted more. My husband enjoyed his chicken parm and a margarita pizza. We ordered calamari as an app and it was delicious. Will be back again. read more

Started off with a espresso martini (tequila) that included chocolate syrup. It was tasty, although I didn't get a caffeine pick me up, as expected. The person I was with ordered the same, with vodka, and she felt the caffeine. My dining partner and I began with the Wood Grilled Pear salad (small) and it was very tasty. I would order again. Meanwhile, bread was delivered to the table. The bread had no taste and was disappointing. Our entrees were lasagna and lemon linguine (with scallops & shrimp). Both were tasty. The star of the meal was the double chocolate geleto!! It was absolutely delicious and one order was enough for 2. It was served with a lemon biscotti that was the best biscotti I've ever tasted. The ambiance was not my favorite, however just personal preference. There are a few small parking lots nearby that are metered. There is 1 handicap parking space beside the restaurant (also metered). The service was solid. read more

411 West Italian Cafe - "Lemon linguine" - Italian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Well this was definitely worth the wait yall. Had dinner here a few weeks ago when my parents where in town. I knew about this place for a while but just never had an opportunity to eat here. I got the chicken marsala and glass of their house chardonnay. Both were amazing! Our server was wonderful too. Very helpful on menu suggestions and was so polite. My parents also got the house chardonnay, wish I could remember the name. My dad got the chicken parmesan and mom got the lasagna. Both were very happy with their selections. The atmosphere was very warm and inviting. Next time I'll definitely grab a seat at the bar so I can catch all the action! I'll definitely be back! read more

411 West Italian Cafe - Chicken marsala! - Italian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I'm gonna be quite honest, I was not impressed by the food. My girlfriends and I wanted a fancier night out as a holiday celebration type of thing so we were willing to spend a little bit more money since we didn't get gifts for each other, but quite honestly it was not worth it. The highlight was desert and our really kind waitress, blonde and I cannot remember her name -- sorry! (A Sat night). My friend was really disappointed that they no longer have chess cake. I got a chicken Alfredo which usually isn't something they make I guess but I can see why because it wasn't that great. The serving size was OK but after spending a grand total of around $50 on one meal, a drink, and a dessert I wouldn't have done that on a normal night. What I will say is the dessert itself was very good and I did enjoy that. The raspberry ice cream and flourless chocolate cake was great. I also got a peach Bellini, which was pretty good as well. Overall, I don't know if I'd be back with the overall cost and lackluster main entrée. Service was really sweet though and all the employees were great. read more

Just had dinner there last night. From the managers to the host to the bartenders and servers Excellent service. Hats off to the kitchen the food it was excellent as well!! A must if in Chapel Hill!! read more

The overall ambiance is nice. Reminds me of an old time diner with strong college town vibes. Service was good. my review is not an indication of the service whatsoever. I am new to the area and wanted to have a valentines dinner. I was surprised to see it was one of the few restaurants that had open reservations and I can see why. In all honesty the food isn't bad but by no means does that mean it's good either. The food is priced as high end Italian however, the flavor is NOT. It is mid tier at best you would have better expectations coming from Olive Garden. In all honesty. The cocktails are decently priced, the Moscow mule was very strong, but it was much needed after trying the food. You know it's crazy when the highlight of the meal is the bread. This is straight up honesty. I'm being for real. Typically, I do my best to try to finish my food and if I don't finish anything, I'll take it to go. I really didn't feel the desire to take any leftovers. In all transparency, I could've made something better. I've eaten at many Italian restaurants and I can only say this ranks last. For what it's worth I didn't see too many Italian restaurants nearby so I'm guessing the judgement is clouded. The lemon linguine was not good at all, nor was the shrimp vodka pasta. The scallops were burnt. I normally don't go out of my way to write reviews but the expectations I had were high given it was Valentine's Day. We ended up going to Taco Bell afterwards. read more

411 West Italian Cafe - Shrimp vodka sauce - Italian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Consistently good. More specials add to the standard menu. Sometimes need delivery and they make it very easy. Great wait staff. You might be meeting a future doctor or teacher! read more

Do yourself and your gut a favor. Skip this one. We had the shrimp appetizer, which came out so charred black it might as well have been charcoal. I grew up poor and my checks didn't bounce as high as the shrimp. Then, I got their lemon fettuccini, which doesn't come in a wine sauce, it comes in a wine soup...just a puddle of liquid. My question though, if you can't reduce a sauce how the devil do you overcook the noodles in it? My fettuccini has glommed together in multiple places. The best part two days of persistent gastric distress after. So much salt. The only redeemable part were the painfully store bought rolls. Service was inoffensive is slow and hands off. Bad food. Didn't feel welcomed. Spent two days tied to the bathroom after. That's the TL;DR. read more

Food is overpriced and honestly not that great. My lemon linguine had overcooked pasta and had no hint of lemon flavor. However, the scallops were amazing. Might be for some people, but not my thing. Tables were uneven and environment is on the smaller side so it was hard to hear one another in a bigger party and my hard of hearing family members struggled. read more

Nice atmosphere, pretty decent food! We had a reservation for 2 at 6 pm, and we got seated quite quickly. Our waitress was very kind and kept checking up on us. We ordered the lemon linguine and it was alright. It had a very light lemony flavor on the sauce which was good, but I think it needed a little bit more seasoning or spice. The scallops were amazing though. Very soft and tender! Also the tomatoes had a really intriguing taste, I think they were marinated? Anyways, they also gave a good amount of shrimp and scallops. It's a nice Italian dinner spot for family, but I probably wouldn't come again. read more

411 West Italian Cafe - Lemon Linguine - Italian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

We had a party of 10, part of our group came late! I felt so bad, I did not realized though- the restaurant stayed open until everyone left, and you could order food and drinks, it seemed like until. - they did do a last call later, but as long as you were already there, you were still able to get full service. The food was delicious; I got the salmon, I was able to notify about my squash allergy and it was no issue at all. The drinks were delicious as well! For the birthday girl, they were able to write happy birthday on a dessert plate you purchased. We sat in the outside covered section, the temperature was nice. It is a covered greenhouse type ceiling with a small water fountain. A great dinner for a small or large party. read more

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What can I say about this cafe? The location is great, the food is good, and the service is ok. Our first time being here, but I was expecting a warmer greeting at the door. Maybe a little more "Amore", and less "Impersonale", this would help make a lasting first impression. I would highly recommend that this cafe train their staff on the true definition of scallops and not tell any vegetarian that scallops are onions, that advice doesn't bid well for specific dietary restrictions. Unfortunately, Gnocchi is only a starter, so order 2 or move on to an actual entree. The lasagna is large and in charge and will fill you up, but unfortunately, unlike an authentic Italian restaurant, there will be no bread to soak up the sauce. An espresso and vanilla creme brulee here are definitely a safe bet. Cheers! read more

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Used to come here all the time when I lived in the area. Was so excited to go back after years. Honestly food was not that great anymore. I was disappointed with the flavors. Nothing interesting or exciting at all. They really need to improve the quality of food. read more

I would compare this Italian restaurant to an Olive Garden. The restaurant was clean, well kept and the service was good but there was nothing special about the food. I was excited to hear that the pasta was homemade, but I actually think the pasta would've tasted better if they didnt make it homemade and just used high quality pre-made pasta. Sadly, I could actually make better homemade pasta myself. My husband and I ordered the Lemon Linguine and Pappardelle Bolognese. The Lemon Linguine - scallops were good, shrimp was way overcooked, and overall it was nothing special. I wasn't a fan of the Papperdelle Bologese - the pasta was too thick and the sauce was just whatever. On top of that, the prices are just way too high for the quality of food you get. I won't be coming back. I would rather just make my own Italian food at home than waste my money on subpar, expensive pasta dishes. read more

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Food and service always great! Atmosphere very interesting and comfortable. My wife and I have eaten here dozens of times last 10 years. read more

411 West Italian Cafe, commonly referred to as just "411 West," gets four stars out of me. The food I had from here was great. My wife really enjoyed her experience and couldn't stop talking about the place when she got home. We found out about 411 West after her attending and co-resident highly recommended it. This is a nice, old Italian restaurant located on W Franklin St in downtown Chapel Hill. I'm not sure how long it's been around, at least since 2005. They serve dinner only, seven days a week. There's a metered public parking lot right next to the restaurant, the 415 West Franklin St Lot. At the time of writing this review, parking in this lot costs $1.50/hour and is enforced Monday-Saturday, 8am-8pm. Parking is free otherwise. For more info on parking in downtown Chapel Hill including up-to-date parking rates, visit https://www.parkonthehill.com/. This place is popular. Reservations are highly recommended. You can call 919-967-2782 or book online via Yelp Reservations at https://www.yelp.com/reservations/411-west-italian-cafe-chapel-hill. Even on a Monday night, the dining room was packed. There was a wait. Maybe it was busy because every Monday, bottles of wine are half-off. I tried a couple of the daily specials, the Fried Okra ($8) and Wood Grilled Beef Ribeye ($28), and the Bourbon-Pecan Pie ($8) dessert. Everything was delicious. I was impressed with the quality, especially of the ribeye. I had it medium rare and it was cooked to perfection. The steak was a hearty, 12-ounce cut that came with herb butter on top. It was seasoned well and relatively juicy. No sauce needed. Simply a good, solid, satisfying steak. Also, it came with thick slices of ripe heirloom tomato, full of umami. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The fried okra was nicely-battered and scrumptious. It came with a yummy basil aioli dipping sauce. There was one inedible piece of okra (too chewy), but it wasn't a big deal. The bourbon pecan pie was excellent. It came with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and caramel sauce. I love pecan pie and it didn't get much better than the one I had from here. From taste to consistency, they got just about everything right. The one thing my wife and I didn't taste, though, was the bourbon. Not even a subtle hint of it. Again, not a big deal. My wife also liked the Bruschetta ($8) and Gnocchi ($12) starters. The bruschetta consisted of grilled baguette, fresh mozzarella, local tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and balsamic reduction. The gnocchi was "panned" with Sungold tomatoes, arugula, and shaved Parmesan. There was an option to get the gnocchi with seared scallops ($19). Our friend got the Local Watermelon Salad ($8 small, $11 large), another daily special. It came with cucumber, basil, arugula, and feta with a Sungold tomato vinaigrette. Overall, all of the food was fresh, high-quality, and flavorful. The table also got cocktails and bottles of wine. My wife loved her Carolina Mule cocktail. It was made with Troy & Sons Blonde Whiskey, Spindrift ginger beer, and lime. Troy & Sons is from Asheville Distilling Company. Both the cocktails and the dishes were presented beautifully. Everything tasted as good as it looked. 411 West's menu also features wood-fired pizzas, salads, pastas, classic Italian entrees like Chicken Marsala ($19) and Chicken Parmesan ($18), and other plates from their wood-fired grill such as Wood Grilled Organic Salmon ($24) and Wood Grilled Flat Iron Steak ($25). Service was fine. The server was attentive and all orders came out correct. 411 West is a member of the Chapel Hill Restaurant Group that also includes the following Triangle restaurants: * LuluBangBang Pan-Asian street food and tiki drinks in Durham: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lulubangbang-durham, * MEZ contemporary Mexican in Durham: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mez-contemporary-mexican-durham, * Page Road Grill Southern restaurant in Durham: https://www.yelp.com/biz/page-road-grill-durham; and * Squid's seafood restaurant in Chapel Hill: https://www.yelp.com/biz/squids-chapel-hill. read more

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We have eaten at 411 twice now while visiting our UNC freshman. Both visits have been incredible. Food was delicious (we love the warm olives, bruschetta and brussel sprouts to start!), service was top notch, and it was cozy and inviting. One family member is gluten free and they happily accommodated her. Great wine and you have to get the dessert sampler the first time you go! We will definitely be back! read more

Food was awesome. Server was awful. Server needs a brain. Had the lasagne, great food. read more

Amazing restaurant for over two decades! This is our go to place for special occasions.

Very good food on nice atmosphere. Really enjoy many items on their menu. Service is very good & responsive. Convenient parking is beside restaurant. read more

Stopped in for a dinner and was highly impressed. The chicken park was on point, the pasta was freshly made. Nice job, I hope to be back again! read more

Five stars for ambiance and service, 3.5 stars for food. I've dined at 411 West several times over the past decade, and I am always charmed by the cozy, intimate atmosphere. However, the food, while good, just hasn't wowed me. Last night, my family and I arrived around 7pm and were seated right away in their lovely covered courtyard area. It's really a beautiful setting, and because it is currently Spring Break and people are practicing social distancing due to COVID-19, the restaurant was not crowded at all. I was a little surprised that the one busy area was the bar, which you'd think in the midst of the pandemic would be the area to avoid, but each to their own. I had a difficult time deciding what to order. The menu is relatively small. There are several salads, four or five pizzas, about the same amount of fresh pasta dishes, and some entrees such as steak and salmon with vegetables. We started with the bread basket which we all enjoyed. The olive tapenade that it is served with the bread likely has anchovies in it, as there was a very strong fish flavor. For my entree, I had the shrimp puttanesca. I thought the rustic tomato sauce that came with it was okay but I think they were a bit heavy handed with it, and the dish would have benefited from a bit less sauce. The shrimp was overcooked. My husband ordered the lasagna and it was really delicious - the bolognese sauce was flavorful and the dish was perfectly cheesy. For dessert, I had the sampler and I really loved it. I wish more restaurants would offer dessert flights, as I enjoyed trying a bit of everything. My favorites were the creme brûlée and the key lime pie, though the millionaire's pie was also quite tasty. Service was great. Our waiter was attentive without being intrusive. read more

Loved the food here. Great atmosphere in the back room with the glass ceilings. Lots of food choices and great dessert too

Haven't been here in 12 years and have truly been missing out! Relaxed, casual, but slightly upscale all at the same time. I had a delicious pasta entree with pesto and grilled squash, a delicious summer cocktail and was so satisfied. Bonus points for an awesome kids menu/coloring sheet/word puzzles that kept my daughter entertained for over an hour. 10/10 read more

We have some friends who dine here almost every time they're in Chapel Hill. They were passing through on a Friday evening in May and invited us to join them for dinner. We've been here so many times over the years but have never written a review. Parking is a little tight (there is a small paid lot next door). Make sure you have a reservation, especially on a busy weekend night. Pasta and pizza dishes are delicious (our friend always orders the lemon linguine). Another favorite is their citrus ade. It looks like many of the servers are college kids from UNC but they are trained well and do a good job. This place has been around a long time (even expanded their space from when they first opened) and will be around for much longer. read more

The place was super cute and aesthetic and the waiter was super nice! I went here on my birthday and they even added a little candle to my dessert. However, I just felt like the food overall was super mid. read more

411 West Italian Cafe - Basil Pesto w/ Shrimp - Italian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Not a single bad meal in 25+ years of dining at 411. Service, cocktails, and food are consistently excellent.

Great pasta dishes and service in a friendly bistro setting. Very reasonably priced.

The service was good, but unfortunately the food quality was mixed. The calamari was excellent, but the entry containing scallops and shrimp with linguine was disappointing. Both the scallops and the shrimp were overcooked and had little taste. read more

Josh was a great server. Food was excellent as always. Great neighborhood gem! Great atmosphere! read more

411 West Italian Cafe - Chicken Marsala - Italian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Ordered to go. Got the lemon linguine- extra sauce. Get to my hotel there's no cutlery, came with a simple bread roll when I specifically asked if it was garlic rolls. Pictures will show the amount of sauce. Food is mediocre... tastes like it was just about to burn. read more

411 West Italian Cafe - Lemon linguine - Italian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Ashlin (?) was a great server. We ate too much. What else can I say? Lol My steak and fries were the envy of the table. Never knew they had this. But the pastas, salads and desserts were also delicious. Espresso martinis (we went decaf) were so exquisite. A++ read more

We went on a busy game night but had a reservation and were promptly seated. Our server was very helpful with recommendations and we enjoyed everything he suggested. Bruschetta, whole wheat linguine and the apple dessert were all delicious. They also have a good selection of wines. We had the Marietta cabernet that we both enjoyed. read more

Solid place in Chapel Hill to enjoy an authentic Italian meal in a beautiful setting and with friendly service. I have enjoyed 411 for 20 years and it hasn't disappointed me yet. The pasta and desserts are made in house and I love the unique shapes they make. My pasta was cooked al dente as it should and the meat sauce has nice large yet tender chunks of beef. read more

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Just okay. Pretty much one step above Olive Garden, but I've had WAY better italian. I got the lemon linguine, an the noodles were not linguine. However, I will say the shrimp and scallops were cooked PERFECTLY. Very savory and buttery-texture. Our table also rodered ordered bruschetta appetizer (I recommend!), wood grilled shrimp (also great!), and brussel sprouts (very deep fried but dangerously good...). For dessert I got the dessert sampler. None were that great except the millionarie pie and I was a little disappointed. read more

411 West Italian Cafe - dessert sampler (creme brulee, flourless chocolate cake, millionair pie, dark chocolate gelato) - Italian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Delicious food and always great service from terrific staff. 411 is our go to restaurant in Chapel Hill. We always have a wonderful time dining here. read more

The food was outstanding! We had appetizers, entrees and desserts! Everything was amazing! We were there early (5:30), and it was quiet, and charming! We can't wait to come back!! read more

I would like to share our wonderful experience at 411 West last night. We had a good sized group ... about 16 folks for work. We rented out the "indoor Patio" space for a private event. fist of all the space was lovely. I was just right for our group. Our server as ultra responsive and helpful, filling glasses and getting our apps out ASAP. The fountain was a little noisy, she went as far as getting that and music in room turned down. What attention to getting us taken care of! Lastly, I had the Spring Strawberry salad and Chicken Parm for dinner. Everything was delicious!! The crisp on my chicken was wonderful! I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this location for a private party. You will have a great time. read more

Absolutely great food. I have been here many times and always had a great meal. Everyone that had accompanied me also exclamation how good the food was. read more

411 West Italian Cafe - Enjoying another great dinner here at 411. - Italian Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina