Came here on kind of a whim for a date night, and I was very pleasantly surprised. We walked in at 8 on a Friday and were immediately greeted and sat. They had a ton of delicious sounding options, and ended up with the bolognese. It was delicious, and everything from the side salad to the service was superb. Definitely a diamond in the rough of the Youngstown area. read more

Aqua Pazzo - Italian Near Me - Youngstown, Ohio

Want to feel like you're not in Youngstown!? Head here!! Not my go-to for the best food ever but if I want food that's pretty good and an atmosphere that is energizing (not your average run of the mill Italian dark and musky brown on brown decor Youngstown restaurant) I make my way here! The ambiance is formal without being too stuffy. We've had 2 events in the wine room now and that just transports you to another place (reminds me of the restaurants in DC I frequented) and gives you some privacy without feeling disconnected from the rest of the restaurant. All said, I miss some items from the Culinary Arts menu! I know of many who thoroughly miss the Thai Mussels, Sliders, and Rock Shrimp appetizer...those were top notch! I hope the restaurant considers bringing these items back but keep doing what you're doing...you are a saving grace to those of us not from the Youngstown area! read more

We met up with some friends here this past weekend and the outside looks nothing like a restaurant. That being said, it was quite dark inside and a little crowded. We had 3 different apps and all were good. I had the octopus salad and was not very impressed. My husband had the fish dish (the name escapes me) and said it was very dry and tasteless. The prices are too high if you want my opinion. I have had better Italian food at Triv's in Strongsville, Ohio. Most likely won't be returning but it was alright. read more

I was in town visiting Labor Day weekend and had dinner here for the first time with a group of friends. The food was awesome! Their was 10 of us and we just split a bunch of items. We sat on the patio and it was great, didn't feel like we were In Youngstown. I would have given 5 stars but the service was a little slow. Our server was also handling the outdoor bar for the patio so it took a while to get things. But I would definitely go back again. read more

We had been to Aqua Pazzo many times and always have had a great time. Tonight we brought friends with us and I was worried bc it was their first time. My friends loved it as well and we can't wait until we go back. The men had one of the special. Scallops with fettuccine and the ladies had the Pork Chop with figs and it was amazing. Our waitress Vanessa was wonderful. She recommended a wine that was perfect without meal. Love this place and can't wait or go back. read more

Fabulous food! Had the hot peppers and oil and the buffalo milk ravioli- ABSOULTE BEST I HAVE EVER HAD!!! Would have rated a 5 if the service was quicker. read more

Aqua Pazzo - Buffalo Milk Ravioli (in butter!!!!) To die for. - Italian Near Me - Youngstown, Ohio

Delicious chef-inspired menu with homemade pastas and sauces. They have a chic atmosphere. Great date night venue.

I was not impressed with Aqua Pazzo. We had four in our group, and they sat us by the entry door so whenever people entered we had to slide up our chair or get banged into. It was a Saturday night and extremely busy, and it felt like they were fitting as many people into the restaurant as possible. Second, The food was overpriced and not worth it. I ordered crab cakes from the chefs special, they were $34 and more filler than meat. I'm from the south where you actually get real crab cakes and this paled in comparison. My husband ordered chicken Alfredo and they did not have heavy cream to put in the Alfredo sauce so it was more like chicken without the Alfredo. It's an Italian restaurant, why don't they have authentic Alfredo sauce? I will say the dessert was good and our waitress was excellent. But I definitely will not return because after all when you go to a restaurant you want good food and comfortable seating. read more

The food was orgasmic, the abeyance was good,!the wait staff was attentive! Aqua Pazzo was by fare the best Italian food on the I've had in a long time; I'll be back!!!' read more

Awesome food! A little expensive but well worth it! One of the best restaurants I have been to in a long time! The drinks are also amazing I recommend the lemon cello mule! Definitely worth trying I'm sure you will go back! read more

Learned that they make their sausage in-house, & it is fantastic! I have since had their hot pepper pizza with sweet fennel sausage ~ my new favorite pizza! Not a drop of grease because the sausage is of such high quality, & the peppers have just the right flavor ~ not hot, but a little bit of bite ... perfect! read more

Best restaurant in the Youngstown area! Hidden jem in the valley! The food is amazing and the butter cake is out of this world!

We were in Y-town on family business from Cincinnati. Had heard about the Aqua Pazzo from a friend in town. We stopped by before our start back to Cincinnati. Food, service, and ambiance were outstanding from our experience. May seem a little out of the way in some respects, but we don't think you will be disappointed. Even in Cincinnati this restaurant would do very well. Treat yourself, you deserve it. read more

What a find, fabulous atmosphere, great food nice people! We had the sea bass and halibut. The butter cake is amazing!

Incredible atmosphere making this restaurant a must stop! The lights outside with the decoration was stunning! I would go back just for the environment. The waitress suggested a great tasting wine that fit all our tastes. I ordered the wood burned chicken which was very tasty but wasn't expecting it to be an entire wing with the meat attached. Overall great experience! read more

So in the area for some serious business one of our lawyers and now pal took us to this amazing place for the best meal of the year and best Italian joints anywhere. So, you drive down this street that seems like an industrial area and you come across the place. Nice enough outside and inside sort of has this Vegas feel to it with a great bar and overall super staff. So, my local powerhouse lawyer gets me a solid martini at the bar along with the 3 others and then off to a private room. Good bread with this garlic and oil n vinegar thing, then we ordered this assorted Italian meats and cheese that was perfect, great calamari and we were off to the races. Then came out huge porterhouse steaks that for 5 was a bit much but OMFG what meat. Then pastas and risottos that were as good as it gets. Some nice vino to go with it. Then my pal lawyer tells us to get this butter cake that it is the bestest anywhere. Well, what was interesting was he wouldn't have any. You know why? Not that it is not amazing but if you had a whole piece your heart would fly out of you in an instant. What a meal and what a great place. Now, with a bunch of new business in the area I will be back for some more amazing food. read more

One of the best Restaurants in the area! You just need to go there to experience it. No words can describe their beautiful and delicious food. read more

Called for reservation for 6:30 and was told to stay in our car until they contact you via text to come inside the restaurant. Arrived at 6:25 and finally my husband went inside at 6:45 to check on our reservation. They guy at the desk says "sorry, come on inside". This has happened twice in the last month. Don't take the reservation if you can't accommodate! read more

Aqua Pazo is such a standout! What a special, delicious place that serves beautiful Italian food and lets the ingredients do the talking. The pasta and sauces are all made from scratch and are absolute heaven. My kale Caesar salad (they offer 1/2 size, which was exactly what I wanted but didn't know to ask) with anchovies is something I will crave. I have a really hard time finding a decent restaurant when I come home to Youngstown, but I will absolutely be back and make everyone I know come with me. Great happy hour (1/2 off wine), Cabernet was full bodied and just sweet enough, a cocktail list which I was sad I couldn't try. Swanky but comfortable decor. Service was perfect. Good for groups or dates. We arrived on a Tuesday at 5 and didn't need a reservation, but the place was filled by the time we left. Well done, Aqua Pazzo team! read more

The food was divine! I had the halibut & my husband had pasta Bolognese. The warm butter cake is to die for! Our waitress, Erin is a gem. Anticipated all our needs & made superb suggestions! 5 stars for her! I can't wait to return! read more

The food is amazing. You can tell from the moment they open the door to the main restaurant from the entry way. Wood fired grill going in a kitchen open to the seating. Appetizer, both meals and dessert were some of the best I've had, and the cocktails were awesome as well. I recommend he pineapple martini. read more

My husband and I went on New Year's Eve with another couple, such an awesome time we had! Our meals were spectacular, our waitress was so friendly and helpful, the atmosphere was perfect and the drinks were fantastic! We will definitely go back soon !!! read more

Had been there when it was called Culinary Arts, and loved it. Great, creative food, nice atmosphere, and NOISY. Have been here a couple times for drinks and apps at the bar since the change to Aqua Pazzo. Time to try dinner. We will be back!! I knew they had interesting cocktails so I ordered a strawberry basil martini, and was blown away. It wasn't too long before i ordered another, which is rare for me. The husband had 2 different red wines and enjoyed both. The bread was crusty holey Italian bread from the Bread Chef, with oil that included fresh herbs. Very tasty. I started with the citrus shrimp appetizer and he had the Cleveland salad. The shrimp was fried in a very light coating or batter, not heavy at all. The surprise on the plate was bits of Calabrian chilis - hot but with great depth. The salad was fresh and delicious, and you could taste the lemon in the dressing but not too bitter. I had a special entree, the lobster ravioli surrounded with jumbo lump crab and asparagus, with a creamy, slightly sweet sauce that paired great with the seafood. Out of this world. It should be on the regular menu. I would get it every time. Husband had spaghetti with clams, shrimp and mussels, which he gets at a lot of places. I'm not a fan of shellfish, but he said all the fish was prepared perfectly. I tasted the pasta and sauce and it was delicious. For dessert, we went with many reviewers and had the Italian butter cake. It was like the chef baked a fabulous pound cake, soaked it in melted butter and simple syrup, and grilled slices of it. Topped with vanilla ice cream and garnished with sliced strawberries and balsamic glaze. And since they make their own cellos, we split a limoncello. It was amazing. The portion was way too much for 2, especially after we had already had 2 drinks each. Our server (very long straight brown hair, sorry I forgot her name) was very friendly and helpful, with thorough knowledge of the wine list, cocktails, and menu item preparation. She was a real pro. I have read reviews where people weren't too happy with the prices and "no included salad". I do not have a problem paying a fair price for a high quality meal. There are many pasta dishes and pizzas under $20, so there are options. And really, name me one place where the free salad is all that good. They are mostly iceberg lettuce. There were some complaints about the service being slow. In my opinion, if I wanted fast food, I'd go to a fast food place. For fine dining, I like to take my time and savor the food and company. My only complaint was several men (can't call them gentlemen) wearing baseball caps. Really. Regardless, it won't be long before we return. You do need reservations. We were there on a Saturday night in January, thinking it wouldn't be busy, but it was full the whole time we were there. read more

Mussels were delicious! Definitely make a reservation, you won't want to miss out on a chance to experience the food and ambiance here. Everything is homemade but comes out quickly. Staff are friendly and add to the experience. read more

Samantha was the best server ever! Amazing food, ridiculously good butter cake dessert! Will definitely be back and requesting her. Highly recommend. read more

First off...mostly family-style seating. This is architecturally lazy and asinine. PERIOD. The service, though very friendly and accommodating, approach table service with a European-casual dimension of time....yer gonna be a while. The food, however, wasn't worth the wait. Calamari was tasteless. No flavor in the $29 seafood tomato pasta thing. (They must cater to elderly heart patients, no salt, no seasoning.) And what's with the cold bread when you have a wood fired pizza over? Won't be back. read more

I've eaten here a few times and Mark consistently delivers with an amazing culinary experience. Last night I had the Rigatoni Arrabiata and it was exceptional. I love the ambiance of the restaurant, the feeling of being in a bigger city, a moment out of the ordinary day. They offer a great wine selection, delicious cocktails and if your into beer you'll have quite a list to choose from there as well. read more

Came here for valentines day and evening started with waitress not willing to answer questions regarding cocktails and then a 30 minute wait for drinks followed by a lukewarm meal with no taste .....overall experience overpriced and disappointing read more

My son and his lovely lady took me to this restaurant. My husband and I own a Roman Trattoria that serves authentic Italian cuisine (my Roman husband is our chef) in Maryland. I know good pasta, pizza, etc. The food was delicious; the pastas were al dente, the spinach gnocchi melted in your mouth. The atmosphere was very tastefully done though just a bit dark for easily reading the menu. The service was very good. My only challenge was the dessert, which while tasty, was over the top sweet which may just have reflected my own personal taste. I would highly recommend this Osteria! read more

I was in Youngstown for a class reunion and my friends suggested I go here and I am so glad I did. Excellent food, outstanding service, and beautiful atmosphere! read more

I gave it a 3 . The food is fantastic however I would have given it a 5 had they not removed outdoor bar. That's a let down. Bar tenders are unfriendly & not attentive on checking back to see if you would like another cocktail. read more

Suppose there is always someone who has a poor experience. We had a group of 8 who get together once a month. The website says if you want to be sure to be on the ( very nice and attractive) patio you need to call. I did one better, 2 weeks in advance we drove over and selected the exact table we wanted and a helpful young man entered it into his laptop before our eyes, even explained how the tables would be arranged. On our arrival the young lady at the reception area, after giving me a blank stare and acting as though we didn't have a reservation until she kept looking, took us to the patio. The table we had reserved was fully occupied , I said to the young lady that was the table we had reserved. She was as confused as we were but then said "oh, they are finishing up, it will be just a few minutes". It didn't take long as we stood there to realize that they were actually in the process of finishing their first glass of wine and were ordering their dinner. I went back to the front desk, I was reasonably controlled but there could have been no question that I was not happy to have gone to the trouble to make this work for my friends only to have nothing to show for it. Fortunately there was a table for 8 (maybe the one that was for the people sitting at the one we reserved) and after a few more minutes for it to be set up we were seated. The table was in a semi alcove, had a crowded feel and lacked the view I had selected. Mistakes happen, this one shouldn't have but my complaint is that there was not one bit of apology, no manager came by to express their concern at disappointing us. No manager came by to say hello. Nothing. Waitress had little or no personality. Specials were entitled "Spring" it was July 2. Food was quite good although the menu is a bit disorganized. We were there once before and got poor service but wanted to give it another chance but doubt we will do it again. Mentioned this experience to another friend and they said "oh yes, we had a gift certificate there once but the superficial way we were treated , never again." I think it must be a place where if they know you they treat you like family, otherwise like a stranger. Price, service, quality. Missed on the first two. Big place, could use more management attention. read more

Way overpriced for the service, and was talked down to by the server. Was there with a group definite mistake! I had Chilean sea bass which is a favorite of mine, was very overcooked. Had Johnny Walker blue and water way overpriced and very weak poor with all the places in town I won't need to go back here. read more

My husband had pollo Piatto and I had the coffee pork mignon. They were both good! The pork mignon was excellent. It's expensive but it's worth the investment. They use free range meat and everything is made from scratch. read more

Amazing food, wine, and service!! We started with a caprese salad, which wasn't on the menu but they accommodated us anyway. Then we had a pecan and pear salad with bleu cheese. Our main entrees were: salmon with couscous and blackened grouper with asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes. Each entree was out of this world! The wine selection is phenomenal. You cannot go wrong with this restaurant! It's perfect for a girls night out or a romantic evening with your significant other. read more

We just got back from Italy and decided to try this new place. The service was wonderful we had great drinks at the bar, spritzers, grapefruit jalapeño, and met Johnny who was delightful and informative about the menu. We moved to the dining area, we tried the pizza he recommended and it rocked!!!! The tuna appetizer was ok, not anything I would "have to have again". The sea bass was very good!!! I loved the elephant kale Cesar salad. The deserts were good too according to my husband(I am not a desert fan). The limoncello and "basil cello" were fabulous. We will be back. read more

Enjoyed a truly decadent, posh experience at Aqua Pazzo. The best restaurant in Youngstown. Unique. Beautiful decor. Vast menu with so many amazing choices. Perfectly prepared every time. And great service. The food was exquisite. read more

This place is like a little hidden bit of NYC. Fantastic atmosphere, food and great happy hour. Authentic Italian with the freshest ingredients. Super waiter. Highly recommend read more

The food was very expensive and very disappointing. We spent $90 on three plates of pasta and two cocktails. The cavatelli with Brussels sprouts and pancetta was bland. We were expecting crispy broiled sprouts but they were very green. The pancetta was rubbery. The dish lacked seasoning. The carbonara with mushrooms was tasty enough but the sauce was tight, even just sticky and gummy. Not impressive. Very sorry we tried the restaurant. There are several in our area that are much nicer and they even include a good salad for the same price read more

I tried this place out on Tuesday, when they have their $10 pasta special all day. Looked fancy inside -- not what I expected for Youngstown. Extensive menu of Italian dishes. Started off with free bread, which was great while waiting. I'm vegetarian so I was limited mainly to pizza and pasta. Got the Spaghetti Calcio e Peppi (?sp), which was nice and spicy with the pepper. Pasta was cooked well, perfectly al dente. Food came quickly, efficient service. Got me in and out quick, since I had to get back to work. Its great to have a place this good so close to the hospital. Will be back. read more