Stopped in this weekend during Oswego's parent weekend and was impressed with the tasty food and great service. The restaurant was well staffed for a busy Saturday afternoon and all interactions were professional and pleasant. My hungry college student was so excited for "real" food, and Canale's did not disappoint! The bruschetta was a great way to start our meal. Chicken parm was crispy and the meatballs were delicious. Both smothered in a terrific tomato homemade tomato sauce. 2 appetizers and 2 full meals for under $70. Authentic Italian and will definitely be back next time I make the drive out there. read more

I visited the cute town of Oswego this past week. Canale's was recommend to me for a great Italian Dinner. They were right. I loved the atmosphere, the food, and everything. Priced right and tasty. If I ever get a chance to go back to Oswego, Canale's will be a no brainer. I highly recommend visiting Oswego, and make sure you have an appetite and time to stop at Canale's. I got the bruschetta and spaghetti. Good luck picking just one of many amazing sauces. read more

Canale's Restaurant - Just before having some great Italian Food - Pizza Near Me - Oswego, New York

Took out of town family there for dinner and were very pleased. Giving it 4 because I think the Italian dressing is lame. They don't put much on, and there are no spices. However, all the other things we ordered were excellent. We enjoyed the flavor and the serving size had most of us bringing home leftovers. The waitress was pleasant and the prices were fair. We'll most likely make it a staple spot in Oswego read more

The experience here was anything but excellent. Inspite of previous reviews. Why such poor rating? 1) We made reservations, but the hostess didn't seem all too concerned that we didn't have a table...instead, we were offered a seating at the bar (waited an additional 6min for a table). 2) Our server did not introduce herself to us and we were not offered any specials of the evening (if any at all). 3) Food arrived in a timely manner less than 15min. Pasta was covered in very thick sauce. Seemed like it was drying on the bottom of the pot. The pasta, by itself had no flavor...bland and the chicken Marsala was swimming in oil rather than the Marsala sauce. Too many mushrooms and no garnishing (no capers, chopped parsley, or a lemon wheel). 4) Again, our server NEVER offered us any coffee or desert at the end of our meal. A very bad experience here. Felt rushed and unattended to. This place felt more a drive by diner than a well established Italian restaurant. Mamma Canales is going to roll in her grave when she reads this one! read more

We got seated and waited 20min for a server to attend to us and or even bring us water. Never received an apology or were sorry. The food was sub par and never got asked for a re-fill on our beverages. Sarah I think was our waitresses name. read more

When we walked in the whole place smelled like a bathroom. Me an my boyfriend waited awkwardly for a waiter to seat us an was told there was no room anywhere but outside. We ordered the baked seafood platter. They seasoned the outside of a clam shell an the inside was left flavorless, fishy, an rubbery. The Scallops were ok, an the fish was under seasoned, while the shrimp was over cooked an dry....I didn't even know shrimp could be dry. The side salad was swimming in dressing an the presentation was no better then something a unemployed man living in his parents basement could make. The only thing good about this place is the bread. read more

Canale's Restaurant - Drowned in butter an oil - Pizza Near Me - Oswego, New York

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very good alfredo and the bread that they gave before the food was also super yummy with the butter.

Fake. Italian. Food. This restaurant made me miss restaurants at home and in the city for Italian food. I don't think I even saw baked clams on the menu nor would even think to have chicken or veal sorrentino dish! read more

I have tried almost everything on the menu. I couldn't say anything is BAD, but some are a little mediocre. The chicken scallopini is top notch though. Lasagna, meatballs, manicotti are all tasty. Very good, thick-ish crust pizza. Some great appetizers. I wish they made some of their own pastas (I think only the fettucine is homemade). Take out and delivery are great, also. Always arrives hot and tasty. My main issue is that the sauce can be a little salty. read more

So, it's not all that bad. The menu has a wide selection, including home made pastas, chicken, veal and beef selections, and some fairly interesting pizzas. (The menu says that if they have it in the kitchen, they'll be happy to throw it on a pizza for you. I like the flexibility.) But, that's pretty much it. The homemadeyness of the sauce means it tastes fresher than most places, but with all the buildup, it was kind of a let down. Fresh, but certainly not distinctive. The home made gnocchi left, um, something to be desired. (If you're one of those people who's a fresh gnocchi fiend, I would say this is a don't-bother.) Other than that, it was kind of like an Italian Dennys. Vegetables had a canned/frozen/overcooked quality to them. Breaded & fried items (calamari, onion rings, etc.) were definitely frozen. Also, the meatballs got a real thumbs down, and that's a bad sign in an Italian place. The servers were... weird. I mean, they were nice kids, but it felt like we were interrupting their happy hour by, I don't know, drinking the water in our glasses. And finally, if an Italian restaurant serves espresso drinks, I usually imagine it's safe to order a cappuccino. But I was served a cafe au lait. Again, odd. Was it a terrible dining experience? No. We enjoyed our party's company, we were full when we left. But would we recommend it as an Oswego must-do? Also, no. read more

Not a big fan of Italian food. Their pizza is good but everything else is stuff I wouldn't wanna eat.

Great lunch spot in Oswego. Very open, friendly, and awesome food! Got the lemon pepper chicken with veggies & it was so well baked!

Canale's is the definition of comfort / Italian food for me. Their rich red sauce is absolutely delicious, and I haven't found anything remotely as good out here in California. I miss it a lot. Mama Canale could teach a thing or two to my local neighborhood Italian restaurants! Ideal dinner: Get a salad to start with. Their home made dressing is a pretty simple oil & vinegar, but they let the lettuce marinate in the dressing for a little bit so everything is well seasoned. So good! For the main course I always order baked shells with mushrooms ("baked" = cheese on top and then baked long enough to create a bit of a casserole). I'm salivating just thinking about it. The cheese gets a little browned on top... yum! I've never really had dessert, come to think of it. I'm always too packed full of pasta. Canale's has a large banquette room, and plenty of parking for large groups. I've been there for dinners with over 20 people and it was absolutely fine. Its worth ordering some sauce and having it mailed to you, trust me. Check out their web site to order some red sauce or some salad dressing! read more

Canale's is an Oswego cornerstone. Coming to town and not going here is just wrong. Loved coming here on dates, with friends and with the family when they came into town to visit when up in College. Love the 'Fixed Ramono' Sauce, really like it with Penne and Chicken. Also, a huge fan of the gigantic meatballs. read more

Canale's Restaurant is an Oswego institution, having occupied the same location for more than 50 years. As a kid, I lived around the corner from Canale's, but I was too young to appreciate why my parents loved the place. They used to go there on dates when I was too young to sit upright, so pardon me if I seem a little nostalgic. We took my dad to Canale's on a recent trip home, and it was bliss for this former NY'er. I ordered a combo dish with chicken parmesan, meatball, sausage, and rigatoni with their special marinara sauce. They have an incredible red sauce and that makes all the difference. I wish I could bring it home with me. The portions are large, their house marinara sauce is delicious and buttery, the Italian sausage has just the right bite. The salad has just the right amount of dressing. How can I complain? Okay, maybe I'd like the bread to be just a little "crustier" but that really is a personal preference. This is a family restaurant. It isn't the quiet, candlelit setting of a romantic interlude, though I imagine it could be. The dining room is small, so if there's a loud table, you're not going to be able to hide from them. Try it. Bring your family. Plan on taking home leftovers, because the plates are plentiful. If your dish comes with a side of pasta, expect a full dish of pasta--enough for a meal on its own. read more

This place was okay. We sat in the bar area which was warm and cozy. Our server was great.. friendly and attentive. I always look forward to a nice salad before an Italian meal. These salads were disappointing.. soggy greens as if they were sitting in the kitchen for awhile drenched in dressing. I couldn't eat it. Their red sauce however, was delicious (and I come from a family of Italians who all pride themselves on their "sauce" so I'm a little picky with sauce). I had the house sauce over gluten free penne which was good. Other meals ordered at my table were fettuccine alfredo and lasagne. Both very good. All of us had leftovers to bring home as the portions are very generous. The menu is big. It has all the traditional Italian American fare as well as many other items. I would try it again hoping the salads are more impressive next time. read more

Call it what you want but despite being a college student, I'd still splurge every once in a while for a good meal that wasn't the dining hall. I've been to Canale's three times and it seems like every visit, the quality diminishes. Their food is often very greasy, almost felt the heartburn as soon as I took a bite of their garlic cheese bread(not worth). I love authentic Italian food and while the restaurant has a quaint vibe to it, I wouldn't come back really ever again, unless someone else is paying for my food. Their hostess/waiting team seems very inconsistent in terms of quality of service. read more

Outstanding and diverse Italian menu, prepared delectably. We came here as a large group without a reservation on a weeknight as part of a business trip, recommended by a local hotel. You cannot go wrong. Traditional Italian dishes abound, with some interesting house combinations and truly fabulous house sauces. The portions are large and the prices are reasonable. Dinner entrees generally run less than $20 before drinks. The service was outstanding, very competent, and attentive. They were noticeably courteous and well-trained. The real draw, however, is the surprisingly good cuisine. If you will be staying in Oswego, this place is a must-dine for a hearty dinner. read more

The outside looks so cute! I loved my food it was delicious, service was awesome and all around a great experience. The sauce was to die for. read more

Service was decent but tried the homemade Alfredo. Not good at all. Gonna try something new if I ever go back. read more

Fixed Riggies!!! Small town Italian restaurant, good vibes, fresh bread and stiff drinks!

I've enjoyed the sister restaurant in Liverpool but we took a trip to the Oswego location today. We were not disappointed. The food was absolutely amazing and I can truly say the homemade gnocchis with alfredo sauce was, by far, the best I have ever had. He bread offered before the meal was so soft yet firm enough to hold it's shape. A fantastic experience every which way around. I will definitely come here again to have this tasty goodness! read more

So this is supposed to be the big dog Italian place in Oswego huh? Sorry but not impressed, but sort of... read on!! The wine selections are small but good so I give it to them for that. Next, the food is good but wouldn't rate it as classic Italian... just different. I had the fried raviolli which was sort of a bit hard than usual and less fresh so I question if it were frozen or handmade. Plus I had the chicken scallopini which was ok. The chicken portions were bigger than usual but wasn't as tender as most dishes I've tasted in different places, plus it didn't come with any pasta unless requested, and I do know some places do that and some don't but wasn't told. Now the plus to the name Canales, is the frozen food. I got the gnocci for work and microwaved it and the results were way better than I expected and the portion size was great. Unfortunately I can't eat too much frozen food dishes but this was a great surprise. read more

No freebie's needed to write a good review of this restaurant in Oswego!! It's got fabulous food, great take out service, an outdoor "courtyard" that is fabulous...plenty of parking...and always a friend or two there to make it a social event! Love their food, Italian's the best! read more

I hadn't been back to OZ in about 15 years. I loved canales when I grew up here and came here often. The food was pretty good, but not what I had back then. Also, the place was not very clean and the service was very slow and not very skilled. It's Canale's but it needs some of that old style charm and concern put back in. read more

I tried the vodka pasta with penne, which had my favorite - al dente - texture but the sauce itself was just okay. I had better versions of it and this one seemed to lack cream. I would give the service an A, the serves were attentive and checked on us regularly. I may come back to try some of the homemade pastas, which always sound good. The prices are decent, and sometimes better than Vona's next door. read more

I've eaten at this restaurant for over 50 years which has built something of a tradition in this area, but something has happened to this great spot to eat in Oswego and the change is anything but good. I won't be back due to several disappointing experiences. Someone there thinks it's acceptable to put mushrooms from a jar on their Pizza, serve Shrimp that's cooked to the consistency of shoe leather and use garlic salt to flavor what Canale's call Garlic Bread. All of which were inedible. Pride in what comes out of the kitchen is consistantly no longer there. The cost is mismatched to the quality of the food that tastes more and more like it was prepared by an fill-in cook from a fast food dinner. Three times and you're out. What a shame. read more

Just about the best Italian food around. Terrific spot for lunch, never have to wait for a table. Slightly longer waits at dinner time but always worth it. The service is always great and I've never had a bad meal there - their pizzas are fantastic and I especially love the black and bleu pasta! Their delivery is awesome too, we ordered during peak dinner hours tonight and it arrived 10 minutes before the estimated delivery time - very impressed! read more

Canale's continues to be one of our favorite Italian restaurants. We had a large group of 8 and they served us extremely well. We had a large comfortable table and our server was excellent. Food was delicious. A few of us had the Morolo combo with rigatoni, chicken parmigiana, Italian sausage and meatball. Pasta was cooked just right, chicken parmigiana was fork tender. Sauce was very tasty. Everyone else enjoyed their choices as well. Canale's continues to be one of our go to places when we are looking for a great dinner. we don't mind a 40 minute drive from Port Bay when we know we will get consistent high quality food and service. read more

I have never been to this restaurant but we were introduced to their salad dressing from a friend. We now order a case every other month to have shipped to our house. It is absolutely amazing and there is nothing else like it on the market! The ingredients are pure and of high-quality. I can only imagine how great this restaurant is based on their salad dressing! read more

We were there on 11/17/16 at 6:34 PM (payment time). Becky was the server. Upon walking up to the restaurant our party of four was greeted with a very strong odor of sewage. It was a gagging amount of stink, and as it turned out, a prelude to the dining experience. We waited forever for our check at the end. The food was not all that good. Even though I had dietary requirements, I've still had better. My wife's sister and her husband were on a separate check and they were shorted $5, they paid in cash. I just did my receipts through the bank, my bill was 45.36 with tax. After my wife left a tip (that I was against btw), the bill was showed to be 52.36 but after matching my bank statement I was charged 52.39. Yes, just three cents, but still, I'm seeing a pattern here. My sister-in-law didn't confront them about the $5 shortage, they just decided to not leave a tip. As for my meal, it was haddock and almonds. The almonds were half burnt. I WANTED the prime rib, but I just had a simple request - no spices on it. Would you believe that's NOT an option? Really? Oh it already comes peppered. I guess they're one of those places that microwaves food cooked by others. Always heard my wife saying that this place was great - I think the positive times are more of a fluke than the bad meal times. I'm done. This is another reason I hate to go out to eat at all. read more

We got takeout here a couple weeks ago. There's not really a whole lot to say. The food was decent. I don't really get what all the hype about their sauce was for but it was good enough just nothing that stood out. The service was ok. We ordered online and my husband went in to pick it up at the earliest time specified and it was ready. We may try again although we don't really go out for Italian food very often. read more

When you get that hankering for some authentic Italian meatballs, like the little old Grandma down the street, when you were a kid, would give you after her piano lessons, this is the place to go. Really though, the only difference is that they are served on a plate with pasta instead of into your outstretched and open hands. Quality food and wonderful service. read more

If you love Italian food then I definitely recommend. This place is so good! Leaning a little bit more on the expensive side, they really give you what you are paying for with delicious food and huge portions. My favorite thing to get is the fried ravioli! GO HERE read more

Polite staff, seemed clean, fairly comfortable. My daughter's pizza was good. My only complaint is I ordered a 27$ baked seafood platter and for 27$ I got a few shrimp, a few clams, a few scallops, and a little haddock. No side. No salad (although I was asked if I wanted to add one). Nothing. Just a plate of seafood and it was very overcooked. For 27$ I was expecting a potato or some pasta or even just for the salad to be included. Felt ripped off. read more

Excellent food and great service. We always dine here when visiting Central New York. Sauces are delicious and be sure to try the seafood. read more

This place is consistently good and has a traditional Italian menu. When you walk in the door it feels like you're taking a step back in time. If they updated the decor, music, staff uniforms and glassware this place could become a really trendy spot with amazing food. read more

Came here after my sister graduated from SUNY Oswego. The wait was not that long the staff was very friendly and quick, considering the whole place was packed. I had a single pizza pie the sauce was good and creamy and the cheese was great not too much or too little. My parents had Calzones and they both really liked it and my sister had a fettuccine Alfredo pasta the sauce was so creamy and good, we all cleaned our plates. And the servers made sure our waters were always filled. Definitely a great place to take your family. read more

Being in Oswego in itself will limit you to having a great dining experience. But your exception is Canales. Cutting to the chase, order the Veal Sinatra. It was perfectly cooked veal in a lemon wine sauce that is simply heaven like. The spaghetti was just like I enjoy it, and I had not a single complaint the whole night, not even the prices. Are you in Oswego? Give this place a try and I guarantee there is something on the menu you will enjoy. Whatever this place is doing, keep doing it. read more

Fantastic! Their eggplant parm is amazing! I highly recommend! I believe I prefer Canales over Vonas. Overall Canales has better food.