Pizza is really good especially compared to the chains. Bar selections are first rate. Service is…read morenot. I've been twice and both times waitstaff was overwhelmed. Sat at the bar both times. The bartending was good , orders with the kitchen were without errors but just too few skilled staff. If you plan on going - and I would suggest you do if you like quality pizza - bring lots of patience as it will be a process to be attended to. Doubt I'll return anytime soon.

Emilio's has a great location in Arden Mills. If I lived in the neighborhood, I'd be a regular…read more Having slices available is the chef's kiss not having to commit to a whole pie that is the same after every slice. Today, they didn't have the Don Ho. Being from the West Coast would love if they had that available as a slice. Tried the godfather of slices - pepperoni and another that I like bbq chicken. Pepperoni was a solid thin slice fold it over or curve it slice. Not much sauce, cheese and what tastes like authentic pepperoni not that bulk Hormel type. Bbq chicken has that sweet bbq that I like. Just the right amount of bbq and a healthy portion of chicken. Counter service - she was helpful and polite. The person cleaning the tables also very polite and quick to serve. It's a nice little neighborhood joint and I could see coming here on the regular.

I'm not sure why they're still sitting at a 3.9 with reviews because this by far has been one of…read morethe best pizzas we've had. Probably our 5th time here. We absolutely love the Chopped salad. It's enough to feed 2 people. I love the slices of bread they serve with it. The chopped salad is fully loaded. Today we tried the peach salad and it wasn't as full as the chopped. Normally we could eat all of the salad and maybe 1-2 slices of our small pizza but today was the opposite. Service is always on point. Everyone is always friendly. The ambiance is nice for a pizza place. I love how you can see them prepare your pizza or salad. They offer beer and wine if you prefer it. There is also outdoor seating when the weather permits. But the pizza is always the star. The sauce is not over powering, it's not overly cheesy. It has the right combination of ingredients. A small is perfect if you want slices that you can just grab fold one time and enjoy.

Review based on salad: The caprese salad was tiny for the price . Wish I had my phone at the time…read morefor a picture. The Italian chopped was 4x bigger. Family liked the pizza - definitely have to enjoy a softer crust but if that's what you're looking for you're set here .

Outstanding food and top-notch service!. We had a fantastic experience at Mario's Pizza and Italian…read moreRestaurant! From the moment we walked through the door, the service was exceptional. We were greeted immediately by the friendly staff, who let us know right away that it would just be a couple of minutes while they prepped and cleaned a table for us. That quick, clear communication set a great tone for the whole visit. Once we sat down, everything ran smoothly and our food came out remarkably fast. Here's what we tried: Insalata Caprese: Fresh, delicious, and the perfect start to the meal. Mario Special Pizza: Packed with flavor, great crust, and cooked to perfection. Cannolis: The absolute ideal sweet finish to a classic Italian dinner. Great hospitality, prompt timing, and delicious food from start to finish. We'll definitely be coming back!

We spent an hour waiting for 2 small pizzas. One arrived after 30 minutes and second one was never…read morereceived. The one we got was tasteless. Shall never return.

Kids begged to go here since they see it daily. Placed a to go order on a Thursday afternoon, two…read morekids meals and a chicken cheesesteak took almost an hour drive home 15 minutes, order was incorrect drive back another 15 minutes wait another for them to redo the food, no apology no offer for a water while I sit and wait. Poor customer service. Waste of gas, time and money.

Life in the 'POST COVID' world is preferred. Especially for…read morethose of us who like to mix in a little trivia with our 'za. I met Ben here after his rained out round of golf at Fort Mill GC. He & the Fam typically order 'to go' or 'door dash' but we decided to check it out as a change-up. We got there about 645p on Wednesday and the parking lot was 'JAMMED'. The other notable stops in this small strip center are Lore Brewing and Master O's Martial Arts so I was kinda surprised. We were not aware they were doing their Wednesday Music Bingo night which started at 7p but it was fun and entertaining and paired well with our pizza and beverages. They do multiple rounds and start by awarding Empire gift cards for $10, then $20, then $25.00 and then the round that everyone waits around for. The MAIN attraction final round, the winner will win $250.00 CASH. You guess just the name of the song and fill ALL 50 squares. Ben had the Popeye pizza and I had the Chef Salad. We both agreed the food is good and reasonable priced. Good service for being as busy as it was. Every member of the Staff was hustling all evening. IF you go on Wednesday evening, be prepared, the parking LOT is packed. People were cruising the lot hoping to find a spot as someone was leaving. The closer you get to 7p, the harder it is to get a table. Life in the post COVID world feels like we're getting closer to fine.

Smart business concept, repurpose your spacious patio as a bar with bar food. However with no table…read moreservice, I suggest ordering a ton when you get up to order as the lines for the bar, which is also where you order food, was super long everytime we went up. Also note you have to get your own silverware, plates, napkins and condiments. Good ppl watching or should I say kid watching. Tons of kids out so having the adult space (it's supposed the be adults only but you're outside) that close by, meant lots of running, screaming and noise. Neighborhood vibes spot. And this neighborhood has very little diversity. Pizza was decent. Crust was delicious. Wish they had just breadsticks made of the crust dough. Pimento cheese is horrible. No flavor at ALL. The crackers looked like Socialables from Teeter. Drinks were okay. One and done

Met our local friends here for dinner in late fall, which was perfect timing for sitting outside…read moreand enjoying the patio. It was the first time I've had Maines Lunch beer, and it won't be the last. The pizza was really good as well. I can assure you that we will be back.

During a visit to see the kids in SC, we decided on pizza one night, and I kind of insisted on…read moresomething other than Domino's. Empire was the right choice. We ended up going with a chicken bruschetta pizza and a hot honey pepperoni pizza. Both were good choices for this night, and they have a lot of options of interesting pizzas. So we'll definitely try this again, and explore the menu a bit further.

We chose Empire because my daughter is gluten free, and we have a book of coupons purchased to…read moresupport our local high schools band that we wanted to use. First, the service was excellent. If the server had introduced himself, I may have remembered his name to mention here. I ordered the chili shrimp appetizer to use the coupon. My daughter ordered the cauliflower tortilla quesadilla and said it was ok. We ordered the Italian chopped salad, Cajun shrimp pasta, and a children's menu cheese pizza for my granddaughter. I must say the chile shrimp and the shrimp pasta were too salty, and i didn't enjoy them. I didn't want to complain, but I won't be going back. I am a senior citizen and we cut down on salt for health reasons as we age. Why not offer low sodium versions of the dishes and let people add more salt themselves if they wish.

I met for lunch at Brixx, which I do occasionally at this particular restaurant. It seems we all…read moreorder the same thing and my go to are the wings. The wings are always good. Others always order the salad and pizza lunch special and they always come out good. The restaurant is always clean and our servers seem to care about their customers. A good place to meet or bring family and friends.

Confusing and mediocre for vegans…read more The menu has vegan cheese on it, but the normal pizza crust has buttermilk in it and the cauliflower crust could not be confirmed by the manager as vegan. The gluten free crust is vegan but tastes like a thin cracker and they charge $4 extra for it! I've been here twice. The first time, the waiter told us the normal crust was vegan so we ordered it and ate it. Then I came back and the manager said it had milk in it. He also kept telling us the gluten free crust was vegan, but the cauliflower crust was only "vegan friendly" not fully vegan. What does that even mean? None of this is worth it for the prices, taste, and lack of menu clarity. Oh and the salads are very non vegan as well. All the dressings have dairy.

YUM! I love Portofinos!! My family comes here all the time for celebrations and GOOD food…read more We took a quick trip over this past weekend to grab a quick bite in between movies. Not only is their calamari phenomenal- they marinara they serve it with is FRESH, garlicky, and delicious. I always try and save a little extra to dip my bread in. This time we got the salmon piccata with linguini. SO FRESH. Their pasta was outstanding. The sauce was spot on. The fish had the PERFECT crunch. Not only was our server friendly, the kitchen was quick, and everything came out perfect. The vibes are casual, but you could also dress up if you wanted. At the end of the day, visit hungry and ready to enjoy! Can't wait to come back again soon!

Every time we come to this convenient restaurant we find that the food and service improves. A…read morerainy night and not in the mood to cook at home, so there we were, Portofino's. Good server, Aryanna, will never gain weight as she is constantly moving and sincerely tending to the needs of her multiple tables taking care of things with her genuine desire to make your experience special. Thank you Aryanna. I had Shrimp Scampi ($19.70) on linguini pasta (you can choose your pasta) and a small salad with house dressing. All one price. It was excellent...no need to "get a box". Wife had Tortellini Alfredo ($18.95) with Italian dressing on her side salad, and she did need a box, as the portion could easily feed two people. We two had the left-overs for lunch the next day. No extra charge for the fresh baked, warm, basket of rolls or a clean, well-served, table. They do have a separate pizza business that punches out some really good pies. Can order by phone and pick up to take home, or sit, order and eat inside. Plenty of parking as Portofino's is in a shopping center.

I stopped by Tony's Pizza for lunch today and ordered their lunch special, which included a large…read moreslice of pepperoni pizza, an order of fries, and a drink for under $11. The value is hard to beat, especially considering how large the pizza slices are. The pizza was flavorful and satisfying. It was a little greasier than usual today, but still very good. The fries were hot and fresh, making for a quick and filling lunch. One thing I appreciate about Tony's is the consistency. Their pizza is always good, and I've also enjoyed several other menu items over the years. Their salads are fresh, the mozzarella sticks are delicious, and the chicken wings are definitely worth trying. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable, with TVs throughout the restaurant. During my visit, they had a soccer match on, which added to the relaxed vibe. I arrived around 1:00 PM after the lunch rush, so it wasn't crowded at all. They also offer outdoor seating, which is a nice option when the weather is nice. If you're in the Ballantyne area and looking for a fast, affordable, and reliable lunch spot, Tony's Pizza is a great choice. Good food, reasonable prices, and a welcoming atmosphere make this a place I'll continue coming back to. Recommended: Pizza lunch special, mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, and salads.

Some of the best pizza in the Charlotte area. I always try to grab a couple slices any time I'm in…read moreBallantyne. Top notch service, super friendly staff, clean, and the food is outstanding. I feel kind of bad I haven't tried anything else on the menu because I love the pizza so much. I had the mozzarella sticks for the first time today and those were phenomenal too. All around great place to eat.

Food was very good and flavorful Service was attentive and…read moretimely Portions were substantial Ambiance was pleasant and inviting

Everything was very good ! Food and service were as expected . It was takeout so could not rate…read moreambiance.