Immaculate vibes, great service, and AMAZING food! Fair prices too! We got the Cacio e pepe pizza, the meatballs, and the Caesar salad and would recommend them all. read more

Love love love love love North!! Italian is my favorite because I can cook it so well. So when I eat at an Italian restaurant I'm EXTRA picky. My all time fav dish is the pesto pasta it's to die for. But when I'm feeling like not having something so rich I go for the Parmesan cream sauce pasta (can't remember the exact name) but oh my gosh is it phenomenal or wha! (Pair it with a glass or Riesling) Ooo on appetizers try the deep fried balls. I believe it's stuffed with maybe a cheesy risotto. Regardless, it's literally so good. read more

Discloser: I work at a fine dining restaurant, so I am very picky. That being said, North is my boyfriend and I's favorite restaurant. It has the cutest atmosphere, with a gorgeous open kitchen where you can see all the food being prepped and cooked. I love it! Their food is wonderful, our favorite being the zucca chips and pesto chicken pasta. Their handmade pastas are to die for, as well as their desserts (which change, so we are never bored). We also love the valet parking, it is a great touch that takes the restaurant to the next level. I definitely recommend reservations for a weekend, just to make sure you don't have to wait long (if at all) for your table. The service is great too and it seems to be well managed. If you're in Phoenix you have to go here, it's amazing! Fox Concept never disappoints, definitely try this amazing restaurant. read more

Really good Italian food and pretty traditional as well. Also a really nice ambience for a date night.

Great food, Great atmosphere, I like this place allot, I have not been to this place in a long-long time (year) but I glad that the food was great. I strongly recommend this place, for the food, the place, and prices not as expensive you will expect. :) read more

Update: Management totally stepped it up. I know 'stuff' happens. Robertsen contacted me immediately and couldn't be more apologetic and completely stepped it up with offering me to come back 'on him.' I wasn't sure when I'd be back in Arcadia so he sent me a gift card to come back and I will. Thank you North Italia, Robertsen & FRC. read more

I've been to North a few times in the past month. I really like the open air feeling of the restaurant. It is amazing that this cute Italian farm house used to be an old car wash. The staff is pretty awesome and I have always enjoyed the food. Last time for breakfast I had the egg scramble, it was a beautiful surprise of fluffy eggs hugging asparagus and peas. I devoured the entire thing. The happy hour is amazing, it is Monday-Friday 3-6 PM and All-Day Sunday. Last time for happy hour I got the $2 spicy nuts, $2 green olives and $5 chardonnay. Can't beat that.. I have to hand it to Sam Fox, he's scored again. read more

This place is definitely worth checking out. The service was excellent despite it being super busy - complimentary valet parking, friendly hostess, attentive waitress. The atmosphere is great, very bright and modern. And, most importantly, the food was out of this world. I split the prosciutto brushetta with my boyfriend - super fresh ingredients. For my meal I ordered the seasonal vegetable salad with salmon and I couldn't get over how perfect it was. All the ingredients complimented each other and the salmon was cooked just right (not dry like at a lot of restaurants). My boyfriend got the pizza of the day which was great tasting and also a good deal (only $8!). read more

North Italia - Italian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I'm a huge fan of North in Scottsdale, so I decided to drop by this North with a colleague after work....it's the same owners, so it should be the same, right? WRONG!! This place is totally different from the Scottsdale location. The menu is different, the vibe is different. What a weird experience....but it was good. The food is very good, I had the Spinach Tortelloni....yum! I washed it down with a glass of Vino. Their Wine selection is decent, I had the Super Tuscan. Service is good, but the parking is tough....parking is always challenging in this area, especially when it's busy. Overall, it was a good experience. Return Factor - 75% read more

My best friend and i just had one of the best dining experiences with North today. From the valet who parked our car to being thanked on the way out from the hostesses, everything here was beyond expectations. Andrea? I believe that was her name, she is hands down one of the best servers we both had ever had. Incredibly friendly, attentive, great conversation, took impeccable care of us while we were there and just made overall, our girl date away from our husbands, fun and so enjoyable. Like we laughed out loud with her so many times. The food was amazing. My friend is pregnant and she brought her a mocktail to without even asking. I hope to see her again and again as we continue to visit. She spoke so highly of the manager and her team. Everyone was wonderful. Thanks for making our day such a great experience. We will 100% be back and will let everyone we know about how great the service, food, ambiance is here. read more

This place was fantastic! Had the Italian Meatballs as a shared appetizer....one of the best polentas I have had....creamy and flavorful...and the meatball was full of flavor and not dense. For dinner my hubby had the Chef's Choice Pizza, which was delicious!! I had the GLAZED SHORT RIB CAVATELLI. You could tell the pasta was fresh as it had a nice texture and good chew, and it was cooked properly. The short ribs were super tender and delicious. We couldn't eat it all so had the leftovers for breakfast the next day...ate them cold and they were still delicious! I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for good, fresh pasta and flavorful pizza. read more

The hostess was the best of the entire lunch. I had such high expectations after seeing how organized and professional she was. Our waitress was not happy after we went out of our way to be nice to her. She was somewhere else all the time leaving her tables unattended. It could be the layout of the Resturant. One kitchen 2 bars and patio seating spread out. My be the the restaurant's problem not the servers. Other 2 servers seemed to be around just not ours. The food was on the low end of OK. My Pasta Bolognese sauce tasted a lot like Ragu, the pastas itself was homemade and delicious. The chicken sandwich was tough to eat. The shrimp appetizer did not have quality shrimp. The bread and ;good quality olive oil' was tasty but you can't live on bread alone. I will chose a different spot next time. read more

Last night after landing back in Phoenix after a week of traveling under my belt/wings again, my boyfriend took me for dinner at North Italia in Arcadia. I have had this FRC place on my 'must try soon' list for some time. I had to dodge in after our car was valeted, (complimentary, btw), and get out of my poly/wool/mostly poly tho uniform that would def show who I work for and what I do when I work; yeah. That's always good for some looks. Girl with wings on on a Saturday dodging right into a restaurants restroom for a quick change and hair down so she can have the much needed drink after flying all week! So 3 minutes later I am a new looking girl and we were promptly seated. Our table was 'European style' seating: small table for two next to other twos near the open Italian kitchen. Our waiter was on it and right there to take our orders, but my boyfriend let him know we needed a few minutes to collect ourselves and do a quick catch up. He was sweet and said that since we had our drinks, a pitcher of the red sangria my boyfriend had stocked us with while waiting at the bar for my quick-change and our table, he would check with us in a few minutes and that there was no rush. That is nice because how often are you seated and felt rushed to order?! Our red sangria was just sweet enough and yet not too sweet made with blood orange and brandy to cut too much 'sweet' out. We decided on ordering a few small plates for nibbling with our sangria. We ordered the combo of charcuterie of meats and cheeses and seasonal roasted veggies. It also came with a great sweet/tart chutney that paired nicely with the fresh mozzerella and spicy salami. The bread, which is house made, and one of things you can see in the open kitchen concept, was toasted and amazing. That could have been my entire dinner, happily! We also shared the roasted artichoke that comes with a alioli for dipping. Just enough garlic and tad of parmesan cheese and roasted nicely. Our favorite small plate tho was the Fonduta. Rich melted, warm Italian cheese served in a black iron pan and topped with a sweet tomato jam for dipping more toasted bread in. We were full after sharing these small plates. The menu is very vast: PIzzas,homemade pastas, meats and seafoods to pair with a nice wine/local beer list and several housemade cocktails with a Italian spin on most. We stayed and moved over to the bar because we liked the ambience and vibe of North so much. We had another wine and our friends joined us. We ALMOST had dessert because that menu also looked so tempting. This place is another FRC great. The patio looked amazing with a huge fireplace that had a roaring fire; outdoor seating to the bar; clean restrooms and cool decor. That coupled with a great menu and vibe and fresh made entrees all make for a great place! Oh. There is also, The Rocket. North's 'food truck' that does private events. We asked about it as it drove into the North parking lot. Apparently it has a brick oven on board! NOW, I am wondering what I can book and use The Rocket for! Cool idea! Thanks for the great night, North! read more

North Italia - Fonduta ... An amazing Italian fondue app. topped with sweet tomato jam ... Coupled with housemade fresh bread... Delicioso! - Italian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

One WORD comes to mind...FLIES!!! (FYI we were inside not on the patio) The whole dinner was spent swatting at the nasty creatures. Seriously, no exaggeration THE WHOLE DINNER was one hand swatting away flies and one hand trying to eat. Evidently the little buggers can not resist steamed mussels. ( I will get to the food part of my review in a second) Also, I am not a big fan of mandatory valet parking. No wait, I am pretty sure I don't like mandatory ANYTHING when I go out to eat. Not even the having to pay part, but I have come to accept this as normal now when dining out. OK, on to the food. I thought the food was AWESOME. The aforementioned mussels were plump and cooked perfectly. We had a wood-fired pizza with fresh dough that was yummy. There is this thing called a Chef's Board that I highly recommend (If you are still bent on going in the first place) The dessert was a warm Nutella cake with vanilla gelato and coffee cream with bits of coffee bean in it. Now THAT was a delicious way to end a meal. Our server was excellent as well. Bottom line is: I am not going back and I am saddened by that since the food was so good and so was my server. read more

Wonderful service and phenomenal accommodations for my dairy allergy. The wait staff and kitchen staff were all on the same page with my allergy and made me feel comfortable about the food they served me read more

This place felt trendy if not gimmicky. First the pluses: The interior is pleasing to the eye: rustic, spacious, and comfortable. Food is generally tastier than the other concepts in my opinion Servers are friendly Valet parking Now the negatives: Food was 'meh' Awkward patio seating with uncomfortable chairs sitting on dirt Slow service Over-priced: especially for a kids grilled cheese plate that didn't even taste good Don't come hungry: gnocchi was ok but was served as a diet portion Valet parking I don't get this place but then again it's a Fox-owned business catering to the masses looking to make the big bucks. read more

The pizza is amazing and so is the service, our waiter Jeremy was the best. The arugula salad was so good I ordered it a second time.

Sorry, Monica and Ursula but I don't think this was the best pick for the ISC dinner. The food was just ok and I wouldn't say it was particularly authentic Italian. I ordered the Fungi pizza and even though I was expecting exotic mushrooms and caramelized onions what is actually on the pizza is lightly sautéed button mushrooms and white onions. So, pretty much the same as you get at Pizza Hut or Papa Johns. And the smoked mozzarella had a very artificial taste to it, as if it was not actually smoked but had liquid smoke or some other chemical added to it to make it taste smoky. Don't get me wrong, I still ate half the pizza that night and took the other half home. It wasn't terrible, just not as good as I was hoping. I probably would have given North a solid three stars if it wasn't for the fact that I also ordered a glass of pinot noir for $20. It was a large pour, but that is still probably more than I have ever paid for a glass of wine in a restaurant, including very high end places. I looked it up online and Fox Restaurants partnered with a winery in Oregon to bottle this wine specifically for their restaurants. So I am really confused as to why it was priced so high? Its the most expensive on the list (I didn't know that when I ordered it). Since it was commissioned by Fox it is not available in regular retail channels so I can't compare prices, I just know it was not worth $20 a glass. Its flavor lacked complexity and the wine had very little body to it... it almost tasted watered down (**not accusing anybody of anything, just saying that's what it tasted like**). It was very disappointing. I liked the casual and open atmosphere of the place and probably would be a fan if I had enjoyed the food and drink more. For me, North falls into the category of "not worth the money". Unfortunately, I don't think I will return. read more

North Italia - Fungi pizza - Italian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

The dilapitated carwash-turned-trattoria is a cute concept and was executed well. Almost feels "local" except for the fact that it's a Fox concept restaurant and carries the same inauthentic atmosphere as the rest. They did a very nice job reonvating this space and gave it some great curb appeal. But it lacks the true Arcadia genuineness present at it's neighbors' establishments. It's in the food, it's in the people. It's not in NoRTH. My experiences have been mixed. The first visit was very nice - just there for some small bites and wine. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were incredibly friendly. Food was slightly above mediocre though incredibly salty and oily. Second visit - not so nice. Called ahead to see if they allowed dogs. The hostess put me on hold to confirm and came back with a yes. When we arrived, we were met with a "um, no." They (the manager) were a little (or a lot) snooty about it, so my third visit took a while to come around. Similar to the first with mediocre results. The bar is beautious with friendly bartenders, so I haven't even bothered with waiting for a table. The front staff always seems a little annoyed that we're even walking in like "I guess we can be bothered to seat you" which is why we always just help ourselves to the bar. It's close to home with all day happy hour on Sundays (decent wine), so I'll probably be back eventually. But only if I'm eager to have one of those "stumble home in a wine stupor" nights. read more

The food and atmosphere here are amazing. I came here with friends and it was really nice. The service was really good and it was a busy night. I would recommend this place. That also have complementary valet service. Drinks were half off on Sunday. read more

The beverage menu read; 'Cheap Cans $2.00'. Cheap cans, as I incorrectly surmised was not an older woman named Waynette, whose once youthful 34D's had now fallen victim to gravity. Well, gravity and her recently deceased husband, Sid, overly-motorboating them throughout the years. Lucinda, with no place to call home save for a stolen shopping cart, is waved in from the alley by your server to flash her 42 longs at you. And for all of two bucks! Boy, was I ever wrong. Actually, Cheap Cans, as the server informed, is whatever they feel like serving on any given day. Some days Red Stripe tall-boys, others, PBR. Last night it was tall boys. Someone in our party ordered appys, but I have no idea what it was called. I was too busy ruminating on the whole cheap cans thing. It was ten bucks and it had olives, cheese, pickled peppers, salami, hot salami, crusty bread and hot peanuts. Two tall boys in, I dispensed with any graciousness and just started grabbing at anything i could get my hands on before the others beat me to it. I suppose this is one reviewer's way of saying it was damned tasty stuff, whatever it was. read more

I went here for brunch with the bRUNch group (a group in which you run a 5k and then get rewarded with brunch and beverages) a few weeks ago. Now, maybe I was really hungry from running, but this was pretty delish. I got the short rib hash and it was done right. The eggs were perfectly runny, the short rib was soft and flavorful, the potatoes were good....I'll be honest, I cleaned my plate. The mimosas were also top notch, as was the service. So why only 4 stars? They don't have any pancakes on their menu....why is this important? The husband is allergic to eggs and so he can't have any egg dishes or french toast, but can tolerate pancakes or biscuits and gravy...I wish this place would add some of those items to the menu so I can come here with him! Anyway, if they did that, I would be a regular. read more

(Lyrics - Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World) Welcome to North Fattoria There's no turning back Even while we eat We will find you at the bar for Happy Hour Buy a drink and some bruschetta Everyone should try North Fattoria It's my own decision It's my own review Help you to decide Help you make the most Of eating and of pleasure Nothing ever taste this good Everyone should try North Fattoria North Fattoria Italiana, almost a mouth full trying to say it. Either that or I'm busy stuffing my face! NFI is a Sam Fox Restaurant so you know the ambience is awesome! I've never felt out of place every time I go to any of his restaurants. NFI is laid out like an old Italian kitchen. Like mama's home cooked meal I say! Lots of vintage lighting and an open patio. I believe the garage doors open during the cooler months for a fresh breeze to run through the restaurant -- mmm nice! I came to NFI several times and their HH is very good. Wine and dine at the bar with some flatbreads cause it's my favorite. I ordered "The Pig" and it was a bunch of pork, but man you know; that's what I like! No skimping the protein here! Nice warm and cheese crust, while can add some crushed pepper to give it some kick! Perfect with "ma ber"! Their pasta is good too so don't for get to leave some room before you come. I ordered their regular spaghetti and meatballs and lets just say it's my favorite in town! The sauce taste like it's made from scratch while the meatballs, well meatballs to me are meatballs, but the sauce is what really makes a pasta dish. In the end, I was delighted with my meals and the atmosphere was perfect to just relax and enjoy a few drinks before departing. - Enjoy read more

It was my mom's and my first time here. The one thing I didn't like much is the fact that you HAVE to use the valet. Granted, it's complimentary, but what kind of a jerk doesn't tip the valet? We had meatballs for our app. Umm, delish!!! So moist and yummy, plus the toast that comes with was to die for! Next was marguerita pizza. It was a little salty for my liking, but still very yummy. We sat at the bar, and our waitress/bartender was SUPER sweet and attentive! I give her 5 stars all on her own! Definitely will make this a regular spot, but I might ride my bike next time (they have bike locks on the patio!) read more

Worthy of 4.5 stars. I initially had attitude about going to a restaurant that is part of a group (Fox Concepts) but that was judging a book from the cover. I love the restaurants on 40th street, several of good ones on that street (Chelsea's Kitchen, The Vig, La Grande Orange, this one). We went there on a Sunday and it was packed. Great vibe in the place. Good decor - it is like a warehouse, open kitchen, etc. Great happy hour prices and happy hour is all day on Sundays!! Excellent bucatini with meatballs (homemade pasta) Castrevallano olives - delicious Italian ( not too briny) Charcuterie & cheese plate with crusty fresh bread - very good Bottles of wine - half price during happy hour. Service was outstanding. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were attentive and continued to refill water glasses. Definitely worth a visit! read more

Recently came here on a double date with another couple & this place is one of our favorite fox concept restaurants. It's our "must-go" place for dinner whenever our friend visits from out of town. We come here quite often that we routinely order our "usuals". Our couple friend always gets the spaghetti & meatballs which our friend claims "is the best spaghetti & meatballs ever", margherita pizza and the gluten free bolognese pasta. As for my boyfriend & I, we usually share the "pig" pizza & Italian farm salad. Oh and of course, to complete our amazing meal, us four will share a pitcher of their delicious & refreshing red sangria. I'm usually not a fan of red wines but this is one that I love. So if you haven't tried this place...definitely DO!!! It's a great place to hang out with friends or a nice date. And did I forget to mention that they have happy hour all day Sunday!!!...can't beat that. read more

Nice. Good food and service. A rarity. Will be back. Phoenix location.

North Italia serves some of the best spaghetti this side of the Pacific--and I haven't even told you about the pizza yet! Every menu item that I've had, from the salads to the hand-made pastas to the pizzas, has left me feeling unbelievably satisfied. The attentive customer service adds to this experience and has made me, a small shrimp in an enormous pond, feel more at home. This restaurant is perfect for date night, dinner with friends, or a family outing. Go for it and enjoy some modern Italian flair. Tl; dr: North Italia tickled my tongue and my mood in the best way. read more

The potatoes here are ridiculously good. And the castelvetrano olives with that fresh cracked sea salt... oh man. That's the stuff dreams are made of. I could probably be gluttonous and make a meal of olives and potatoes, with a Red Rooster to drink (their version of a bloody mary.) Service is usually good and my food has always come out of the kitchen quickly. For Sunday brunch at 11am we didn't even have to wait for a table. Prices are fair for the quality and quantity of food served. The chicken salad sandwich is amazing. French toast, yogurt with granola & berries are also very tasty if you're looking for breakfast. Just in case you need extra incentive, its happy hour all day on Sunday at North! read more

Was able to get a taste if their new brunch menu. Wow. Just as good as their lunch and dinner! We started off with their red rooster Italian style Bloody Mary. It was delicious and had parmesian cheese sprinkled in it - weird at first but adds a great salty bit! We had some baked French toast with vanilla syrup, homemade whipped cream and fresh berries. We also had a great parfait with Greek yogurt sweetened with honey and vanilla, crunchy granola and fresh berries. On came the heavier courses of a veggie scramble and a short rib hash. The veggie scramble was my least favorite but that's only because I'm not a huge veggie in my eggs kinda girl. The hash though- wow. Everyone's favorite. If you've ever had their gnocchi then you've had their braised short rib and it's amazing. Finish today off with a chat with the chef and a tutorial on how to make a tortoloni (yup not a tortiloni and I'm sure my spelling is off for both) then you can say I started my day in a pretty bad ass manner. read more

I hate writing bad reviews and I try to find the best in the places I go to. There were just too many problems with our brunch at North. The best way for me to explain the 2 stars is to give you a breakdown of our experience. We arrived at North and right away I have to say that I liked the look of the place. Very cool barn design with tons of windows and a bar that is very inviting. Well things changed as soon as we went in. First off the place was maybe 30% full so there was a ton of seating. We were shocked to hear that there was a 15 minute wait. Now I know a little about the restaurant business and it could have very well been that they were short staffed. I still think it is a much better experience for people to be seated and explain your situation. While we were waiting outside I decided to go to the bar to get some coffee for us. The bartender didn't acknowledge me and instead decided to help the people that came in after me. I moved down the bar hoping it was because she didn't see me. Well that wasn't it because I got another 5 minutes of her avoiding me like I was Kris Humphries at a Kardashian family reunion. Finally she took my order to which she tried having two other people fulfill it. Needless to say we were seated before I even got the coffee. Bad service. Once we were seated things seemed to get better. We had a very nice waiter and he was very quick with getting us drinks and our order. When the food arrived things went downhill again. My girlfriends eggs were so salty her blood pressure went from 110/60 to 180/120. She only had one bite. Her oatmeal was also missing apples which was a big part of it. She was very disappointed. Mine wasn't much better. My breakfast sandwich is something I could make at home. Very plain roll with overcooked fried egg and two skinny pieces of bacon. The potatoes were fantastic though. Odd they give you a thick aioli that ruins the potato. Just avoid it. I can only review this place on its brunch. I haven't been here for dinner and not really sure I will give it another try. The service from the bartender and the very sub-par food makes me want to spend my money elsewhere. There are too many great restaurants in Phoenix that appreciate the business. read more

I will start out by admitting I judge harshly. That being said, the main reason I give it such a low rating is the mussels were spoiled! I love mussels with a nice piece of bread to soak up the juice. But if the cooks didn't smell the fowl smell these dead mussels were giving off, then they should not be in the kitchen. I'm not the one who ordered them, so it wasn't my place to send them back or complain, and didn't want to cause a scene in front of my husband and his business associates, but oh my. It was bad. I spit it out and wiped my tongue with a napkin. My husband ordered scallops. 3 scallops with a swoosh of cauliflower puree, $25??? And they were undercooked! My spaghetti and meatballs? Well, I think the meatballs were premade, frozen, then microwaved to reheat. They were hard and rubbery. I could not cut them with the fork. The server was nice. But I don't see why anyone would want to spend so much money for this food when you could make it so much better yourself. Well maybe you hate cooking. I understand. Call me. I'll make it for you, fresh, in your home. read more

I ate here last night and it was fantastic. The service could have been a little faster but the food was over the top. I cooked at a really good Italian restaurant years ago and this is legit. Bolognese, scallops, pizza and arancini! Arancini were fantastic! Must have. They slice their prosciutto to order. Da Bomb! Oh, the pasta is homemade too! read more

North Italia - Italian Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Dinner was enjoyable - even at the bar. I went with a friend and without reservations so when the bar had 2 seats open we took them. The bartender was great and openly suggested food items. Burrata Alla Panna - grilled asparagus, caper vinaigrette, toasted almonds and mustard bread crumbs. DELICIOUS! The mozzarella on there was amazing. I ordered the gnocchi and the beef short ribs were very tender and mouth watering. The service was good by the bartender. My only bad comment is nobody got our food placement right. Even Amy, the owner, sat our plates down wrong. We even watched another server try to hand our dessert to another customer. We were in seat #1 and #2 at the bar...how can you get that wrong? It was a great place to people watch. I would go back and would definitely recommend the wonderful salted caramed budino. The sea salt and caramel were a great combo! read more

Decided to stop by and check out the new place Tuesday. Complimentary valet is convenient if you get there early before the lot fills up. I was impressed by the nice open design and high ceilings of the building. I grabbed a seat at the bar and the server was super friendly and informative. My pizza was on happy hour special that day and was only $8 which was a great value. I can't remember exactly what was on it other than chicken. I also tried some of my friend's mafaldine pasta which was delicious with the rock shrimp. This is a fun place bustling with energy. read more

I wish I could give this place MORE than 5 stars! My daughter and I loved the food. Home made pasta? Yes, please! Our server, Hunter, was extremely attentive and ultra sweet. My daughter is telling me to include that he was kind and generous :) We arrived without a reservation and the hostess made sure that we were taken care of, and even though it was super busy (we came at 6:30pm, packed house and I can understand why) they had our food served right away. Will be returning soon!! read more

Starters: - Grilled artichoke: Not a favorite for the table, but a definite favorite of mine. Very beefy and full of flavor - Grilled calamari: Wow. Silky smooth with a hint of the grill and the white bean ragu, which I was skeptical of, blended perfectly - Steamed mussels: If not for being in public, I would have picked up the bowl and drank the broth directly. The mussels were good too. - Braised meatballs: Very nice red sauce. Might have been a tad too tender and I might have missed it, but I like a little bit of pork in my meatballs. Main (I only have what I tasted to go on, but the rest of my party looked very happy): - At the suggestion of the server, I had the scallops. I wish I hadn't. Although the description looked wonderful, it felt like the mushroom risotto, scallops, and shallots didn't mix well. The shallots blocked out the risotto, which blocked out the scallops and the scallops, while tender enough, had little flavor. That being said, the risotto by itself was very good. Desserts: -Salted caramel budino: I'd drive the 25 miles back here just for the dessert. Just amazing. The creaminess of the creme freche topping with the salt and caramel was perfect. Again, if I wasn't in public, I would have licked the small cup clean. Very good wait staff and nicely timed for a large group. Next time, I'll try the gluten free pasta instead of one of the meats and see how that goes. Can't wait for more budino! read more

So, we have tried to support all our favorite restaurants during the pandemic (via takeout), in hopes they'll survive the economic implications. Many restaurants are so appreciative and make the process so seamless. NOT North Italia!! I called to order takeout, was put on hold, then disconnected. I called back, and the same abrupt voice wanted to put me on hold again, and I told him what happened. So, after a heavy sigh, he took my order. Then said it would be 1 hour! Wow! They certainly don't need the business, I thought. Anyway, I decide to go early... just in case. I was there at 40 minutes later, and the food was ready, and sadly, it was all cold. REALLY?? And to make matters worse, a pasta side included with the Chicken Parm was missing! Needless to say, there are many other phenomenal restaurants in Phoenix we will be supporting instead!! Examples: Cafe Monarch, Binkley's, Sel (higher end ones), and Malee's Thai, Vecina, Sierra Bonita Grill, Pitch Pizzeria, and Nook as honorable mentions! read more

Finally got a chance to hit up North in Arcadia last night. Nice addition to the area, fits right in with all of the other great places in the neighborhood. Met some other couples for drinks and dinner. Like most people who grew up here, obv not a fan of mandatory valet but oh well. Walking in, you're definitely struck by the amazing decor and it's certainly the highlight of this location. Big, open spaces, beautiful Italian farmhouse converted to a restaurant. Really stunning. Sat at the bar for a while, it was packed and service was not as prompt as I'd like which was kind of a running theme for the rest of the night. Not a huge fan of the plaid shirts worn by the servers. They didn't really stand out and were hard to distinguish from the patrons sometimes. Finally, when we were moved to our table we just carried our drinks and a bottle of wine over, which I always think is funny when patrons are walking around a restaurant bottle of wine in hand... Service was ok not great. 4 of the 5 couples in our group had never been to North but we never were given a run down of the restaurant or what is good or any of the normal stuff most servers give you when they first greet you. Never once did our server fill our wine glasses, and they tried to take my wife's dinner plate away before she was finished, and they actually did take mine away without even asking and I wasn't finished. Food was very good as you'd expect from a Fox restaurant. Had the Seasonal Vegetable Salad w/ chicken and it was great. Love the farro in it. Also had the prosciutto wrapped chicken, was a little disappointed in it. It was good, but I just expected something amazing I guess and it just seemed pretty standard. I didn't at all like the bed of spinach it was served on. It comes served in a large bowl and the bottom of the bowl was filled with the juice from the chicken and the spinach was just kind of wet and soggy. Seemed like a sloppy presentation. Definitely would go back. I'm a huge sucker for beautiful spaces and this is one of my favorites in the valley. Everything else was just decent, but that isn't terrible so I'm happy for another good restaurant in the area. read more

Another great offering from Fox Concept Restaurants. Bravo. The building looks like a giant barn, and the interior resembles a barn as well. But don't be fooled; this restaurant is CLEAN as a whistle and the lighting is spot on. The servers and bartenders are dressed in jeans and other farm attire so they do look a little goofy, but it works. It just works. The bartenders actually care about you enjoying your experience. They're not there to puff up their chests and flex for the girls. These guys know customer service and they are spectacular. The food?! Heavenly. The arancini was perfect and the sauce divine. But the real treat was the main course: I tried the Bolognese, which is something I have perfected (in my opinion!) at home. I'm very picky. Luckly, they did not disappoint. The bolognese was very moreish and I could not stop eating. I left a very happy man. Kudos to the guys scurrying around in the open-air kitchen! And now for my one (and only) bitch about this restaurant: and I nearly took away a star because of it. JUST as the sun was setting, the bartenders took it upon themselves to open all the window-doors surrounding the bar. It's nice, but only when it's 79 degrees outside! And the sun...burst forth and blinded me along with anyone else sitting westward. All the nice cool air just slipped out the restaurant and it became quite uncomfortable. Yes, I know it's Friday night and you want the restaurant to seem as open as possible...but it's already A BARN! You do not need to open all the windows in the middle of summer...and especially when the sun is still able and willing to stun and piss off your diners. This restaurant, despite the only one flaw, is a masterpiece. (And guys, STOP going out in public wearing flip flops or sandals. You all look ridiculous.) I step off my soapbox. read more