We were a party of 6 tonight, we had reservations for 5pm and were seated as soon as we arrived. Now they don't have a liquor license so we brought 6 bottles of great wines. We started with table appetizers which included an entree of gnocchi's with a gorgonzola sauce, stuffed artichokes, a meat tray with buffalo burreta. All came out quickly and hot. Our main entrees included lobster ravioli, veal piccata, pasta carbonara. I'm sorry I can't remember all them. Desert was followed with coffee, espresso, and cappuccino with a Lemoncello frappe dessert, chocolate cake, and a cheesecake. There was plenty of parking and the staff were very attentive but not over bearing. They let us take our time and relax read more

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Yummy food, large space with ample outdoor seating, and decent service (not the fastest, but friendly and attentive enough). My husband and I came for lunch one day and were pleasantly surprised. We were the only ones in the restaurant, so we were a bit worried, but food was great! Everything was perfectly seasoned and fresh. I loved the rucola/arugula to start, so fresh and peppery, and it was accompanied by some sort of thinly sliced beef that was also pretty tasty. We really enjoyed our pastas, which were super saucy and loaded with protein. I wished they'd put a little more pasta in relative to the sauce and protein. Overall, it was a good experience! read more

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First time trying Otto- really blew us away. It was Valentine's Day, so restaurant was crammed like sardines and very loud. Unfortunately we were seating on our date next to a table of kids which took away from ambiance. Polpo appetizer was great and tender. Mushroom veal dish was one note and nothing special. Shrimp pasta was exceptional. Service was great. BYOB. Would definitely return. read more

Otto by Polpo - Penne Agli Scampi - Italian Near Me - Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

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They charged me for an order of key lime pie that was not delivered. Otherwise the food was fine.

We had a reservation for a party of 10, which was confirmed in advance. Upon arrival, we were surprised and frustrated to be told that our reservation had been canceled--something we never initiated nor were notified about. What followed was a disorganized and disappointing dining experience. After being told there was no record of our reservation, we overheard staff saying they had to "rush to set up tables" for us and that our group was "difficult"--comments that were both untrue and unprofessional, especially when made within earshot of guests. Service throughout the evening was slow and inattentive. We had to ask multiple times just to get water, and the server seemed annoyed by even the simplest requests. His attitude was curt and dismissive, which made our group feel unwelcome and uncomfortable. At the end of the meal, when we attempted to split the check--cash & 4 payments across four credit cards--the server acted as though this was an outrageous inconvenience. He made a show of having to calculate tax and process the payments, again adding to the sense that we were a burden rather than valued guests. To be fair, the food itself was delicious--clearly prepared with care and skill. Unfortunately, the poor service overshadowed what could have been a lovely evening. We came in excited to enjoy a celebratory night together and left feeling like we were unwelcome from the start. Until there's a serious improvement in hospitality and professionalism, we can't recommend this restaurant--no matter how good the food is. read more

BYOB Good service The salads are very nice The soup was very good. It was different as it wasn't like a traditional manhattan clam chowder. It was thicker like a bisque didn't really have much potato or veggies and was a little bit sweet. It did have more clams than I have ever seen in any other soup. The risotto was good as usual from other locations in this restaurant group. Lastly was the truffle seafood stuffed pasta special. It was a cheese and truffle stuffed pasta pillow. In a pink cream sauce. With lobster and scallops. It was good. I think by the end of the meal the truffle was a little too rich. The sauce and the seafood were very good and everything paired very nice The dessert was only ok The lemon cello flight was pretty basic The chocolate cake was dry and covered with a heavy layer of frosting. Go for the food skip the desert read more

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Great food but awful service and billing practices. Had a reservation and they were not prepared, we could have waited a bit. Took over 10 min to have a server come - he saw we didn't bring wine and walked away. I had to stop him to ask if we could order drinks. Told entree came with pasta then upcharged by adding pasta fee. Upcharged for a different coffee when asked for a cup of brewed coffee. For 5 people, charged 20% gratuity for large party when they crammed us in a 4 person table. When asked about it- they were extremely offensive and denied all wrongdoing. read more

The atmosphere is very nice, food is good, but our waiter was very rude. He forced me to order a meal I did not want to as it is "policy". If you come here just make sure you follow their "policy" read more

From the first moment of coming in, we were treated rudely by the hostess who almost slammed the door on us. Our party ordered dishes, one was swimming in oil and another was spoiled. When we asked to take back the dishes and to report this to the chef, the waiter used racial slurs towards us. The waiter there denied having said it. They took off one of the dishes. Needlessly to say, we'll never return here again. read more

The reviews on this place is right. 1) They go back into Toast (thier point of sale machine) and increase the final amount even after you add your tip. I only found out by checking my credit card statement. This is illegal!!! 2) I saw first hand at the table next to me the waiter making racial slurs at a couple. There is no place for this!! If I could give a place 0 stars I would. This place had a number of open tables on what should be a busy night. Now I know why. read more

I have been here several times, and while the food has always been excellent, that means absolutely nothing when customers are treated so poorly. I made a reservation for three and was crystal clear that I needed a quiet table in the corner because I was dining with my elderly father. He is 91 years old. Despite this, we were seated at a cramped table in the middle of the restaurant, directly next to the door, with freezing cold air blowing in from outside. When I asked to be moved, there was clearly another suitable table available. Instead of making even the smallest accommodation, the host rudely told me that the table was reserved and that I should have requested a different table when I made the reservation. I did request it. Very clearly. I am sorry, but you rearrange and inconvenience someone else, not a 91-year-old gentleman. The complete lack of consideration and basic decency was shocking. Good food does not excuse this level of disregard, and I will not be returning. read more

Highly recommend if you're looking for incredible authentic Italian food!! I love that it's BYOB and how accommodating they are with whatever you bring. My friend lived in Italy for a few years and said this is one of the most authentic places she's found in the area. The fresh bread is great but the olive oil to go with it was amazing. It was dark green and one of the best olive oils I've ever had. This was the best gnocchi I've ever had. I'm usually hesitant to order gnocchi because they tend to be little balls of hard dough. These gnocchi were the exact opposite. They were fluffy and melt in your mouth. The cream sauce was delicious without being too rich. The Caesar salad was good but had a bit of a smoky flavor to it. The artichoke appetizer was good but we had it without the prosciutto for the vegetarian at the table. The sauce was creamy but a little bitter and the balsamic didn't cut it enough. The artichoke has a good charred flavor. It was good but I'm sure it would be even better with the prosciutto. Wasn't a fan of the chocolate caramel cake. It was a bit powdery and chalky. Only downsides of the place- it's al a cart so no sides come with the entree and you need to order all at once; not course by course orders read more

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I remember when Otto by Polpo opened a few years ago and wanting to find a time to go. After hearing good things about this place from friends, I decided to go with some for Thanksgiving dinner. Upon coming in, they seated us in the corner of the restaurant, despite there being plenty of open seats. The hostess accommodated our move, but I thought it was odd that they would try to sit us there in the first place. For my appetizer, I ordered the Gamberi, which is grilled shrimp, and for my appetizer, I went with the Thanksgiving special turkey. I would say they both pretty average, at best. There were only four medium-sized pieces of shrimp and they were fine flavor wise, but I thought there could have been more pieces of shrimp for a $16 appetizer. I was pretty disappointed in the Thanksgiving dinner special for my entree, which just was just not much of a Thanksgiving turkey meal. The turkey was not sliced pieces, but rather dark meat served on a bone. More like the turkey thighs you would get at DisneyWorld and not Thanksgiving. I did not like the sides very much. The mashed potatoes were fine, but the only side offered was broccoli rob, which is not really a Thanksgiving food. They should have offerings of stuffing, cranberry sauce or green beans. I called when making this reservation and they said they would have a Thanksgiving menu and options, but they were very limited. They should have been more specific on the phone. I spoke to another person in my group, who had the octopus and salmon. They said the octopus was quite underwhelming, especially for a place that specializes in that, and while the salmon was hot, the capers made it salty. For dessert, I was disappointed they did not have any Thanksgiving options such as pumpkin pie. Why say you have Thanksgiving options, if you won't even have pumpkin pie? I had the chocolate cake for dessert, which was too small and tasted like the type of cake you'd get at a supermarket. Altogether, this restaurant is overpriced and the food is nothing spectacular. I doubt that I will be back. read more

Otto by Polpo - Italian Near Me - Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

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The service was slow. The food was bad. I ordered fettucine alfredo. I don't eat this very often because it isn't a very healthy thing to eat but I was in the mood for it. In my opinion, fettucine alfredo is hard to mess up, it is basically just pasta in heavy cream and/or butter, parmesan cheese and maybe some lemon. Their alfredo was not rich or indulgent, I am pretty sure it was the worst alfredo I have ever had. I remember my wife saying that her dish wasn't great either. I don't think I will go back. read more

My experience at Otto by Polpo was perfect -- service, food and ambience was amazing. My husband and i were out for a casual dinner at an area byob. We searched and read the reviews and selected Otto. It was a very busy evening with a host of patrons waiting outside. The hostess staff quickly seated each table and fit us 20 minutes before our reservation. Our waitperson, Ari, was amiable, knowledgeable and accommodating. The seafood and burrata was fresh and well prepared. The tiramisu and cannoli were to die for. Can't wait to come again. Tell Ari hello for us. read more

Fantastic food! We got the frito misto and seafood linguine. Wait staff was slow and there was a large gap between seating and ordering. Loved BYOB. Ambience is a little miss, could have been designed better inside. read more

Otto by Polpo - Menu - Italian Near Me - Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

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I grabbed food to go from Otto by Polpo this evening, just in town for a couple/few days on a work thing, and I'm glad I did. I ordered the sausage and broccoli rabe with beans appetizer and their veal piccata for a main course and both were outstanding, particularly for take-out food. The sausage crumble was clean, not greasy, and the dish had great flavor. The veal was delicious and tender and the pasta that came with it was perfectly prepared. I'll definitely be returning to try their other menu items and recommend you give it a shot, too...it's worth the trip if you are in the neighborhood. read more

What ro say about Otto? It's a mixed bag. We live close by and so wished this was going to be our constant go to; but sadly not the case. We went for an early res on a Sat night because we knew it would be quiet for a little while. I love the clean, white tablecloths and a little lamp. The entry level room looked lovely before the hustle of filling every table, but we knew from one other visit it would be full. The waiter was there immediately, with the specials. Menus followed. I noticed he moved quickly as soon as a party was seated. There is a fast pace to collecting the orders and to serving them. This goes along with the notice that there are time limits for how long you have your table. I asked about the price of the halibut special, and my waiter looked askance! Turns out it was $50.00. I ordered from the regular menu and the mixed seafood was unremarkable. My spouse had a basis pasta dish; loves red sauce. She said it as not remarkable. They do give you a bit of bread at the table; also less than tasty. As remarked by others, desserts were less than good. We like Italian food where the sauces are rich and flavorful and the menu options do not use the same ingredients in different proportions on many of their dishes. Our waiter that night never checked back during the meal and seemed startled that we wanted to see a dessert menu....just not comfortable to go again. read more

Last night our family women (12) gathered at Otto by Polpo restaurant to celebrate Valentines. Little did we know their heat was not working. They could have called us but decided not to and we gathered with coats remaining on and stayed (the coldest day of the year). Management never came to our table to apologize but when we saw soot falling from the heating vents and pointed it out to the manager he said "so", Unphased and dismissive! We won't be going back!!! read more

I have been to all of their restaurants down at the Jersey shore, but this was a first time at Otto in Bryn Mawr. It was an amazing meal! We had the pleasure of sitting on the side enclosed patio which was a nice little addition to the restaurant. We were told when the weather gets nice, the windows and ceiling retract, giving the guests a nice fresh air atmosphere. Right off the septa train tracks, so very easy for my family to hop on in malvern for a quick ride right to the front door of the restaurant! I always enjoy a BYOB. I get to bring my own wine and not have to worry about racking up a big bill because I want to indulge on a Saturday evening! We started off sharing the bacon wrapped artichoke as well as the Brussels sprouts. They were packed with flavor and the perfect starter before our entrees. Our table ordered the Veal Picatta, chicken Milanese, chicken Marsala, and the xxx. I had the pleasure of tasting all of the dishes and they were all magnificent. Each dish had its own delicious sauce that complimented the perfectly cooked meat/chicken. Packed with flavor and savory to the very last bite. The service was amazing, the atmosphere was great. Can't wait to come back soon (especially when it's warm and we can enjoy the outdoor seating!). read more

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First review from the birthday week! When you and your GF share a birthday but its on a Tuesday you tend to space decide to stretch it out by a full week and use two weekends so you can do as many things as possible and include a good group of people in the process (a very minimized group due to Covid-19 times, but still). Otto by Polpo was one of the spots that I was thinking about picking for a Main Line dinner with the fam on our Birthday. But we opted for kicking off our birthday week with a BYOB dinner here instead, and this easily might be the best BYOB and Italian spot that I've enjoyed on the Main Line! Our dining experience was made a thousand times better thanks to our server Tini (pronounced like Martini) who was an absolute joy with his service, spot-on recommendations, and witty banter ("dessert starts at just 0 calories, but adds on as soon as you order it!"). It also didn't hurt that they have one of those menus where you make a right decision no matter what you blindly point your finger at! When you go to a place named Polpo you have to have some octopus, so we had ours as a perfectly prepared crudo with capers, arugula, and shaved Granna Padana cheese. For another starter we went with an AMAZING special with was fried artichokes lightly breaded and stuffed with prosciutto and provolone cheese! .For my main I knew that I was craving some Agli Scampi with its jumbo shrimp and its delicious-sounding basil-rose cognac cream sauce, but for the life of me, I couldn't decide whether I wanted it as pasta or risotto. Tini suggested the risotto simply because at an Italian restaurant mostly everyone goes for the pasta and sleeps on something like risotto, and it was his chance to recommend something else. It was hard logic to argue, and that perfectly prepared rice combined with that decadent cream sauce for something that was entirely next level! For dessert, I knew I was craving that dream bomba for that gelato and chocolate decadence, but at Tini's suggestion I decided to try it with their spumoni gelato, and licorice gelato with dark chocolate and its other additions was an absolute joy. For great modern Italian food with classic inspiration at an excellent value, Otto by Polpo is pretty hard to beat from start to finish! read more

Otto by Polpo - Shrimp risotto w/ cognac cream sauce - Italian Near Me - Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

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Last night we ate here outside and the service was 10/10. Our waiter was super funny and couldn't stop making us laugh. Service was attentive and when it started to rain they moved us over to a table to not get wet. The food was absolutely amazing! The mushrooms and the prosciutto in the Demi glaze was the lemon sauce on the chicken my friend couldn't stop drooling over. We split the $10 pasta side and was a huge serving so definitely recommend splitting. Great spot for family, friend hangout, date night, work event. Parking along street for free. Can't say enough great things about your meal and experience last night. read more

Otto by Polpo - Linguine alla Pescatora with marinara - Italian Near Me - Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

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Food is very good but the service is not. Our waiter refused to put in our appetizer order until we were ready to order our entrees, which then rushed us into our entree selection as we wanted the appetizer asap. Service was mediocre after order placed. We gave a fair 18% tip ($20) considering the not great service. We got a printed receipt. Somehow we were charged $8 more as reflected on our statement. I followed up with management and it appears that someone went back into the Toast system (table side credit card machine) and increased the tip by $8 after we left with our receipt. Refund is pending. If you charge your meal here, get a receipt and verify that the amount is correct on your statement as management claims to not know how this happened. Pretty sure I know how it happened as the Toast system allows changes to be made after the card is run (per the Toast website). read more

We order from Otto almost once a week. Tonight our appetizer had a metal staple in it, which my husband only noticed once he had bitten into it. I called the restaurant and let them know the situation. The man who answered the phone seemed irritated that I was calling to inform them. He proceeded to give me attitude and tell me this happens sometimes (really? Is this acceptable?) but that he would refund me for the appetizer. I suggested he comp the meal given the situation to which he quickly replied that wasn't an option. Candidly I wasn't calling for a refund - as I could have gotten this through the app. I assumed the restaurant would want to know what happened and try and circumvent it from happening to anyone else. Such a disappointment from an establishment we enjoyed supporting. Unfortunately we won't be back. read more

Otto by Polpo - Metal in food - Italian Near Me - Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

I was taken in by the menu online: sadly, the best description for Otto by Polpo is a mediocre red sauce joint. Meats came covered with heavy sauces, scant veg (one spear of asparagus for a serving). Warning to Italians and foodies: I ordered garganelli -- and was given penne, smooth/ridgeless penne at that. (For non-Italians, this is like ordering, say, fettucine and being given ramen -- sure, it's pasta of the same general shape, but different ingredients, different textures -- different dish.) When asked, the waitress said penne is similar to garganelli. That would prompt the Italians I know to run screaming from the restaurant. And this at prices approaching New York levels. read more

Authentic Italian in a relaxed, modern atmosphere. We arrived for our reservation and were promptly seated by the hostess with menus and fresh (cold) ice water. Our server explained the daily menu and suggested we try the homemade chicken vegetable garbanzo soup-- delicious and warming on a cold November night! The charcuterie board, rustic bread and soup were a great trio. My colorful entreé (penne alla vodka) arrived steaming hot in a wide rim pasta bowl, smelling as delicious as it tasted! I immediately noticed the pancetta was smoked-- adding a depth of smoky flavor to the cream sauce I didn't anticipate. Nice surprise! Our server stopped by to offer a garnish of cracked pepper and fresh grated parmesan, which proves true... the little things make a big difference! I appreciated this service. We ended our evening in Bryn Mawr with homemade tiramisu (with lady fingers) and raspberry cake. While both desserts were light and airy... the fluffy tiramisu just won me over! Thank you for a great evening of lovely foods and service! read more

Otto by Polpo - Penne alla Vodka Pasta - Italian Near Me - Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

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Prior reviews said they were good for large groups, but that was not our experience! They weren't ready for our reservation when we arrived, they immediately brought drinks and opened them that weren't ordered, the food service was slow and we needed to remind them several times about requests, and even though we asked about splitting the check in advance, they waited until the meal was over to say they wouldn't do it. I understand they were busy, but it was a real disappointment. read more

I had dinner at Otto by Polpo a few months ago to celebrate the retirement of a long-time colleague/friend. We had 9 in our party and were seated comfortably in the corner near the front windows. The service was great and the food was really good as well. For starters, we enjoyed a cheese platter and the complimentary bread. For my meal, I had the Pollo Alla Milanese (and a side of pasta) which was really very good - lightly breaded pan-seared chicken cutlet with arugula and cherry tomatoes - YUM!!! Overall, it was a great experience. I would definitely recommend it. read more

Otto by Polpo - Chicken Milanese - Italian Near Me - Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

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Our experience at Otto was fantastic. The restaurant wasn't too busy on a Tuesday around 6pm and filled up a bit closer to 7. The restaurant is BYOB so come prepared! Our waiter was engaging and attentive and really sold us on the specials. We shared the Pulpo appetizer and a special arugula salad and both were outstanding and generous portions for sharing. The pulpo was nicely grilled and tender on a delicious pesto sauce. I greatly enjoyed my lobster ravioli which was quite large and had a lump of crab meat in every single bite! My spouse said the red snapper was fantastic as well. We finished the meal with a pistachio gelato - highly recommended. The staff was great with providing bread, attending to water, and clearing dishes and everyone was very friendly. Can't wait to come back to Otto with a bottle of wine for a special occasion. read more

Otto by Polpo - Red snapper special - Italian Near Me - Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

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Delicious! This was our first time here and we all enjoyed our meals and can't wait to go back. Our new favorite Italian place in the area! read more

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We came to OTTO By POLPO looking forward to a special night out, something rare and well-earned. I paid for parking, arranged a dog sitter, and cleared my evening to enjoy what I hoped would be a beautiful dinner. Instead, what we got was a masterclass in being completely disregarded. After being seated, it took ten full minutes just to get water. Not a single offer of drinks, appetizers, or even bread. Our waiter passed by once to say he'd be with us soon, then vanished. We sat there for another twenty minutes, smiling through the growing discomfort, assuming someone would come back. No one did. Every other table around us was getting full attention. The restaurant wasn't even that busy. The only interaction we had was when someone came to quietly take our untouched wine glasses. When we finally stood up to leave, the waiter glanced over and said, "Oh, you guys are leaving?" No apology. No accountability. Not even a half-hearted attempt to pretend it wasn't as bad as it was. We were the only visible minorities in the room, and the only table completely ignored. I don't want that to matter, but it did. Everyone else was treated like a guest. We were treated like we didn't belong. I didn't just lose an evening. I lost the energy I spent trying to give this place the benefit of the doubt. It was humiliating and isolating, and it still stings. read more

We took our friend here for her birthday last month. Even though we arrived promptly for our 6:15 reservation, we waited over a half hour to be seated. The waiting area was cramped as it was too cold to wait outside. Once we were finally seated for our 6:15 pm reservation, we were told they were out of Diet Coke. On a Saturday night? Are you kidding me? They were also out of one of the main entrees and our first choice chocolate dessert. Way to prepare for a crazy busy weekend night on the Main Line! My garganeli sausage & broccoli rabe turned out to be cheap boxed penne with sausage and broccoli rabe. At least get some good boxed penne if you have to substitute pasta. And maybe inform the guest about the substitution. That might be considerate. Fortunately, my boyfriend's gnocchi alla sorentina was better and he kindly shared it with me. Our desserts were too big and nothing to get excited about. If they're going to be that large, then they should be worth the calories. We all agreed our desserts were mediocre at best. I'd only return to eat my boyfriend's meal, but I'd never wait that long past our reservation to eat there again. This restaurant was not worth the price we paid or the length of time we waited to be seated. I'm giving this restaurant 3 stars because our server was so lovely and a joy to chat with. read more

At a restaurant named after octopus, one should try the calamari. The frito mixto is some of the best Ive had. Its a mix of lightly fried calamari, jumbo shrimp and peppers with goat cheese sprinkled in. Its a true standout and I would eat it every day if I could because the flavor is fantastic. Also like the polenta with mushrooms. And the Salsiccia which is grilled italian sausage with cannelloni, beans, broccoli rabe, and shaved parmesan was super flavorful and delicious. I have no idea why some reviewers are saying the food is bland. The prices seem to have gone up recently which is dissapointing but prices have gone up for almost all restaurants. read more

Every dish is so great! The people and service are so nice! The ambiance is great for a family and for a night out.

Food was really good, as authentic as it gets in this area. The service was good but the staff seemed surprised that a black woman had so many questions about Italian food. read more

Thank you. Impeccable elevated Italian- not just your local italian kitchen, this is the local gem with an incredible menu, seasoned and generous waitstaff and high attention to flavor and presentation. Well done Otto by Polpo. We hope to spend our special and casual nights with you making memories. read more

Had dinner here with family, there were five of us, the food was decent but it was a bit weird that the restaurant charged us as a large group and applied automatic tip of 20%. read more

Food good service great love the decor and everyone was so friendly. Easy to get to and very nice building

The food was what just basic. the waiter was so inpatient. He did not take our order. his body language was terrible.

Excellent. I'm already planning my birthday for this restaurant. I love BYOBs because you have to bring it when it comes to the food. Otto does not hold back. I couldn't decide between the chicken Marsala or the bolognese so I got both. And just a small portion left for the next day. Even the salad was fresh and crisp. French fries are on point and my fiancé got the Pollo Milanese and it was scrumptious. Crispy, well seasoned and perfecto. Oh... my food was excellent too. Remember with the Marsala (as shown) no other items. Plan ahead if you want to get some pasta in as it is made fresh in-house. Def will return! read more

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