Rigatoni's Restaurant is a fast-casual Italian eatery located in a very popular shopping center in Castro Valley. I feel like it's been a staple in downtown for many years, and give nostalgic memories for those that have lived in the area. Now with kiddos, we stopped by for a quick meal after a weekend event with a big group. We were able to grab seating right away and order at the register/grab our numbers. I miss a complimentary bread bar, and Rigatoni's has never failed with that :) Service is friendly and our meals came out accordingly. A few standout comforting dishes: the Rigatoni Bolognese, Broccoli & Chicken Rigatoni, Cheese Ravioli, House Made Lasagna, and the Fettuccine Alfredo to name a few. The lasagna comes with a rich meat sauce, but what I love about the rigatoni bolognese is that it comes in a cream sauce which is just so tasty. There's a little something for everyone on the menu here. They have a kiddo menu, sandos, salads and other starters, and combo meals for a smaller-sized entrée, a soda, and choice of starter soup or salad. They have soups and sauces to-go, and appears they do parties/catering. Rigatoni's will always have a special place in my heart ~ it's a pretty straight-forward establishment that does the trick. Parking can be found in the adjacent shopping center, pricing is fair. read more

Rigatoni's has been around for 20+ years if not more. I've been a customer since they opened locations in Dublin, Castro Valley and Hayward (recently closed 4/2026). Simple and straightforward, "fast-food" Italian food (of their parent restaurant Strizzi's) with no complaints Their signature Rigatoni Bolognese with a splash of cream is delicious comfort food and hits the spot. My fave is their chicken parmigiana, salmon risotto, salads...and of course bread bar: sourdough, seeded, olive with option of balsamic/olive oil dip or butter. I've tried their minestrone and flavor wise delicious but this last visit the vegetables tasted frozen as it wasn't crisp or soft but bouncy in texture...noticeable with the carrots. If you're wanting to try the smoked pork chop, decent but 2 thin cuts and tastes like a breakfast ham. I'll definitely try the steak with mushrooms next time. Service friendly, efficient and welcoming. Food reasonably priced and delicious...if you have realistic expectations you'll enjoy the food and casual dining. Of course best to dine in (during non peak times) vs take out where sauce dries out or absorbed into the pasta. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Place clean and organized.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Plenty of lot parking during non peak times (lunch and weekends are chaos!) along with free street parking. read more

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Rigatoni's is a community staple. When the Hayward branch shuttered earlier this year, we were sad as they have catered many a birthday and other family/friend events for years. We were thrilled to realize the Castro Valley location is still open. Though parking is consistently a challenge in the busy Castro Village shopping center, Rigatoni's continues to serve Italian-American classics with all you can eat bread bar. It's simple and hearty whether you're pasta loading for a long run or you need old-fashioned comfort food. Their Penne Primavera is usually my go-to order; I like to do the Lighter Combo with Mixed Greens. My daughter also tends to order the Spaghetti with Meatballs. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Once you order at the counter, you take a number and grab a table, all bearing the familiar red and white checked tablecloths.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You can help yourself to sourdough baguette slices; sometimes there will be a wheat bread or my favorite, focaccia. The food usually comes out quickly. Well worth a visit, especially with family. read more

First time here trying out a new spot for dinner. Pros: - Customer service! They thaw your order upon entrance and bring your food to your table - Tomato Bisque was delicious! I'd come back for a cup of that on a sick day Cons: - my Cajun chicken Alfredo tasted like a cream sauce with hot sauce added....like you smell the hot sauce immediately....wasn't a fan... - hubby's salmon was okay, could have used more seasoning but got the job done and the cream sauce rigatoni was okay - the bread was a bit dry, my toddler wouldn't eat it and he eats bread everywhere we go [[HIGHLIGHT]]Perhaps they have other better signature dishes we should have ordered....they were pretty busy an hour before closing so I'm sure that means something, just not our personal cup of tea :)[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Rigatoni's Restaurant - Tomato Soup - Italian Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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I attended this restaurant for my nieces birthday celebration. The food was not great but was ok. It wouldn't be a first option. If you're looking for authentic Italian food. This isn't the place to go to. The service could be better, maybe friendlier. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a nice cozy place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I love Rigatonis and this location doesn't disappoint! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Lovely service, clean and with other shops surrounding it in the cute downtown CV![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Rigatoni's you had me at your namesake pasta! And what deliciously cooked pasta at that! Located in the Castro Village Shopping Center along Castro Valley Boulevard, which serves as the main thoroughfare that cuts through the small but burgeoning city that is Castro Valley, Rigatoni's Restaurant comes from the same team that founded Strizzi's Restaurants, which has three locations primarily in the tri-valley area of Alameda County. Ownership of Strizzi's Restaurants smartly redirected their focus on their signature pasta dishes, by taking out the middle-man and creating a fast casual dining experience where pasta is the star attraction. With every meal cooked to order with the freshest ingredients, Rigatoni's Restaurant is the epitome of a hidden gem that's laying in plain sight, as they have been thriving in this location for decades now and show no signs of slowing down. What brought me to discover this veteran gem of a pasta restaurant was the fact that a couple of friends had been here before and could not stop raving about how good the pasta was and how affordable it was when they came a few months ago and they could not wait to go back. So, on a recent weekend afternoon we decided to make our way down to downtown Castro Valley to enjoy a nice heavy meal of pasta so we could see if a fast-casual restaurant that specializes in made-to-order pasta was the real deal. The parking lot at the Castro Village Shopping Center can be a bit of a challenge even not on a weekend, so sometimes you have to get lucky. We came at just the right time as Rigatoni's Restaurant had just opened for their lunch rush, but there was no rush at all as the crowd inside the restaurant didn't pick up until well after 1 p.m. The menu at Rigatoni's Restaurant is posted on their wall and they have plastic coated menus for you to view up close and take to your table for reviewing before you order at their cashier counter. With a menu separated into categories including Starters, Entrée Salads, Pasta Favorites, House Specialities, Lighter Combos, Sandwiches, Today's Specials, Lunch Favorites, and their Kid's Menu. Many of their options sounded good on their menu board, there was something about their "Today Specials" that intrigued our group of diners, so we ordered their Spinach and Chicken Rigatoni, which was tossed in their tomato cream sauce; their Salmon Fettuccine, which was sautéed with fresh spinach in their garlic cream sauce; and from their House Specialities section of their menu, their Wagyu Ranch Steak, which was pan seared and topped with sautéed mushrooms and served with a side of their signature Rigatoni Bolognese. Since you pay up front at their counter, our total bill was $71.67 before gratuity was added in. It would take a while for our food to be brought to our table, as it was a two person operation on this day, which simply meant that the food was being prepared with a little extra care, as they were not busy and that meant to me that our steak was being cooked medium rare, which is how we ordered it to our liking. We took our time enjoying the "bread bar", which is a whole new concept that I am unfamiliar with, as they had both sliced white sourdough baguette bread and whole wheat bread, and plenty of complimentary butter and oil and vinegar. What was not complimentary were their soda machine, as since we ordered their pricier entrées and not their combos, sodas didn't come with our meal, which was a bit perplexing since we order more food overall to share between us, but the service they offered was very considerate. When our food did come out we enjoyed our steak and rigatoni entrée the most, as it was cooked to perfection and paired so well with the abundance of mushrooms and pasta that was topped with the perfect amount of meat sauce. The other dishes were fair, as the Salmon Fettuccine was a nice complete meal, but the chicken in their Chicken Rigatoni didn't feel as fresh as it could be. What cannot be denied is that the pasta is the star at Rigatoni's Restaurant, and we learned upon this visit that they cook a mighty nice steak as well. Grilled meat and pasta? A combination that can't be beat and when everything comes together as nicely and as affordable as it does at Rigatoni's Restaurant, then we are all winners for having the opportunity to try comfort Italian cuisine priced and cooked right! read more

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We have been going for years but service has degraded. They are so busy filling take out orders that live patrons are getting slow service. We were notified after waiting 15 minutes that they were out of the order. That is BS. Then you have to wait for a refund of the more expensive order and wait for the new order. I also received wilted lettuce in my salad. We used to rely on this place for good inexpensive Italian food. No more. It has really gone downhill. The previous trip the lasagna was way too salty. If their main business is going to be takeout and delivery they should just close the actual restaurant and not pretend to offer prompt service to actual live patrons. read more

This place is good to go when you just want some fast Italian food. The service is excellent and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the atmosphere is great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Recommend to anyone to go get Italian food. read more

My mom and I ordered Rigatoni's to go and myyy they have raised their prices significantly. It has been a long time since we have gone here, maybe about 2 years. They have raised their prices by about $3-5 in their entrees. We ordered the Italian sausage fettuccine and the broccoli chicken rigatoni both to go. The broccoli chicken was a lunch special so it came with a nice mixed green salad with Italian dressing. I picked up the food and requested bread since they had a bread bar. The cashier only gave me 2 small bags of bread. I wish she would give me more. I did go over to the bread bar to grab a few more pieces. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There weren't many people there for lunch so it was quiet.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was still delicious and big portion of pasta. I loved how there was a lot of sausage in the fettuccine which made the pasta flavorful. I think I would come back here to try the in-dining experience and more worth it than doing take out by eating all of the bread! read more

Ordered to-go for pickup. This is my fourth time ordering the spaghetti and meatballs from Rigatoni's at Castro Valley, but pre-Covid, the meatballs had beef in them. This is the first time the meatballs were made of pork. Personally, I like that it's light on the salt, but if you prefer more intense flavor profiles, you may find it bland. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Service here is always warm and friendly, and if you dine in, the ambiance is that small town Mom and Pop feel.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Even to-go, they'll send you off with bread, butter with olive oil and and vinegar for dipping. Whenever I have a hankering for Italian but am not in the mood to cook, I'll get my spaghetti and meatballs fix from here. It might not be the most exciting food adventure, but it feels like wholesome, traditional Americana. Btw, if you go to their website and sign up for their email list, you automatically get a $5 off gift certificate. read more

Rigatoni's Restaurant - Spaghetti and meatballs, though these meatballs look like they're made from ground pork, and no beef. - Italian Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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First time here Located in the Castro Valley Shopping Center Customer service is friendly Venue is clean and well stocked Prices are reasonable In door and out door seating available They serve lunch items until 4pm Dessert items are also sold I ordered Cajun chicken fettuccine $17 Food came out nice and hot It's a lot of food (almost shareable) My entree was tasty Friend ordered shrimp and crab fettuccine $22 He enjoyed his meal Garlic bread $5 was nice and soft but very flavorful Parking is easy to find read more

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They have been around forever and I had sort of forgotten about them - not for any reason in particular because I remember good meals there in the past but a friend mentioned them a few months back and they have become our take out go-to ever since. I LOVE the Asian salmon special and my family consistently enjoys their meals as well. The best thing about Rigatoni's is the staff - super welcoming, hospitable and friendly- even when they are busy. I was there a few weeks back and they had a group of elderly guests ordering and asking lots of questions and the cashier treated them with patience and respect- just like I would hope people would help my parents. I was also there when the line to order was 4 deep, the phone was ringing and it was hectic and a young man stepped away from doing prep work and invited the next guest to order at the back register. You can be sure to enjoy good food, warm hospitality and friendly smiles every time you visit Rigatoni's in Castro Valley! read more

What a great local restaurant! Great food selection as well as friendly staff. I love all of the pasta dishes at this location. Pasta is always just slightly al dente and the sauces have a yummy flavor. I enjoy the fettuccine as well as rigatoni noodles. The bolognese is delicious and the alfredo when I want to splurge. They have a bread bar which is great and you can enjoy the bread with butter or a little balsamic and EVOO. I will give away my best tip as well....they sell sweet street brownies and cookies. The salted caramel cookies inspired my latest cookie party entry (I made a homemade version I swear) and they are pretty much my favorite guilty pleasure. Sometimes I stop by and just grab a couple cookies to go :) Rigatoni's is a nice casual dining spot in The Village and a great spot for lunch or dinner. read more

First time here and definitely coming back! Came here with family and had a great time. The cashier/ server was super friendly and very helpful when ordering. We had a sit down dinner and they have a bread station to help yourself. Staff was great. They were attentive to the store needs and replenishing silverware as well as clean ups. Food was absolutely delicious! I had the cheese ravioli which tasted like someone grandma made it. Spaghetti and meatballs was great. Had it for lunch the next day. read more

Rigatoni's is good and consistent!! I usually go with the Fettuccine Alfredo, Macaroni and Cheese, or one of their daily specials. If you like bread and butter, it's all that you want here, I believe there are 3 different types of bread also. The prices are reasonable, and you can ask for extra pasta if you're really hungry, I forget how much they charge for that. The service is usually not long, depending on how busy they are. But the food is always good and filling. Whether you dine in or take out, this is always a good option!!! read more

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I have to start by saying, about 20 years ago when we first moved to the area, we ate here once. It was fine but nothing that made me feel like I'd eat here again. I was in the mood for Italian and decided to give them another try tonight on Door Dash. I ordered the Oven Roasted Chickem, which comes with your choice of "noodle" aka pasta and sauce. I have to say that I'm pleasantly surprised. The chicken is really delicious! It's got a rosemary, garlic thing going on. The dish comes with 2-good sized chicken fillets and enough pasta to accompany it. I'll definitely order it again! read more

Our favorite Italian restaurant near home. Customer service isn't always great, but food is always on point. Our go-tos are chicken Parmesan, fettuccine alfredo, cheesy garlic bread, and hiusemade spaghetti. We have yet to dine it as we live so close that we prefer to just order for takeout. Located in a shopping plaza across from Starbucks and Posh Bagel. Give this place a try! read more

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Rigatoni is fast casual. order, pay, entree brought to table. offerings: lunch specials, chicken, pasta, apps, salads,... eats: RIgatoni Bolognese lunch , (10.99) with beverage, self serve bread. -large size pasta, bits of Italian sausage with garlic & cream sauce, -white or wheat bread tasted the same. -tea wasn't sweetened. nice! not gourmet dining, the pasta and bread fills one up. taste is ok. read more

Worst experience and taste ever. I ordered through Uber Eats and got the Pomodori Chicken and Alfredo --it tasted overwhelmingly of vinegar and was completely inedible. We didn't even touch the second dish and returned it untouched. I went back to complain about the quality, but the manager, Karen, refused to acknowledge my experience, defended the food, and didn't offer any apology and told me to contact uber eats. Not only was the food terrible, but the customer service was just as bad. They were defensive and accusatory twoards a CUSTOMER! Save yourself the trouble and avoid this place entirely. read more

Came here for the first time on New Years last Saturday (my husband and I were trying to use Chick-fil-A gift cards but we accidentally didn't make it in time). Was impressed that it's open! I got the spinach and cheese tortellini and my husband got the chicken parm, total after tax and tip was $36 for the two of us. Pros: - Actually pretty decent food! I was surprised since I expected it like a couple levels down from Tomatina or something - but everything was very tasty - Decent portions - we were pretty full when we were done - Free bread and butter! yum, self serve -I kind of like the pay first and sit down method of restaurants, feels casual and it's fast - Food came out really quickly, super efficient, classic table number process - Minimal interaction with staff which I like - Easy parking in Castro Village plaza - Tables are spaced apart and all staff were wearing masks Cons: - I wish the spinach tortellini had more spinach, it was more tortellini with alfredo sauce with spinach sprinkled in. But I'm not actually here for the veggies right? LOL read more

The service and staff here was super nice and attentive. The food came out fast. I had the chicken cajun rissoto, walnut chicken salad, chicken pesto, and a kids pepperoni pizza. The food was good. This place was a good save after a failed visit to the Hayward olive garden whose servers didnt even attend to us so I walked out. The kitchen staff here, cashier and server here were very efficient. Adina at the front desk took orders and maintained the front desk with grace and Germani was serving everyone with a small. read more

First time here, I ordered the Cajun chicken fettuccine- taste was ok - decent portion size but the sauce was really soupy rather than creamy, I think they should thicken up the sauce a lot more. Disappointed with this meal - I only ate the noodles, the chicken had no flavor read more

Rigatoni's Restaurant - Cajun Chicken Fettuccine - Italian Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Ordered the lasagna again, same as last time lukewarm in the middle. I wish they would make sure they heat up there food entirely especially lasagna! It did taste good. Just need to be hot. read more

It is a pretty basic place. It's like a fast food for pasta. You order in the front and then they bring the dishes to your table. You can grab some garlic bread near the beverage machine. I had the Rigatoni Bolognese. The portion was a pretty good size. I got the lunch special so it came with a drink and choice of soup or salad. The service was pretty basic. read more

The food is mediocre nothing special about it and a little expensive. The only plus is close to us and the service is excellent.

It wasabout 10 years since I went to Rigatoni's with my kids. My kids are now grown, so going back was nostalgic for me. I have to say that I was extremely disappointed. My experience this time started off poor. I Googled the menu and it showed the oven roasted chicken as $13.99. I must have pulled up an old menu that Rigatoni failed to purge from their online seach results the current price is $22.00. The biggest disappointment was the size of the meatballs that I paid $3.00 each for. I clearly remember their meatballs being so much bigger and freshly made as opposed to these frozen mini meat balls that they heated up and added to my bolagnese pasta. I couldn't believe that I paid $6.00 for these two meatballs, and to insult me further was the size of the chicken. I ordered this meal because of the chicken. Unfortunately, I was insulted with these two mini cuts of chicken and pasta with meat sauce that tasted more like tomato sauce. I can clearly say that I was disappointed. If it wasn't for the friendly worker that took my order over the phone, I would have scored my experience as a 1 star. And oh, the bread wasn't bad. read more

Rigatoni's Restaurant - Disappointing chicken and meatballs - Italian Near Me - Castro Valley, California

If I could only rate this location for 0 star. I would not never eat here or do any to go orders. Supervisor Maribel had no care attitude. Hung up the phone couple times and at one point the cook picks up the phone. Maribel took the order wrong over the phone & has a no refund policy. This company/location likes to spend more money on their big nearly empty to go boxes rather than filling it with little bit more food. read more

Pasta dishes for the masses, it's consistent and bread is fresh. The quality is very similar to a pasta bar, sauces are premade most likely from a central kitchen and the meatballs are frozen. They have an open kitchen and the cook is heating the pasta dishes by order in skillets. Along with the fresh bread, I like that they have real butter, shredded parmigiana and give plenty of sauce. They also have fresh salad. PreCOVID they had a bread bar with help yourself bread, butter, olive oil and balsamic vinegar along with help yourself soft drinks. This is a chain and each location is slightly different with their specialty dishes. This is a family friendly alternative to fast food and diners. read more

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I have always wanted to try out Rigatoni's, but my hubs is not a big pasta fan, unless there is tons of seafood in it. My kids on the other hand love them some carbs. I ordered a kids Spaghetti and Meatballs and a kids Mac n Cheese through Grubhub. The ordering process online was so easy and the promise time was precise. The only grip I had was with the pick up process. When I got there, the line was a little long as there were people that were not sure what to get. I get it, they have a great big menu and the aroma as you walk in the restaurant makes you want to order everything. I tried asking if I could get my order, but was told I had to wait in the line. With 2 hungry kids and some ice cream melting in the car, I proceeded to ask if I can pick up my order and again was told I had to wait in line, but when I told them I already ordered and paid, they handed me my order without hesitation. ***note: if you already ordered and paid online, let them know at the counter, so you don't have to wait in line and have your food get cold.*** Overall, my kids loved their food and I would come back again. Not sure how big their regular portions are but the kids portion was just the right amount for the kids at $11 each. read more

Rigatoni's Restaurant - Kids Mac & Cheese (Partially eaten) - Italian Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Very disappointed with my dish today. Where's the meat and the red sauce?! It's all noodles and cream, very wet. The lady asked if everything was okay and I was honest with her. She was very nice and explained that they do mix in a white sauce here. Still, kind of expensive for what you get. I've gotten take out a few times from here, too, and the portions are very small considering the prices are upwards of $15 a dish. I don't know if I'm coming back. I've been disappointed too many times. read more

Rigatoni's Restaurant - Rigatoni Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Had the fettuccini alfredo with chicken. Definitely not to my taste. The alfredo sauce, instead of being rich and creamy, was watery and brothy. I notice other reviews mentioned this too, but sadly management has elected to stick with the alfredo "gruel." What's with that?? It's $16 for the lunch deal, which included a soda and bread. Would have been an okay value if the alfredo sauce had been correctly prepared, but . . . On the plus side, cleanliness was fine and staff were friendly. read more

Went here for dinner, and not living in the area, I love coming here when I can. I had the lobster and shrimp fettuccine, it was delicious and honestly tasted every single bite of seafood! The service is always great and the food is way better than, Olive Garden. I appreciate the great food and great service! read more

Food and service and location are great. Picked up. Ambiance is nice. This is on Castro Valley Blvd and close to the Starbucks

Oddly enough there aren't enough Italian restaurants that are set for a reasonable price. This restaurant is still within reason I suppose. Rigatoni's Restaurant is readily available in Hayward. From the looks outside, you would think it's a nicer intimate setting, but it is not. It's just a regular fast food version of Italian food. You order at the register and they bring it to your seat. Nothing too special. The customer service was ok, nothing special. There was a new hire on the register at the time, I can't blame her for not understanding or knowing what to do per se. And she did not do us wrong in anyway. The food quality is like.. homemade, but honestly I think I can make better. I'm not a huge fan of it. For the price, and the portion, I think it's decent. You do get full, will you be happy? That's a hit or miss. Overall, I think there are better Italian restaurants to go to in Hayward. If you're looking for a quick meal, this is an ok quick and easy place. I don't have much to say about it. So.. yeah. read more

The food here is pretty boring. Tastes fine. Chicken Alfredo had quite a lot of sauce.

They fucking suck, don't DoorDash from them unless you wanna pay hella money for small ass portions lmao and no refund? Yea ya'll suck ass

Not Jason how drastically they cut back on their portion sizes! Bought adult spaghetti which normally feeds both my young kids. Today the take out containers are not only smaller the spaghetti portion didn't even fill the bottom! This was not worth $17.00 I paid. I swear they gave me kid portions for adult prices. read more

On the positive side I still agree that this restaurant is better than the Olive Garden when it comes to their pasta dishes but when it comes to the variety in the menu it is limited just a pasta soup and salad with some limited meat dishes including pork and of course meatballs. During Covid summer 2020 most of the restaurants were open for outdoor seating except for the Hayward A Street which I still haven't visited to see where they put their outdoor seating since that never included an outdoor patio. The CastroValley location had limited service so that meant the cashier was also your server so it took a while to get some things but there's simple pasta with meat sauce combo still is the same it has nothing special to it but it comes with all the basics for that simple Italian pasta dinner with a salad of your choice a free drink and one order of bread. During Covid the unlimited bread bar is closed off and with a lot of the salad bars and open salads scenarios I would assume even after Covid those kinds of necessities will not be returning to restaurants. I would say the pasta here is fine it's not overcooked the sauce is not too tangy /well the highlight as always is their mixed green salad which includes a mixture of walnuts and light fruit with a Romain and of course the blue cheese is the best /missing is the option to have olive oil instead of butter but overall for a meal for $15 with the drink salad included is a comfortable price to pay. Only thing lacking in this Covid summer visit was the service which is understandable staff has been cut in half one cook one cashier who has to do everything including bringing the meals to the customers and busing the tables that all have to be cleaned after each visit. read more

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The spicy shrimp and risotto dish was fantastic! The bell peppers and texture of the risotto were perfect.