The food was pretty good,the inside is nice and very clean!the person serving us was very sweet I hope they get a raise!the music was ok well decorated! (This was my preteen granddaughter's and I approve!). Came in for the soup and salad: amazing!) read more

I came across this restaurant on a Monday for lunch. It's definitely a hidden gem but the food and service was amazing. Our waitress was so nice and attentive. I got the Chicken Marsala which she recommended and it was so good. I'll definitely be coming back especially for the Tuesday special. read more

Strings Italian Cafe - Chicken Marsala - Italian Near Me - Carmichael, California

I have been coming to strings for a few years now and my family and I love it. The food is always good and I've never had any issues with the service. We will be back for more! read more

I love coming to this place, amazing service and food is always good. A really good quiet place to have a peaceful dinner.

I agree with the reviewer stating the former Madison Ave location with a different owner was vastly different in a good way than the current owner. Instead of making excuses about different suppliers, heed the reviewers concerns. Italian food is about the spices, a good cook will be able to adjust so that the food is good. I for one will not return. read more

The food was awful, missing ingredients. Hot & stuffy inside with no cool air. Service was poor, I work in the industry. DEF will NOT go back! read more

Worst experience ever. The pasta and chicken was like rubber. So I got two dishes. Alfredo fettuccine and chicken and the spaghetti. Both terrible. I got it Togo and very next day tried to call and just give the manager a heads up. She was rude. I had to call two days later bc there was no manager hence the crappy food and snotty hostess. Will never go back. They will close soon enough. NO STARS!!!! read more

Food was mediocre . We were the only ones in the place after 6pm Sunday. It was stuffy and hot in the place. No fresh Parmesan only a shaker I had to ask for. Server never came back after we finished. Had to find her for box and check!! Won't be back. Amazing they are still in business! read more

The hostess was very pleasant so the 2 stars are for her. We ordered 2 dishes to go both of which were some of the worst food I've had. The PASTA PUTTANESCA had absolutely no flavor, no fresh basil, no capers and the diced chicken was definitely not fresh. Our other dish was angel hair pasta with meat sauce. It also had no flavor and you couldn't really tell there was meat in it. The side salads were made with coleslaw? Won't be eating here again. read more

Very sorry to say this, but our meals were NOT good. Strings used to be one of our favorite restaurants, but no more. Last time we ordered from here we said we'd never order from here again... well silly us, we did, and ended up being even more disappointed than before. The only item we ordered and liked was the tiaramisu, but it was a very small. read more

Everything about this restaurant was great. We went to check the place out for a future event, had dinner, talked to staff and ended up booking it. Ample parking and easy access. read more

When strings was on madison the food was so much better.the owner at the time was so nice and would go table to table asking how is everything. To bad he sold it after moving to manzanita the seafood soup then was called lobster bisque and had bits of lobster in it so good. Never going back.10 violently s read more

Do not eat here. Horrible food, horribly over priced and hidden upcharges. We went on the weekend and it was basically empty, we should have read the room. I have incredible memories of the Strings that once was in Loehmann's Plaza, and I thought this would be the same menu and quality. It was not. I'm sorry to the waitress, you were lovely, and I am sorry you have to serve that awful food. read more

Food seems pland and package, like out of a freezer bag. Use to be a great family place but they need trying real ingredients

Have been wanting the puff pastry lasagna and it did NOT disappoint Salad was also good read more

I ordered chicken masala it came with old ass throw in the garbage how dare they serve it broccoli and mash potatoes not pasta what kind of Italian restaurant is this. And NO!!! it was not good at all. The waitress was Devine and very pleasant to talk with the cook well he did not speak so I can't say. The ambiance was peaceful but it should be the restaurant was completely empty. But I'll let the picture do the talking the proof is in the photo you know how old vegetables look. Oh did I mention the chicken was very over cooked. I'm calling chef Ramsey read more

Strings Italian Cafe - Chicken Masala is a nota - Italian Near Me - Carmichael, California

We had eaten at a Strings Italian Cafe in Jackson, CA and it was amazing...however we ordered Seafood Fettuccine and Cioppino and it was inedible. The fettuccine tasted like it was old and the cioppino was way too salty. We were traveling and I ordered a coffee to go and it too tasted old and burnt so I had to leave it there. We were so disappointed that we spent this money to have a nice dinner and were basically unable to eat most of it. We are not picky people either!!, as can be seen in all my other reviews. In looking at the responses from this restaurant... not once do they offer to make things right for their dissatisfied customers but continually say they will use negative reviews to learn to do better.... Which doesn't seem to be happening! The restaurant was empty at 6:30 which should have given us a clue. read more

Our server and hostess was one of the friendliest people I have ever met! She was kind and patient and gave us great recommendations. We had strings ten years ago and it was bad lol. But the food was great! Pasta was creamy and delicious, bread had a nice crunch and the salad too! Definitely worth the money. read more

Strings Italian Cafe - Sir - Italian Near Me - Carmichael, California

See all

Their seafood is poor quality. Twice in a row I ordered an entree with seafood which tasted and smelled like the ocean floor. They have some good recipes like the curry sauce for pasta sienna, but Strings needs some serious quality control. Fresh seafood doesn't stink as much as this. As someone with experience in food service, this seafood should have been written off as unusable product, at least for main dishes. Daily specials are a common thing in successful restaurants to help mitigate food waste, just a heads up. For example, a seafood stew perhaps. Maybe serve your customers with the fresh fish and leave the leftovers for something else? Editing after the Owner's message: Don't patronize me, I know a lot of the seafood comes from the east coast. All I see are excuses. There is no excuse for serving the shrimp you have. I've been to several restaurants in the Sacramento area with fresh shrimp. With all due respect, I'd send Gordon Ramsey to your restaurants to help if I could. read more

Fiance and I are new to the area and were craving Italian food, despite the not that great reviews we decided to give it a try. The restaurant was completely empty on a Saturday night at 6:30pm. That should've tipped us off. I ordered the salmon which definitely tasted frozen, smelled and tasted very fishy broccoli on the plate had no seasoning just steamed placed on the side. My partners meal was okay but again with the seafood, the shrimp tasted frozen and rubbery. We also ordered the bruschetta what was soo garlicky was almost not edible. Overall wouldn't come back, the only nice thing was our very sweet waitress. We aren't the type to complain to wait staff so we paid and left but won't be returning, I would advise to save your money. Price of food doesn't match quality. read more

Strings Italian Cafe - Pasta Siena - Italian Near Me - Carmichael, California

See all

I was disappointed with the food. We got togo orders of chicken parm and pasta verde. The chicken was VERY thin. It was thinner than the breading. The sausage in the pasta dish was uneaten. I was told it tasted cheap. The portions were good. The salad dressing was yummy. The rolls were soft. read more

Seems like it's going down hill. The prices of food do not match the quality. We got a pizza for $18 and it looks like it should be for a child. My husband ordered Alfredo & it looks like plain noodles with a slap of sauce ? I thought this was supposed to be an Italian restaurant... Not worth the money . read more

See all

We went in and placed an order to go. The lady who helped us was very nice and polite. And that was the end of anything good here. Out of 6 items, 3 were wrong. We got the wrong food. The food we did get, Chicken Parm (which was one of the wrong items) was WAY over cooked and mostly unedible. The 3 pizza's were also WAY over done and one of them had no cheese. They were all supposed to have cheese. The last item, not sure what it was. Pasta stuffed inside of bread. No one ordered that. And it was horrible. The Chicken Alfredo tasted like nothing. No flavor at all. The garlic bread, we got a lot of it. It was good bread but it wasn't garlic bread, it was just bread. Plain. The soup also had no flavor. It was supposed to be minestrone but it was ...i don't know what it was. Broth with carrots and some zucchini - but no flavor. Oh, the salads that came with the meals were the only edible part. So the lady who helped us and the 3 salads were the only good things here. The are a bit of a disgrace to Italian food, which should be VERY full of flavor. Also, how hard is it to get an order correct. I work in the food industry and prepare to go food all the time. It's not hard. I wish we had taken pictures. read more

Too bad you cannot choose ZERO stars. Cafe salad is coleslaw not lettuce. Deep fried Zucchini was ok but cooked in fryer oil that lost it days ago. My entree; pastry lasagna was not edible, it was sour tasting (spoiled) old lasagna wrapped in the pastry dough. The Alfredo sauce was just weird, oregano tasting and sour. The marinara was deep black/red (burnt) and chunks of something in it that were indescribable. My husband had the chicken Parmesan and the chicken was so tough you couldn't even cut through it. We told the waitress that the meals were not edible. She took them off the bill. That was nice but She charged us for two à la carte Café salads, which were really coleslaw. She charged us for the bread that we didn't touch and she charged us for the zucchini. Charging us for the zucchini was fair. The meal was a total disaster. I highly recommend you staying away. If you really wanna try a good strings restaurant and feel like driving to Lodi the one there is excellent. read more

Food was literally spoiled rotten. I tried Strings tonight for the first time. I ordered the seafood bisque and the spaghetti with meatballs. As soon as I opened the bag, I smelled the sour smell of spoiled food. Both the soup and pasta were spoiled. I hate to say this, but I have honestly never had worse, grosser food. $50 of food in the trash. The tiramisu was ok. Miriam at Strings blamed the Doordasher (whose service was actually great) for serving rotten food. Lame. read more

Strings Italian Cafe - Spoiled spaghetti w/meatballs and soup both trashed $50 bucks via Doordash in the trash. - Italian Near Me - Carmichael, California

See all

Service was excellent, price is reasonable, quantity of food was plenty, quality was excellent and very good. Ambiance was nice, plenty of room in the restaurant. I would recommend it and this is one of our many visits to this restaurant, Strings Italian Cafe. read more

I've always loved Strings in Roseville but unfortunately, they closed several years back. We decided to try Strings in Carmichael for my birthday. What a disappointment. The lasagna pastry wasn't cooked all the way thru and the pastry was doughy. The Alfredo sauce was bland. I was so disappointed! The service was excellent but there was only us and one other table of diners. I'm sad after enjoying Strings for so many years. Unfortunately, I won't be back. read more

Food is always great and the service is exceptional. I always have loved the Loire lighting, it an intimate setting that creates a beautiful ambiance. read more

From the delicious meals, to the incredible service, it is truly a nice place to have a meal. The decor inside the restaurant is also pretty. Went here for my grandmas birthday, and the staff made it so special for her. Will come again! read more

I went to this establishment at 7pm on a Saturday, the restaurant was dim and dingy. i was lured into a sense of false hope with the only other table cheerfully enjoying their food. We sat down as a table for two, we ordered and the horror show started. We were presented with the most horrifying plate of penne and meat sauce. I wish that i had photo evidence but I'm glad I don't have to subject you to it. Meat sauce that looked like it was from The Thing an awful imagination of what meat sauce should be with rubber pasta. Our second dish was fettuccine pesto with shrimp. It was the highlight of the night with subpar pasta and sauce with the smallest and nicest 4 Walmart brand frozen petite shrimp, for a penny saving extra $6.50 . The cherry on top was the plastic cup of kraft shaker cheese accompanying the dish. I will give credit where credit is due and I will say the bathroom is the size of a one bedroom apartment for no reason at all which was very nice. Water was also wonderful. Overpriced old and outdated, boring the one thing you don't want and that's what you are going to get. $50 was well worth the story I get to tell about this absolute train wreck. read more

Worst food only thing good was the bread me and my husband had shrimp scampi. It was supposed to be one of their specialties and I knew by the smell. It wasn't gonna be good and it wasn't. The salad was coleslaw with croutons and tomatoes. Never go back there again. read more

Love this Strings Italian restaurant great food nice restaurant always my go to when I want spaghetti and meatballs there garlic bread is the best read more

Ever since they moved the service went down hill. And quality went down. However we still loved the food. Drove all the way from Rancho Cordova to eat It's Thursday night 3 Day weekend holiday sign in the window says you're open until 8:00 pm. We get inside and tood we're closed sorry. We can make take out. Needless to say I won't be driving back over here anymore. I'm going to have to find a new restaurant. read more

I had not been to this location in several years but was happy to see it is still open! Arrived here around 11:30 for lunch with friends. One of my friends ordered the Zoodles and the other ordered the Minestrone soup. Both agreed their food was good and that they will be back. I ordered my favorite, Chicken Piccata and found it to be very good although portions on the chicken are half of what they used to be. The salad was not as I remembered it, not sure why they changed it. All in all I will be back. The service was really good and so was the ambiance. A great place to meet up with friends! Relaxed atmosphere, good food and fair pricing. Thanks Strings! read more

100° outside 85° inside. Terrible music, The place is empty. salad not enough dressing. I had spaghetti with marinara sauce and one meatball. A small grated cheese comes with main dish. Needed alot of cheese. I had to ask for more. the worst part of the dining experience is skimpy napkins that don't absorb and tear easily. While we love to patronize our local Carmichael places this one is off the list. PS: the pen that we got with our bill wasn't even worth taking. read more

I'm not sure the reason for the low reviews. Sometimes people feel the need to express negativity, but fail to express positive experiences. I live up the street so I end up here usually once a week. The food is consistently good, restaurant is clean with a mellow atmosphere, and the service is extremely prompt and friendly! I'll be in for my eggplant parm soon! read more

We took our family out to dinner and we really enjoyed the atmosphere and food. The staff is really sweet and inviting. Really loved the vibes and the food was amazing and fresh. The Spinach artichoke dip was one of my favorite starters. We will be back soon to celebrate our sons birthday read more

To the owner's response: my issue was her essentially accusing me of lying. Then when I called her out on it she rudely said I can come back and switch it out. Like rude again after calling me a liar. That's my problem. Also why should I have to load my child back up drive 30 minutes round trip because your staff is too lazy to check an order for correctness and then be rude to customers when they call about it. Tfw you work all day then take your kid to swim team for an hour after and all they ask for is spaghetti and meatballs so you call in an order to strings and pick it up instead of having a tired six year old maintain in a restaurant. Drive all the way home and unload the car just to find out the spaghetti and meatballs aren't in the bag. Cue tired six year old bummed because that's the only thing they asked for and the only reason you ordered from strings. Now call the restaurant to let them know and have the hostess tell you the chef basically says your lying and he KNOWS he put spaghetti and meatballs in the bag. Yeah my big plan to get rich is to scam a Strings Cafe in Carmichael. She got snippy and said I was "Welcome to drive the second meatloaf back and exchange it" Nah I'll just never come here again and pay $20 for what amounts to a TV dinner read more

Strings Italian Cafe - To the weird hostess who insisted the chef put spaghetti and meatballs in our bag and essentially told me I was lying...... - Italian Near Me - Carmichael, California

not what it used to be. would not come back. Chicken was completely burnt charred on the chicken bruschetta plate. Salad was mainly cabbage with stale croutons. Side of alfredo that was almost $5 extra was cold and thick and almost flavorless. Im shocked because this was a childhood favorite for my family (Madison Ave location). read more

Great value great food. I cannot believe how delicious and tasty the bruschetta chicken was. Big portion chicken breast and good serving of pasta. Delicious house salad and soft crispy garlic bread all included with the entree. Family friendly and highly recommended for the cost. Leftovers too! Too full for desert but the menu looked great. Please support this small business. We'll be back. read more