stryker1_25 (anonymous) says...

It's too bad they've experienced that kind of setback so early in their existance. It sounds like they've made every effort to correct it. I hope they can survive this. We need the variety.
With places like hastings and centinellas closing, its gonna be hard enough for locally owned places to stay alive during these economic hard times.

August 15, 2009 at 9:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...

I want to warn people of the hard pit olive used in the Mediterranean salad, after biting into it, I broke the crown on my tooth and it cost 816 dollars to fix.

August 15, 2009 at 10:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

netloafer (anonymous) says...

I was one of the 21. I ate the caneloni.

I'm glad the problem has apparently been corrected. I wish the owners and staff of the restaurant well. This restaurant has the potential of being quite good. The prices are reasonable, the place appears clean, and the staff seems to be friendly, professional.

August 15, 2009 at 10:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

admireed (anonymous) says...

Costs too much.

August 15, 2009 at 11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

justthefacts (anonymous) says...

I can eat there cheaper that I can at a fast food place. I think their prices are appropriate and in line with others in the area.The service is good and they actually make an effort to make the dining experience enjoyable, not something I can say for a lot of other places in town.

August 15, 2009 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

cookatwork (anonymous) says...

I have eaten there. The prices are reasonable and comparable to another well known Italian place. The food was good, as was the service. The only complaint I had was that it was NOISY and crowded. I don't remember Pizza Hut ever being that noisy, even on a busy night and I wondered why they hadn't utilized the lower level for overflow seating. The noise level was comparible to Chucky Cheese's the night we were there. I am sure, though, that as the newness wears off and the stream of clients slows down (there were about 10 families waiting in line at a time) this noise level will drop.

August 15, 2009 at 1:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

bloomsbury (SC DIXON) says...

Hmmm. Let me just say that it ain’t no Olive Garden™.
I’ve always figured that the “acid test” of an Italian eatery is plain, old spaghetti and meatballs (or sausage.) It is so basic. On my first trip to a restaurant I've never been to before I will order it even if I don't particularly want it. It tells me a lot about the place. For instance, if there is water in my plate, either from improperly draining the pasta or sweating out of the sauce, it’s a no-go. Also, mushy, overcooked pasta is not acceptable; if I want that I'll open a can.
So they served us excellent, homemade rolls, and a salad with a tomato based house dressing of vinegar and oil. The dressing was very tasty... Unfortunately the salad itself consisted of almost-wilted lettuce, ½ of a thin, thin, slice of “wax” tomato, a thin slice of cucumber.
The meatballs seem to be the frozen, pre-made variety with a generous serving of gristle and/or bone. I nearly chipped a tooth.
The pasta was overcooked and there was probably an 8th of an inch of water in the bottom of my plate.

There you have it, try it for yourself, perhaps this was an isolated case, but I'm pretty secure in advising you to pass on spaghetti. I also think that they could really, really, improve the salad, maybe have an “endless” salad bowl or at least one refill, as the salad isn’t that large to begin with and their prices are very close to Olive Garden™ but they can’t have near the overhead.
I always try to be forgiving of a new place, but they’ve been open a while now, and are probably about as advanced as they’re going to be.

August 15, 2009 at 3:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

history_nerd (anonymous) says...

Olive Garden isn't even real Italian.

August 15, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

sciguy (anonymous) says...

I hope they survive this. They corrected the problems immediately once they were discovered.

It would be terribly sad if the only decent Italian restaurant in the area shut down due to a short-term problem.

August 15, 2009 at 7:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

justthefacts (anonymous) says...

My feeling is they are willing to invest in this community and to live here despite all the stuff they are probably reading here. I've met the owners and they are sincere and are trying very hard. Some of the folks that were in there when I was there were just plain rude and condescending. I actually apologized in one case for the behavior and told them most folks here are nice and friendly. They are trying to provide real Italian food, not chain food like Olive Garden. They have been getting their fresh veggies from a local supplier here in Emporia and were frustrated with what has been delivered...surprise! These folks have moved here and want to invest in the community. Seems to me like we ought to be encouraging them not tearing them down. Just FYI, I've been to Italy and alot of the dishes they provide, including the spaghetti and sauces are identical to the local village type you would get there.

Just my view.

August 15, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

zippy (anonymous) says...

I've been there once and loved my food and the bread! The young man serving us was excellent. I will go back again and again. Hang in there.

August 15, 2009 at 8:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

phiber101 (anonymous) says...

Unfortuantely I've only been there once, but I'm definitely going again. I'll second what justthefacts stated!!! I too have been to Italy and the food was in line with that quality. Most people think that the Olive Garden is what Italian food tastes like.......and they'd be wrong! They are probably the same people who think a cappuccino from the machine at a local gas station is a REAL cappuccino. The atmosphere at the Italian Garden was pretty good, but my family and I went when they were still pretty new so it was croweded. I truely hope they will survive this because I'm always up for good Italian food!

August 16, 2009 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

hottopics (anonymous) says...

I always wait a while to go to the new restaurant in town. New employees, staff etc. need time to figure it all out. I go when they are more seasoned in their food, service etc. and not over crowded. So I have yet to go, but will eventually.

I went to Centinellas ONCE, bad service, food was not to my liking. So that didnt bother me when they closed. Hastings, I went all the time. But now use the Netflix and Redbox for movies to rent. I wish we had a real pizza place that actually put toppings on a pizza you can see, like way back when........

August 16, 2009 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

gemini (anonymous) says...

It seems like someone has a grudge against the restaurant. It's very unfortunate to see such bad press about a wonderful place. The owners are fantastic...I've been there several times (never gotten sick, I might add) and received the BEST service from them and their staff than ANY OTHER restaurant in this town. They truly know what customer service is and they value it, unlike other established places in Emporia.
And to those that say their prices are too high...try ordering the chicken strip dinner from a particular restaurant that I will not name...$10! Ridiculous.
All restaurants have their faults but compared to the same ol' same ol' restaurants Emporia has to offer, they have great food, great service and garlic rolls to die for. Here's hoping people try it for themselves instead of listening to the negative criticisms from the Gazette and others.

August 16, 2009 at 7:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

admireed (anonymous) says...

Their food is good as is the service. I just do not see a value in $9 pasta..that is with a drink. $10 chicken strips is a bust too.

August 16, 2009 at 9:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

nks (anonymous) says...

We ate their for lunch today, and it was outstanding.

August 16, 2009 at 10:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )