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Alessia's Ristorante Italiano
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
43 reviews for Alessia's Ristorante Italiano
Review Highlights
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"Alessia's is owned and run by Jon and Shari Carr." In 5 reviews -
"The wine list is nice and features all Italian wines." In 3 reviews
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"Rich and creamy with a nice bite from the gorgonzola." In 6 reviews
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43 reviews in English
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Review from Nicole P.
Mesa, AZ
5/24/2012
me and my boyfriend ate here for the first time last night and all i can say is O!M!G!
the food was some of the best Ive ever had and for a Wednesday night the place was pretty busy!
from the yummy fresh warm bread, to the salad with the awesome shaved tomato pieces, to my HOMEMADE chicken alfredo which was most definitely the best Ive ever had in my life, and the raspberry cheesecake, everything was just absolutely amazing
the service was great and the wine selection was HUGE!
they were doing wine tasting for $18 each, i had to work today or i would have been all for it! i joined their E-Mail club so they will notify me next time it happens :)
overall this place is a total surprise for being located where it is
i cant wait to have an excuse to go back again
now time to heat up the leftovers and have some lunch! -
Review from Freda C.
San Diego, CA
5/23/2012
While we were in Mesa AZ for a holiday we found Alessia's on Yelp and we are so glad we did. The food was delicious and the host was terrific as were the servers. We are not big wine drinkers but they have a very good selection of wines and the host knows his stuff and can make good recommendations. Nicely appointed little restaurant with a great menu.
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Review from Mj M.
Charleston, SC
Excellent friendly service, the food is phenomenal. Highly recommend the mussels, chicken porcini yum, yum
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Review from Jamie J.
Mesa, AZ
5/20/2012 2 photos
This restaurant is quality in every aspect! I walked in the small front door and was greeted by a sweet hostess who did not lose her composure when I stated i would be dining alone (the single diner always throws serving staff and hostesses a slight curve ball to test their reaction and with family and friends all out of down I was flying solo!) she offered me the option to sit inside or outside and I choose the fresh air option. It was a quiet little patio area and they have done a beautiful job making it feel warm, inviting and romantic. I can not even describe how fantastic my waitress was, Joanne I believe was her name (I'm sorry, I'm horrible with names) she was bright and cheery, made fabulous suggestions and quick accommodations to recommendations when I mentioned a few dietary restrictions I had. Everything was delicious from the warm bread and dipping oils, to the pesto linguini with added shrimp and a take home of tiramisu. Each person who came to my table was attentive and kind, knowledgable and composed. Although the food was divine, the staff I encountered seemed to be the element that truly places this quaint authentic Italian restaurant at the top of my list for all time. Thank you, so much.
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Review from Frank B.
Phoenix, AZ
5/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food was excellent. Nice selection of food. I truly enjoyed the atmosphere. Additionally the staff were very polite and around frequently enough to provide great service.
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Review from Eric S.
Mesa, AZ
5/11/2012
So damn good! Your Butternut Squash Ravioli special was out of this world!!
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Review from Don H.
Mesa, AZ
4/27/2012
Excellent food at reasonable prices. Great service. Didn't have wine with dinner, but they have a huge selection.
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Review from Ashley W.
Apache Junction, AZ
3/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food and service are both great! Not sure why you'd go to any other Italian chain restaurant with this option. Definitely plan on coming back, it is a bit unfortunate that we just discovered place. The cannoli's are delicious. The East Valley doesn't have many options... enjoy this one.
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Review from Ryan J.
2/25/2012
Out in east Mesa you are stuck in a barren desert of chain restaurants and diners that serve the needs of the Octogenarians coming down from the Midwest. Because of these conditions you take what unique and serviceable offerings are out there and you stick to them. Alessia's is that option for Italian in the area. The location is the classic strip-mall, something that Arizona has perfected, and the menu contains the standard Italian dishes from up and down the peninsula. Solid renditions of the old world originals with not too much in the way of American tampering.
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Review from Lisa M.
Mesa, AZ
11/6/2011
4.5 stars.
Another unassuming strip mall restaurant with excellent food in Mesa. After living here for seven years, I'm *finally* finding the authentic mom-n-pop places with good food, yay! And they're all in strip malls. Weird.
Alessia's was great. We had a party of six so we called earlier in the day to get a reservation (following their website guidelines, which state reservations will be taken for parties of 5 or more). We left a message because they don't open until 5pm. When we arrived, the owner (John) greeted us and knew about our reservation without having to look it up, and he gave us our choice of a round or a rectangle table. The place felt homey, and it was comfortable. John is definitely over the top with his kidding, but I didn't mind it. And he really knew what he was talking about food-wise.
I'm not a huge pasta-lover but my family is.Here are the reports from most in our party:
The linguini carbonara was wonderful. Very full-flavored. It heated up the next day better than expected, which was a nice treat.
The cappelini pesto was tasty but the sauce was a little overpowering -- maybe a bit too much sauce for the amount of pasta. (and maybe angel hair wasn't the best choice of pasta for this sauce - it was really swimming in it).
The gorgonzola gnocchi was delicious (we had this for an appetizer for the table).
The lobster ravioli was very good but a bit mild in flavor.
The tortellini bolognese was fabulous.
Overall great pasta and decent prices with good service. I highly recommend. -
Review from The R.
Gilbert, AZ
9/23/2011
This is one of my favorites. I love taking a date here sitting out on the patio is romantic and fun. Great hidden little place in Mesa
It is owner operated by a husband and wife (husband takes care of front of house, wife cooks) so service and quality are always at their best.
I still remember the first time i went there it was just about 9:00pm as i walked up I saw that they close at 9:00, but thought i would just look at the menu... I didn't want to be that guy who shows up 5 min before close and am the only table in house. As i looked at the restaurant i loved the decoration it looked really romantic and well decorated. The maitre d (who turned out to be the owner) asked if we were there for dinner, I let him know that I saw they were closing in 5 min so I was just checking the place out, his response.... "you got money?" ... "um... ya" ... "well, are you hungry".... again "um... ya" his simple response "then were open, we don't close till people stop coming in"
He was really engaging and has been every time i have been their since, he keeps things moving in the restaurant and leaves you alone if you are on a date and want to be left alone, he has good judgement. He is an important part of why this place is great. He makes it feel like you are part of the restaurant.
His wife is an amazing cook. AMAZING. Everything is fresh, everything is prepared to order, pasta made in house, everything seasoned perfectly, every time... great selection of food great selection of wine. If you need any help decided what to get the husband is very able to help you find something you like. Very accommodating. i love this place. -
Review from Des D.
Corte Madera, CA
11/21/2011
Very strip mall looking restaurant in a "L" corner configuration which i am sure was challenging for the owners to set up. Outdoor seating is available, but lacked any great pull to have you want to sit outside - no view, especially you are fenced away.
Staff are very friendly and co-owner John made his way through the tables to say hello. One issue with the staff, we must have had at least 6 different folks serve and clear that may have been because it was later at night.
We ordered three pasta dishes -
1. thanksgiving lasagna (the special) - not a big fan and really could discern the tastes of the ingredients, for all the push it wasn't worth the order
2. spinach ravioli - the sauce had separated and was greasy
3. tortellini Bolognese - was pretty good
I would rate the food a little above Maggiano's or Olive Garden.
Wine list is good and prices are not bad. -
Review from Tricia H.
Mesa, AZ
8/28/2011
Alessia's is, by and large, the number one hidden gem in Mesa. We moved to Mesa three years ago and stumbled upon Alessia's while we were exploring our new neighborhood.
First-the owner is who he is. We love his engaging personality and off-color humor. I get that some people may not like it, but he keeps us entertained and gives the restuarant a down-home feel.
The bread is to die for. Excellente! And the food...I had been in search of true Gnocchi since I got back from a visit with my mom in Italy years ago. She lives near Naples and snuck me into an amazing cafe there where I experienced...I mean truly experienced gnocchi for the first time. I will never forget the moment, the smells, the sounds, the taste. Food that is so delicately prepared has a way to imbed itself in a person's memory. It happened for me one day in Naples. And, years later, it happened again in a small ristorante in Mesa.
I'm not a huge Tiramisu fan, but my other half is, and he tells me the Tiramisu at Alessia's is some of the best he has ever had.
For the money, you will not get a better experience of true, Italian food and fun-loving service. I highly recommend Alessia's to one and all.... -
Review from Greg F.
Palm Desert, CA
2/6/2012
I was visiting for the weekend and found this restaurant searching on my mobile phone, it was incredible! The food and service were the best I ever had. Only came to $50 bucks for two and it should of been $100.
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Review from Naomi B.
Mesa, AZ
7/13/2011
Alessia's Ristorante Italiano has been open since 2004. We used to go a few times a month and then stopped when somehow my husband and I thought they closed. Thanks to a fellow Yelper when I was looking for a great restraint near our home I found this little gem again.
We were greeted by a friendly gentleman that we later learned was one of the owners - the other being his wife who is the chef. They have an interesting back story if you care to check out their website but I'll mention that they do know Italian food!
We opted to forgo the salads and were glad we did because the main dishes were hearty. There were four of us in our party and two had the Gorgonzola Linguini both agreeing it was delicious. Our friend had the Pesto Pasta and he raved about the flavor so good there too. I had the Cappelini Bolognese and was delighted with the flavors. Slow cooked sauce to perfection ~ just like it's supposed to be done. It's the only sauce made ahead due to the cooking time. Everything else is made fresh to order. My only complaint (and I really won't call it that) was that I like my pasta a little more el dente and I didn't ask. However I feel that an Italian restaurant should cook it that way so I don't always think to mention it.
The table shared a tiramisu and it was DELICIOUS!! I was sorry my friends ate as much as they did! I'm somewhat of a tiramisu snob so trust me if I say it's good - it is.
Really reasonable prices and outstanding service too. Best kept secret in Mesa. Love this little family restaurant and I will be returning to become a regular again. -
Review from Eric S.
Phoenix, AZ
Why, oh why does this have to be in BFE? When I go to a quaint little place in downtown Phoenix that has "cucina" in its title, THIS is exactly what I'm dreaming I'm going to find. But no, no... this is not my dumb luck. My dumb luck is that my parents are in from out of state, basking in the manufactured housing glory that is much of this part of Mesa and we decide to go grab some dinner. Since I'm NEVER out here, I naturally grab Yelp to get some recommendations. Well what do you know! Four and a half star Italian place just a mile down the road? Don't mind if I do!
Now I'm skeptical going into this, I have to be honest. Four and a half stars in Mesa is like four and a half stars in Sun City. It means nothing because the palates around here are... shall we say, tending toward the bland. But what the heck, I'll give it a shot. WOW. I've only eaten at this place this one time and I feel fairly comfortable saying that not only is it the best Italian food I've ever had in the Valley, but I'll also almost certainly be trekking it all the way back out here 30+ miles to this godforsaken place just to experience it again.
I could have made a meal of the complimentary bread. They bring it out with balsamic and olive oil on a plate to dip the bread in like a lot of places do, but here it is garnished with what looked to me like pepper, thyme and chili flakes. YUM. We started with the calamari, braised in a red marinara-type sauce replete with chunks of fresh garlic. The last of the bread went to sop up the leftover juices. Not one drop was wasted. It is here we decided we might really be in for something good.
I had the Tortellini Pomodoro with homemade sausage added. It was of a good quality and the sauce - like all the sauces here - was fresh and just wonderful. The sausage was tasty, the depth of flavors excellent. My father had the Linguine Bolognese, which I have uploaded a picture of. It was stellar. No one left unhappy.
Some folks have bagged on the owner, John. He is a bit over the top, but you get the sincere feeling that he is really happy you are there and proud of what he has accomplished here with his wife (the chef) and rightly so. We liked him.
Now for the nitpicking: The menu is too dense. The headlines are all Italian and so they largely tell you nothing about what the dishes are, unless of course, you speak Italian. Yeah it feels a bit more AUTHENTICO and all that, but I'd rather have more descriptive titles. Secondly, their iced tea was ridiculously weak, maybe it was just a bad batch. That's about all I can say bad about this place. Well, maybe it's a bit too pricey as well but I can forgive pricey when the food and service is this good.
If you're ever out this way, do yourself a favor: check this place out. My highest recommendation. -
Review from Bill E.
East Aurora, NY
1/24/2012
Great Italian restaurant. 4.5
The service was fantastic. Everyone is working every table so you are never waiting for the next course or a water refill.
Wine list is extensive, many glass offerings. Prices for full bottles drink during dinner and 'retail' if you want to take a bottle home. Retail is a few dollars over cost. Mid priced wines ($40-50) are better values. retail spread is lower.
Food was fantastic. I had a shrimp pasta (gamberi). The sauce was very light and didn't have a pool of oil or butter at the bottom. My wife had salmon which was delicious and also had a very nice sauce.
I will go back again, next time I'm in town. -
Review from Ashley A.
10/30/2010
I like Italian food. It's probably the only food I will take home, because the left overs are usually just as good the next day!
It's kinda sad that Alessia's is SO good that I don't even have left overs! We started off with bread and this amazing vinaigrette/oil combo. It was the best mixture I've ever had. For dinner, I had fettuccine with a homemade white sauce that was so creamy and filled with flavor, I couldn't believe it. The chicken I added was crisp and the spices used on the chicken complimented the white sauce nicely.
Side note: the owner (who served us) is a bit of a pompous...I'm thinking it has to do with the pride he has with his food/cultural differences...but still, brace yourself if he's there when you go otherwise he might ruin the food experience by his attitude.
Come, enjoy, and get fat! :} -
Review from Ruel D.
Fremont, CA
2/14/2011
The. Best. Ever.
The owner's are amazing - friendly, warm, and talented!! Recommendations are great, and they'll also try new things, which always end up amazing.
I recommend this place to everyone I know who ever travels within 50 miles of this place...it is a must try! -
Review from MaKiea M.
Mesa, AZ
2/4/2012
My husband, brother, and sister-in-law decided to try something new. I'd seen the great reviews for this place so I recommended we give it a try. When we arrived the smell inside was fabulous! I thought "wow, this place must live up to it's yelp reputation". Unfortunately, I was wrong.
There wasn't any inside seating so we ended up sitting outside on the patio. It was a little cool outside but they had space heaters so it made it more comfortable. Almost immediately after being seated our water glasses were filled and a plate of oil and vinegar was sat infront of us for the bread. I was thinking that this was going to be a nice dining experience. However it took a good 10-15 minutes for our waiter to appear and briefly introduce himself before rushing to take another tables order. He was a little too chatty for me and seemed like he was trying really hard. Nothing against him, he was a nice guy and I'm sure some people like that in a waiter, but it just isn't my thing. About 5 minutes later some bread arrived which was pretty disappointing. Tasted like store-bought french bread that had been heated in a microwave (after a few minutes of sitting on the plate it became rock hard and crusty). 10-15 minutes later our waiter reappeared to take our orders. He was waiting on the 5 tables outside and kept disappearing inside so I'm assuming he was dealing with tables inside. I understand that he was a little overloaded but it was starting to get a little frustrating that it was taking so long just to get our order in.
My husband and I decided to share the Carbonara ($16 plus another $4 split-plate charge which we weren't told about and only realized when we received our bill...a BIG turn off for me!), my brother ordered the special which was some garlic shrimp ravioli in a white sauce ($18), and my sister-in-law ordered the spinach ravioli in a white sauce ($15). I thought it looked a little pricey but figured that if it was good homemade, hearty, filling Italian food then it would be worth it.
About 20 minutes later our food finally arrived. My brother's shrimp ravioli looked a little skimpy...only about 7 ravioli on the plate. He said the taste was fine (nothing great) but left still hungry and felt like for the price he was a little shorted. My sister-in-law's portion was also a little small looking...only about 7 or 8 ravioli and she, too, left hungry and feeling shorted. My husband and I each had a small bowl of pasta (since we split it) but were both very disappointed in the taste. It was bland and the pasta was not fresh made (definitely tasted like it came from a box). The panchetta was chewy and a little rubbery, not crisp like I expected. There were big chunks of cooked egg whites in the pasta which means that it wasn't mixed fast enough when the egg was added. Not the biggest deal I guess but for the price I was expecting some amazing home-cooked Italian food. I hate to admit it but I've had better Italian food from a chain restaraunt.
When our tickets came we were all left feeling like the price did not match the quality or quantity of food we'd expected. It's one thing to have huge portions and bland food, or to have smaller portions but amazing food; but to have small portions and bland food is disappointing. I had high hopes for this place given the great reviews and in the end felt bad that I had recommended such a bust for our night out. You know it's a bad sign when you leave thinking of over a dozen other places you wish you would've gone instead. I don't think I will ever go back and don't feel like I can recommend it to my friends and family.
Overall I'd break the rating down as follows:
Food: 3 stars
Service: 2 stars
Cost for what you get: 1 star -
Review from Dr John M M.
Mesa, AZ
2/8/2012
We've eaten here twice in the last 4 days and I look forward to coming back again soon. This little place is a treasure. Every menu item we've tried has been terrific. John, part of the husband-wife ownership, will make you feel welcome and will cater to your every need. The service is attentive and prompt. We've been all over the country trying to find good cannolis. Everywhere we go, they are either gritty or soggy. We've found great cannolis in the Bronx, Long Island and Mesa. Yes, that's right...at Alessia's. We just moved to AZ from the SF Bay Area and have quickly found our favorite restaurant.
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Review from Joshua W.
Mesa, AZ
1/30/2012
Food was great!! Took a while to get our food but when a table of 12+ people sit before you at a mom n pap place you need to expect that. Food and service A+
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Review from Dana I.
Mesa, AZ
12/3/2011
I went to Alessia's on a Friday night with my best friend. After reading the reviews I expected it to be unbelievably busy since it was a Friday night. When I came was a ghost town. I had only heard of this restaurant form reviews so I was on the fence about actually going and leaving the comfort of the usual chain restaurants. One thing that already had me maybe rethinking going there was its location. It is nestled in a tiny little corner on Brown road and Higley. I found it very hard to find since there were no signs. Personally, if I'm having trouble finding the restaurant I probably won't like the food. Boy was I wrong! Alessia's is as if you were actually in Italy itself. It puts Olive Garden to shame! As soon as we walked in the atmosphere was very warming, the seating area was a little small but there was a large outside patio seating area to make up for it. The staff is very polite and attentive, catering to you every need. Our waiter was entertaining and knowledgeable about the menu items and where in Italy they originated from. One of the things that did turn us off was that the sodas came from soda cans that you could hear them opening in the kitchen. The restaurant wasn't too busy at all, so it was an overall great dinner experience. They had a wide variety of Italian wine. The wait for the food was average and pricing compared to others is slightly higher but it is very much worth it. It is truly a hidden gem, good food humble restaurant and great food. Alessia's had a very intimate romantic feeling, I probably won't take my best friend there again but I would bring it up to my boyfriend. With all the factors of the experience I'm giving it four out of five stars. The food was the best Italian I've ever had but the one thing that ducted them a star was the difficulty of finding the restaurant. A tip I can give to food-lovers like myself that if you find a place you're dying to go to just do it! I would have never found this amazing place if it weren't for all the great reviews.
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Review from Emily R.
Chandler, AZ
9/28/2010
This restaurant is incredible, and has the best pasta carbonara and the best tiramisu I've had in my life. All the food is wonderful, though. The calamari is not fried. The bread served with dinner comes right out of the oven, and the tomatoes are the freshest I've tasted outside of my mom's own garden. This is great attention to detail.
I can no longer eat at any other Italian restaurant without feeling slighted. This is the first place I want take out-of-town visitors I'm looking to impress.
The owner, Jon, is helpful, friendly, and really cares about providing a positive dining experience. He's spot on with his wine recommendations, and he organizes wine tasting events which you can find out about by joining the mailing list or Facebook page. -
Review from EV F.
Mesa, AZ
1/24/2010
I recently ate dinner at Alessia's Ristorante Italiano located at 5251 E. Brown Rd in Mesa (yes, Mesa). It is tucked in the corner of a strip mall on the SE corner of Higley and Brown Roads, a few doors down from the Broadway Palm dinner theater. It is a smaller, mom and pop restaurant that serves up all sorts of Italian fare.
Dinner
Alessia's is owned and run by Jon and Shari Carr. Shari does all the cooking and Jon kind of runs the rest of the show. It's a very small restaurant with room for maybe 30 or 40 people max inside. They do have a patio area as well, but this time of year it's a bit chilly for dining al fresco. The decor is pretty bland, but that is just fine for a local eatery. Alessia's is a cozy place and you will definitely get some personal attention from Jon.
The wine list is nice and features all Italian wines. That helps with the authenticity, but I would personally like to see a focus on Italian wines, but still have some offerings from other wine producing areas of the world. The wine prices are reasonable (1.5x - 2x retail) and there are a fair number of them by the glass. We ordered a bottle of 2003 Santome Raboso ($48). This is a very lush wine. Rich fruit, leathery, and very well composed on the palate. Raboso reminds me of really good Cab Sav with some Merlot added for rounded structure.
Alessia's menu offers all the pasta types you would expect, but what I liked is that you can also get just about any type of sauce on those pasta dishes. There are also meat and seafood based entrees as well. The appetizer selection is small, but the choices are pretty solid. Prices are reasonable with apps being $6 - $10 and all larger plates being under $22 (many are under $15).
We split an appetizer, a pasta dish, and an entree. Here is a rundown of the items in the order we ate them:
Crostini ai Porcini - These were small pieces of grilled bread with fresh mozzarella on them and then topped with sauteed porcini mushrooms and herbs. It was very tasty, but there was so much garlic sauteed with the mushrooms that it kind of detracted from an otherwise delicious appetizer. We still ate it all and it was good we shared it as I could feel the garlic oozing out of my pores afterwards, so I knew I wouldn't be the only one warding off vampires that evening.
Gnocchi with Creamy Gorgonzola Sauce - This dish resulted in a good news/bad news situation. The good news was that the gorgonzola sauce was very tasty. Rich and creamy with a nice bite from the gorgonzola. The bad news is that the gnocchi were just OK. They tasted undercooked, like a pasta that is too al dente. They weren't bad, but the fresh bread dipped in the gorgonzola sauce was making us smile more than the potato dumplings were.
Pollo Erbe - Two chicken breasts served in a red sauce with rosemary, sage, garlic, onions, and basil. The chicken was wonderful; very moist and the sauce was great. I would definitely order this again. This came with a choice of a salad or pasta. We got the salad, but if I could use the "way back machine", I would have taken pasta on the side with the chicken and then bypassed the gnocchi for a salad course. Live and learn :)
Overall, the meal was very pleasant. The service was good and Jon makes the patrons feel at home with his sense of humor. The food arrives at a casual pace and that was just fine with us as we were enjoying each course without being rushed.
Final Take
Alessia's is a great neighborhood eatery where you can get a good meal at a decent price. Yes, there are things I would change here and there on the menu, but overall the restaurant delivers exactly what you'd expect from a locally owned Italian restaurant. And to this Foodie, that is reason enough to dine there.
Overall Grade = B (Good)
The EV Foodie -
Review from Dave V.
Mesa, AZ
7/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best Italian food I have had. Carbonara and alfredo are excellent accented with the homemade sausage. I agree that this place is located in an odd place. After you eat here you won't believe this place is located in a strip mall. Would have given five stars but kinda slow with the entrees and the check.
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Review from Sandra B.
Pleasanton, CA
12/31/2011
What a wonderful little treasure to have found! Absolutely delicious homemade Italian food...
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Review from Cliff D.
Mesa, AZ
12/10/2010
The food is great.
Pollo Porcini arrived with fork-tender chicken as did the Insalata Pollo Gorgonzola.
The owner is a kidder but don't let it bother you. -
Review from Jim A.
Mesa, AZ
7/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
It has been at least 4 years since we went here for dinner. Happily, it's still the best Italian in Mesa - maybe in the valley. What a great place. The lamb was perfect, veal superb. They have an extensive wine list and the owner is always there to welcome you and help with questions.
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Review from Christi J.
Tempe, AZ
7/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best food & wine in Mesa!
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Review from Cory M.
Mesa, AZ
2/4/2012
Alessia's is the biggest disappointment I have found on Yelp. After seeing all the great reviews, I had been wanting to try this place for some time. With so many 5 star reviews and a number of people on here raving about the freshness and quality of the food, I had high hopes. Unfortunately Alessia's didn't live up to the hype. The service was very slow, which I won't hold against them. Most people were sipping wine, so maybe it's their intention to slow it down a bit. The bread is garbage. Probably the worst part of my night there. It tasted like they went across the street to Basha's and bought some rolls that they heated up in the microwave. A good Italian restaurant has to have good bread. The rest of our meal didn't get much better. The pasta we ordered was disappointing. Small portions, small taste, big cost. Definitely not worth the price we paid or the time we waited. The reviews I read did not describe the food I ate. I understand if you love Alessia's for the atmosphere, the wine or maybe because it's hard to find a place like this in Mesa, but the food I ate did not deserve 4.5 stars. It was bad enough that I have no intention of giving Alessia's a second chance. Not the worst I've ever had, just the most disappointing. One last gripe I have is the service. The bad jokes and cheesy Italian don't fit with everything else this place is trying to do. The guy did know his stuff, but he was slow and made me feel awkward more than I'd expect.
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Review from bubba b.
Mesa, AZ
7/14/2011
The food is Awesome! Make the trip!
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Review from Jorge J.
Gilbert, AZ
5/16/2010
Alessia's is a good privately owned Italian restaurant. If you are not a fan of the typical corporate large joints that rustles you in and out like cattle, then this is a must try.
Good food, good selection, fair prices, portions just right for my big appetite.
Service was good with attention to detail such as knowing his menue by heart including every dishes ingredients and how it was prepared.
This was important to me as my wife suffers from certain food alergens.
Only disappointment was the microwaved bread as to make appear as it just had came out of the oven. They should use the oven to re heat it instead, nothing wrong with re heating the bread. The microwave makes it rubbery and tough as it cools.
Good job over all. this was my first time and yes I will return again.
Well done. -
Review from Nam D.
Mesa, AZ
1/31/2011
Unfortunately the creative juices are not kicking in this morning, but I had to put up some type of review because having this place at 4 stars is a travesty. What a stellar experience my girlfriend and I had on Saturday! The decor was nice, it probably seems old-fashioned to some but I loved the blue tablecloths with white brick inside. The bread was fine but not quite worth raving over, and the oil/vinaigrette(balsamic vinegar?) was just ordinary. Everything thereafter was phenomenal however, starting with a calamari appetizer for 9.75, a good number of unbreaded ( thankfully! ) rings of chewy goodness swimming in a sea of garlicky red sauce. My cioppino was similar except with whitefish, mussels, shrimp, clams, and capers in the sauce, which gave it a delightful bite to it for 21.00, and the 3 slices of garlic toast was woefully insufficient to sop up every drop of sauce. Thankfully bread re-fills are there for that! My girlfriend's Gorgonzola Gnocchi for 16.00 was RIDICULOUSLY good, and I normally hate those who unnecessarily capitalize but I can't help it, I can't think of any other way to convey to the reader how AWESOME this was. Creamy, and even tangy somehow, cheesy perfection on perfectly cooked potatoey goodness. Finally the tiramasu for 6.95 was a revelation on how tiramasu should be, with the perfect cocoa/booze/biscuit ratio to end our meal on an even higher note. My iced tea was 2.50 as well but I don't recall seeing it on my bill. It made the tip look better at $70 at least, go 30%! ( I almost never do that).
Man, just awesomely awesome, my style and humor are out the window this morning unfortunately, but I do love this place already. -
Review from Raul H.
Mesa, AZ
6/7/2011
Absolutely the best Italian food i have ever had besides being in Italy. The staff is first rate and very professional. They know the menu and give superb recommendations. While it may seem to be hidden and out of the way....it is well worth the trip.
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Review from Richard T.
Phoenix, AZ
4/23/2011
Great food. Impeccable service. Weird location.
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Review from Brent H.
Pinal County, AZ
8/14/2010
Incredible gem of a restaurant in Mesa. In close proximity to Matta's so was a challenge to give up the local standard in order to try something different. So glad we did! The restaurant has a quaint charm and the owner welcomes each of his customers personally. The waitress was attentive, but not overbearing. The special was spinach lasagna with Gorgonzola cheese. Apparantly, the specials rotate on a weekly basis and this one may not surface again for 3 months. Best lasagna we have had out here! I got on the mailing list to be notified when we can come back and enjoy it again. We finally found our Italian spot in the valley. Jon, the owner teased us on the way out, "see you tomorrow. " He may be doing exactly that!
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Review from Karrie K.
Mesa, AZ
8/11/2011
WOW! Just about sums this place up.. My husband & I had stumbled across this place one evening when we were dining at a nearby fast food chain and said we'd have to try it out sometime. So, one night we did and it was nothing short of AWESOME in all aspects from the greeting we received by the hostess to the waiter to the ambiance. It is very quaint, authentic and romantic. It is tucked in the corner of a shopping plaza and what it lacked in size, it made up in all the things that matter the most (food, service, wine selection, etc.). Our waiter owns this resturant with his wife, who is the Head Chef. Their hostess, a young lady was FANTASTIC, she was warm, welcoming, friendly and professional, very sweet demeanor. Our waiter was extremely knowledegable about the wine and food selections and had a very relatable, easy going personality, but maintained the right amount of professionalism, we felt like we were dining at a 5 star la-ti-da kinda resturant. The food was nothing short of amazing, you could taste the fresh ingredients and its pure authenticity. Even when I didn't think I could eat another bite, I couldn't stop myself, I wanted MORE! The bottle of wine the waiter helped us to select was a great selection for our very different paletes, a little bit of sweet for me and a lil' twinge of dry for my husband, pure bliss in a glass! I highly recommend Alessia's to anyone, we will DEFINITELY be back! Also, just a tip sign up for their weekly email, they are a wine distributor and hold free wine tastings.
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Review from Carol S.
Chico, CA
7/25/2011
Great food!!! We couldn't make up our mind so we ordered way more food then we could eat, but every bit of it was good. Jon the owner is very informative an tries to make the atmosphere that of a large family gathering....IMO....some people my not care for that, but we loved it an ended up sharing our wine with the table next to us. We can't wait to go back! Thanks for a great dinner!
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Review from Lily D.
Scottsdale, AZ
10/16/2010
I will never go back to this restaurant because the owner was the biggest d-bag you have ever met. He was so obnoxious and loud trying to entertain everyone that walked in. I don't need a clown show with my dinner. I think the music in the restaurant is purposely very low so he can hear himself mispronounce Italian words. On top of this he gave me a glass of wine that smelled and tasted more like vinegar and feet. I told him very discreetly and politely that my wine does not taste right he made a big deal out of it. There was 3 other tables there for dinner and he put on a show for them by yelling that he just opened that bottle and he checked it himself. The table next to us was an older couple that were his friends and even they joined in and made some rude comments. I couldn't believe it! This is a nightmare: I am paying to be insulted! Everyone was staring at me and it was extremely embarrassing.
Seems that this place has survived so far because the owners wife is the chef and she does a good job, the food was great.
My advice to her: Get your dead beat of husband away from your customers. he's more suited to clean the toilets then interact with people. He said the word PERFECTO a thousand times. He is annoying, cheesy and rude. He doesn't know sh$t about wine.
