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Antonio's Italian Restaurant & Flying Pizza
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Italian, Pizza [Edit]
2920 Hillcroft StHouston, TX 77057
(713) 783-6080
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri 11 am - 10 pm
Sat 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
33 reviews for Antonio's Italian Restaurant & Flying Pizza
Review Highlights
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"The pizza is New York style, light and flavorful, and the..." In 3 reviews -
"...portion was just right too, not too big - perfect for lunch." In 3 reviews -
"The crust really was perfect." In 8 reviews
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33 reviews in English
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Review from Katie C.
Houston, TX
Honestly - I think this is some of the best Italian food in Houston. We came here for a nice dinner with our friends and the atmosphere here was perfect - quiet and relaxed. We split a Pizza and the Cannelloni - and wow - the ricotta that they put in this is absolutely delicious. Plus their sauce is really good, tastes handmade. If you're like me and you're tired of boring chain italian restaurants - check this place out.
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Review from Abro D.
Houston, TX
Hello I went for Dinner with a group of friends The Asian Lady in the front made us wait 10 mins to sit us down but also after coming back to attend us looked at my friends and Said my friends Couldn't come in due to there dress code. I believe my TRANSGENDER friends was dress appropriate due to the fact that she was born a male she said she couldn't be wearing female clothing i believe this was a total act of discrimination i asked to speak to a manager and asked to see where the dress code was visible they told me " if they would post dress codes and rules of what they can allow in there restaurant it would look trashy" Said the owner ANTONIO i believe his actions from him and his staff where beyond hateful and rude and simply ignorant I ENCOURAGE GAYS /TRANSGENDER LESBIAN TO NEVER WALK INTO THAT RESTAURANT
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Review from Scott H.
Houston, TX
My family and I went because of yelp recommending it for kids. WRONG!!!!!! There were no kids menus, no crayons, no kid portioned meals, and no plastic cups. Also, 8 year olds do not need 20 oz glasses of milk.
The service was horrid. The waiters were not friendly and took forever to refill water, tea, etc. They were disinterested at best and rude most of the time.
I will say the food was ok....but not fantastic. It is not worth the trouble. -
Review from Que P.
Houston, TX
Was here just a few hours ago with two friends. She had Pasta Primavera, he had spaghetti w/meatballs, and I had the Siciliana Pizza w/sausage and mushrooms.
I have ordered the same before, so thought I knew what to expect. And it was very good except for the look. The sausage was cut pepperoni style and did not look very appetizing. Taste was excellent though.
Crowd was good, about 90 percent full, and conversation was pleasant. Just one little crier, but that was handled quick enough.
Thanks, Antonio!Listed in: Houston - the condensed…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/29/2009
I love this place! The owner is a real Italian, overseeing his version of soulfood. Nice, classic… Read more »
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1/29/2009
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Review from Sonia C.
Katy, TX
Great place for pizza! It was a fun restaurant with plenty of seating, good service, fantastic pizza, and the best iced tea I've had in Houston.
I noticed the wonderful smell before I even entered the restaurant. The aroma reminded me of my favorite Italian restaurants in New Orleans. As we entered the restaurant, giant stainless pizza ovens were visible. There were tables and booths available. We were seated at a booth near the most annoying woman in Houston.
We had the traditional crust, which was very good. It wasn't super crispy thin, but more what I think of with New York Style pizza. The toppings were fresh and weren't too heavy or skant. I was really pleased with the pizza.
We also had the eggplant parmesan. Honestly, if I hadn't ordered this, I might have given Antonio's 5 stars. It was mushy and terrible. It came out so late that I figured the server had forgotten it. After trying it, I wish she had.
Overall - nice atmosphere, good for kids, vegetarian options, great pizza.Listed in: Houston Pizza Patrol
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Review from Natalia P.
North Hollywood, CA
I've been coming to Antonio's since I was a little kid and it happens to be some of the best pizza in Houston; the closest you'll get to NYC pie. Great place to bring kids/family. Pizza dough is hand tossed and if you are looking to entertain your kids (read: get rid of them for a few minutes), send them to the counter and the chefs will throw some of that raw, hand tossed dough onto your kid's head. Good parenting only requires you keep the kids from eating it.
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Review from Pat C.
Katy, TX
I give the pizza five stars. Good crust, fresh toppings, good sauce.
Nice atmosphere, pleasant staff. Wish we lived closer, so we could go more often.
We ordered the traditional crust. Medium thickness with just the right amount of "chewiness" . Not soggy or floppy. Very nice. We will try the Sicilian crust next time. "Next time" because we will return.
Luigi's still the best, but on par with Franks and Bombay and Star -
Review from Marlene C.
Houston, TX
I've been going to Antonio's for close to 20 years now and it's some of the best Italian you can find in Houston. I would highly recommend the lasagna or the shrimp alfredo, but my family has always gone mainly for the pizza. It's classic New York pizza and utterly perfect from the toppings all the way down to the crust. The restaurant itself is a cozy place in the middle of a slightly shabby neighborhood, but don't be put off by it! Inside is the perfect Italian atmosphere (think Lady and the Tramp) with friendly waiters and staff.
Slightly pricey, but worth every penny. (Seriously...we used to live nearby, but now we're on the other side of town. I will not hesitate to make the 40 minute journey for this pizza though.) -
Review from CLINTON W.
Charlotte, NC
Doctor!!! We're losing him!!!
Not on my watch we're not!!! Nurse, give me room dammit!!!
We've lost him. He's sunk into a food comma with a smile.
Holy heavenly Italian food Batman! I met the padres for lunch yesterday and used the always helpful Yelp to seek out a restaurant. We decided on Italian food and after reading the reviews ended up here. You know you're in for a treat with the harsh critic known as Shazai gives the place a great review:)
When I got to the place, the parents were already sitting and there was fresh bread on the table. They informed me that our waiter was pretty great right off the bat. He was very pleasant and I liked how he was actually from Italy. I checked out the menu and was debating on the baked ziti but decided on the Saltinbocca Alla Romana. Instead of veal, I substituted it with chicken. It was chicken with prosciutto, fresh spinach, tomatoes and topped with provolone cheese. For the pasta, I asked for penne pasta. Dad had the lasagna and mom and the manicotti.
Before the food came out we sipped on some chianti and ate the bread. Once our food did come out, that was basiclly the end of our conversation. "It's so good when it hits your lips". We dove in and barely came up for air. I was full but kept eating as if I was never going to eat again. The chicken was perfectly cooked and the toppings were perfect. I couldn't get enough of the mushrooms and next time will ask for extra. After I finished, I seriously felt like taking a nap right there in my seat.
My only complaint which isn't really a complaint is that I was surprised they didn't serve the pasta al dente. That's the only thing that didn't make this place super authentic. When I was in Italy, that's the only way I had pasta. Then when some of my Italian friends make pasta, that's how they serve it. I just chalked it up to them conforming to the American way. It was still fantastic none the less, but I would have liked to have seen it served al dente.
I highly recommend this place and will come back whenever the urge for eating Italian comes up. Also, don't let the neighborhood discourage you. It's not the greatest and the actual building doesn't look like anything special. -
Review from Gretchen P.
Houston, TX
My family used to order a pizza to go (90% of the time it was a Pepperoni) from Antonio's Flying Pizza twice a month when I was growing up. This pizza, along with a pretty mean Birraporetti's pizza (which ran $20 in the early 80s-yikes!), is the eleven by which I judge all other pizzas. Not many pizza places even compare. And their pizzas today are just as good as they were those many years ago.
I think mainly it is because they hand toss their pizza. This along with really good, fresh ingredients really makes the difference. When I was really young, I loved watching the dough being tossed in the air. I was transfixed at age five!
To be honest, I'm not really a pizza person, HOWEVER...when I have a pizza craving, this is one of the two places in town I'll go.Listed in: I Have That Menu in My Car
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Review from Sergio S.
After reading Gretchen P's review of this place--nostalgia hit me. I truly envy her history with the place. When I was younger my parents would drive past the exciting flying pizza guy sign, ignoring my pleas that this was the place we needed to be eating at. A friend of mine shared a similar history. Probably not dramatic as mine, but similar. When I mentioned the place for lunch he said, "I've always wanted to eat there because of the sign!" Exciting! Flying pizza--here we come!
Exciting and a dream come true. I let out a relieved sigh as I beamed at the sign and prepared to enter. I was expecting it to look dumpy inside, but it's nice. They've obviously kept the place up to date all of these decades. Smiling faces ushered me to my friend who was patiently waiting for me at a booth upon my return from Clear Lake. We started with fried zucchini. Kinda lame, but not horrible. I'd try something else next time. But yes the flying pizza!
We went with a pepperoni and jalapeño. Not a wide range of toppings here, just the basics. The pizza is similar. It's a basic pizza, but it hits the spot and it's great place to enjoy some slices and not feel rushed. The service is awesome! They take care of their guests and are extremely polite and affable.
Gluttony struck when the dessert tray came around. I pointed at something at random. It was some kind of cake sliced, ice cream sundae something. It was good, whatever it was. Probably ruined dinner for me though. I'm sure I'll be back!Listed in: Cowabunga Houston (and outying…
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Review from Shazia C.
Washington, DC
Best cheap Italian restaurant , no kidding. I can't believe I forgot to write a review. Its so authentic that the waiters hardly speak any english.
The restaurant is very casual and its great for lunch.The bread basket smells great and comes with olive oil . The ingredients are fresh , the pasta tastes like home made and the pizza doesn't taste like cardboard. The pizzas here are nice, thin, and crispy just the way its suppose to be.
I haven't tasted everything here since I have only been here once but if you are there then you MUST try their manicotti (stuffed with ricotta cheese and topped with fresh tomoato sauce). -
Review from Cindy P.
Houston, TX
I wasn't blown away when I tried a 10" pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions here for the 1st time during a lunch UYE. The pizza was good, and I loved the large super duper fresh toppings, but the pizza definitely did not have enough tomato sauce for me.
Yet as the days pass by I find myself unable to forget what I thought was just a mediocre meal. The crust really was perfect. Not too thick, not too thin, with just the right amount of crunch. The cheese stretched out exactly the way I love my pizza cheese to. The onions were sweet. The mushrooms were the largest perfectly sliced mushrooms I've ever had on pizza. The bell peppers were not overcooked and retained a nice crunch. Everything tasted good with the pepperoni.
That's like 6 out of 7 parts of the pizza that tasted superb, and really the tomato sauce was good too. My complaint was not having enough of it. No wonder I can't forget about this pizza! I guess I was just having a half empty day but thank goodness I came to my senses because Antonio's pizza is something I need to have again really really soon. -
Review from Alix W.
Houston, TX
Oh Antonio's....my weekly staple. The husband has been eating here since he moved to Houston in the '70s. I'm a more recent convert. We always get the same thing, and most of the servers know our order.
Bread is crisp on the outside and hot, soft and chewy within. Salads are fresh, although I'm not the biggest fan of iceberg lettuce. I agree with reviewers who advise getting dressing on the side; I like to dip and control my own bleu-cheese-to-veggie ratio. I would never make this salad for myself, or eat it anywhere else but Antonio's, but for some reason I have to get it here or I feel deprived. I'm pretty sure the dressing comes in an industrial-size Sysco jug, but for some reason, here I just don't care.
The pizza is awesome- proportions are perfect, sauce is savory. We always go with a standard large cheese with extra sauce. The crust is perfect, not too thick and bready but still substantial. I love my crust, but I don't want to fill up on it either, and Antonio's strikes a great balance. Sometimes I branch out and get the lasagne, which is amazing although huge. I can usually only manage half. OK, who am I kidding- I could totally cram the whole thing into my gob but I restrain myself in the name of cardiovascular health. Most of the time.
Part of my affection for this place is definitely the people- Antonio is always there, tossing pizzas, serving/bussing tables when it's busy, or getting into a screaming match with the proprietor of the restaurant next door. Oh, Antonio! And you'll know you're a regular when you get a half-smile instead of a death glare from the hostess.
See you on Wednesday, Antonio's. -
Review from Charles B.
Houston, TX
I've eaten at Antonio's for well over 30 years and it remains one of my favorites. The pizza really does fly as they hand prepare each crust. The restaurant is old-style and as a single location with the same owner (Antonio, of course) for all these years.
This place isn't top end dining in terms of decor or attire but is much more than simply a pizza parlor. The pasta dishes are excellent and match many top end Italian fine dining establishments.
The one big problem is that kids have little real choice of anything other than pizza. Yes, they have kids meals but they are $7.95 and don't include a drink (yikes!). These kids portions are small and simply a terrible value. Older kids will need to order off the adult menu for a little more instead. -
Review from Sam V.
Houston, TX
This place always looks empty when I drive by. But I had a calzone here the other week, which I really enjoyed. It was not too heavy and the ingredients were fresh and tasty (I had spinach and mushroom). The portion was just right too, not too big - perfect for lunch. Friendly service, but this is not the place to go if you're in a hurry.
Pricing was reasonable too. Love the bar in the back - it's got character. -
Review from Yaniv B.
Houston, TX
2 words: DELICIOUS FOOD. I have loved every one of the dishes I've tried here. The pizza is New York style, light and flavorful, and the pasta is delicious! What more could you ask for?
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Review from Allie N.
Houston, TX
Sicilian style pizza! If you go here, you gotta get your pizza Sicilian style. The dough is crisp and has a lighter texture to it. I definitely have not been anywhere else in Houston with a dough similar to theirs. I also stole some linguine and clams from someone else and the pasta was very al dente and fresh.
I agree with a few of the reviews below. The hostess is kind of a nazi, but I guess that's part of your true Italian experience right? Also expect a wait if you're coming at prime dinner time. The place is packed with families. The pizza chefs give little pieces of dough to the kids for them to play with which is nice. -
Review from Scott J.
Katy, TX
First time visiting Antonio's last night. I will go back. Excellent Italian restaurant. Interior is nice and exceptionally clean. We ordered a large works pizza, and it was one of the best I've had in Houston. I will say that the price for this pizza was a little expensive, but the taste was amazing. Looking forward to going back and trying some of the other dishes I saw people having, they all looked great.
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Review from Von N.
If I could give this place ZERO stars I would! My friend and I came in there after our work out and I suggested this place from all the RAVE reviews on Yelp. First of all, our waiter was an idiot who had no clue how to pronounce the menu items and couldn't tell us about any of them. He kept leaving to go ask others about the menu items.
I settled on a meatball panini envisioning two slices of wonderfully thick sliced bread with grill marks sandwiching meatballs and mozzarella. My friend got the crab pasta with some type of white sauce that was $20! When her dish came out, the "sauce" was some watered down garlic pasta water and though the crab was large lump pieces, it tasted old and stale. She took two bites and left it to show the waiter that's not what she wanted or thought she would get. As for my "panini", the bread was the Vietnamese type french bread with a few meatballs and cheese NOT the grilled sliced bread that normal paninis are made of. Waited for the waiter to come by and when he finally did, my friend just wanted to order something else but he was quick to call his manager who never came. We got fed up and got up to leave. Told the "manager" the deal and then she told us to talk to the owner, who i guess was her dad too. The owner proceeded to YELL at my friend and I saying we didn't know food, insulting us, and our culture saying that we only eat imitation crab so that's why we don't know "real" crab when we eat it. To add insult to injury, he claimed that we'd eaten more than half our food when we literally took two bites each. He said we'd have to pay half but after all the yelling and insults, we just walked out followed by a couple of customers who saw him make a scene and yell at customers so they left too.
Final point? If you want crappy overpriced italian food, with idiotic servers, a lame atmosphere, and an owner with a terrible attitude and customer service, please waste your money here. -
Review from Leslie P.
Houston, TX
I love Antonio's. This restaurant is one of the few Italian places that is has good food and is kid-friendly - we've done large family dinners here with up to seven kids under the age of 5 and the service was good. My family has been coming for as long as I can remember, so we know a lot of the waiters and hostesses. The pizza is amazing. All of the entrees I have ever sampled are good (although I usually order the shrimp francesce or the shrimp areganati - check my spelling). We've gone and had to wait an hour before, although the wait is usually under twenty minutes (go a little bit before or after the dinner rush to minimize waiting time). Order any of the appetizers and any of the desserts, they're all good. And be warned - don't make the easy mistake of filling up on the delicious, warm, baked bread they bring your table before you've gotten your appetizers!
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Review from Maria M.
Houston, TX
I did a surprise dinner for my boyfriend to celebrate his birthday. I heard good things so I decided to check it out. They refused to give us more than two table so we had to get our own close to each other. They never mentioned anything about a fee for bringing in a cake. When I asked the manager (she took my cake) she said she didn't feel like dealing with angry customers. They refused to split up our tabs so we had to each pay our own on one tab which was a big hassle in the end I ended up paying for an extra drink we didn't have and a five dollar shortage because the manager couldn't calculate our food right. She said she hated doing that but it's all the same if not more money for them if she did. They had an area that was completely empty by the bar and yet we never got offered it. The food is pricey and not that great. I ordered the fettuccine alfredo which was too creamy. Our waiter disappeared so refills were limited and it was a hassle to get our cake for the birthday boy. Granted I asked the manager for it and she "forgot" need I say it wasn't too busy. I was glad once I got the dinner portion of our festivities over with. For more than a 30.00 tip i expected better service. I'm not planning on going there again. Very disappointing. Granted I emailed and called them prior to making the invites but they never got back to me. Next time if I have never been I'm not making any plans if I haven't been there.
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Review from Andrew B.
I'm from Houston originally, but now live in Austin. I still go to Antonio's almost every time I'm in Houston. I've been going there since I was a little boy. Every other pizza I try is compared to Antonio's. I have only had one or two other pizzas in my life that are even close to how good the pizza is at Antonio's. I also love their manicotti, but when I go to Antonio's I'm ordering pizza about 95% of the time. I don't even recognize most of H-town any more, but I sure am glad Antonio's is still in the same place, serving the same great pizza in the same location. The only minor issue I have w/ Antonio's is they drown their salads in dressing. Make sure to order yours on the side and you're all set!
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Review from Yvonne P.
Harris, TX
If you want hair in your food or other people's disgusting bodiy secretions, then sure come to Antonio's...I on the other hand enjoy eating food that does not contain dirty people fluff from those that are cooking my pizza. The LAST time I came here, there was hair in my pizza. When I showed the waiter, he said "OH" and picked it out of my plate. I never eceived an apology or anything. When I brought the issue up with the owner, he pretty much called me a liar and said it was my fault, when the waiter clearly saw the hair as soon as he set it down on the table. I can 100% guarantee you that the hair came from someone other than me. Never again!!!! Please, Please, Please, for the sake of not eating someone else's fluff and stuff, do not eat at Antonio's.
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Review from Fulla A.
Phoenix, AZ
Tried a simple pepperoni pizza 3/17/10, based partly on the many positive reviews about the pizzas at Antonio's. I have never before witnessed so horrible a pizza, especially one that cost $15.25 not including tax or gratuity. Let me describe the basics:
Typical thin-crust New York style pie, plenty of cheese and pepperoni and sporting a mild sauce. However, the only way there could have been more grease on this monstrosity would be to dip it into a deep fryer full of it. I'm not talking a little bit of fat which bakes out from the ingredients of choice as one might expect; this was full-bore mass quantities. Grease pooled across the entire top of the pie, and whatever hope for enjoyment from the crust was dashed as soon as the first slice was removed to my plate. Just like water from behind a bursting dam, much of the grease immediately ran off onto the platter and soaked into the crust from underneath. Grease on top, grease on the bottom, grease soaked into the crust?
What. The. Fuck.
Either Houstonians don't know jack shit about what pizza should taste like, or they're preferential to pies that are oversaturated with grease to bulk up their fat asses. -
Review from David S.
Houston, TX
I have been eating here for more than 20 years and it is still the best casual Italian restaurant I've been to in Houston. The pizza and calzones are to die for and the eggplant parmigiana is truly a wonder. It's a great place for family or casual dining. I introduced a friend of mine to Antonio's and he now swears by it. Check it out the next time you are looking for awesome Italian food.
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Review from Shal J.
San Francisco, CA
This place is fun, especially for families (take your parents here). The thing that makes it unique is that they saute the veggies bf the put them on the pizza - this makes it seriously tasty. They don't get 5 star bc the crust and sauce aren't as craveworthy as other places. But I do like the veggies and red checkered tablecloths!
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Review from Alez S.
Houston, TX
I have dined here a number of times, and I can say the food and pizzas are truly good, if you are willing to tolerate the Nazi Hostess. Waiters are friendly and fast until they find out you won't be having wine / alcoholic drinks.... then, once they deliver the food you cease to exist. The only reason I keep going back is because they do serve the BEST Eggplant Parmigiana in The Galleria area.
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Review from Shy A.
Bellaire, TX
Let me add my kudos for Antonio's. We've eaten here twice. Their house wines are darned good and they have a couple truly excellent wines on the menu if you want to spend the bucks. The bread is great. My sausage capellini was very, very good. Haven't had the pizza yet. Next time.
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Review from Christiana B.
Houston, TX
I went to this place on a whim given the good reviews from yelp. I walked in and the hostess made sure I knew what I needed to know in a very efficient manner. I got a pizza which I proceeded to take home. It was alright but it reminded me a lot of pizza hut. At Pizza Hut I probably would have saved about 7 dollars and have someone smile at me and treat me nicely. So the pizza was okay, but they offer a whole menu of different Italian fair which I didn't try. I probably won't return.
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Review from Scott L.
Houston, TX
Antonio's Flying Pizza passes with flying colors! Good quality, home-style food. Good service and friendly staff. Super-tasty and fresh pizza. And you gotta love the sign!
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Review from Alex N.
Houston, TX
This past Saturday afternoon, a friend and I came here for a break from some thrift shopping. We were feeling some pizza and were in the area so I immediately thought of Antonio's. The positive Yelp reviews alone would have me coming here. We walk in and get seated promptly. It was about 3:30pm so there weren't a lot of customers. Upon sitting down, we aren't comfortable in the table with chairs and requested a booth. We look around and see 2 tables of customers in booths. EVERY other booth had the previous customers plates, bill, and drinks. The busser is nowhere to be found. My guess was he was probably toking it up in the back. We all know how the food biz is. Nonetheless, our waiter says he would get us a booth. Time goes by. Nothing happens. At this point I'm considering picking the dishes up myself and taking them to the kitchen. A miracle occurs, and a busboy appears after about 15 minutes and begins to clear the tables. While we were waiting to get our food/booth, we notice a group of 4 get seated about 10 minutes after we had initially. This particular group, with the same waiter, got everything before we did. *dexters lab voice* "According to my calculations", we couldn't have ordered more than 5 minutes before they had. And that's assuming that they ordered as soon as the waiter took their initial drink orders. Now don't get it twisted, we got our drinks and food literally right after these people did, but this is about principles and respect. And our waiter didn't have any towards us as customers. I'm not sure if everyone is given the usual bread/oil basket, but we were not and ordered garlic bread to start. After ordering we did notice that everyone had bread on their table. If they ordered it? I duno...As far as the food went, I would say the pizza is worth a try, and that the garlic bread we had was over-toasted. Flavor was there, but texture was not. I also remember seeing the owner bitching two customers out at the front. Over what, I do not know, but I think it had something to do with the bill because I overheard him say the word "pay'. I don't think I'll ever eat in here again...It's a shame that one negative experience against so many others positive's is going to have such a lasting effect on me.
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Review from V J.
Sugar Land, TX
i have been coming here for the past 15-17 years. the food is fantastic and consistently good. the pizza is great, the baked ziti is awesome, and so is the garlic bread. HOWEVER, the owners/waiters/hostess simply do not appreciate their customers, and DO NOT go in a party of more than 4 people. they bitch about it and they make you wait, forget about a party for 10. other than the it is great place!
