WHERE WE WENT:
Ciccio Cali
17004 Palm Pointe Drive
Tampa, FL 33647
WHAT WE ORDERED:
Mediterranean Wrap w/ Greek Yogurt Sauce, Black Beans, Yellow Rice, Hot & Crunchy Tuna Bowl
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 8
Menu - 9
Presentation - 8
Taste - 8
Price - 8
Service - 7
Overall - 8
Atmosphere - Ciccio Cali is part of a local Tampa restaurant group that manages multiple brands, all of which are very hip and trendy. The majority of the dining space is a shocking white that makes it appear much larger and fancier than it actually is.The tables are fairly close together which creates a crowded sense of intimacy. There is a lovely patio seating area and a second story balcony area that provides privacy for larger parties.
Menu
- This is one of those places where there is going to be something for everyone...even your picky, fad dieting friends. Sensitivity to gluten? Free range only? There are vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy options galore.They even have naturally sweetened organic sodas. You'll have choices coming out of your ears, but everything can be broken down into a few quick categories: Pizza, Salad, Wraps, Stirfry and Bowls. Pizza and Salad are pretty self-explanatory (at least we hope so). In the other areas, it's all about customization. Choose your base (rice, kale, spaghetti squash, noodles), your protein (chicken, tuna, steak, broccoli mix), and choose your style for sauces and fixings. The possibilities are endless with every taste profile imaginable (Latin, Asian, fusion).
Presentation - The food looks so good that you're going to want to eat it with your eyes. Classic white dishes in funky shapes keep with the trendy vibe of the place.
Taste - If you're a fan of tuna, you'll want to try the Hot & Crunchy Tuna Bowl. We recommend it with Asian noodles and extra sriracha aioli. It is an explosion of your favorite sushi, tempura, and soba all in one.
The Mediterranean wrap is a vegetarian paradise. The vegetables are fresh and crisp, and the white bean hummus is some of the best I've ever tried. The Greek yogurt sauce is amazing. The kind of amazing that would make your Nona proud. Get extra.
Price
-It's priced comparably to other restaurants of its kind and the atmosphere is very nice. Fair.
Service -Our waitress was an absolute sweetheart. She was very friendly and attentive and full of helpful product knowledge and suggestions.
WOULD WE GO BACK?
Absolutely. Everything was delicious. We'd really like to go back and try the brunch menu. They also have $2 Tuesday specials for drinks and small plates. Red and white sangria are included and we're intrigued.
Here's a link to their website:
http://cicciorestaurantgroup.com/restaurants/ciccio-cali.html
WHERE WE WENT:
The Spaghetti Warehouse
40 Huling Avenue
Memphis, TN
38103
WHAT WE ORDERED:
Spinach & Artichoke Dip w/ Crostini, Mozzarella Fritta, Peperoni Mac & Cheese w/ Chicken Parmigiana Combo, Beef & Cheese Ravioli Combo w/ Chicken Fettuccine, Pitcher of House Sangria
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Atmosphere - 8
Menu -5
Presentation - 4
Taste - 5
Price - 6
Service - 6
Overall - 5
Atmosphere
- Spaghetti Warehouse has a truly unique feel to it. The rustic, warm tones lend themselves to the feeling that you've entered into an Italian home. There's a variety of eclectic decor throughout the restaurant including antique movie posters, mismatched mosaic glass lamps, and vintage instruments. By far the coolest part of the entire place is the antique, life-size replica streetcar positioned in the middle of the main dining room. It created a great focal point for the large, widely spaced restaurants. Despite all the interesting features, we couldn't give it a 10 because there were many places where paint was peeling off the walls, some spaces seemed dirty, and the bathrooms were in pretty serious disrepair.
Menu
- The menu was altogether unimpressive. There were a lot of options available including options for vegetarians, but it was incredibly pasta heavy. We know it's an Italian restaurant, but that does not preclude them for having dishes that do not require pasta. There is a section specifically entitled "Pasta," but everything else on the menu includes it too. Also, there were specialty dishes, but there wasn't anything unique that you couldn't find at any other Italian restaurant. The only good parts of the menu were that it was visually appealing and there was a holiday special insert with interesting cocktails.
Presentation
-The presentation was not hideous but also wasn't particularly attractive. Both entrees, the Fettuccine Alfredo & Ravioli combo as well as the Peperoni Mac & Cheese w/ Chicken Parmigiana combo, were just squished side-by-side on a slightly too small plate. The appetizers were a little better; there appeared to be at least some effort and creativity present. The spinach and artichoke dip had the crostinis arranged in a spiral. The most interesting presentation was the pitcher of sangria. It was served with fruit, triple sec, and brandy in a pitcher over ice and they brought the bottle of Riunite Lambrusco out separately. We got to add the wine in to our liking and mix it all with a giant wooden spoon.
Taste
- The one word that best describes our experience is underwhelming. The mozzarella fritta was slightly burnt (We didn't think you could mess up cheese sticks). All that we could taste in the spinach and artichoke dip was cheese and garlic. There wasn't any spinach or artichoke that was recognizable. Honestly, it was ordered for our table and we didn't even know that's what it was supposed to be until someone said so. The peperoni mac & cheese was too rich and had a cheap taste to it, like something a college kid would make on a budget. The chicken parmigiana was ok, but a bit bland. The other entree combo wasn't much better. The ravioli was slightly over-cooked and under-stuffed and the sauce had a strange aftertaste. The chicken with the alfredo was cooked well and was juicy, but didn't have a lot of seasoning or flavor. The alfredo sauce itself had even less. It was almost completely tasteless. It had to be salted and peppered to death. The one thing that was truly enjoyable was the sangria. It was some of the best we'd ever had. The wine was a perfect pairing with fresh fruit and just the right concoction of ingredients.
Price - Compared to other Italian restaurants, the prices at the Spaghetti Warehouse were very reasonable. The entree combos were from a pick & pair entree selection for $12. The portions were generous as well. HOWEVER, when considering the taste and presentation, we couldn't award the pricing high marks. If the food had been as delicious as the sangria it would have been worth every penny.
Service - The waitstaff was hustling hard since there was a large number of us at the office party. They definitely deserve recognition for handling a large group, but they weren't particularly friendly or attentive. We want to give them the benefit of the doubt since it was an abnormal situation.
WOULD WE GO BACK?
Not for the food. If you're looking for good Italian food, we would recommend you avoid Spaghetti Warehouse. If we were in the neighborhood and just wanted to stop for a drink, you might could coax us in with some sangria. Maybe.
Here's a link to their website:
http://www.meatballs.com/Home/
Ciccio Cali
