Price Guide (average entree): $ bargain - $6 or less, $$ inexpensive - $6 - $12, $$$ moderate $12 - $19, $$$$ expensive - over $19.
Quality Rating: Superb is the highest, considered the very best possible. Notes are qualifiers allowing insight into the reviewer's rating. Disclaimer
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's Cafe | Location: | College Blvd. (JC) |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | Great bar. Average dining room. |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | Bar service is superb; Dining room is very good. |
| Favorites: | Any of the spedini's. |
| Comments: | I throughly enjoy Garozzo's. I find the food to be consistently good, with a fun atmosphere and friendly wait staff. |
| Reviewer: | Bill |
Date: | 4/28/00 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's Cafe | Location: | College Blvd., Johnson County |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | tacky | Notes: | We were sat by a table that had been overserved (wine). |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | Marinara tasted canned, my fiance's alfredo was runny |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | She had no problem bringing the neighbors more wine.... |
| Favorites: | Give me a break. |
| Comments: | We decided to have an early dinner, and were greeted with a host
that wasn't cordial, a waitress that was more interested in keeping the drunks drunk and food that was awful. I ordered chicken parmisan, and the chicken was chewy. My fiance ordered tortellini w/ alfredo. He received chewy pasta and runny alfredo. Never again will we set foot in that place. |
| Reviewer: | Meredith |
Date: | 5/15/00 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's Cafe | Location: | College Blvd |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | A bit cramped |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | Sauces were terrible |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | Worst service I have experienced in K.C. |
| Favorites: | None |
| Comments: | I will never go back. Stick with the original Garozzo's
downtown, it's much better. |
| Reviewer: | Bart |
Date: | 5/17/00 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's Cafe | Location: | Overland Park |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | Great wait staff...they're a lot of fun! |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | As good Italian as you'll find anywhere! |
| Service: | **** superb | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | Steak Modiga |
| Comments: | Absolutly the best Italian restraunt you'll ever find. I've been to ones all over the country and Mike Garozzo does the best job of all. Good food, service and a fun atmosphere! |
| Reviewer: | John |
Date: | 6/5/00 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | Overland Park |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | Not too noisy but a little close. |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | |
| Service: | ** very good | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | |
| Comments: | The bread was the low quality store bought Italian bread. Fatal mistake where we are concerned.
Waitress asked if we would like the olive oil dipping sauce. We had no idea there was a cost that was not already built into the meal. I can't think of another Italian place that charges for this. The waitress should have asked if we would care to order this item.
My daughter got pasta in Alfredo sause. There was so much chese she did not eat but 20%. They did offer to take it back and I should have let them. But the meal was pretty far along. I should have asked that they subtract it from the bill and they might have offered.
My dish was pasta in tomatoe sauce. The sauce was at least a try at making the sauce tasty, but I think there was alot of balsalmic vinegar in it. There was no tomatoe taste.
The house salad had too much dressing. I am not fond of wilted salads. Could not taste the greens. Lastly, the olive oil dip for the bread was full of garlic chopped in a food processor and had an overpowering bite.
I would not go back. Poor value. |
| Reviewer: | Jack |
Date: | 8/1/01 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | 40 hiway Independence,Missouri |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | Great Music, All Rat Pack ! |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | Huge portions, Varied sauces |
| Service: | **** superb | Notes: | Waiters at your beck and call |
| Favorites: | Artichokes and all pasta selections |
| Comments: | This place has it all,great food, fabulous martini's,knowledgable,friendly staff some who even sing Sinatra as they walk by,wonderful after dinner drinks and you never know what local
celebrity you may see, memebers of the Chiefs staff are regulars. |
| Reviewer: | Jody |
Date: | 9/30/01 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | College Blvd, OPKS |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | **** superb | Notes: | We love the music and the terrace |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | We have never had a bad meal there. |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | Servers are always well-versed and eager to please. |
| Favorites: | The Alfredo sauce is superb and the modiga truly wonderful. |
| Comments: | The martinis alone are worth the trip, but the food makes our twice monthly 20 mile trip doubly enjoyable. During warm weather the atmosphere on the terrace is unique. The planting around the terrace gives it a special distinction. My husband likes his steak medium well and I like mine rare; they always meet both of our requirements. I have an allergy to grain beverages and Kenny always makes sure that they have Chopin (a potato vodka) for my martinis. We frequently take guests and they always come away impressed. We enjoy Garozzo's as much as any of New York City's finest Italian restaurants. |
| Reviewer: | Patricia |
Date: | 10/8/01 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | Lee's Summit, MO |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | quiet, not too close, no problem hearing |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | Spedini Samatha was exquisite |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | Spedini |
| Comments: | From the bar to the dining area, great ambience. Wonderful music. Excellent food and unobtrusive but attentive service. |
| Reviewer: | Pam |
Date: | 11/15/01 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | 5th & Harrison |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | |
| Food: | ** very good | Notes: | |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | She tried....but failed miserably |
| Favorites: | Manicotti. |
| Comments: | I chewed a rubberband that was in my salad. Waitress brought my wife wrong food. Took all food items back to kitchen. When correction was made delivered my same Manicotti back to me cold. A nice gesture was made in the form of a coffee {with alcohol which can kill a recovering alcoholic} No comp made. Never again Garozzo!
|
| Reviewer: | Rick |
Date: | 1/8/02 |
| Restaurant: | Cafe Garozzo's | Location: | College Blvd, OP,KS |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | newly redecorated, cozier than most places |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | St. Louis style Italian... |
| Service: | **** superb | Notes: | servers attentive and all knowing |
| Favorites: | Tilapia Al Fresco |
| Comments: | To all those in this city who have no taste, keep your unkind and harsh criticism to yourselves. This is one the best restaurants in KC. The People of OP should be happy Mike Garozzo has chosen to be a part of their community. Service and atmosphere are excellent. Though there are copycat restaurants in KC... Garozzo's is the original and the BEST. |
| Reviewer: | Tony |
Date: | 1/16/02 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's Cafe | Location: | College Blvd - OP |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | Don't sit by the windows on a cold day |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | The pasta was overcooked |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | Our waitress was a real B**** |
| Favorites: | None |
| Comments: | Sitting by the windows was cold. The waitress was rude, not personal or pleasant at all. Did not offer pepper for the salad - had to have her chased down in order to get a refill on our beverages. The bread - what happened to Italian bread? The two pasta dishes we ordered very very unexceptional. We will not be back. |
| Reviewer: | an |
Date: | 2/9/02 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's Cafe | Location: | College Blvd. in Overland Park |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | Large proportions and the Veal Marsala is to die for! |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | The waiters are quick and know how to service you. |
| Favorites: | Veal Marsala |
| Comments: | Garozzo's in Overland Park is excellent! I haven't been there once when anything was wrong. It's got a real "family" atmosphere. The waiters are great. The owner is also great. Everyone cares what's going on. Definitely try it out! |
| Reviewer: | Jennifer |
Date: | 2/21/01 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | Independence or Downtown |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | Even better if you like Sinatra |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | Never had bad food in either location |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | Rigatoni Angela |
| Comments: | I live 100 miles from KC, but my business brings me to KC often. I try to eat at Garozzo's as often as possible. I usually go to the one on 40 Hwy in Independence, but Downtown is great, too. |
| Reviewer: | Jon |
Date: | 6/9/02 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | 40 Highway - Independence |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | Comfortable & Pleasant |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | Extremely consistent & delicious |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | Out of their way each of our dozens of visits |
| Favorites: | Steak Modiga, Chicken Speidini |
| Comments: | |
| Reviewer: | Curt |
Date: | 7/4/02 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | Overland Park |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | Children's Pizza Chewy and Cold. Very little sauce or Cheese |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | |
| Comments: | We had eaten at the Independence location several times when we lived there. Since moving we had longed for great Italian. We stayed in
OP so tried it there. NEVER again. Both children's dishes were cold and
very substandard. My Canneloni (sp?) was luke warm at best and the server
seemed put out by serving a table with children. I will eat at the east
location again but never in OP again. |
| Reviewer: | Kale |
Date: | 8/22/02 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | Independence 40 Hwy |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | **** superb | Notes: | Outstanding Atmosphere |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | The way to go is Chicken Samantha |
| Service: | **** superb | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | Chicken Samantha |
| Comments: | Best Italian food in the area. Atmosphere is cozy and you feel right at home with Sam and Chuck and their whole staff. Great bar and
great food. |
| Reviewer: | Adam |
Date: | 11/20/02 |
| Restaurant: | Cafe Garozzo | Location: | 40 Highway and Overland Park |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | |
| Food: | | Notes: | ** very good |
| Service: | | Notes: | ** very good |
| Favorites: | Tortilini Gina |
| Comments: | I think that it is just chance as to if you have a nice time at Garozzo's. I've have nice and terrible visits at both locations. It's nice to talk with Hershal, but don't sit with us the whole time we're there!!!! |
| Reviewer: | Marie |
Date: | 1/8/03 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | Overland Park |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | can get a little crowded |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | LOVE IT!!! |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | depends on the server |
| Favorites: | Atkins Diet Meal |
| Comments: | My favorite place to eat! Only place to go if you are on the Atkins Diet. |
| Reviewer: | Jessica |
Date: | 1/21/03 |
| Restaurant: | Garrozo's Cafe | Location: | 40 hiway |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | **** superb | Notes: | I am Italian...and it is exactly like going to see family |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | The best Italian restaurant |
| Service: | **** superb | Notes: | Very personable...kinda like Italians are... |
| Favorites: | Tortellini, and pastas, cheese garlic bread |
| Comments: | |
| Reviewer: | Matthew |
Date: | 2/21/03 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's Cafe | Location: | Lee's Summit, MO |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | Southwest Corner of Dining Room preferred |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | Side of Pasta with Diablo sauce! |
| Service: | **** superb | Notes: | |
| Favorites: | Bistecca Montana & 3-Way Spiedini (just ask for it! It's not on
the menu) |
| Comments: | My wife and I took a close friend of ours to Garozzo's for dinner a while back, and I was astonished! The service we received was amazing, and the food (as always) was excellent. But, the reason for this review is because of what ensued after our meal was complete. As expected, the three of us were sitting at our table and a conversation between us broke out… It was one of those in-depth conversations that you only have with friends once in a while. Time flew by without us realizing it, and as I looked up from our conversation… NO other customers were there! The staff had quietly closed the restaurant and retired into the bar. They left us alone so that we could finish our dialogue with one another. I made a comment to our waiter saying that we should leave, so they could go home. His response: You are more than welcome to stay and finish your
discussion. Where else in the Kansas City area (I ask you) can you find a
place like this? It was more than apparent: The staff didn’t want to
just feed us, get the money and cycle through another set of guests. They
enjoy their patrons, and want them to have a memorable experienced. I
will never forget it!
|
| Reviewer: | Brad |
Date: | 2/27/03 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | Overland Park |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | **** superb | Notes: | The rich Italian setting was superb |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | Mouthwatering |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | Very attentive |
| Favorites: | Spedini and Ravioli |
| Comments: | Awesome dining experience. Will return as often as possible. |
| Reviewer: | Tom |
Date: | 5/25/03 |
| Restaurant: | Garrozo's | Location: | College Blvd and 5th and Harrison |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | |
| Food: | | Notes: | |
| Service: | ** very good | Notes: | waitress was knowledgable and efficient |
| Favorites: | best salad in the world and fantastic lasagna |
| Comments: | This is my favorite restaurant(s) in the KC area. Great portions and quality, what more? Anyone who can't appreciate this food belongs in a fast food environment |
| Reviewer: | Norman |
Date: | 7/15/03 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | Overland Park |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | If you must play Sinatra, have more class than Greatest Hits |
| Food: | ** very good | Notes: | Nothing special here |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | Asked for Cabernet, received Chardonnay. Nuff Said. |
| Favorites: | |
| Comments: | I find it cute when people talk about others "imitating" this growing chain of restaurants. While Garozzo's has certainly made a name for itself, it is hardly old-school KC cuisine. For the true KC Italian experience, I would suggest Jasper's or Italian Gardens. What's more, the food at either location is superior, and the service and ambience, well, if you want to talk about imitating ... Garozzo's has a great Italian name, and a great business plan and expansion record, but let's not confuse that with having a great KC Italian heritage.
And PLEASE don't confuse that with having the best Italian food in KC. |
| Reviewer: | Gavin |
Date: | 8/10/03 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | Old Downtown Overland Park |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | setting and decor was okay, very little lighting |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | very very good |
| Service: | **** superb | Notes: | waiter was excellent and always came to check on us, great! |
| Favorites: | ravioli is good, chocolate mousse was awesome |
| Comments: | a definate must-try |
| Reviewer: | jamie |
Date: | 8/11/03 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | Lee's Summit |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$ inexpensive |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | |
| Food: | substandard | Notes: | |
| Service: | poor | Notes: | The servers were like 'working girls' |
| Favorites: | Cafe Garozzo |
| Comments: | We waited too long to be seated when the place was way less than full. On a Saturday night around 9 I might add. We waited too long to be greeted. We waited too long to order. Then had to wait for the cocktails we ordered. We decided to eat elsewhere. The teeny bopper servers there act like 'working girls' trying to get dates with the wannabe mob in the "lounge". Down town only from now on ~if we bother with it. Jasper's has this place beat all the way around. |
| Reviewer: | Shireen |
Date: | 2/4/04 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzos | Location: | Independence MO |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | _ | Notes: | _ |
| Food: | * average | Notes: | _ |
| Service: | * average | Notes: | _ |
| Favorites: | _ |
| Comments: | The eggplant parmesan was soggy, the shrimp scampi was skimpy -- the bartender (who also served as our waiter) was so intent upon sucking up to the people next to us (celebrities?) because the rest. was out of mashed potatoes -- offering them free cappucino - they declined, then free desserts for all - they declined, & then insisting that they get 2 free dinners out of the 4 --- we were basically ignored. when we were ready to go & handed him our credit card we recvd a $50+ receipt to sign & no itemization! we will never patronize this place again. |
| Reviewer: | Linda |
Date: | 12/31/04 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | Lee's Summit |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$$ expensive |
| Ambience: | ** very good | Notes: | Better ambience than most places |
| Food: | *** excellent | Notes: | Best Italian food in town |
| Service: | ** very good | Notes: | Early arrival-very good service |
| Favorites: | The entire menu |
| Comments: | I first ate at the original Garozzo's (5th Street, KCMO) years ago. The Lee's Summit location has the same great food. The city of Lee's Summit is not known for good restaurants: but not they have a Garozzo's! Thank God. |
| Reviewer: | Robert |
Date: | 1/14/05 |
| Restaurant: | Garrozos | Location: | Overland Park |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | *** excellent | Notes: | Very family oriented or romantic |
| Food: | _ | Notes: | This is the best italian resturant |
| Service: | *** excellent | Notes: | Everyone is nice and cordial |
| Favorites: | Chicken spedini (ALL) |
| Comments: | I am from St. Louis and I frequently go to KC to visit my boyfriend's family. This is by far one of the best resturants. for food quality and service, that I have ever been to. I can not find a better ckn spedini anywhere...not even on the Hill in St. Louis! |
| Reviewer: | Erin |
Date: | 1/24/05 |
| Restaurant: | Garozzo's | Location: | College Blvd, Overland Park |
| Cuisine: | Italian | Price: | $$$ moderate |
| Ambience: | * average | Notes: | A little too crowded, not as romantic as we had hoped. |
| Food: | **** superb | Notes: | Everything was wonderful! |
| Service: | **** superb | Notes: | Nick was full of energy and knew the menu inside and out. |
| Favorites: | chicken speidini |
| Comments: | A wonderful food experience! We live 100 miles away, and will be back the next time we're in KC. |
| Reviewer: | Brad |
Date: | 3/21/05 |
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