Riazzi's Italian Garden

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Smart mod B.

Joined 11 months ago

I have discriminating tastes when it comes to Italian food and despite the less than favorable reviews listed here, I decided to try it. It was relatively quiet and intimate and has a unique style about itself (hence "Garden" in the name).

I found the pasta to be cooked very well. However, the meat sauce was a bit runny. If they had less water in it, it would be perfect. The time it took for the food to be served was good - not rushed and not unnecessarily delayed.

The waiter service was great. Again, not being super-busy, this is expected. They delivered and I was very happy with it.

The critique about interior décor is a hyperboles at best. Simply, the floral patterns on the booths are a bit dated, but this has no bearing on the dining experience. By the description of the reviews from others, I was expecting to walk into sea-green and puke-yellow color. It was nothing of the sort and I found the interior calming and quiet - the way an Italian restaurant should be.

While I'm still exploring about additional sit-down Italian restaurants across Tempe, I will keep this on my short list of places to hit.

Oh yeah, friends don't let friends go to Olive Garden or Sbarros. Shop local! ;-)

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cecilio w.

Joined 3 months ago

In Tempe for a triathlon, and needing to carb-load with some pasta, I found this place on Yelp. It was about two miles from my hotel, and the reviews here were good enough for me to check it out. It's a perfectly fine, mid-range, family-oriented Italian restaurant. When I dine alone, I take a book, so I always request a quiet corner booth. The hostess gave me the best that they had, as it was a crowded, busy Saturday night. There was a chatty family at the adjacent table, but they left halfway into my dinner. I had a Veal Piccatta, fettucini alfredo, a Moretti beer, and a glass of the house Chianti. Hot Italian bread came out immediately, and it was excellent. The salad was uninspired - just iceberg lettuce with a few garnishes. The blue cheese dressing was great, though, being thick and chunky. The pasta and veal were perfectly cooked, and I was given a bowl of parmesan cheese, which went great with the pasta. The tab? $30 (before tip) for bread, salad, entree, a beer, and a glass of wine. The food was excellent and the ambiance is very nice. Reading the other reviews that complain about Riazzi's having dated decor - I don't agree. The floral patterns in the booth are appropriate. The only thing that I thought could stand an improvement was the chairs - they're quite worn, and I remember seeing the same chairs in a pizzaria in the 70's. But it's not a big deal. This is a very nice, reasonably-priced Italian place with excellent food and great ambiance.

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KeepinItReal P.

Joined 10 months ago

Riazzi's offer an extensive menu of pastas, seafood, chicken, pizza, and even steak. Their Antipasto Platter is scrumptious! They have a good wine list as well as a full bar. The service is excellent.

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ExtraBright T.

Joined 8 months ago

This eatery has been around for quite a while. The food is basic with a solid value. All entrees include soup or salad. The bread is hard not to fill up on.

Prices are extremely reasonable. Lunch is a very good value. This is one of the favorite lunch dining of ASU faculty and staff.

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FadingFast T.

Joined 1 year ago

Best Italian food in Tempe!

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J F.

Joined 1 year ago

I live in the townhomes right next to this restaurant and it still took me 4-5 months to actually try it. Absolute blasphemy as I see it now. This is a charming little place, decor outdated enough that it's sweet again, friendly servers, and man, great food. The pesto cream sauce ravioli (I believe) will blow you away. The wine glasses are filled high. Everything is great quality. Prices are medium-range, most dishes ranging from $11-18 but coming with a salad or soup and bread. This would be a great, great date night spot.

HappinessHere M.

Joined 10 months ago

I loved this place. I had just called because I wanted to do a take out order to get lunch while I was at work. At first the woman on the phone seemed a little aggrevated with all my questions I was asking, but it was simply because she had a bunch of people walk in at the same time, she politely asked me to call back and which I did.

She answered all my questions and since I'm a plane Jane as it is I just had ordered the Penne Noodles with Marinara. Since I was ordering for my boyfriend who is Vegan she continued to impress me with the news that their marinara had NO cheese in it. Which was good and meant he could eat it too. So Vegans! You can eat here with the noodles and sauce! Add it to your list.

It was done quickly and the exterior and interior was very adorable. I wish I had the chance to sit down and experience more of it.

Considering it was lunch menu it was very inexpensive and delicious! It came with slices of bread which is always a plus!

I would definitely go back there.

Flat Horizon S.

Joined 10 months ago

i've been here several times over the years and i have to say this is one of my favorite italian restaurants ever. the servers are friendly and the food is consistently delicious.

Nano09 A.

Joined 1 year ago

Okay-I grew up in North Phoenix- and Riazzi's used to have a restaurant on the north side of Phoenix. I even think I went to school with one of the daughters....1978-80's?

We had a big family- and whenever we had a big family event-we would go there for pizza. We had usually 12-15 people dining there. I remember that they had the BEST fried zucchini..As the waitress came with the order (usually 3 orders) of zucchini, my mother would warn- "don't act like you are starving kids from Ethiopia- wait until it cools!!" no way- we would shove them in our mouths as fast as we could. We would then drink Sarsaparilla out of the bottle like we were drinking beers...to soothe our burning mouths. Then we would get 3 large pizzas- and the pizza was shaped in a square. We loved the pizza there- it has always been my family's favorite.

The Riazzi family closed the restaurant, we grew up and all of us moved away. This place will always hold a special place in my heart. It was a true family restaurant.

Living in Oregon now- I don't get to Phoenix as often as I should- but if I can- we drive all the way to Tempe for a pizza. God bless the Riazzi family for giving me a great memory!!

DoneHere s.

Joined 11 months ago

While living in the Valley for good Italian food, I tripped over this jewel through yelp. I don't see how this place could be considered bad seeing how fresh everything tasted. Salty? Perhaps too much fresh grated cheese with your food (which you get to spoon in yourself).

The place is dated, but if the food is good, who cares. My wife got the pesto with cream sauce tortellini while I went with the gnocchi. They were both beautiful things. The tortellini was marvelous with that cream sauce; I was fighting myself from mopping up a bit with some bread. The gnocchi was excellent (though I haven't really had much out there, so i'm not a real pro at spotting the best of the best) and the meatballs...absolutely stellar. They were soft with a small hit of spice while keeping with the meaty texture.

After this, we were feeling satisfied. Oh right, dessert! I had to have the canoli while my wife went with the tiramisu. My wife hates canolis, but really liked theirs. The tiramisu? Best she ever tasted. My only complaint is that they're a little expensive, but damn they tasted good.

Are there better Italian places? I don't know yet, but I do know that this place is great. I'll be back again soon.