Casalinga Ristorante

The buffet is pretty good. The service is excellent. Jo can be a little moody sometimes but she's still a sweetheart. Jason (waitor) is top notch and Carlo is always ready for a reason to speak about his delicious food...try him..!! The buffet is not too cheap so definitely go hungry to get your money's worth! Pros: Food and Tiramasu...Garlic Knots......YUM Cons: moody cashier (Jo) but we all have our days! :) more

My boyfriend and I have been to Casalinga's two times and have left very satisfied and full! The waiters are informative and prompt. The food is wonderful and come in huge portions! Not to pricey either. But, If you are looking for a place to have a quiet, romantic dinner I would recommend La Residence. The tables are really close together here. Pros: Wonderful food, Wonderful Service Cons: Tables to close together more

If you like and know what Italian food should be, definitely eat here. The chicken francese and Linguini pescatore are fabulous. The tiramisu is the best I have ever tasted. \r If you think Casalinga is mediocre and you got meat lasagna or eggplant parm, you got a mediocre dish...you can get that anywhere. BTW...I am a waiter...a lot of places charge for split dishes. Punishing the waiter by reducing the tip is not going to do you any good the next time you go in. Pros: the food and service Cons: the neighborhood is sketchy more

I, as well as my boyfriend, are from New York, from areas where there were large Italian communities. We were always able to enjoy ""the best home cooked"" Italian food growing up and were each disappointed when we moved to the Raliegh area with what has been called ""Italian food"". Until we went to Casalinga! We've even decided that the food here is (sometimes) BETTER than we remember from ""up North"". The sauce is the best - yes IT IS in the sauce!!! And thank you, Casalinga, for making a traditional ""New York"" pizza - you will not find better anywhere! And thanks for bringing back all of those wonderful ""home cooked"" memories! Pros: The Sauce!!! Cons: The location leaves a little to be desired, but don't let that discourage you! more

I am surprised to see the bad reviews of the food. I grew up in an Italian family in New York, and everywhere I go, I struggle to find pizza and Italian food that is as good as back home. Casalinga's food exceeds the quality of most Italian restaurants in the New York/New Jersey area, and exceeds the quality of the food cooked by my aunt's and uncle's at the many Italian weddings I have attended growing up. Please don't tell that to my family, they'd be insulted!\r \r I took my father to this restaurant, who grew up with Italian immigrants in the heart of Brooklyn, arguably the source of the best pizza on earth. My father, unfamiliar with the restaurant and the owners, tasted the thick crust Sicilian pizza and he said ""This reminds of of the pizza I grew up with in Brooklyn...in fact, it reminds of of the Pizza you'd get on 18th avenue in Bensonhurst."" I told him I happened to know the pizza cook moved to Raleigh from Long Island...and my father said ""Well, he may have moved here from Long Island, but this recipe is from Bensonhurst."" When we met the chef, sure enough, he was correct.\r \r In my opinion, the sicilian pizza available at Casalinga is the best I have ever had, anywhere. I have also sampled many other dishes there, and all I can say is that it ranks with the best. Amazing considering this place in Raleigh, about as far as you can get from Italian roots.\r \r As far as the comments on service...this place feels very European. If you've ever been to Italy or France, you would know the service is slow in restaurants, and the seating cramped. In Italy, they call it ""slowing down, enjoying your food, and getting to know your neighbor."" \r \r Otherwise, if you want snappy service, a formatted menu, and food that exactly matches what you expect, go to Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill.\r \r As far as the location, I agree it isn't that great. So that would b e the only negative for me. Hence the rating of 9 instead of 10.\r Pros: Best pizza in Raleigh, great food Cons: Bad location more

If you want to spend your meal in a cramped setting with mediocre service and unimpressive food, then Casalinga is your place. What's disappointing is that casalinga means homemade in Italian. This tasted on par with fast food. Additionally, it's in one of the skankier strip mall locations in N. Raleigh -- don't leave any valuables in your car. more

I went here last month with a friend of mine to try out, before taking my dining out meetup group here... \r \r We stopped in for the buffet to sample a few of their dishes... I am not a fussy eater, and I did not find ONE THING that had ANY flavor to it... I was SO disappointed, because this restaurant has high ratings. \r \r I am so glad I came here and tried some of the dishes before being embarrassed bringing my dining out group here... I would NOT recommend coming here... The pasta was soft and overcooked, and the other dishes were tasteless, and just plain lousy! I had to ask for water... The only good thing I had was the salad. Pros: NOTHING Cons: Terrible food, Mediocre service, Pricy more

The bread they start you out with is great. For dinner I order the Pasta with Prosciutto and arrabiata talk about good! The portions were larger than most, the service was a little slow at times, and didnt refill drinks unless asked (major annoyance).\r \r The dining room is a little small; and the fact people can smoke in back room detracts from the atmosphere.\r \r I will definitely go back. Pros: Great Food Cons: Shopping Center location more

We go to Casalinga frequently and love it!!! It's the best, the breads with hebs & oil are just spectacular, the food is awesome, I am patial to Scallops ala Carols, it's the best, the scallops are huge, plus it has shrimp and the best alfredo sauce and large sun dried tomotoes. My husband likes the Tortellini Bolognese, it's the best since he was in Italy he says. Cudos to Carlos and staff for such a great restaurant, food and service!! Mike & Cindy Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere more

The food was pretty good, but some menu items are unpredictable. The calamari is often good, but other days it is greasy. The same is true with the pizza. I've enjoyed many of the pasta dishes. Beware that they will slip an extra $3.00 on your bill ""sometimes"" if they catch you sharing a meal. I spoke to the owner about the issue and they refused to remove the charge. After asking why they don't charge when sharing other food items, they did not have an answer - said something like ""it is for service"" - So we decided to reduce the tip by 3.00. I don't know if bringing the kids is such a good idea because of the cramped area. Maybe after their new addition opens, the seating will be better. Pros: Good food Cons: Cramped, Additional fees more

It was a good meal. I wouldn't call it fabulous...but I'd go back there again. I had the eggplant parm and it was above average, but again nothing I'd go writing home about. Pros: good quality food, extremely clean Cons: cramped seating more

This place was recommended by a coworker, and we were not disappointed!! The atmosphere was wonderful and the food was great! Unlike chains, the feel was very warm and cozy. Even though we got there late and ended up the last people in there, we didn't feel like anyone was in a rush for us to leave. Great food, great wine selection-- very romantic! Pros: Atmosphere, Dessert more

I just moved to Raleigh and came to Citysearch looking for a place to eat that wasn't ANOTHER chain....this was just the ticket.... My roommate and I loved the food, the waitress was wonderful, and dessert was spectacular....and did I mention that the atmosphere is lovely??? I highly recommend this place! Pros: Food, Service, Dessert more

This is the best Italian food I have found in the Triangle! Everything from pizza to pasta to the specials are spectacular! Whenever we have family or friends in town we take them to Casalinga's and they agree. Pros: great food, great service Cons: tight quarters more

This place is just awesome all around. The food, service, atmosphere and prives are worth it. My husband and I have tried a variety of choices on the menu and never had anything that wasnt outstanding. I think the pizza sauce is true itlalian flavor and the home made breads and desserts just melt in you mouth Pros: Great Service, Romantic, Great Atmosphere more

I was very surprised to hear that anyone in Raleigh has anything bad to say about Casalinga. I being an Italian from New York was very happy to find such wonderful Italian food here when I moved to the area last year. The people who do have bad things to say about Casalinga obviosly do not know Italian food and should just keep going to Olive Garden! Pros: great food, great service, family owned and oper Cons: , liquer sales, longer hours more

Don't miss the lunch buffet during the week - YUM! And the dishes in the evening - without a doubt, the best Italian in town. We have always had EXCELLENT service. I can't imagine the staff there behaving as mentioned in some of these reviews. Give it a try - you won't regret it! more

New Yorkers sure do know how to cook Italian. Casalinga has a nice atmosphere and the food was great. The family owned restaurant adds a nice warm touch. more

I have enjoyed all of my visits to Casalinga, which at this point I have been so many times I cant even count them. The food is very southern Italian, which I love most, plus great bread and desserts. From most of the negative ratings I have seen, people in this area dont know the difference between authentic Italian food and a hole in the ground. Pros: great pizza, desserts, bread more

Service was top-form. Despite getting there 10 minutes before closing, the staff was extremely professional and, at the same time, friendly. Food, OH THE FOOD! Heaven sent. Absolutely packed with taste and almost looked too delish to eat. Almost... Rich flavor and no over or undercooked pasta/vegetables. Pretty average cost for above-average Italian. This was my first visit to Casalinga, with a fellow Italian lover and advocate. I had the fettucine casalinga. I do recommend, indeed. A variety of breads for your consumption before and during your meal, constantly refurbished, endless supply of zesty carbohydrates. YUM YUM, plus friendly faces, ambient and calm atmosphere. GO! You'll love it! more