Scotti's Italian Restaurant

Wednesday @ 5:30pm and no one but us (3) were there! By 7pm it was 1/2 full and still coming in. We went prior to an Aranoff show. I had the Veal Sporti but asked for it spicy (diavolo) which they did and it WAS! Great. Toasted Italian bread with garlic was terrific. Dessert was freakin' awesome! We split Tiramisu and Canoli: both 2nd to none! I'll go back even if it's just for dessert! WOW! Pros: Any way you want it! They'll make it! Cons: Eggplant Parmesan a bit weak more

If you are tired of the chain ""italian"" restaurants, go to Scotti's for some real food. For the person who complained of high prices -- if you make your pasta, cook with high quality ingredients such as cheeses - you should be fairly compensated. If you prefer Olive Garden's fast food rendition of pasta - go there. You get what you pay for. Pros: Great food, real atmosphere more

We were in town for a weekend. A local suggested we try Scotti's when we asked for a recommendation. It was such a good experience that I went back again the next night. Charming and quaint atmosphere. Loved the unique salad. Enjoyed a conversation with the friendly owner on Thursday evening when the crowd was a bit smaller. Went back on Friday evening and it was much more crowded but the owner still took the time to say hello. Enjoyed the food and had plenty of it. more

My wife and I have been going to Scotti's for over 15 years. The food is always great, and the atmosphere is romantic. Best lasagna ANYWHERE! Could be alittle pricey, but not too bad when treated as a special occassion. The staff works hard to make you feel at home, not fake or overly happy, but ""Real"". They treat you like family that's for sure. We alway's go back. To the people that have left negative feedback... I have admit that in the 15 years of dining with them we have never had a single bad experience or anything close to a bad meal. Keep up the good work and we'll see you guy's soon.\r \r Mr. & Mrs. Rico & Tonia Booker (Colerain) Pros: Great Food! Great Family Cons: Price more

I was surprised to see Scotti's nearly empty on a Friday night, but once our party started placing orders, I understood why. Our table had ordered a lot of appetizers, so two people ordered a meal to share. A man I'm guessing was the manager or owner was standing nearby and said it would cost $10 extra to share entrees. We were taken aback, since we'd spent a lot of money on appetizers already and ordered wine as well- it's not as if we were going to have a small bill if one or two entrees were shared. He was firm, saying he books the restaurant every night and he didn't want to deal with people sharing meals. Surprising, since the place was nearly empty on a Friday night.\r I figured the food must be really good if people put up with a manager who seems to think he's doing patrons a favor by letting them dine at Scotti's and the unusually high prices for Italian food. It's not often that spaghetti warrants a $23 price tag, after all. The garlic bread we ordered as an appetizer was hard and devoid of any sort of flavor, which should have let us know what the food quality would be like. I ordered the lasgna, which came with a hard boiled egg on top. Overall, it was mediocre at best. I've had much better lasagna for half the price at Olive Garden. Other entrees were also lackluster.\r The only saving grace of Scotti's was the waitress, who seemed to realize how unpleasant the manager/owner was and tried to make up for his rudeness. Save a few dollars and have a much better meal at Brio. Pros: Decor Cons: Price, quality, service more

Ambience was perfect, just like one of my favorites in Italy. Service was par or Olive Garden quality. I had to send back my veal, as it was spolied. They may make the traditional food very well, but do a terrible job at the specialties as well as the service. Don't waste your money, there are plenty of other Italian restaurants in Cincinnati that are a better buy. Pros: Ambience, eclectic Cons: Quality of food more

I am sick and tired of reading all the bad reviews about Scotti's. It is one of my favorite restaurants in the country. I had an entree in Lombardo's in Albany NY..... Scotti's was so open minded that they didn't even flinch and duplicated it from my description. It was great. The price is reasonable. Whenever I am there, the service is excellent. The family members who run the place are soooo nice and friendly that they make me feel at home. that I live out of town, I miss the place. Whever I go back to Cincy, I will ALWAYS make a stop at Scotti's. Good work guys. Keep it up. Swa. Pros: Nice setting, strange decor(Tiles) Cons: Street parking, tables too close more

I have to agree with the most recent review - this place is over rated and over priced. My husband and I went here with another couple and were excited to try Scotti's, especially my husband who is Italian and lived in Italy until moving here 4 years ago. Service was bad from the moment we walked in the door - my friend was scolded about not giving the correct name for the reservation (they had it under her first name only and she gave her last.) Our waiter couldn't have had less personality, shoving menus in our faces the second we sat down and never cracking a smile the entire time we were there. All four of us had a glass of wine and pasta plates - none containing meat. We also had a tiramisu and 3 cannolis for dessert. Our total was almost $150.00 without the tip. The pasta was mediocre and a medium-sized serving. All pastas came with soup and salad, and clearly the salad had been made and dressed hours ago, if not the day before, and the lettuce was soggy and soft (all iceburg, too.) I have never had a vegetarian pasta dish that cost over $20 and served only one person. All in all, Scotti's is mediocre, Americanized Italian that is incredibly over priced. For that price I expect great food and great service - neither of which we experienced here. Pros: Interesting Decor Cons: Crowded, small, bad service, over priced more

Went to Scotti's based on a recommendation. Soup was fantastic! Most of our party enjoyed their meal (a bit pricey $21+ a plate). Quarters were a little cramped and we sat by the door which got a little cold.\r \r The female owner was the rudest server I have ever encountered! WARNING: If you have any food allergies, do NOT trust the menu. You must explicitly state which allergies you have and specifically ask if that menu item is free of that food (regardless of what the menu says). We had someone in our party with an allergy who ordered according to the menu (apparantly this food was stated in fine print however I still have yet to find it on the online menu). The gentleman working at Scotti's tried to make it right and tried to take care of our friend. The female owner was very specific and very loud in making sure everyone in the restaurant understood that ""He"" ordered improperly and that it was his responsibility to ALWAYS alert any server of any allergies regardless of the menu. He tried to explain that he read the menu and it was not stated and she offered no support!\r \r When it was time to pay our paying member asked to speak with the manager and explained that he thought it was poor service to attempt to embarrass a customer. She again reiterated that he was wrong and should have informed her of his allergies (again loudly). She also stated rather egotistically that she ""has been doing this since she was twelve;"" she ""could run this business blindfolded;"" and that ""everyone loved her."" We informed her that we did not ""love"" her and she proceeded to tell us that she didn't care and that she ""has plenty of business."" After all that he asked for the meal to be taken off and she proceeded to tell the paying customer that if he would have let her finish she would have told him that she did.\r \r Everyone in the restaurant heard these ""conversations"" and we received many words of support, including a regular couple who informed Scotti's they would not return! Pros: Great soup! Cons: Customer Service!!! more

I ate at Scotti's last year when in town and thought it was the best place I have ever eaten ! I loved it !!! Service was GREAT, food was...well, so good I would drive the 7 hours to get there from my home just to eat at Scotti's again! I have told everyone I know about it! Can't wait to get back to Cincinnati !!! more

Very romantic small Italian resturant that serves the most AUTHENTIC Italian foods I have ever tasted in this area. Definitley does not have an American spin which is probably why some of the reviews are negative. The price is a little high, but you are paying for the quality and EXPERIENCE...which you can't get at say, Olive Garden. It was like we were in Italy! And did I say the food was amazingly good! Pros: Authentic and delicious! Cons: small area. more

I was so excited about going to this place becuse I read some great reviews but I left feeling jipped and disspointed. The prices in this place are outrageous for a checkered table cloth dining experience. I had a pasta that was a nice size serving, but for the price that I paid it should have been. I've never heard of a tomao based pasta with veggies costing over $22 with no salad included in that price! Actually later that night I felt quite sick and I'm pretty sure if was from the food.\r \r I would only reccommend this place if you feel like paying $22 for a bowl of pasta and that's it. Service was ok, they never came back to check on us to see how the meal was. Actually after we got our food we didn't see the waitor again untill the check came. Very over-rated and over-priced. Pros: Good location if you are styaing downtown Cons: price, price, price more

need i say more..... ......... ......... .... ........... ....... ........... ........ ....... ............. ........ ................ ................. ......... ........ ........... .......... .......... .......... ........ ........ ........... . .............. .............. ............... Pros: great food Cons: small serving area more

The 2 really bad reviews are the same person. The ""Awful"" review 7/15/06 and ""Not Very Impressive"" 2/19/05...this person may be bad mouthing other fine Cincinnati establishments! Watch out :)) !! more

I had never been to Scotti's until two nights ago. It was a Saturday night and I had made reservations, which I had to change twice by the time we arrived. The restaurant was full but not crowded and the staff welcomed my party without any discontent regarding my changing reservations. We ended up with only a party of 3 seated at a table that I had reserved for 6. The waiter was very pleasant, offering suggestions for his favorite dishes and fully willing to serve a bottle of wine that we had brought ourselves. The food was excellent and largely portioned. The atmosphere is quaint and lovely. My husband and I spent some time touring Italy last year and this restaurant truly offers the authentic feel and taste of the country. Please try this restaurant before taking on the more recent negative opinions provided in other reviews. You will certainly enjoy your meal. Pros: food quality, quantity and authentic-ness, ambiance Cons: on the pricey side more

Went here years ago and liked it. The restaurant used to be run by an Italian lady and her kids. I think the kids have taken over. It was by far the worst Italian meal I had in years. The food actually tasted premade and microwaved. My eggplant parmesian was cold around the edges and hot (microwave hot) in the middle. Tasted like it had been made a week ago. If I did not pay 50 for two dinners, we would have not eaten any. Bad. more

Scottis italian restaurant is great. I have been coming here for years. The staff is wonderfull, especially the beautiful waitress. She is energetic, funny, and one of the best cooks that I have ever known. \r These people put in 12 to 14 hours a day, and barely have time to themselves. I think they are entitled to have a bad day once in awhile. After all they have been in business for 96 years, and the sixth generation is in full swing. Apparently they are doing something right. So to all the people with the bad reviews, WAKE UP!! This place is still in the same family, and the food is wonderfull. Pros: great food, great staff, atmosphere more

I want to see all restaurants downtown thrive but I've got to call it the way I see it. I grew up here, moved to the New York area and now I'm back with some perspective. The food at Scotti's was basically tastless. The soup was the best part. I'm all for eclectic but this was, well...just strange. The interior looked as if the old man got a hold of some spare bathroom tile, tapped into the vino and went to town on the walls. Not romantic, weird. My wife and I had 2 dishes (portion sizes a bit small compared to other Italian benchmarks) and one bottle of wine. The bill w/tip was $78. For the quality and the strange surroundings it just was not really worth it. Pros: downtown Cons: taste, value, weird more

My first trip to Scotti's was in 1988 on a first date, Momma told us to ""shut up and eat your salad, your food is coming"", she then yelled at my date for not having ordered wine telling him he was ""dense"" (she was right, last date with him!). I tried to make conversation telling her my Nonni was from Sicily, big mistake, she told me to tell my Nonni that she wasn't really Italian and was probably crazy. That's when I realized she was Calabrese. She was the highlight of that night and I have been coming back for years. For Italians that treatment is like home. We recently had a corporate team dinner there, Pat was the best!!! I am bringing the kids for lunch over Christmas break, the food is incredible and the place makes you smile from all the memories. more

Absolutely THE BEST italian I have ever eaten! I can't wait to return! more