Babbo Italian Eatery
29455 N Cave Creek Rd, Cave Creek, AZ, 85331
Babbo Italian Eatery Menu
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Address :
29455 N Cave Creek Rd
Cave Creek, AZ, 85331 - Phone (480) 419-6363
- Website https://www.babboitalian.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Robbie G.
We love this location. The $5 Monday / Tuesday spaghetti and meatballs is a local hit and always a cheap eats good idea. You can also sign up for their mailing list and get occasional deals on that, too. Sit at the bar - ask for Danny, he is an awesome server / bartender. You get instant seating, instant service and they are always on top of things.
(5)Kellie C.
I love this little neighborhood place!! Food is really yummy, staff is nice and super efficient. My favorite part is one of the chefs there - he's adorable and is always smiling. Its nice to see that people enjoy what they do.
(4)L. M.
I've lived just a few blocks from this restaurant for 5 years. At first, being new to Arizona, I loved this restaurant because I hate cooking for one. The food was excellent and the service outstanding. I often bought food To Go or had dinner there with my family who lives nearby. We always took out-of-town family and friends to eat at Babbo because we were confident that everyone would be pleased with his or her meal. I would have given Babbo a 5-star rating at that time. But in the past year or so, both the food and the service have slipped considerably. One of the biggest draws for me and my family was the bread that comes with each meal. Suddenly, it stopped tasting as good, as if another dough mixture was being used. The bread is included with Take Out orders but this concoction gets dry very quickly. Before, we could enjoy our meal while it was hot and snack later on the bread and dipping oil. Not any more! A few months ago, I ordered a personal (10") pepperoni pizza To Go. When I got home, I discovered that there was NO PEPPERONI on the pizza! NONE! And this is a menu item listed as "Pepperoni Pizza". How does a line chef miss the critical ingredient?! I called in and was offered a replacement but I was undressed and comfortably at home so I arranged to come for the pizza another time. But that night I was forced to throw something together, tired and hungry. A week later I picked up my free pizza but was still disappointed. The "marinara" sauce - what little was thrown on the icky crust - had no flavor at all. The pizza tasted like cardboard with cheap ketchup and poker chips in the guise of pepperoni slices. Remember, this is an ITALIAN restaurant! Other meal items like the Firecracker Rolls just don't taste as good any more, as if the ingredients or meat vendor has been changed. The $9 Bruschetta Trio is absolutely horrible! The ingredients had no flavor and the presentation was sloppy - making the "appetizer" totally unappetizing. And the one dessert that any Italian restaurant should be able to serve with satisfaction is tiramisu. Don't waste your time on the Babbo version! Recently, I ordered a Pesto Primavera with chicken from the restaurant's "Chalkboard Menu". Again, it was a To Go order which I picked up. Once at home, I could not believe that I paid $14 for a flat chicken breast mixed/topped with several vegetables in a pesto sauce and a side of mixed vegetables. The side looked so unappetizing that I didn't even eat them. The rest of the meal, while tasty, was about $5.99 worth of food. I'm a small eater and a restaurant dinner usually lasts me two, sometimes three, meals. Especially a simple chicken dinner that cost $14. I really like Babbo so I gave it another chance, ordering the same meal again today. This time, I asked that they keep that nasty veg side dish - just add more of the veg blend (Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Tomato, Mixed Peppers, Red Onion and Shaved Carrots) in with the pesto sauce. I also requested that the shaved parmesan be substituted for gorgonzola cheese. WELL! First, there was NO gorgonzola at all and rather than add more of the aforementioned vegetables, the "chef" threw in a boatload of red onions and green pepper slices - as if I'd be too stupid to notice. That tells me that the zucchini, squash, etc. is not freshly prepared but comes in pre-packaged portions, likely from an outside vendor, and shipped refrigerated or frozen. For the price, how hard is it for the restaurant to slice and dice a cup of fresh vegetables that would cost less than $5 wholesale?!? I stopped going to national chain restaurants like Chile's and Applebee's over a decade ago for the same reason - changing a good menu into a fast food mess. I'm afraid to order my favorite meals - Spaghetti & Meatballs and Three Cheese Mac & Cheese. The recipe ingredients may have been changed or substituted. Hopefully not but I'm not willing to take that chance. I hate to see familiar long time Babbo employees laden with a sinking ship. But the poor food ingredients and inconsistent kitchen has lost me and my family as customers. I had my last meal at Babbo today!
(2)John C.
My family of 4 visited Babbo on a Monday evening primarily to try the Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner Special for $5.99. Babbo is located in a strip mall on the SW corner of Tatum and Cave Creek Rd. From the outside Babbo doesn't have much curb appeal, but when you walk in it's much nicer. After the server took our drink order she brought over some bread that was cut into small strips and was accompanied with a small plate with olive oil and balsamic. We ordered the spaghetti and meatballs and also the Mista salad which includes mixed greens, tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, pepperoncini, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. I enjoyed the salad but the spaghetti was swimming in way too much sauce. The meatball was also good. Overall the food was good especially if you are only paying $5.99. I am knocking off a couple of stars because Babbo didn't wow me. The service was also lacking as our waiter only visited out table twice throughout the entire dinner, once to take my order and once to bring me my bill. Our drinks were never refilled and she made a big deal about my 3 year old kids splitting the meal. I don't mind if I have to pay an additional fee to split a dish but this was never offered. She made it sound like she was doing me a favor because everyone had to have a plate in front of them or she would get in trouble.....it was kinda weird.
(3)David D.
Although the food is pretty decent, there were a couple things that really made our trip tonight kinda bad....the food was not served until a full hour after we sat down (we got there at 7 pm on a Friday which is peak,but then again we were seated in less than 10 min. Also, during that hour wait, couldn't help but look around and notice the chunks of food (seriously) that laid on the floor next to tables that were recently vacated, then as tables were cleaned the food scraps were left there in plain view. Kinda nit picky I know, but also kinda disgusting.
(2)Nicole P.
Pleasantly surprised! I came here expecting an Olive Garden experience, which is to say I was not expecting much. I am happy to report that I really enjoyed the two times I have been. I would recommend this place to a friend and will definitely dine here again. Pros: Fast, friendly, helpful service Great bread Reasonable prices Wide selection of appetizers & entrees Full bar Very clean Cons: No lasagna! (or other baked dishes)
(4)Zack R.
Absolutely love this restaurant! Went in a few weeks ago for the first time after seeing billboards about their spaghetti and meatball night. My wife and i's first experience was wonderful! Our waiter was so helpful and very attentive and the food was delicious. Last night my wife and I brought the inlaws and kids in and our server, Naomi, was the sweetest and best waitress we've ever had. We told her it was only our third time here and she asked what we were looking for, gave us some suggestions and even offered a couple wines that would go well with the dish. We decided to go out on a limb and try her food and wine recommendations....AWESOME. For a young nineteen year old she sure knows what she's doing. We hope all the staff is well informed and trained as she is! The manager was also very nice and made sure we were happy. Very pleased and will be coming back many more times!!
(5)Gina H.
Our first time to Babbo , Cave Creek. We took our family from New York, hoping for a fun dinner experience. Unfortunately, nothing could have been further from the truth. Our server was friendly enough, but too much joking around, rather than taking care of us. I ordered a salad and entree, others ordered just an entree. All of their entrees came out at the same time as my salad, so they were going to be finished with their dinners before I even started. I asked the server why he did this, and he just looked dumbfounded. He said he would "try" to rush it. To no avail. I told the manager about this, and she just said "ok, I'll talk to him. Then, at the end of the meal, after our wine was gone, our guest asked the server why an Italian restaurant doesn't serve bread? He replied, after looking shocked, "Oh, I forgot. Would you like some of our famous focaccia bread?" Laughable, and ignorant. I explained all of this to the"manager", who was hobbling around on crutches looking miserable. I asked her what she could do yo help us out, and she said she wasn't authorized to do anything. Really?? She's the manager. Finally, and reluctantly, she took a salad off our bill. We live in Cave Creek, but we won't ever be back.
(1)Lora T.
Waited 12 minutes after we were seated for a waiter to acknowledge us. Never happened. They lost long term customers tonight--after 4 years of regular visits. This place is going downhill fast.
(1)J D.
Thank God for Groupon. I was fortunate enough to buy 3 Groupons for this joint. I took my family here and we really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. Everyone was friendly. Here's what we had: Firecracker Rolls - $7.95 (we tried the Buffalo Chicken and the Italian rolls, yum!) Mushroom/Pepperoni Pizza - $10.50 Sicilian Pizza (Italian Sausage, Capicola Ham, Salami, Basil, Oregano, Mozz & Provolone) - $10.50 Mushroom/Pepperoni Calzone - $10.50 My favorite dishes are the Firecracker Rolls and the Sicilian Pizza. The place can get packed on the weekends. Go during the week if you prefer a quieter evening. Return Factor - 90%
(4)Jen M.
We have been long time Babbo customers. Last evening, when in a different part of town we tried this location and left very disappointed. It was not a very busy night yet when we asked for plates when the bread was served, we didn't receive them until 15 minutes later, after we ate our bread. We also waited over 45 minutes for our meal and watched a table of 4 that came in 20 minutes after we did receive their food first. When we asked our waiter he said they got busy with to go orders. No apology and no offer to check on our order. When I finally asked the manager Logan about it he came back with our food. Literally placed it down and turned and walked away. No sorry for the wait, etc. After that no one check in on us. This place needs to bone up on their customer service skills. We are in the neighborhood often and we will not be returning.
(1)Christine S.
Delicious! I'm new to the area and this is now one of my favorite dining spots. The pizza is the best the area has to offer. And so far the meals are tasty and light for Italian. Prices are reasonable. They have a nice "to-go" service and if your meal isn't ready when you pick it up you can always have a drink at the bar.
(5)Carol K.
We found Babbo on Yelp and decided to try it on Tuesday for spaghetti and meatballs @ $5.99. The arugula and bean salad was delicious and the spaghetti was tasty. It was a little noisy, but the server was pleasant and helpful. We will definitely come back.
(4)Hanner O.
Good place to eat...they do not have soups and the layout is kind of weird because the bar is on the left and very small with tons if seating on the right. The pastas are good but the steak in the pasta was a bit too undercooked. The service was excellent.
(4)Jane A.
food is great. but service was rushed. not why we became regulars a long time ago. miss you Shanna!
(3)Ryan C.
Had takeout from here earlier this week. Although my order was called in ahead of time it was not ready when I went to pick it up because they had run out of bread? Seriously, an Italian Restaurant running out of bread? That aside the food was excellent. I had the Jambalaya and it was very good. It's spicy so be ready for that! My kids had the spaghetti and meatballs and like it and my wife liked her dinner too although I don't remember what she ordered (oops). The infamous bread that I waited for was worth the wait though, hot and fresh and went well with the garlic spread that was free because I checked in on 4Square when I got there. We will certainly be back!
(4)Anne H.
Had a pleasant but mostly unremarkable meal here on a Thursday evening near closing (9 pm). The highlight of the experience was the service, which we found friendly and gracious despite our having arrived just before closing time. The server proved attentive and acted unhurried, though I expect he was eager to wrap up the work-day. The food was okay. Menu items sounded appealing, but quality of ingredients and/or preparation was just adequate. The chopped salad had pale lettuce, meat in the steak pasta tasted very salty. We probably would not return, given the large number of better, comparably priced Italian restaurants in the area.
(3)Rita B.
Wow, just had a wonderful lunch today - the Meatball Panino & Pizza are really great. The bread they serve on the side is very delicious also. Nice, casual place with great service. Will be back very soon!
(5)Ron B.
Friends had raved about this place, so we tried it a few days ago. The food was GREAT. They have a large menu with interesting dishes, not just a few boring menu items. Service was great. Atmosphere was nice too. Place is nicely decorated. Some sections were more family-oriented while other areas would be nice to sit with a date. We will definitely go back to try more of their menu. Prices were about average for the area.
(4)Mindy B.
Great lunch combos. Good food. Great service.
(5)Hannah C.
Place is alright. I like how they give you olive oil / vinegar with bread when sitting down to eat here. The pizza is good but the selection for salads should be bigger.
(4)Marisa S.
It was around dinner time on a Sunday (when you have little ones dinner is early). We starting driving south but twin wanted spaghetti and meatballs. I yelped and this place is about 8 miles from my house. So we turned around and headed to Babbo's . The big test is if the twins eat. I am glad to say the extra star is for my little ones happy face. My little boy specially ate all his spaghetti and meatballs. He actually had some from his sister too. The servings are very large. I split one order between them. My hubby had the Sicilian Ragu and he enjoyed it very much. I had the Pasta Rustica with linguini. They are very accommodating. I didn't feel like having penne and requested the change and they didn't bat an eye. I think they have the basic marinara for most of the dishes and they add a few ingredients to the different pasta dishes. Like mine seemed to be the marinara with ricotta and some fresh spinach which is great, however, when you add ricotta it makes the sauce a little blander so you need to spice it up a little. No big deal. I added some red pepper flakes. The place is spacious and looks clean. I will definitely come back with the twins. I am glad I have somewhere nearby where I can enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. This was one of the least stressful dinners with the twins. I know, I paint them worse than what they are.
(4)Frank Z.
Wow, what a nice surprise. My choice of meal the first time I try an Italian restaurant is spaghetti and meatballs. If a restaurant can't do that right then I won't go back. Babbo's did it up really well. The sauce had a really fresh flavor with a good touch of basil. The meatballs were very flavorful and they were big. I'll be back for that meal again. When we walked in we were greeted promptly and taken to our table. Our server, Scott, was right there for us and followed up on things all through our meal. The only thing I'm sorry about is that I waited so long to try this place. I'll be back soon. As I said, I would be back soon. Last Friday evening I went there with a special friend and my grandchildren. We were seated immediately and our waitress came right away for drink orders. The drinks came fast and we ordered our meals. The meals came fast and the server was very attentive. This was a great night out, everything was perfect..
(5)Brandon K.
5.99 spaghetti and meatballs! It was a huge portion and tasty. Service was good. Its nice to have a restaurant close by that doesn't try and gouge its customers. $31 for a family of four and everyone was satisfied. The bread at the beginning is amazing!
(4)Linda F.
We happened to drop by Babbo's after researching restaurants in Cave Creek on yelp Lo and behold it was Monday night. How lucky is that? The spaghetti and meatball dinner special is served on Monday & Tues night & was REALLLLY good !! Very decent size plate of tasty (not sour) tomato sauce, pasta done just right and 2 huge meatballs for $5.99. Served with hot pizza dough bread slices and dipping basmati vinegar and olive oil. Very crowded and a favorite with the local crowd we heard. This was too good to be true and too much for us to eat so we ended up with takeout boxes.
(4)Frank F.
Good solid pasta and meatballs, especially for $5.99 on Monday's and Tuesday. Service was great and the waitress was warm and friendly. If your looking for a decent place with a nice atmosphere and a great pasta special, be sure to try Bobbo's
(4)Albert H.
Service is no better than the Glendale location. It's as if they're completely opposed to a training program that works so well for many of the corporate chains with much better service. Sorry, but your food isn't THAT good to make us endure the untrained teenager service experience. Food is quite good though, especially the personal sized pizzas and the complimentary bread (for dine-in). Parking is good.
(2)MJ H.
Buffalo Chicken Ceasar and Mista salads were awesome! Fast take out service and nice cold Peroni! Kevin W. took very good care of us!
(5)Joe M.
We went to Babbo's late on a Friday. Our waiter was very friendly, and we were seated right away. I ordered a cold app and unfortunately had to wait 15 mins for it to arrive. For our entrees, the Alfredo supremo,and the goat cheese personal pizza, the were superb. What fantastic flavor! Will definitely return.
(4)Sharon G.
Don't have any big expectations whenever you eat here. Babbo's is neighborhood bistro, which means to me that they would be half a step above take out. I've only eaten here twice and I've ordered a different pasta each time. While food is nothing to write home about, the appetizers were creative and even incorporated Mid-East (hummus dip) and asian elements. The food prices were reasonable and the kids portions were generous. I wish they would expand their dessert menu since it only has three items. Nevertheless, I HATE dining in here because of the wait staff. I get it -- the wait staff is young, polite, and accomodating. Then, they say/do something completely asinine that leaves you with such a horrible overall impression of this place. The last time I dined inside there were annoying flies. The waitress gave us an apology and a weird excuse - "the area has a lot of horses so there are a lot of flies"....ookkaay... I asked for to go boxes and she took the plates away. After sitting there for five minutes, I find out that she discarded all the food instead. $30 of barely touched food. I was annoyed but in retrospect who wants to eat food covered in flies? She was an otherwise sweet girl but next time...there won't be a next time.
(2)Eddie P.
I had dinner here not too long ago. I only been to this place a couple of times . The food is okay nothing special. The service is good and everyone is friendly . It's a little expensive. My favorite thing about this restaurant is their chicken Alfredo .
(4)Jeannie A.
Best and closest to homemade Italian food! Service is always great and friendly! Highly recommend this place!!
(5)Omer G.
On my way home I saw those annoying "Spaghetti you won't forghetti" ads that Babbo has on some valley billboards. Although I disapprove of their puntastic ads, a cheap plate of spaghetti and meatballs sounded good, so the wife and I went to visit the location right down the street from us for an early dinner. What a disappointment. Location: Located in a shopping complex near a Fry's. Ample parking. The exterior was ugly like the Fry's. Inside was modern Italian eatery... like a darker, less obnoxious olive garden. Service: The service was off to a good start. We came in and were seated right away by a polite hostess. Sadly, the service nosedived. We sat at our table with not so much as a glass of water. After fifteen minutes and several dozen wait staff passing by, I got up and asked the hostess to please let the waiter know we were there, thinking that it was simply a communication issue. It was not. We waited an additional 7 minutes before a waiter came to take our order. Not only did he get our drink order wrong, he also could not remember who in our party ordered what. There were only two of us. It was not that hard. The best thing about the waiter is that the only other time we saw him was when I handed him our card and asked him to just run it. Food: The food at Babbo is fine. I had the spaghetti and meatball special. The meatballs are big, not too anisey, and have a good texture. Spaghetti was a little overcooked, but no more than any other casual Italian place would do. The sauce was excellent - tangy, fresh, and with a strong hint of basil. My wife had the steak panino. It was not as good. It's essentially flat foccacia bread with flank steak and cheese on top. The bread was super soggy and the whole thing could've used more meat. The panino came with zucca chips which were acceptable, but not as good as the ones served up at North in Scottsdale. Price: The spaghetti and meatballs are like a recession special. Everything else is average priced. Mondays and Tuesdays are apparently when the meatballs are on the cheap. Conclusion: Terrible, awful service which the acceptable food does not make up for. We will not be coming back.
(2)Jason B.
I ate here for lunch and unfortunately the food took a while to be served. The prices seemed high for lunch time and they didn't really have a lunch menu. I ordered an Italian sandwich and I received something that really didn't resemble a sandwich at all. Most likely not coming back anytime soon.
(2)Sunny B.
I was fortunate to have Babbo's at work last Saturday, catered to us by a generous big-wig there. It's some of the best Italian food I've ever had. Period. The ingredients were fresh, the dishes appeared to be on the healthy side, and the flavor was marvelous. I've never had such delicious meatballs in my entire life. I would absolutely want their food again. My only complaint? Their east valley locations can't possibly open soon enough. I can't wait to bring my family and friends to this establishment. 5stars.
(5)HoyMay P.
Eat here about 1X/mo. We like the happy hour here. Order 2 margherita pizzas and roasted asparagus and it's a full meal for us. We have eaten here for dinner and their pastas are fine. The staff is all young yet pleasant.
(3)Evelyn S.
Have only gotten takeout previously and wish I had stuck with that. It's always been convenient, on my husband's way home from work for days I run out of time to cook. But last night we stopped in for dinner because of a coupon we received via email. Wish we hadn't! It wasn't extremely busy, several empty tables a little before 6 and we were seated right away. Asked for a booster seat for our toddler and was informed they didn't have any. Minus 1 star. Kid friendly to me suggests accommodating to children's needs. Most restaurants offer crayons and such. But not here. Luckily we do carry things with us for these just in case moments but not having a booster seat is just unheard of in a family restaurant! Oh and they don't offer any sort of juice for kids, or so we were told. Our waitress offered soda, milk or water. The only thing for kids here is a small section on the menu. I'm sorry but in my opinion not kid friendly. We attempted to order an item listed on the coupon list but was informed they were out of it already! It wasn't even 6 and they ran out of one of their specials already?!? Minus another star. We ended up ordering two appetizers and two pizzas. Our server asked if we had a preference on order of items to come out and we said no. Thank goodness we didn't ask for appetizers first! Out came the firecrackers rolls with Misto salad on the side. They were good, but nothing to write home about. Deep fried, won ton wrapped items served with marinara sauce and a salad on the side. We don't order deep fried foods for takeout so this was a treat. Salad was overdressed and really wilted. Shortly thereafter both pizzas came out. Crust was good as always, SO much better fresh than for takeout! But the Bianca pizza didn't have any garlic on it as listed in the menu. We would have told our server but she seemed to have disappeared at this point, after having refilled our beverages. We saw her again when we were almost through with our meal and then oh yah! That stuffed portobello mushroom we ordered came out! Minus another star. It was OK. Thinly sliced spicy sausage intermingled in the sauce that drowned the mushroom and covered the plate. Way too much sauce for the small portobello that was interestingly bottom down on the plate. Guess I'm just used to a "stuffed" mushroom to have the cap upside down and literally stuffed rather than sauce poured over the top and topped with cheese. We will go back again only because it's one of the few restaurants in the area that we've found to be convenient, have great salads when dressing is on the side and moderately priced for as often as I run out of time to cook during the week!
(2)Vincent P.
ate here in 2008 I'm sure it's changed but the food was great and good for meeting. they where very accommodating for a large party. was a little expensive for az.
(4)Jessica H.
Stopped by for lunch and had a pleasant experience. My hubby had the Mac and cheese with sausage. I was soooo jealous because it was delicious! My dish was very good, but the Mac and cheese was so much better. The portions were substantial. We had the house merlot which was nice and silky smooth. If I'm ever so far north of Phoenix again , I will definitely give Babbo another visit.
(4)Sam M.
What a fabulous deal on Monday and Tuesday nights, for delicious spaghetti. Great service too!
(5)Dana S.
Have been here twice for lunch. The service could be improved just a little, but overall, I was pleasantly surprised with our experience. There is small slices of bread & balsamic vinegar served as you wait. The lunch special is a rather large portion and I think worth the price. You can order salad/pasta or salad/pizza combo. I have done the pizza combo both times and was equally pleased with taste and size!
(4)hilary c.
We order take out from here all the time because it is consistently flavorful and you get a large amount of food for a relatively low price. One of my favorite things to get is the chicken fettuccine, but I order it with red sauce. Its so good and not as bad for you as white sauce. The chicken is good and there are alot of veggies too. My bf is a serious fan of the Steak Rustica sandwich. Their bread is to DIE for as well. I have liked everything that we have ever ordered. It is on our most visited list for sure. May even get it tonight. You should try it.
(5)Megan M.
Great food and service. One of my favorite places. Unique pasta... Curried chicken and drunken shrimp! Italian sodas are awesome. Loved the atmosphere and the staff! And the free amazing bread : )
(5)Amanda V.
This has become a consistent favorite for us since we had the baby. They are always accommodating - giving us seats in the back JUST IN CASE - and making alterations to the recipes because of my breastfeeding (TMI, I know...) The food is great. The prices are right and the chefs are really nice.
(4)Chad A.
A little curious as to why this place has the positive reviews that it does. Tried it when it first opened, but thought it was just opening jitters. Been open for a while now, and it didn't get any better. Our waiter had zero personality, seemed completely unhappy to be there. Glass of wine took 10 min to get to the table, and they weren't that busy. Food was average, had the spicy sausage. Sausage was good, but sauce and pasta was bland at best. Pricing was fair, but seems a bit high for essentially fast food served in a nice bowl.
(2)Tracy L.
Pretty tasty italian food... interesting pizza flavors (good, though!)... HUGE sandwiches... tasty salads! The service is pretty good - a little slow when they are crowded. Good for lunch or dinner.
(4)Meryl W.
We love having Babbos in our neighborhood in Tatum Ranch. The food is consistent....great bread! The Buffalo Chicken Salad is my favorite. At times, the service can be a bit inconsistent. I love their take out service. Great little pizzas as well. A must try if you're in the Tatum Ranch area or even just being in North Phoenix might be worth the drive.
(4)Bob R.
Mmmmmmmmmm. And SURPRISED! Who'd think that a chain pizza place would have such a great pizza!. The pizza combinations are closer to the real deal from Naples, hence a little different than your typical Pizza store. Thin and crispy and still chewy! Give Babbo a try, you may be surprised too!
(4)Jade K.
Takes a little while to get the food out, but I love this place. Great service, friendly staff. Every tuesday and monday I belive they do $6 Spaghetti!
(4)Jessica R.
I love Babbo! This is our favorite neighborhood restaurant. It is located at the end of the Fry's shopping center. My husband and I love the free bread! I love the Garlic Shrimp Pasta and my husband is always trying new things he loves the pastas, pizzas, and hot sandwiches.
(4)Evike R.
i absolutely LOVED the bread they served almost like "tapas". it was to die for...and they even gave me a small loaf to take home. the pizza, however, was really way too think and it was ok. nice setting outside.
(3)Justin D.
This place is close to my parents house in Cave Creek and whenever I'd drive by the joint looked deserted; like and Iraqi restaurant or something... Big misnomer. I went a few weeks ago and all I can say is WOW. Fresh, tasty and reasonably priced. EVERYTHING tasted fresh and was cooked to order. The margarita pizza combined with spicy Italian sausage comes off a bit salty, but hey, that's how I roll. I highly recommend them! (yes I edited this review. I didn't like my first one)
(5)Bruce W.
Just had our first Babbo experience - Sunday night takeout. It was excellent! Good sized portions, fresh, great flavors, and prepared just as we'd asked. And they couldn't have been any more friendly! Delicious - we most defintely recommend.
(4)Doug G.
This is a great place. Our kids love the Italian sodas and the prices are very reasonable with good-sized portions. Service is great as well. Their pasta dish with vodka sauce is wonderful.
(5)Elaine P.
We wanted to take advantage of their happy hour and found the food choices to be good for happy hour, drinks not so much. I don't see how $3 for a bud light is really a deal. The way to go would be the 2 for $25 deal which includes 2 salads, 2 small entrees ( either pasta or pizza), and 2 glasses of wine. The food is really good, the service was not. The food took over 30 min and the restaurant was empty considering we arrived at 5. We wanted to order another round of drinks on happy hour and our server told us we just missed it. Really? Why didn't you come remind us it was ending!?
(3)Greg G.
Here is the perfect example of a good restaurant. This is the "benchmark" in my eyes... Atmosphere - Good Food - Good Portions - Good Service - Good Variety - Good Wait times - Good Wine Selection - Good Prices - Good Convenient to my house - Good. All aspects are "good" and consistently so. This is a great place to go when you are hungry and don't want to gamble. Meeting Friends? Go here, they have something for every one and no one can complain later. I think it's always great to know where the hottest place in town is, but you also need that ace in the hole every once in a while and that's the beauty of Babbo!
(3)Tim M.
Was looking for a place to get a good calzone. I had the cheese ravioli appetizer and a cheese calzone. Both were very good. I didn't get a chance to sample anything else on the menu but I hope to change that soon. The calzone alone is worth going back for. Service was also very good.
(4)Julian R.
Babbo's has the best bread ever! Try one of their steak sandwiches. I usually get the "Steak Rusticana". We eat there at least once a week.
(5)Matt H.
I have eaten here a couple times the past 2 weeks and I will continue to. Their lunch special is well priced for the amount of food you get. I love their Spinach Gargonzol! Their bread is one of the best I have had in my opinion. Lots of things to choose from as well. You should try it out!
(5)Good Eats S.
Second visit. Service still so-so, but the server did do me a favor when I wanted something light for dinner. I added shrimp to the brussel sprouts salad. Toe-wiggling yummy! Place was not as clean as my last visit, there was something smeary and crummy on the table and when I told our server, she ran a damp cloth over, sending crumbs into our laps. Ick! But for the Roasted Brussel Sprout and Beet salad (now with addition of shrimp), I'll be back. But maybe I'll try take-away next time.
(3)Katherine H.
Great place for a quick bite to eat that is home made fresh in a casual dining atmosphere. The meat ball sandwiches and spaghetti is yummy and special salads (I love the brussel sprout and beat salad) are wonderful. Not to be missed on your way up Cave Creek Road and points north! Prices are very reasonable for so much flavor!
(5)Mary C.
So the whole family came here for the Great PaPa's birthday. This is his favorite place. I had never been here and had been told that it was a mediocre Italian restaurant and that I probably wouldn't like it. But it wasn't my birthday decision. There were only two servers and they were both working hard at keeping up. They were nice and personable. The service wasn't uber fast but there was always a smile. So now to the food. Everyone enjoyed what they ate. This is shocking based on the variety of people that were eating, and the variety of temperaments. Just know that the food comes out really slow so be prepared. You are getting what you came in for. Would I come back? Sure.... The price is good and the family was happy.
(4)Jackie S.
I have only gotten take out there but overall have been very pleased. Both the Steak' N Blue salad and the Chopped Chicken salad are good portions and if you order a large ,it definitely is enough for two people. The bread that comes with it is warm, fresh and has good flavor. Unfortunately ,more that a few times they have forgotten the extra chicken that I ordered and i was not pleased with the stuffed portobello appetizer. Overall, it is a good place to grab some dinner to take home.
(3)Don S.
Try their $5.99 spagetti with meatballs. It's really excellent, as are the portions. U can't miss on this deal.
(5)Ollie L.
I had been reading the reviews. I finally decided to give it a try. I came in on a Monday, around 4:00 pm. When I walked in, I noticed the place to be clean, and orderly. There was already a decent crowd there. I was greeted by a waitress, who let me sit where I wanted. As I looked around, I noticed patrons, eating like it was their last meal. They were eating, from what I could tell , spaghetti. When I read the reviews, I saw they had a special spaghetti dinner on Monday and Tuesday. My waitress arrived. Very nice, and friendly (Alexandra). She took my order ( I decided on the special) and a salad. She brought a plate of fresh baked bread. Enough to to choke two horses. She also brought a plate of oil and vinegar, for dipping. The salad was fresh, and very tasty. When my dinner arrived, it had two "great big O" meatballs with it. The meatballs were a meal in it self. The pasta was made to perfection, and the sauce was also very tasty. The meatballs were moist, and very flavorful. I highly recommend Babbo. By the way, the dinner is only $5.99, dine in or take out. Such a deal!
(5)John M.
once again some ones children can ruin a night out for dinner, and management did nothing about it. What a shame, that management is afraid to say something to one table but allows 10 to 15 tables to suffer the screaming, and constant running of a child thru the restaurant. i could have given them 5 stars had they just said something to these people. Had it not been for the good taste of the spaghetti and meatballs, i would have given them only 1 star. Wake up management, because of your in action we will not be back, and the table next to us that was ran into by this child say to us they would not be back....... SORRY MANAGEMENT BUT I WORK TO HARD FOR MY MONEY TO SPEND IT AT A PLACE THAT DOES NOT RESPECT THERE CUSTOMERS
(3)Deb B.
Babbos is a MUST visit every time I make it to Arizona. I love all their pastas! Salads are delicious too!
(5)Meredith S.
Delicious food and wonderful service! Best bread I've ever had in my life!
(4)Samantha S.
Good food and nice staff. Sometimes service is a little slow but over all good place. I haven't had anything on the menu I didn't like. Prices are decent as well. I enjoy coming here for lunch, dinner or for last minute food
(4)Michelle H.
Mediocre food. I had "grilled" chicken added to my pasta. It tasted like freezer-burnt chicken that had been defrosted in a microwave. However, the sauce and penne pasta were pretty decent. We went our whole meal with empty cups and never offered a drink refill.
(3)Amy G.
I'd give 1-star for service, which was awful. The food was good. I ordered LARGE napa salad, hubs ordered small Mista salad + calzone. We both received SMALL salads, after 15mins. They were both excellent. I told manager I'd ordered a large, she said "no problem I can get you a large one." No problem!? Is that her position to say that? But we'd waited so long and hadn't eaten all day, so I accepted my small. Figured I'd have a bite of my husbands calzone. Wrong. The calzone never came. The manager and the server never came back to check on us. They were eventually involved in a bill dispute with a large party who was charged for a Napa salad they claimed they didn't have (it was probably mine....) We flagged manager down eventually, she asked if everything was good. We said no...we'd been there 55ins and our calzone never came. She said she didn't see one on order and she'd check on it; we said forget it, it's 9pm we're ready to go home (and they don't reheat well). 10mins later she came back with a boxed up calzone. We said no, she said "ok! I didn't charge you for it." And that's when I said she owes us an apology. We didn't get our MEAL. And what they did serve wasn't right. Only then did she apologize. And now's that for sincere? She brought out bill and said she gave the managers discount. Um....thanks? A 10% discount...gee thanks. So the two salads were good though. Wouldn't know about the calzone. We just moved back to the hood and we're excited to go back to our local hangout. Prob won't be our local hangout anymore.
(2)Steve T.
Monday nights are Spaghetti Night - get it with their famous meatballs and you're in for a real treat. These guys know how to turn "plain ol' spaghetti" into a fabulous dinner. This place is noisy ('cause everyone is here!) and is good for families AND date night. Babbo has a good bottled beer selection, but I am really bummed they don't have draft beer. If they did, I would be back in to visit far more often. Craft beer is all the rage, and so many restaurants provide draft craft that we are spoiled ... and it sucks to have to drink from bottles! I'll keep going for Spag night ... and will come even more often when I see draft taps :) 4 stars for everything perfect, minus craft beer. It will be 5 stars when they get at least a couple draft pulls.
(4)Liz D.
Do you love a good white cheese sauce that has been separated into a dry yet oily mess because it has been microwaved? Then feel free to waste your money by ordering the Brussel sprout and pancetta pasta. Absolutely disgusting! Couldn't find the pancetta, sprouts were raw and the plate was swimming in an oily mess. This was my second and definately my last visit to this establishment. My first visit was just as bad. ZERO STARS.
(1)Lindsay L.
I really enjoyed eating at Babbo's until recently. I have been eating there with my family for about 4 years now. Great food and wonderful service. But over the past year some of there dishes have changed. It's almost like the restuarant has changed the vendor who they purchase their food from. The first thing I notice was their delicious bread was different. The bread they served before was to die for. The bread they have changed to very lack luster. It taste bread that you can get an any number of restuarants. I always noticed the beef in their Firecracker Rolls and on the Steak and Blue salad are different. Both of those were my favorites to order but not anymore. The last time I had those meals I was pregnant so when I did not enjoy the taste I thought had to do with my hormones or something. I had my baby in March and I tried those meals just last weekend and I steal do not like the taste. Please Babbo's go back to you previous food vendor. My mom and brother have also made comments about the meals not tasting the same. I need your original bread in my life...lol.
(3)Barbara S.
We went in here Tuesday, everything was great we both had the special, spaghetti and 2 huge meatballs and a side salad mista.... salad was very fresh and meatballs were tasty. We haven't eaten here in years because food was bad last time, but I was hungry and didn't want to drive too far, so we are glad we came back and will try again soon!
(5)Pter Z.
Great pasta dishes... Authentic Italian menu. I leave happily stuffed every time. Not too expensive either.
(5)Jill S.
To be honest, when H and I got home from our first (and only) dinner here, there was not ONE good thing we could say about it. To start, when the server came over to take drink orders, she looked at me, and I asked for just tap water. Off she went. H wanted a beer, but not only was he not asked for a drink order, she didn't even look at him. Weird. We got our waters, and then H ordered a beer. Off she went. H's water glass had lipstick smudges on it. Simply gross. I know they are hard to get off plastic, particularly, but can someone check this in advance? The manager came by at one point, asked how things were, and we mentioned the glass, and off she went to replace it. No major apology there, and she didn't seem like this was that unusual. Anyway, we ordered an appetizer, pasta for me, and a calzone for him. Then, we waited. A VERY long time. Finally, the appetizer arrived, and less than 45 seconds later, the entrees arrived. Not sure if the kitchen didn't make the app, it wasn't ordered, or what, but the sequence of service was horrible. Our server came by to check on things, and we mentioned the app situation, and she said she could take our entrees back to the kitchen and put them under the heat lamp until we were done with the appetizer. Seriously? To the food...to call it bland and tasteless would be a compliment. The pasta was overcooked, and the sauce was entirely lacking in flavor. It reminded me of Chef Boyardee from the can. A super treat when you're 4, not 40. His calzone - same. It was big and puffy, but not tasty, and with the same bland red sauce - phoey. The entire experience was horrible - from the marginal service, to the dirty serveware, and the lousy food. Oh, wait - I just thought of the one redeeming thing from the visit. Now we know NOT to go back.
(1)Jaime M.
Take out is great because it's online however you get home and realize you just spent $13.50 on mac n cheese with croutons on top, the discription said bread crumbs. The cheese was barely melted, big slices slopped on top of noodles. Then I was reminded why I rarely go here. Over priced and over sauced.
(1)Stacy F.
We love going to Babbo, especially on a Monday or Tuesday for $5.99 spaghetti and meatball night! Check in on FourSquare and get a free garlic hummus spread for the bread (delish). Go for happy hour (until 6 p.m.) and get even more discounts on drinks / appetizers! The staff is always friendly. The have indoor and outdoor seating. The cookie dessert is amazing also. We especially like to sit at the bar area since the view is better and the bar staff is exceedingly nice.
(5)Christina L.
I was here last night and I had a wonderful experience both service and food was amazing. The pasta Bolognese was really tasteful and the breadstick was to die for.
(5)Jaleebi S.
I stopped going to Babbo about a year ago because of their consistent mistakes. Too many times I came home to food with missing ingredients or had a poor service experience. I was convinced yesterday to get some take out and for convenience sake I agreed to give them another shot. Sadly when we reached home (which is 3 minutes away) the pizza was cold and resembled cardboard. The Napa Valley salad, which is typically an excellent salad, didn't have the extra dressing we ordered. Also, I'm not sure what's going on with the signature bread. When this place first opened the food was hot, fresh and delicious and the service was consistent and pleasant. Another victim of the Cave Creek curse..
(2)B R.
Had the chalkboard portobello mushroom with veggies and spinach gargonzola.....it was delicious. With the salad it was a perfect meal. Will definitely be back for more
(4)Ashley N.
The business left a comment on my review and said to email them for what I was assuming a comped meal or something. Emailed them weeks ago and no response. Figures!
(1)Natalie A.
Went in at 1:00 PM for lunch. The waiter acknowledge us and told us he would be right with us. He was in the back folding napkins. He than went into the back, brought a bill to a table and than went back to folding napkins. This was about 5 min and other people came in waiting also without any acknowledgment. I found this very rude and unacceptable, since there was a sign saying wait to be seated. After a few more min. we walked out. The restaurant was not busy. Stay away, till they get better waiters. I saw one other waiter who went passed us but didn't make eye contact.
(1)Kimberly H.
My boyfriend and I love coming here on Mondays and Tuesday's for spaghetti! The staff is always great and I would definitely recommend it to others.
(4)