Babbo Italian Eatery
9920 S Rural Rd,Ste 105, Tempe, AZ, 85284
Babbo Italian Eatery Menu
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Address :
9920 S Rural Rd,Ste 105
Tempe, AZ, 85284 - Phone (480) 785-5700
- Website https://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
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.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Rachel H.
I often do take out here, but have dined in a couple of time. The food is always delicious, the service is usually great too, but it depends on when you go in. Sometimes I am greeted the moment I walk through the door, other times its like none of the employees care about what's going on.
(4)Kara D.
If I could give a 3.5 I would.... My husband and I visited on a Saturday at around 4:30pm. The place was pretty empty, so we were seated quickly. The waiter brought us out some complimentary bread and olive oil (drizzled with balsamic). Bread and oil, eh. We ordered the "Firecracker Rolls", and I got Italian Style. They serve this with spicy marinara, and it is SPICY marinara. The flavor was outstanding for these, but I could only have one; it was extremely salty. Way too salty. I had the Italian Sausage Pasta, which is described as, "Marinara Sauce, Spicy Italian Sausage, Mixed Peppers, Mushrooms, Marsala Wine, Parmesan Cheese. Served on Penne.". This was delicious, but again, salty. Husband had the manicotti, this was his second time ordering this, so he must like it. The service was ok, it is one of those places where your server takes your order and brings your check, that's it. Other staff brought out the food, etc. We waited bit for our check, but it wasn't too horrible. Prices were fair, for what you get. I would have rather had a small dinner salad than some bread and oil though.
(3)Lisa V.
A friend suggested we try this for Tuesday because they have a special on spaghetti and meatballs. The place is lovely and the service is great. We were seated and we were quickly greeted and offered drinks and bread. We decided on the Tuesday night spaghetti and meatball dinner. After our server left, we had another server who had a male friend who appeared to be her boyfriend, hanging over our booth having a conversation. We listened and watched and even took a photo. Ugh. And, the next table was having a great time laughing hysterically. While I'm glad they had a great time, I wasn't enjoying participating in it. The place is very noisy and needs some acoustics to absorb the sound of nearby people. Bottom line: great food, great service, but the atmosphere is lacking.
(3)Joe M.
We used to go there a lot. I thought the pizzas were great. Then we had 4-5 dinners there that were not good. The chicken dishes had hardly any chicken in them. The last time we were there we entertained a party of 5 and all guests had the same complaints,no meat in the dishes. I complained to no avail. All I can say at this point in time is that it is a decent Italian vegetarian restaurant.
(1)Alaina E.
My favorite Italian spot! I've been coming to babbo for over ten years and I'm I glad they have tons of locations now! Great food, great atmosphere, and amazing service. Toughest part is trying to decide on what to order.
(5)Nancy M.
Okay, where do I start! I am so very happy that we found this place! We had a fabulous dining experience. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and laid out well. It's spacious, which makes for a comfortable environment. We were greeted immediately upon entering and felt welcomed throughout our stay. Now...the food. Oh my...the food! It is soooo good! Everyone in our party of 5 enjoyed their meal and our server was awesome! So, great service, comfortable environment and awesome food! Sold! We will be back!
(5)TJ H.
We went back for our usual $5.99 Spaghetti & Meatball dinner because C was jonesen for it. Our server this time was Rudy. Awesome server. K & I split the Brussel Sprout salad. $11.50. No split charge. Nice. The salad was delish as usual. Another great experience.
(5)Valerie M.
Can't go wrong with the Monday and Tuesday $5.00 Spaghetti and Meatballs. They have several other menu items and we've tried a few but ya can't go wrong with an easy Monday night dinner of Spaghetti & Meatballs. The portion is big enough for hubby and I to share but I sometimes opt for lunch leftovers and get one for all of us. One tip, if you like your s'ghetti with more than a tinting of sauce you might want to let them know. Too often I have arrived home with spaghetti and meatballs and the pasta appeared and tasted like the sauce had been lightly brushed across. The marinara or gravy is one of the most nutritious portions of the this dish and we all could us a couple more Tablespoons. I really like the the Roasted Brussel Sprout Salad for a change of pace. One time the Brussels Sprouts were over cooked which made them bitter, but even then I enjoyed the blend with those tiny veggies, salad mix, and beets too. The Happy Hour is mediocre and I have to you that the Margarita I had last time I was there was THE worst. My son tasted it and even he doubted there was a whole shot of alcohol in the drink and it tasted like it was made with a lesser quality mix. Service has always been pleasant and fairly prompt too. We keep coming back because it has been an quick, reasonably priced, easy and consistent option.
(3)Michael D.
Very inconsistent cuts on the tomatoes for the caprese salad. Some were paper thin and some were so thick it was unpleasant. Way too much balsamic. They did not even apologize and should have offered something else as all my wife ate was one or two tomatoes and the cheese. I'll stick to the central location.
(1)Jill B.
I'm giving a lower score just because the bartender/waiter by the takeout door ignored me while chit chatting with other patrons at the bar. It was only my second time ordering online (and the first was a long time ago) and I felt like an idiot. I didn't even know where I was supposed to stand for someone to help me. If the bartender had even acknowledged me with a nod or something to let me know I was in his queue I would have felt better. Finally, I guy came over from the back and said "he" would take care of me. I mentioned to the guy who checked me out and he said he would keep his eye out for me next time. What? That's a solution? How about telling the bartender to take care of customers and make them ALL feel welcome! This rating is for service... From Weds night 9/2/15 and the bartender was a man with a dark beard or goatee...
(2)Mama F.
Local restaurant with great prices! The husband likes the calzones and I have enjoyed an array of different salads. The service is friendly and always happy to make recommendations. This was definitely a happy little find for a good lunch.
(4)Melanie H.
Love this! What a deal on Monday and Tuesday night! A big plate of spaghetti and two huge and juicy meatballs for $5.99. Cheap and delicious. We go there at least 2 times month!
(5)Jeff R.
This place has remained pretty high on my list of places to eat so here's an updated review. It has a very large amount of pasta choices that can mostly all be made vegetarian which is pretty great. Taking people here from out of town seems to make everyone happy which is always nice. The service has always been quick and extremely nice here. Even if they are a bit busy it isn't a very long wait to get severed and drink refills. The break they give you with your meal is fresh and not the overly loaded with garlic butter variety. it's still bread, but it seems a bit better than most Italian places. They have a great lunch option where you get pasta and a salad. It's quick and much better than fast food. Try: - Pasta Rustica - Pasta Valducci
(4)Michael D.
This is one of the finest Italian restaurants I have experienced!!! A complimentary vinegar and oil bread dip wets your appetite while you select from an extensive menu. Try this place-- you won't be disappointed!
(5)Jill V.
This place always hit the spot for something tasty good. Portions are huge! The service seems to be caring. I enjoy that. The bread- MMMMM The pasta- great! The 'zone - HUGE. Great deal. Good food. Good Service. Easy 5 stars.
(5)Diane W.
I found a Italian restaurant in Chandler, where I had the BEST Mac and Cheese ever! It had a little kick to it but it was amazing! So I don't suggest it for children. It was made with the perfect amount of chicken and sausage and creamy cheese. The croutons added a nice crunch to the dish. The atmosphere is very inviting. I will definitely be back soon.
(5)Puja C.
Main points: -Pretty good Italian food with different menu options than your corner Olive Garden -Extremely great service -Nice dining room, good for groups or date -Great tasting offered for weddings Review: I just came back from a food tasting for upcoming family nuptials, so I tasted A LOT of dishes. This place definitely gets thumbs up for the array of food they let you taste when deciding for a wedding: 3 types of appetizers, 4 types of salads, 6 types of pasta, and 4 types of entrees. The manager, Dustin, was so friendly and nice, he even threw in some delightful tiramisu. I wish the food had been a little more in line with my taste because we had a wonderful service experience here. If I could, I'd give this place 3.5 stars. However, after trying ALL that food, I would say it was just good. Sometimes at restaurants I find myself only loving two dishes and hating the rest; here, I liked several things but didn't love anything. Also, am I the only one who doesn't like olives? A salad and a pasta I had tasted completely like olives which just tainted the whole dish for me. Obviously personal preference there...they did have a good variety of salads, pasta, and entrees, I enjoyed all of the above that included gorgonzola...yum. Overall, great service,dining room, and decent food, so if you're looking for a cool yet casual place to grab a drink or have a meal and you love Italian food, you may enjoy Babbo's.
(3)Lori A.
This place never disappoints! Amazing quality and portions and the staff is always excellent and friendly, and fast. Went there for my mom's birthday and the waiter got her dessert. The fresh bread and oil/balsamic is amazing. My personal favs: The asparagus salad. OMG, it is sooooo freaking good.. and my favorite entree is the Roasted green bean and mushroom pasta. Its got tons of mushrooms and bacon and a really flavorful Alfredo. I dont think they have anything bad on the menu! Like I said, they never disappoint!
(5)Rashmi G.
We were driving around the Chandler mall area looking for an Italian restaurant. When we saw Babbo's Italian Eatery in the parking lot, we decided we would stop by to check it out. We were greeted and seated promptly after walking in. We were given bread and a olive oil / balsamic vinegar dip to snack on while we waited for our meal, which we really enjoyed. The bread was hot & soft and really just good, so of course, our expectations for the food was rising. I ordered the Chicken Chipotle Pasta which from the menu sounded really delicious ... A blend of roasted chicken, corn, scallions, peppers, etc. When I got the plate and started eating, I was a little bit deflated. It was almost like the chipotle sauce had an overpowering smokey flavor that, after a few bites, it started becoming way too overwhelming to eat. Needless to say, I went back to eating the bread between bites of pasta (and asked for more) so of course I was carb-loaded by the end of the night! My date ordered the $5.99 spaghetti and meatball special and in fact, we noticed a lot of the patrons around us had also ordered the same. He enjoyed his meal. I didn't try it so I don't have much to say about that. The restaurant was pretty crowded but we received good service throughout the night. I'm not sure whether or not we'll return ... still undecided. On the one hand, you could definitely tell that they were trying to do something different so you didn't feel like you were eating at a chain restaurant such as Olive Garden. However, on the other hand, everything was just ok.
(3)Rudy E.
Like some other restaurants, this place started out so good and then just fell apart. I would like to say that I don't base my review on one or two experiences. They are generally based on an extended period of time and multiple visits to the restaurant. I think visiting a restaurant and then posting a positive review based on just that one experience is inflating the positive reviews of quite a few restaurants. If I had posted a review of this restaurant after my first half dozen visits it would have been very positive. However, this Babbo location is a mere shadow of it's former self. Apparently, they no longer feel the need to have a good chef in the restaurant at all times now, and like to give everyone a chance to be chef! I was patient with this place because I really liked it when it opened but it has become a joke. I even stopped going for a while and then returned to try again after an extended period, knowing that sometimes restaurants will change management when they are having problems and things will get better. This place just seems to keep getting worse.
(1)G. C.
My first experience back in late 2012 was spot on. Food was incredibly delicious. Service was excellent. Fast forward. The place was almost empty at 5pm. There was a group leaving. The server forgot to bring us silverware after bringing out the appetizer. She quickly walked off before my husband could say anything. My husband went to an empty table to get four sets. My pasta was okay. I got the limon pasta. I could have made it myself, I have the ingredients at home. Chicken was dry. Flavor just didn't hit the spot. I think I could have made a better lemon caper sauce. My husband's jambalaya was good and so was the Manicotti. Restaurant isn't consistent with their dishes. Not sure if I want to go back again. The firecracker rolls was mediocre at best.
(3)Meagan B.
Babbo is quite delicious for Americanized Italian food with fantastic service to boot. We came in here back in August after spending the day doing maintenance + giving my ride a serious wash, polish and wax job. It was after 9PM, I was sunburnt, exhausted, and cooking was the last thing on my mind. So Dude drags me here. Very cute décor inside, loved the bubble-glass lamps! So it looks all snazzy inside. If you feel like Babbo is a place you have to dress up . . . Don't. I was wearing a sundress and wedges; Dude had on shorts and a shirt, and the other diners seemed to reflect this theme. Even though it was close to closing time, our server (looked like a college-aged gal) didn't show she was ready to hit the road. Very talkative, friendly, and made plenty of recommendations to us. In fact, made it a point to bring us freshly made and baked ciabatta bread with an olive oil and balsamic reduction. Carb heaven! The Caesar salads were your typical restaurant salad fare. I ordered the Pasta Martini (essentially a penne a la vodka) and Dude had the Chicken Chipotle Pasta. We both LOVE spicy food, and our server told us the chef could make these dishes extra spicy for us. And boy, did s/he bring the heat! Also, no problem substituting the chicken in my pasta with spicy Italian sausage. After tip, no dessert, soda or alcoholic beverages, this was just over $25. Was it the best pasta? Definitely not. But so much better than Olive Garden, Carrabbas, or the other garbage-y chains. Great to know that Babbo exists when I want a quick, affordable casual dinner.
(4)Annette D.
We've only ever tried 2 items on their menu, so I'm only able to review those. Appetizer: Roasted Garlic Hummus. We absolutely love this dish. Even though we ran out of bread, out waitress brought us more at no charge. It's easy to fill up on this & have hardly any room left for the main course. Main course: Three-Cheese Mac&Cheese. I'm not a mac&cheese fan at all, but I was talked into trying this dish. Since I wasn't expecting to like it, I was definitely surprised on how much I loved it!!! This dish is not your regular style thick mac&cheese, it's a more grown-up version with a creamier chipotle base. It was super delicious & I would definitely get it again.
(5)Nik g.
Well I'd actually give babbo 4 stars normally, but I'm doing this because they messed up. I wanted to warn people of their take out because I don't want this to happen to anyone else again. We've been here multiple times, dine in and take out. Always satisfied, never super overly impressed, or disappointed, but always really good. Love the chipotle chicken pasta, the bolognese, and the egg roll appetizer thing. We'll come back again but we'll definitely check our take out once over before we leave. Even if it means opening everything up and cutting things open to make sure they're CORRECT.. Long story short, we order take out. I get a pizza, wife gets a salad(no mushrooms) and a calzone(no ricotta). She hates ricotta. We get home and of course the salad has a hand full of mushrooms on it. Cuts open the calzone..FULL OF RICOTTA!!! Seriously?! So she calls the restaurant and let's them know of their mistake, the girl on the phone says, "oh I put the order in and I didn't see anything about no ricotta?" LOL bs! So my wife had to pick around the ricotta and make the best of her dissected calzone. So apparently from now on if we order a calzone to-go we will make sure to open the container and cut it open there at the counter before we leave to make sure the order is correct. But hey other than that everything else was great as usual. HA!
(3)Rebekah C.
I must say the bartender was awesome tonight. We had a 15 month old and he was so accommodating and helpful! Always had a smile on his face very personable.
(4)Ava S.
The food here is indescribably amazing. They bring bread to your table that is absolutely RIDONKULOUS, I could eat it all day. My sandwich was really delicious as well. I don't live in Tempe but Babbo's will definitely be one of my stops anytime I'm in town. The only reason this place gets 4 stars instead of 5 is because the service was only okay. I wasn't stunned by how fabulous our waitress was, at all. Plus she only came to the table twice, once to greet us & say she'll "be right back", and then once to bring us the check. Another man offered us drinks, took our order, and brought us our food. So I'm not entirely sure why she was even there. Overall, this place is grade A. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)Heather L.
This place reminds me of an upscale restaurant in Vegas. The decor is big, monochrome, and simple. The menus IS HUGE, it took me and my family about 15 minutes to finally decide on what we were ordering. The kids menu had some of the best choices I have ever seen. We ordered the bruchetta and it was soooooo good, probably some of the best I have ever had. I got the goat cheese, spicy meatball, and a mozzarella one. Then they bring out THE BREAD, this bread is sooooooo simple but soooo good (I think we went through 3 loaves). After we were stuffed with all the bread and appetizers, our meals came. We got a thin crust spicy sausage pizza, and a roasted pancetta brussel sprouts pasta. Both were knock your socks off good. My kids ordered the mac and cheese, and even that was amazing. Overall a great experience and great food, my only gripe was the prices. Our family of 4 was nearly $100 (2 kids meals, 2 adult meals, 1 appetizer. 4 drinks and 1 cocktail) so this is a once in a blue moon kind of meal for us. But a great experience none the less.
(4)Sharon W.
The food is fabulous here! I had the chicken limone and it was super light and filling. Others at our table had pizza, pasta and one had a calzone. Everything was spectacular EXECPT the service. Service was more than slow, it dragged, which made our meal awkward. Drinks took forever and appetizers came out with our meal. It would have been 5 stars if the service was better.
(4)Julie P.
We have been to this Italian eatery quite a few times. We ate in a booth for 2 people in the bar area because one of us wanted happy hour drinks & food. Happy Hour is from 4-6pm in the bar area or patio. A martini is $6. and a 8" pizza is $6. Bread with balsamic & vinegar is served to every table and was very fresh tasting. The special on Mondays & Tuesdays is spaghetti & meatballs for $5.99. Our server Rafael was excellent, just the right amount of checking back with us and was on top of his game. I did see a "guy" who looked like a manager in a blue shirt(younger guy) there were 2 managers in blue shirts. The younger guy seemed to be on his phone behind the bar and at the register area too often. Wasn't really bothering me,but if there is a problem with something in the restaurant I am not sure how he would handle it, as he was not really paying attention to his surroundings at work. I should never see an employee on their personal phone while I am dining. Parking is in the lot by Fry's grocery store, can get busy at times in the parking lot, Arby's seems to have too many signs reserving parking.
(4)Henry R.
Excellent Food, Excellent Service and Excellent price. This place hit the ball out of the Park. Open kitchen concept with just a little urban contemporary feel to it. I didn't visit the bar but it appeared to be hopping also. Great open lay out with views of the entire place. As for the food we had the Mushroom Appetizere, Awesome! My wife had the cabbage and bacon dish, Delish! I had the Chipotle Alfredo and true to form, perfect! Add a couple of glasses of wine which were only $5.00 a piece and you have a Excellent meal for under $45.00. Unheard of in this day and age....thank you Babbo we will be back.
(5)Lily L.
OMG, what happened? Based on my visit tonight this place deserves 2 stars. I am giving it 3 overall. Over the last year I have dined here at least once per month and was always satisfied. The visit tonight was different. The restaurant was pretty dead for 7pm on a Friday. We all ordered pizza and our food took an extra long time to arrive at our table. We didn't see our waitress for most of the time while we waited. I really could have used some more water. Anyhow after what felt like forever, she finally refilled our drinks and told us our food should be out soon. Apparently one of the pizzas was burned and they had to make it again. I didn't mind the kitchen's mistake, being ignored was annoying. Our pizza was just meh. The cheese on my daughter's was in a big clump. The crust on my neo style tasted weird and my husband was not impressed with his calzone. Major bummer since we used to really enjoy the food. I am not sure what is going on, but our last two visits have left us sadly disappointed. It looks like this Babbo is going downhill.
(3)Lauren F.
Delicious food. Friendly and attentive server. We tried the meatball sub with zucchini chips and the chicken Limon. My son had the kids meatballs with marinara. All were tasty and very satisfying. We will be back!
(4)Alison T.
Okay, so I'm raising my rating back up. Babbo sent us a gift card to come back after our terrible experience with out last take out order. So last night we finally decided to use the gift card and give them another try. We got our food to go and it was great! I had the spring mix salad with mozzarella instead of feta, and the classic spaghetti and meatballs, and my BF got a Cesar salad and with his Italian pasta. They also gave us two squares of bread with oil and vinegar. The spring mix salad was fantastic! I could have had a huge bowl of that and I'm not usually a big fan of salads. My spaghetti was also really really good. It came super hot with two giant meatballs, the pasta was cooked well and it had a really good amount of sauce which I like; I hate dry pastas. The only small complaint I had is about the sautéed mushrooms I added to my pasta. I was expecting thick slices of large mushrooms, but instead they were these tiny pieces; no bigger or thicker than my pinky nail. So it didn't seem worth it to pay extra for sautéed mushrooms. My boyfriend made no complaints about his meal and also really enjoyed it. All in all the meal was wonderful and we'll definitely be going back now.
(4)Penny M.
Stopped in on a Friday night with our 4 kids for a quick bite. They were friendly, service was fast, food was good, and bathrooms were immaculate. What more could you want? I'm suprised they weren't busier. I hope they get busier because they deserve it. Kids had mac and cheese (real mac and cheese) and a personal pizza which was huge and will make great leftovers.
(5)Nicole G.
Wonderful dining experience. Lovely food/Lovely service. It's pretty casual here also, which I appreciated. The flavor profile of each dish was spot on, and the prices were exceptionally reasonable. One thing they do right: The meal is timed appropriately. I cannot abide food coming out at the same time, or shortly, after one's starter. Also, I didn't feel rushed at all, but when I needed to wrap the meal quickly, our server made accommodations. The person who served us was a younger gentleman with glasses (if Management is interested in praising/promoting/training). We started with the Garlic Hummus, which was VERY flavorful (don't plan on a full make out after this stuff). I ordered the Portobello Mushroom with Brussel Sprouts from the "Chalkboard" Menu which also came with a nicely dressed salad of pine nuts, cheese and a sweet/tangy vinaigrette. The Chocolate Torte was a LARGE portion, and very decadent. I also really enjoyed the cappuccino. Again, a large cup here - Enough for 2 to share. 41 dollars for 2 people - Which included 2 entrees, the app, dessert and coffee. Not bad at all. I will definitely be coming back. I noticed some of the more negative reviews come from those that "take out" food...so I have no input there. Maybe go into the restaurant, sit down, and enjoy your meal.
(4)Elizabeth C.
I love this place! I usually order the food to go and will probably continue to do so. I have eaten there before and I didn't get the best service. The girl was not too friendly, didn't smile and didn't check on us once. This will not stop me from ordering again though! The food is always so good! I have only tried a bunch of pasta dishes and some desserts...all great!! I highly recommend this restaurant! Love it
(5)Sheila J.
I was too tired to cook and I wanted to have spaghetti and meatballs so I decided to give Babbo a try... I ordered take out online. I ordered Garlic Cheese Crostini appetizer ($6.95), a child's spaghetti and meatball with milk ($6.00), an adult spaghetti and meatballs (online $10.95 but only $5.95 when I picked it up) and a side salad ($3.95). Total bill was roughly $26.00. It was ready by the time I got there in 15 minutes so that was good. They gave me the discount price on the adult meal, so that was good. I thought the crostini was rather bland. The spaghetti sauce was not my favorite, but the meatballs were really tasty. I grew up in an Italian family, so I know tasty balls of meat! My salad was okay. I ended up getting too much balsamic vinegar on it so all I tasted was vinegar, but it looked good before that happened. I would say the biggest issue was that they did not give me the milk that was ordered with the kids meal. All in all, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't outstanding either. I would probably try it again in the hopes I found a dish I really liked.
(3)Sheri G.
Went to Babbo tonight for dinner and our server Michelle was GREAT!!!! Ask for Michelle you will not be disappointed!!!
(5)Monica J.
I was expecting a fast casual type of place (like an Italian Pei Wei) but actually it is a full service restaurant complete with a separate bar area. They had very swanky, modern decor but still kept it super casual; most of the diners in there on a weeknight were families with kids in shorts and jeans. Everyone from the hostess to the server to the bussers were friendly but brief. Service was pretty much on par with the price point (about the same as Olive Garden). This place has a very large menu and that is always a turn off for me since I feel that means they don't really have a special focus and so the overall quality of food (ingredients and preparation) will suffer. However, the food was pretty good. Pesto bruschetta was pretty much just cheesy bread so that got me worried that the pasta was also going to be heavy with cheese and cream sauces like so many other chain Italian places So, I opted for the beet and roasted brussel sprout salad. This turned out to be surprisingly good. All the ingredients tasted very fresh (except for the beets, ironically, I believe these were frozen since they lacked flavor) and the dressing was crisp and light. It was a very tasty salad and also very filling since I got the small size for an entree. I did also try my husband's pesto penne and that was pretty good as well. It was a thin sauce, not creamy, which I thought was very good. It did notice, however, that there were strands of spaghetti mixed in with the penne which reinforced my factory assembly line visions of food preparation in places with overly lengthy menus. Babbo won't replace our favorite Italian places and would not be on my list of destinations for a planned dinner out. But due to the low prices and speedy service it is a good option for a weeknight supper when I just don't want to cook. I noticed they do curbside pickup so that is a big plus, too.
(3)Laura S.
Love most of the food but the service is horrible! We went for a very early dinner to use a friends and family coupon and it was apparently shift change because everyone was sitting around. We asked someone for a booster chair, she said let me get your server! The server came back and said oh we don't do boosters. That's a small indication of service, no plates, napkins, silverware until prompted. I do love the buffalo Caesar salad but don't bother getting the large because they just add more lettuce. Kids love their pasta but it doesn't even come with a drink (or she didn't offer) so $6 is steep IMO. We also tried the Firecrackers but be warned, you don't get Happy Hour pricing with any other offer. The steak firecrackers were very greasy, weird to be paired with marinara. Service is better at lunch but not by much, sticking with Nellos!
(2)Frank S.
My wife came here on a business meeting the other day and really liked it. So we tried it for dinner last night. I'm gonna be short and to the point as I'm ready for said wife to finish getting ready... Manager greeted us at the door looking like he was pissed off. He slammed our menus down on the table, muttered something and walked to the kitchen. Then he went back to the bar and watched UofA lose. Dunno if he had money on the game, but it was quite obvious who he was pulling for. Save for the MOD at the bar with five others, and two two-tops, this place was empty. On Saturday night. At 7:30. Server was great. Wife's miska salad was really good. My pasta dish was super salty, the cream not reduced at all, the tomatoes mush and the chicken was rubbery and gross. Wife's dish was better. I would go back for lunch or maybe order a salad, but I was absolutely not impressed.
(2)e r.
Ok....so it's official...this place blows. I went a second time to be sure. Yep; BLOWS! Bad sign when a good number of the reviews on Yelp reference THE OLIVE GARDEN (the quintessential example of mediocrity) as a better option. We tried to ignore our first trip to Babbo, because they were the new kid on the block, which meant they were busy and likely prone to a mistake or two.1) We ignored the fact that there were empty tables, but we were still told we'd have to wait for a table or sit at the bar (we sat at the bar). 2) We tried to ignore that it took forever for our food to come. 3) We tried to ignore that the PASTA PUGLIA had less flavor than a wet dishrag. 4) We even tried to ignore that our server/bartender's take on our crappy food came 20 minutes after delivery and was literally, "I didn't notice you weren't eating your food. You should've said something." We waited a year to return....MISTAKE. This time it was take-out, and we ordered a lot, to be sure; BRUSCHETTA ROMANA, PISATCHIO MOZZARELLA, MUSHROOM-PEPPERONI-SAUSAGE PIZZA, ALFREDO SUPREMO W/CHICKEN, & BABBO'S BOWL O BOLGNESE. Our online order told us 20 minutes, which is exactly when we arrived, only to be told by a polite young man, named Raphael, that everything was done but our pasta dishes. REALLY?!? 15 minutes later (yep) we were heading home. The timing undoubtedly contributed to some of the earlier dishes being less than great, but really probably not so much as they're just not very good to start with. BRUSHETTA ROMANA - We appreciate that the Tomato/Basil mixture was separated from the toasted bread for travel, but it didn't matter. The topping mix felt pre-made, soggy, soupy and gross. FAIL! PISTACHIO MOZZARELLA - Interesting choice, mixing pistachio nuts with your traditional Caprese Salad, and it would have worked, if it WAS a traditional Caprese Salad. It Isn't. This dish isn't what you're expecting in that it really scrimps on the Mozzarella, choosing to drop a few cubes on top, instead of matching the tomatoes slice for slice. Also, drenched in balsamic, the entire dish turned into a soggy mess. MUSHROOM-PEPPERONI-SAUSAGE PIZZA - Gross, Gross GROSS!!! The crust was flavorless and chewy. The sauce was non-existent. The ingredients were sparse to the point of wondering where they were, including cheese. I'm not sure what they're going for here, but, if it isn't "REPULSE THE CUSTOMER," They're falling miserably short. ALFREDO SUPREMO W/CHICKEN & BOWL O BOLGNESE - We can combine the pasta dishes because our review is the same for both. The portions are ridiculously small (c'mon guys, it's pasta), and the flavor is unremarkable. A frozen MARIE CALLENDAR'S DINNER would provide a more satisfying dining experience. It's difficult, in this part of Chandler, to find decent Italian food. I guess, for now, countless reviewers are right; OLIVE GARDEN is a better option.
(1)Breanna C.
Spaghetti and meatballs has always been my favorite here and it's fantastic! I've also tried the firecracker rolls which are super delicious as well! Definitely a big fan of this place!
(4)Mummy D.
Appropriately priced entrees and decent sized portions. This place is a wonderful neighborhood Italian joint. We were very happy with our appetizers and entrees, service was good. We will be back! Why patronize nasty Americanized Italian chains like Olive Garden when you have a cute neighborhood place like this to support?
(4)Sheera G.
I am very excited to eat here because a friend told me how great it was, walked in and had high hopes. LOVED the ambiance of the decor, full bar, lots to choose from on the menu and the staff was super friendly, and they had diet coke which for us is a BIG deal. They brought out bread and an olive oil/vinegar which was good, I ordered a pasta dish which was good but not amazing, I am not a big lover of tangy sauce but I ate it. My Boyfriend ordered a chicken and artichoke calzone which looked awesome when it came out but after cutting into it the cheese had not melted inside, so we sent it back. When the waitress came back, she apologized and handed him a clearly nuked in the microwave calzone which was now chewy and sad looking and said she had the cook make him another one to take with him. Although it was a nice thing to do, he didnt really care for this dish and after explaining that she offered him something else. Again, the staff was great so that wasnt the issue at all. They got him a spaghetti and meatball plate, he too ate it and felt the sauce was a bit tangy. When the bill came out, she did not charge us for his meal, and that impressed me, because I expected to pay for at least the spaghetti and meatballs for him as well as my dish. This showed me they want to make their customers happy and because of this I will give them another shot in the future.
(3)Toryanni E.
This is the second location of Babbo's I've been to, in comparison the service here is not as good. It's not bad service it's just slower and not as good as the one by my house. The food however is just as delicious and exactly how I expected, so that was really nice. We started with the Italian Firecracker Rolls which I had never had and I loved them, I thought it was a great selection of meats and a fun play on a egg roll. I had the Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Pancetta pasta which is one of my favorites and it was amazing. Brussel Sprouts are one of my new favorite things this year and they are cooked just right for this pasta, plus there is very little cheese which I'm kind of avoiding for now. My friend had the Jambalya which he said was good. The complimentary bread with oil and vinegar was as always delicious. It was a good experience, I just hope the service gets a little bit better in the future.
(4)Mario C.
This place is a really good inexspensive dinner. On Monday and Tuesday they have a great deal for dinner, only $5.99 for a great meatball and Spaghetti meal. It even comes with a hardy warm bread. We have come to this location about 4 or 5 times now. Each time the staff is always friendly and helpful. The food has been really good each time. Even their drinks are good and not too high. I have watched a bit or two or some good football games here as well. Every time we go we try a differant anti pasta, again with this, each time really good. Easy parking, and nice place to come for a meal.
(5)shiron r.
Delicious and apparently the last quiet restaurant on earth. Love being able to hear my dinner guests! Food is fresh and there are plenty of choices.
(5)Noelle K.
What a great menu! I stopped in for a take out lunch at 11:30 and the waitress/hostess was fantastic! I am a vegetarian and lactose intolerant so eating creamy or buttery sauces is out of the question. The waitress offered to sub the marinara sauce on the pasta primavera so that's what I ordered, for over $10.00. (a bit pricey for a vegetarian dish I thought) While I was waiting I scoped out the full bar and inquired about Happy Hour specials. I was very disappointed to learn that there is NO wine on special for happy hour. (except for sangria) At an Italian place? REALLY???? This is why the 4 star review. UMMM... Hello Owners? Might want to change that if you want our happy hour business.The $5.00 apps looked great and were priced well. They also do a couples "lunch special" for $25.00 for happy hour which does include ONE glass of wine. The actual lunch specials were great bit expensive to me for just lunch at $9.00. A small pasta with salad or a small pizza with salad. The restaurant itself was really done beautifully and probably even wound qualify for romantic at night if the lighting is nice and it isn't too loud. I got my pasta home and was pleasantly surprised that included was some yummy warm foccicia bread with an olive oil, balsamic vinegar with spices dip! Thanks! Oh, the pasta was wonderful and the portion was large enough so I have dinner tonight too! :)
(4)Crabby K.
For the price it is ok, but it is chain food and on par with chain quality. Service was great. Waitress was very kind and attentive. She dealt with our complaint about one of the dishes by promptly fetching an alternative. Deserved a max tip. Food is mediocre at best, obviously the product of a chain kitchen. Had a roast vegetable plate from the back of the menu. It was supposed to be pesto with chicken and roast vegetables. Was awful. The chicken was dry, and the pesto tasted like nothing more than basil in oil. Could not taste any blend of parmesean, pine nuts or anything else. Worst of all were the vegetables. Pretty sure culinary schools don't include a course on charred broccoli, but there it was. Black and bitter as can be. Anyone can make a mistake, but there is no excuse for letting it out of the kitchen. To their credit when we complained they replaced it with a meatball sandwich. Mista salad is a good mix, but subject to the sin of cut lettuce instead of shredded pieces. This is not the only place that does it and it is a minor point to some, but lettuce cut into thin strips is more like a garnish than a salad. Wild mushrooms with garlic cream sauce was ok, though the sauce is a bit more watery than the menu would suggest and there were only 5 or 6 bits of mushroom. Wild or not I couldn't tell. Chain food on par with chain quality and chain price. Definitely not a destination restaurant for us, but ok if you need to eat and it is the nearest thing that comes up on the GPS.
(3)Jennifer C.
Spaghetti you won't forgetti? Personally, I think it's spaghetti I ought to forgetti. The Spaghetti with meatballs was not very impressive. The meatballs are a bit dry and the sauce is lack-luster. I also got a different spaghetti dish with seafood and a white-wine sauce. While it was decent, it was just a bit light. On the other hand, this place makes good bruchetta and the table bread is not bad either. I'm not sure if I just came on an off night, since there are quite a few good reviews on Yelp, but I'm not a huge fan of this shop. (There was also only one other table seated other than our table, which gave the place a sort of lonely atmosphere.)
(2)Candace R.
Came here one evening for dinner to try out their spaghetti & meatballs special. I liked the look of the restaurant - pretty modern for an Italian restaurant. We started off with toasted ravioli which I really liked. The foccaccia that they bring out is also really good. I mulled over the menu for a bit and considered getting something else but I thought - when in Rome. So I got the spaghetti & meatballs and it was nothing better than what I could have made at home. Now, if they used the same marinara they used with the toasted ravioli for the spaghetti, they would have been on point. I'm not sure if that one dish is reflective of their entire menu, but I don't know how soon I'll be coming back to try them out.
(3)Flavah B.
I was excited to try Babbo at the new location on Ray/Rural, never having been. Husband and I were told that they had been open three weeks. We got there around 5:30 on a Friday night and although the bar was jammed, the dining room was way open. We sat down and perused the menu. Kasey, our server, was funny and entertaining. She recommended the white sangria from Babbo's extensive wine list. (lots of cocktails, red/white wine, some premium liquor). Nice happy hour specials for the bar/patio only, but Kasey extended them to us although we were seated elsewhere. Nice touch. The service was amazing fast. We got both entrees in ten minutes. For the record, the sangria was excellent but that's where it all stopped. The focaccia sticks that came with dinner were greasy and limp. Our entrees (chicken limone and chicken jambalaya) were just okay. We have had much better elsewhere. Since I am cutting carbs, I asked for the limone dish served on a bed of asparagus which was offered on the menu. Kasey told me no but she could get me broccoli instead. Instead of arguing, I agreed. Perhaps they were out of asparagus? My dish arrived with about five small broccoli florets. Hmmmm....is broccoli THAT expensive? For the price, I expected more. Not Buca di Beppo-sized entrees but maybe Rigatoni-sized? And why is there no lasagna on the menu? There is spaghetti and meatballs as well as many other standard dishes, but no lasagna, always a good test of an Italian restaurant for me. By the time we were ready to go, the place was packed with many poor people sitting out in the heat. So sad Babbo didn't plan for the overflow better. (On a side note, husband says that the men's room is nicely appointed, marble sinks and all.) While I might go back for happy hour for the specials, ($4.00 for a big sangria!) I would not go back for dinner. We both felt the menu was overpriced for the quality and quantity of food served. It's back to Rigatoni's for us!
(2)Lori K.
I had catering from here about 3 months ago at work and loved it and have literally been dreaming about it ever since. I can't afford to eat out often but today I decided to treat myself and ordered lunch from here. It was just a to-go order but everyone was very nice and friendly and the atmosphere was inviting. I ordered the mushroom and asparagus pasta and loved it but the bread was over the top amazing. The portions were big enough that I can get 2 meals out of it. I'm literally sitting here eating leftover bread while typing this and in heaven. I would definitely go back here again next time I can treat myself.
(5)michael m.
There are quite a few good Italian Restaurants around this area, but often they often have a limited number dishes for a vegetarians. I have to give these guys high marks for the variety of creative and vegetarian dishes. We split a the beet and brussel sprout salad and a pasta prima vera dish both of which were very good. The Tiramisu was very good, but not quite as good as Vincitorios along the road. I have been twice now in the last 2 weeks and on both occasions I was curious to see how organized they were and if there would be any service hiccups in the first week of opening. Despite being pretty busy on both occasions - the service held up well. Decor is good and eating out on the patio is great, but i would recommend they invest in a misting system for patio before the temps rise any more. Overall high marks for friendly efficient service, great selection of good food and nice decor. lets hope they keep the high standards up. 11/23/12 Update Overall still enjoy coming here - wife especially loves the vegetarian options. She usually goes with the beet salad. Must admit the last 2 times we have been they had got the order wrong and meals had to be returned and done over again. Marked them down a little for that. Service is always friendly, food tasty and ambiance good. Let's hope they get the next order correct? 12/1/13 - Quality of the food and service has definitely gone downhill over the last year. Pity cos it seemed very promising at first.
(2)Meghann M.
The place is beautiful but the food is bad. 4 of us got 4 different pastas and we all had the exact same pre-cooked chicken that was obviously not prepared to go with anyone's dish. It was bad. I had gone once before and the pizza was decent. Too bad the food doesn't match the decor.
(2)Melody Molina M.
Thought this was going to be my go to place, but the more times I visited, the more I realized my initial visit must have been a fluke. Every time I went again, it just got worse in service and food. Last night the food was just gross. I ordered the gorgonzola chicken salad (I can make a better salad at home) and I felt sick after eating it. My son ordered the steak panino (nothing special and the meat they use looks really cheap, chopped up and shavings of pale franken-beef) The menu claimed it 's ribeye -looked like processed gyro meat). Booths were dirty with greasy fingerprints. Waitress was nice.
(2)Capri L.
Our family loves this place! The spicy Alfredo is my very favorite! Their take out service is super fast. Always piping hot and delicious.
(5)Monique L.
I went to Babbo's on a lunch break. I have seen the advertisement for the 5.99 spagehetti and meatballs. I went with a coworker, we both ordered the special and with my foursquare check in I received free garlic hummus spread. The meal also came with complimentary bread and olive oil. The bread was tasty and so was the garlic spread, it was a huge portion, so i was able to take the rest to go. The Spaghtti comes in good size bowl with two HUGE meatballs. At first I didnt think the sauce was too tasty but once I got home and ate the rest it was delicious. I only ate half of the pasta and one meatball, i took the rest home. Very good deal for 5.99. The meatballs had great flavor and were very juicy. I would love to have a sandwhich with them, very good. I will be returning since a good special and close to work
(3)Tatiana D.
OK, I gotta give these guys five stars for not giving up on their customers! :) After my one star review about no communication I got contacted again by the management, a very sweet lady by the way, who offered us a gift card to come in and give it another shot, which we did. I gotta say it was much better this time and if there was an option of 3 and a half stars that's what I would give it this time. But since 4 stars says "yay, I'm a fan" I couldn't go there quite just yet.:) We got there quite early on Saturday night and got a table by the window. The waitress was there right away to take our drink and appetizer orders. So far so good. We ordered their house merlot which is actually pretty good and some waters of course. The water I got tasted awful, like dishwasher soap leftover awful so I had to ask for a fresh one, which the waitress got for me right away. She was really nice, no complaints there. For an appetizer we ordered a Stuffed Portobello Mushroom and that's when it got a little weird.:) A server came to our table literary 2 minutes later with a wrong appetizer. We said we didn't order that and he said "you want to look at it? Maybe you'll want it?" :) But then our waitress just sent him back to the kitchen and apologized, said she'll get us the right appetizer right away. I didn't think it was that big a deal though, they made it a bigger deal than it needed to be, especially since it came 2 min after we ordered, so it was clearly the wrong order. It would've been different if we'd waited for half hour but it wasn't the case so we didn't have a problem with that. The mushroom was really tasty, very spicy, but we both happen to like spicy so we really enjoyed it. For the entrees I got Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta pasta with shrimp. Again, pasta is only $11 but if you want to add chicken/shrimp/steak you have to pay extra so mine came up to $16. It was really spicy (which I liked) but other than that didn't have much flavor. It was supposed to be in garlic sauce and there was no taste of garlic at all, and was supposed to have parsley on top and I didn't detect a single speck of parsley.:( So it was just ok. My husband got something with seafood (can't remember the name if it now) and said it was spicy too and it was ok. So overall, it was ok. It wasn't bad, we enjoyed our night out, and once again, the management seems to be trying really hard to work out any problems that arise, I was impressed by that. We will probably be back now and maybe next time it'll be 4 stars.
(3)Melinda R.
Gimmicky come-on for reasonably priced pasta...I paid $11 for medium portion of spaghetti with(slightly burnt) meatballs. Bread was fantastic and server was sweet. Can't hold a candle to REAL Italian food and very modest prices at Christina's Pizzeria in Gilbert!!!!
(2)Jennifer L.
been here before. Food is great, fresh bread. But we found a piece of metal from pot and pan scrubber in the pasta n hair in the bread this time.....but the bill was taken care n we were ask to come back with a $25 gift card. We'll come back again just hope the chef doesnt make us chef speical again.....PLZZZZZZ
(2)Ally R.
Going to have to give Babbos 1 star now. On my previous review I gave them 3. Management responded to my previous review and asked me to contact them so that they could "make up for my visit". Well guess what, after two lousy emails from "management" nothing has been done. It's been 3 weeks and they have not delivered on any of their promises. Seriously people? What a poor display of customer service.
(1)Cara C.
I had a wonderful experience at Babbo tonight! Seated right away, server came to our table right after we were seated for our drink order. Wine is good and very reasonably priced. All 3 of the entrees we ordered were amazing! Even the bread is delicious! Nicole was our server and she couldn't have been more accommodating. We will be back!!!
(5)Tina S.
Really enjoyed this restaurant that was referred to me by Mr. Jimmy J. Love this place and so glad it's close to home. Had the Pasta Valducci and it was very tasty! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Janice W.
So I have heard good things about this place from my coworker and decided to try it out. I ordered take out and ordered Alfredo supremo with chicken. When I opened the lid, there was hardly any pasta and was covered with chicken. I called the restaurant and spoke to the manager asking him if this was a normal dinner portion since I have never been there, and he replied "yes it's normal, all our pastas are pre-portioned." I was very disappointed before I had even taken a bite of the food. If I had known that it was that small, I would have gone to Olive Garden and gotten double the portion for cheaper prize. The food ended up being good, but it was a tease.
(2)Danielle T.
Oh Babbo. I love you, but you've done me wrong this time. I have been to Babbo a few times and a few different locations. The first Babbo experience i had was the one located in Cave Creek, and it was amazing. I was eating dairy then, and had the Alfredo Supreme. The bread at the table is so good. And I tried one of my sisters zucchini chips. Those are addicting. The next two times I went to the Babbo located in Phoenix. I had the chalkboard menu with the portabello with beets and brussels sprouts. It was good, but greasy. The side of vegetables were dried out and gross though. The time after that I was no longer eating dairy, so I had the Roasted Brussels SproutBeet Salad with no cheese, and I really liked it. I had been waiting for this location in Tempe to open up for quite awhile. I drove by the space a few months ago and when it said "Babbo coming soon!" I got so excited. I added Babbo to my facebook and waited for the day that it opened. Well, last week we got the chance to finally go and we decided to take my mom for her birthday dinner. From the start, we could tell the experience was not going to be that great. It was busy, which was because it had just opened. But this location has such a small waiting area. You are almost forced to stand outside in the 100 degree heat to wait for a table. It took us about twenty minutes to get a table, which wasn't that bad. We had noticed when we walked in that there was this fat old guy in a chefs hat circling the tables. We were making jokes about how the chef should be in the kitchen, and not visiting tables. If he was the chef and wasn't cooking, who was? Anyways, we sat down and looked at our menus. I noticed the new roasted garlic hummus and we ordered that. I double checked with the waitress that there was no dairy in it and told her that I also have a dairy allergy as well as being vegan. So after we ordered that and it came out we ordered dinner. My husband ordered the Amalfi pizza, I ordered the brussels sprout beet salad again with no cheese, and my mom ordered a pasta dish. The hummus came out and it was pretty darn amazing. I wanted to order like a tub of it to take it home with me. I am going to have to go home and experiment with roasted garlic in my hummus. We seemed to be waiting a long time for our food, which also was expected because it was so busy. Not once, but TWICE, the old fat guy in the chefs hat came by to see how we were doing. He saw both times we had no food and claimed he was going to go find out about why it was taking so long but instead he just walked to the next table. So probably another ten minutes goes by and finally the food comes out, and before the waiter has even dropped the food on the table I already see there is cheese on my salad. Before he sets it down I tell him I ordered it with no cheese because I am allergic. So he tells me he is going to get me a new one. Less than a minute later the salad comes back and he goes "Ok we just did a quick swap" Which I assumed meant they had another one ready back there and gave me a new one. No, it meant he went back there and scraped off the cheese and gave me the same salad. NOTE TO RESTAURANTS EVERYWHERE: this does not fool customers even in the slightest. I have had multiple establishments do this to me in the past and I can always tell. They seem to think the customer is retarded and can't see the tiny specs of cheese still clinging to lettuce leaves. So I refuse to eat it of course, and the waitress comes back and I tell her that the cheese has just been scraped off and there is still some in the actual salad. She tells me how sorry she is and goes to make me a new one. It was another fifteen minutes before I received a new one, which at that point I just wanted to go home. The manager, I am assuming, and the old fat chef come to the table to tell me how sorry they are and how inexcusable it was. They made the excuse that the cook was new, but I am sorry, that shouldn't happen anywhere. Food allergies are a serious thing and cooks should receive training on it before they even step foot in the kitchen. So we eat and finish, and here is the part that makes me angry. The waitress comes by and tells us to save room for dessert because its on them. Uhhh.... I don't eat dairy or eggs, yet they are going to salvage their mistake with dessert? Makes a whole lot of sense. NOT! So instead of offering to take off my salad for my inconvenience they don't do anything, and we didn't get dessert. And then here is the kicker.... My husband ended up in the hospital the next morning at 5am because the pizza he ate here was so greasy, it aggravated his gallstones (which were diagnosed that morning at the hospital) and now he has to have surgery to have his gallbladder removed. So thanks for that Babbo. I am giving this one star because my experience here was just so outrageous, it felt like a bad joke that I didn't get the punchline to.
(1)Rose L.
The new Babbo on Ray & Rural is very clean and a little on the swanky side. Very nice ambiance. Service was excellent. Our waitress was awesome. The bread was tasty. But our food was just ok. Not sure if I will go back since both meals were just mediocre. And, I don't understand why Babbo puts the salad on such a small plate that it spills over the side. If you aren't too picky & you love all Italiain food this might be worth a try.
(3)toli b.
Great food, great service, a bit more expensive than I expected, but the portion was good. Definitely going back and trying the happy hour as well.
(4)Steven L.
I first had their food at work when they catered our lunch twice. Everyone loved it. I then went to the resteraunt on a date with my wife and we loved their homemade bread. Their salad was amazing as well as their pasta. I love that they are locally owned and not a big chain resteraunt. I will be back!
(5)Brendan W.
Excellent calazone.
(4)Jill R.
This restaurant is very family friendly ad the prices are great. Lots of choices and tasty too. Definitely have to come back and order something new.
(4)Caroline M.
We'd been watching them overhaul the new Tempe location for over a year now, and I was hoping that the time they were taking with the construction would be reflected in the quality of their food. Plus, we've been hoping for something different to choose from, as we're so burned out on all the other restaurants in the Warner Ranch/Casa Paloma area, and really had high expectations for babbO. Alas... Went here for Mother's Day. The hostesses tried to jam us into a tiny table against the window, next to a HUGE party (~16 ppl)... not you don't. Finally got the table that had just been sitting there, empty, for 20 minutes, while three of them debated whether to put us at the window table, pointing at us and at that tiny table as they talked. Oh boy. Everything initially was fine, plus we had great service with our waitress - she really took care of us (I can't remember her name, but she was a tall girl with bleached blond hair, a dazzling smile, and a great sense of humor), hence the three stars. The breadsticks are to die for and so is their pistachio mozzarella appetizer. My blood orange margarita tasted more like really acidic grapefruit juice, which was a bummer; no more bar orders for me here other than beer. The entrees were very disappointing, which is where I'm dinging them. My husband frowned after the food was delivered and muttered, "I sense Costco grade something." He got pasta primavera (I think with chicken added), I got the pasta limone with chicken, and our son got meatballs off the kids' menu. We liked our food in general, but it wasn't sensational. I think my husband was right in that the chicken was precooked and frozen, because the texture and taste was off. Not horrible, but definitely not fresh. I will say our son devoured the meatballs, but he's a hungry kid, so... The food was definitely not worth the $50 bill. I guess we'll give them another shot when they work the knots inherent in a busy opening weekend. However, the first impression food-wise isn't really great. Oh, and by the way, don't make a big deal that a dish has fusilli pasta (bolded and in red on the menu like it's the coolest thing ever!) - served with FUSILLI!!omglolzers kinda crap - when it's just spiral pasta you can get in a mac and cheese box. That wasn't fusilli, guys. I know that's kinda nitpicky, but unneeded pretension is just dumb.
(3)Kimberly B.
my first visit- my family goes here often for the 5.99 Mon/Tue marinara pasta with 2 amazing meatballs. Seriously great recipe and preparation as they were moist and not over worked. Fine dining restaurant rarely get this right. Also the salad mixed greens with great dressing, pine nuts, feta, raisins- very nicely done. Service is where the delivery happens.... was not 'present' as in we asked for a cup for coffee to go. They don't have to go for hot drinks so she brought an empty to go cup/styrofoam which is fine,thought she expected for us to put the cold 1/2 cup of coffee into the cup. Also came with a plastic lid (like for a soda which is fine if that is all they have) and a straw! Then when we asked for a box for left over entree, she only brought one for that, instead of one also for all the bread and garlic butter we had left. She was just not observant, young and just needs some good training to deliver the product you are selling- as she was basically friendly. Atmosphere, very nice for a place in a strip mall. Cheers
(4)Nicole H.
Even though it was my first time in, it is my new favorite restaurant! I can't wait to go back in and try more. They had so much to offer and a lot of dishes you wouldn't expect to see on a ordinary italian restaurants menu. Not to mention the service was great and the inside is beautiful (even the bathrooms! There's a chandelier in the family bath!) The prices were fair and we loved the happy hour! I came in the other day at about 5:30 and was seated right away. My server not only let me know that it was happy hour but also made great suggestions on what to get. My husband tried their draft beer and I ordered myself a margarita. I was so shocked to see that they had premium liquor and it was included in the happy hour. Most places only give you their well but they had almost all of their drinks with the premium liquor on happy hour! Our server even brought us over waters without us asking. We got the roasted asparagus as an appetizer which was recommended by our server. It was so good the way they cooked it! I don't usually like asparagus but it was so good! It even came with a side salad of some sort which was great as well. It was about time for us to order our food and our server had again made more recommendations for us. She really knew what she was talking about and made the big menu not as scary to choose something. She even saw that our drinks were getting low and asked us if we wanted another round before happy hour ended. Our food came in a prompt manner and was steaming hot when it arrived. I tried the garlic shrimp and my husband had a calzone. Man was that thing huge! It was about the size of a football! Both dishes were really good and the bread that came with it was so addicting! My husband tried to finish his calzone but didn't quite. I was shocked to see that our lovely server brought over not only a container for the calzone but even a little one for his marinara. She offered us the after dinner menu and we took a look but we were stuffed. It looked like a good variety of "family style" and smaller portioned desserts for two. I highly recommend trying the place out if you live near or are in the area!
(5)C H.
This place is awesome... have been to other locations around the valley and always consistent... keeps getting better each time. Really good high quality food, reasonable portions and prices... great for a date, take-out, family night or catering. Way to go... much needed in this little corner of the Tempe/Chandler area... thanks!
(5)Vivian N.
Great food, great service, each and every time. I have been the other Babbo locations and have always received great service and food. The server comes around quickly to take your drink and food order. The food comes out piping hot and quick. This place is really close to my work, being able to come in and out within the hour for lunch is really important to me. Each and every time I go for lunch I was always able to get out quick. Love this place!
(5)Marisa V.
I've been wanting to try Babbo since the place first opened in Tempe. I've heard wonderful things and I'm a sucker for pasta and all things Italian. We ordered a kids pizza for my nephew. It was a nice size personal pizza that was as delicious as it looked. Wonderful sauce and two HUGELY amazing meatballs for their spaghetti. The focaccia bread was yummy too! It was a busy, late weeknight for us so we had to takeout, although I really wanted to dine in. So why the 2 stars you ask?...back to the long day...I order over the phone to take out. 2 orders of the spaghetti and meatballs and 1 children's pizza. Pick up in 20 mins. Done. Go inside the wait wasn't long for takeout. I pay. Done. I drive home, a good 25 mins away from Babbo. Get home. I'm starving. Unpack and wait...where's the 2nd order of spaghetti? Look at the receipt, I paid for both...look again. No 2nd spaghetti. Bummer. I call and the person who helped me was very nice. I explain that I live to far to just stop in again and she offers to give me a "free" spaghetti. Again, very nice person but wait, you offer me a "free" spaghetti? It's not free! I already paid for it. Someone that works there neglected to make sure the order was complete. Ok, maybe I should have checked BUT then again the ticket stapled to my bag had the order correct but what was actually in my bag was it correct. I'm just really bummed because one person in my family was out a meal this night. I really, really wanted to like Babbo. Maybe if I ever go get my paid for/ free spaghetti ill have a change of heart. LONG STORY SHORT: NEVER ASSUME YOUR ORDER IS CORRECT WHEN USING TAKEOUT OPTION HERE!
(2)Mary S.
Stopped in for lunch after bragging about the one near Arrowhead.. food was good but the very bad service basically ruined the meal.. ordered the brussel sprout beet salad with dressing on the side.. no dressing.. had to flag someone down.. could not get more coffee.. had to continually flag someone down to get something.. and it was an early lunch so there were very few people there.. Waitress was not attentive at all in my opinion.. a side note.. . I do not think it is sanitary to leave plates of bread uncovered out on tables in the patio area with no one seated there.. gross. That may save the servers time but not healthy..
(2)Anonymous C.
We went to Babbo on valentines day. There was just one more table occupied beside ours. I ordered Cacciatore Style Chicken pasta. The chicken was overcooked and the pasta was pretty much tasteless. We let the server know and he took forever to come back. Instead a girl came and spoke to us with such an attitude. We have decided not to go to this place ever again. The food was disappointing but the bigger disappointment was their attitude. Our server was not that bad but he was extremely slow even though there was just one more table occupied. But we are never coming back again to this place!
(1)Axe P.
Really good just opened on Monday
(4)Austin D.
My coworkers and I were looking for a quick, in and out, italian place to grab a late lunch. Could not have been more pleased to stumble upon Babbo's. I read some other comments saying they just opened up, but from the way it's run, I could never tell. We got in around 3:40 and I was delighted to find out about their Happy Hour (3:30-6:00). We ordered an assortment of wine which was surprisingly delicious. I'm not a big wine guy but my boss is and he was freaking out about it and ended up grabbing a bottle to take home. What made it even better was that a glass of wine is super cheap during Happy Hour. We told our server, a knowledgeable tall gentleman, that we needed to be in and out and he assured us our food would be out ASAP. I ordered the Alfredo Supremo With Chicken which was relatively inexpensive, filled me up, and I was able to box half of it up for the wife to enjoy later. The waiter came back with separate checks promptly after we finished our meals as if he knew we were going to ask. After a great dining experience, we were in and out in less than 30 minutes. This is my new italian get away!
(5)Liz S.
I went online to place a to go order. I arrived 15 minutes after I ordered. I paid my food and the supervisor did not even ask me if I have taken my food or not, all he did was just getting my money and then he left maybe he thought I have my food with me. Few minutes after that, a waiter came and told me the food is almost ready. Well it was not. I approached him 15 minutes after he said the food is almost ready and asked him if they have prepared my food before I came. He then asked the chef who apparently told him that the food was burned. If that's the case, the manager did not even say sorry or do anything, i did not even see the manager. Oh BTW only 3 tables that were filled in the entire place, so it's not like they were busy or something. I sat there and waiting and waiting and after 45 minutes after I placed the order, I got my food. What does this tell me? 1. Manager does not care about customer yet in this economy business can survive if they have good customers based. A good restaurant I would imagine will be packed during the weekend, This place was never packed during the weekend. .2. The supervisor knew that I have been waiting for 30 minutes and yet did not say anything. 3. Just make me wonder if employee of this place even care about making this place a good restaurant/business? Food is just OK, nothing special. There are many other Italian restaurant out there that provides good food and customer service. By far the worst customer service I ever received in a restaurant. Try other place before you eat here. If employees do not care about their restaurant, I would wonder about the food too.
(1)Eric L.
Went once after this place just opened. Very disappointed. Over salty pasta and mediocre apps. Service was ok. Will not returned.
(1)Cherry M.
Tried Babbo last night for date night and it was super! The bread that comes before your meal is really delicious. I ordered the chicken limone and added the asparagus ($2.50). The pasta was cooked to perfection, wasn't too oily and I thought I got a good portion of asparagus that was added. I, however, was totally out dinnered by my husband that ordered a make your own calzone. This thing was massive and impressive! He filled it with sausage, mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes. DELISH! Just the right amount of cheese and their marinara sauce (that comes on the side for dipping) is outstanding. We will be back and I will be ordering something with red sauce! Service was good and it looked like they had an awesome happy hour menu. I wish I had room for dessert as that menu also looked good! This place hits a home run for family's, date nights or just hanging out with friends. Really laid back and chill atmosphere, but still sophisticated. They also had a really nice patio area, complete with bubbling fountain, which I'm sure will be awesome after we are below 150 degrees!
(4)Lynn K.
Increasing to 3 stars. Went back and had a lovely dinner. Service was great and our pasta was delish!
(4)Ron P.
This was the first time that we have eaten at Babbo and we opted for take-out. No complaints about the staff they were all nice...but oh my goodness...the food...one word sums it up...blech. We both ordered the chicken marinara sandwiches which we later found out were no longer on the menu at this location...and we decided to split an order of spaghetti and marinara. I asked for some extra marinara sauce for my sandwich...I asked for it on the side as in a small container...it was on my sandwich and it made it too messy to pick up. My first bite nearly made me fall off my chair...the focaccia bread was so salty that the roof of my mouth was burning...and each subsequent bite was the same...I tried scraping it off the bottom but it was too far baked into the bread to do that. Now everyone who knows me knows that I salt salt...that is not a typo...salt is a food group for me...they really over did this spice. The chicken was tough and tasteless. The spaghetti with marinara sauce actually needed some salt...or some taste...it too was awful. We do take-out four or five nights a week and the food is always fine..we never have any complaints no matter what we order...I am watching my husband tidy up and there is a ton of food left...he asked what I wanted him to do with it and I said throw it all out...he normally eats the leftovers but he doesn't want any of it. I have a stomach ache from all of the salt and my mouth still feels weird from it. Why so much salt on bread? I have a heart condition and high blood pressure. I think if people want salt it should be their choice to add it...this was our first and our last visit to Babbo. My husband is more tolerant than I am about bad food...I told him he could probably save all of the chicken that I didn't eat and put it on a sub roll for lunch tomorrow...he said no thanks...and he just remarked that it was about as disappointing a meal as you can get. Wish I could give it a bunch of minus stars. Blech. blech...blech!
(1)Susan S.
I LOVE Babbo! A new location opened near my office (Ray & Rural), and a friend said she loved the food from eating at other locations, so I decided to try it. 8 visits (making me the mayor of Babbo on Foursquare!) I can say that the food is amazing, and the service is outstanding. The location is quiet, making it a great place to take business guests from out of town to lunch, or to relax and enjoy. Their crown jewel is the bread they put on the table prior to your meal arriving. I have never had better bread. It's soft and flavorful, and soaks up the olive oil and balsamic dipping sauce like a champ. The salads are fresh and bursting with flavor, the pastas are fresh, pizzas taste delicious, but my favorite is the Smoked Turkey sandwich, which comes on that amazing bread. I can honestly say that every time I have been here, the food and service have been consistently wonderful. I will be back many, many times over.
(5)