Abruzzi
780 7th St, Arcata, CA, 95521
Abruzzi Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Arcata for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Arcata for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Arcata for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
780 7th St
Arcata, CA, 95521 - Phone (707) 826-2345
- Website https://www.abruzziarcata.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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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Candace C.
We ate here tonight for my birthday....my meal was probably the best meal I have ever eaten....for being here for the first time...it was amazing...would recommend it to everyone I know when they come to arcata.....wow is all I can say.....best Italian food ever! :-) the server was amazing ! :-)
(5)Geoffrey D.
Let me start off this review by giving a brief back story on how my wife, young daughter, and I came to enjoy this wonderful meal. It was my birthday and my wife and I had decided to stay in town for the celebration. We had no plans set in stone, save for the delightful fact that dinner would be at Abruzzi! So it was early in the day and we were strolling around the plaza and my wife decided she would run in and make reservations for the evening. She was met by Chef Josh Wiley. She explained that it was my birthday and we had hoped to reserve a table for the two of us and our young daughter that evening. Upon hearing that it was a celebration, Josh offered to design a tasting menu just for us; complete with wine pairings to boot!! I mean wow! Yea! Ok! Later that evening we arrived to find our favorite table set and ready. We were greeted by the hostess and our server. They had already been informed of our special menu:) As our daughter was napping in her stroller, her menu was put on hold:) Josh soon came over to greet us and introduce himself and his special menu. There is something so fun about a tasting menu. You get to trust that the Chef will create a bevy of deliciousness...and wow he did not disappoint!!! On to the food.....! Chef Wiley started us off with a glass of sparkling wine that paired ever so nicely with the first course: seafood crudo...an amazingly fresh mix of raw seafoods including scallops and halibut so fresh that you swore he caught it himself! Next we enjoyed a white wine with the chilled duck over salad greens and delectably sweet strawberries. Mmmmm:) Onward to a filet of sea bass cooked to perfection....I mean this fish was glistening it was so moist! The sauce was light and full of subtle nuances. My mouth is watering just remembering it! On to the pasta course!! Fresh pea agnolotti in a brown butter sauce with toasted pine nuts...and when I say fresh, I mean they make the ravioli in the Italian shop upstairs (aka Pasta Luego) exclusively for Abruzzi. P.S. In case you don't know, brown butter is amazing:) Time for a palette cleansing:) A cucumber lime shaved ice....very cool. Refreshed and ready for the veal. Paired with a delicious Italian red that complemented it oh so well. The veal was tender and served over a creamy polenta that just melted in our mouths. To our amazement, that was not the main entree!!! Josh said, "I hope you guys are still hungry, because we have beef coming up!" We were delighted:) Our entree was served with a fantastic full-bodied red wine that stood up quite nicely against the filet mignon. Our filets were coached to a perfect medium rare and featured a housemade potato gnocchi in a Gorgonzola cream sauce. Needless to say, it exploded with flavor! Our dessert course featured a trio of classic Italian sweets: tiramisu, panna cotta, and a flour-less chocolate cake....need I say more? A perfect finish to a perfect meal. I should also mention that our daughter did eventually wake up in time to enjoy a yummy bowl of pasta in butter and parmesan. She enjoyed it and even had seconds:). Josh had also mused that her courses were to have been paired with various fruit juices to complement her meal. How cool is that?! A tasting menu for a 2-year old:) We have always been pleased with our experiences at Abruzzi, but this is actually the first Yelp review I have ever written. My wife and I were just so impressed by our service from the hostess, our server who kept the pace flowing perfectly, and of course by Chef Josh Wiley himself. To take the time and effort to create a special menu for us with only a few hours notice is just so fantastic. And then for that menu to blow us away like it did....bravo Josh:). Thank you again for your creative generosity! You and your staff made it a birthday to remember! Thank you so much. Now I must finish writing and post this review because we are off to enjoy yet another of Chef Wiley's tasting menus! This time the special occasion IS the meal itself:) Everyone should eat here! Your taste buds will thank you.
(5)check p.
Wow, we are camping in Patrick Point State Park, and stopped at Abruzzi for happy hour, before buying ingredients for camp dinner. We did not make it to the store, because the food at Abruzzi was so good. Happy hour is amazing. I had a pint (a whole pint!) of woodchuck cider. We had kumamoto oysters, with three sauces, steamed clams in broth, a locally sourced plate of salad greens, a plate of deliciously sauteed brussell sprouts, and a chilled melon soup (with prosciutto). The accompanying bread(with olive oil and vinegar) sopped up the clam broth. Then we noticed that the pastas were all house made, so we had to try a plate. Wow, the spaghetti was round and al dente with real taste, the three big meatballs were home made and this evening, included buffalo, and the marinara was perfect. The setting was ideal, a small low lit basement place, with beautiful jazz in the background. What could be better? And we made it to sunset at the State Park, where we saw the green flash at sunset!!! As good as it gets.
(5)Kristin S.
The food and the atmosphere are both amazing. Pretty pricey, but worth the money. The cheese board is one of my top five desert island foods and everything I've ever tried off the menu is perfectly prepared and exceptionally delicious. We went tonight for dinner and were surprised to get really poor service. We ordered water & drinks quickly, only to have our waitress disappear for over 15 minutes. We could see our drinks sitting on the bar, waiting to be brought out. We were eventually able to flag down our waitress- she did not apologize, but instead blamed it on the fact that they were training a new bartender and the drinks weren't ready yet. The bartender at this point was within view, not making any drinks, just waiting for orders & wiping down the bar. She then went over to the bar, chatted with another waitress for about five minutes, then brought us the (no longer cold) drinks that had been on the bar the whole time. We had similar problems after dinner when we waited for 20 minutes after declining dessert to get our check. There were other small issues, ie no chatting from the waitress, no offer of Parmesan or drink refills. The food was divine, but hard to feel good about dropping $100 on dinner for two when the service is erratic at best. It didn't appear especially busy, but guessing there were staffing issues tonight? This was not representative of the service we usually get here and this was the only time we've eaten here when a manager didn't check in to see how everything was. In fairness, there were two other servers working in our section and they appeared to give their tables exceptional service. Just not our night maybe. Still, this is usually the place we choose for special occasions because of the price point. I'll now be hesitant to come here and risk marring a special day with poor service- especially because there are so many good options nearby. We'll probably eat next time at Brick & Fire, Folie Douce, Three Foods, Renata's or Crush- all super delicious and so far, always give great service! If we do come back, I'll update this review with whether the poor service today was just a fluke.
(3)Lauren P.
Came in on a whim last night, July 8th, around 7pm. Despite how busy it seemed, we were able to be seated immediately. Our server, Ashley, helped us pick out a bottle of wine that fit both of our palettes. She was knowledgable and very kind. We started with the Cheese Board and the bread appetizers. The bread was unheated, and came with butter and an olive oil/balsamic vinegar plate. The Cheese Board was delicious! It came with fontina, gorgonzola, and double-cream brie cheeses, a truffled honey, candied walnuts, and about 6 crostini. The crostini were perfectly seasoned with salt and pepper, and tasted fresh. The cheeses were yummehhh. I wish there had been a few more crostini to match the amount of cheese. The plate is just right to share between two people. For our entrees, we chose the Pesto Linguini and the Eggplant Parmesan. The pesto tasted very fresh. I appreciate that all of the pasta is handmade upstairs by Pasta Luego. The Eggplant Parmesan came with two crispy, breaded eggplant pieces on a bed of marinara spaghetti. It was a huge portion! Both dishes came with a large pile of fresh parmesan on top, which I loved. We both practically licked our plates clean. Aaaand then we ordered dessert. We got the Dessert of the day: their Affogato Chocolate Paradiso with vanilla bean ice cream and sea salt. It is essentially a slice of their dense, thick, creamy chocolate paradiso cake topped with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and sea salt, and when Ashley brought it to the table, she poured a shot of espresso around and on top. My belly screamed, "No! Stop!" with every bite, but my taste buds encouraged me through. So gooood! Overall, Abruzzi offers a more elegant atmosphere than most restaurants in the Arcata area, complete with knowledgable, reliable service and tasty dishes.
(4)Stefani H.
Found this place on google after looking for Italian places in the area. We walked in and were greeted by several staff members which was very nice. We were asked if we had a reservation (which we did not) and were seated right away. We started with the cheese board and bread/olive oil appetizers and both were delicious. I got the The Rum Situation and my friend got the Lavender Lemon Drop for drinks. The Rum Situation was tasty and heavy on the rum so if that's you're thing (like mine) that's where it's at. The Lavendar Lemon Drop was good but not for my personal taste. For dinner I got the Fillet Minon, my friend got the spicy sausage dish and my mother got the pesto linguine. They were all amazing! Prices were definitely reasonable as well. Keely, our waitress, was awesome and very nice. She recommended several drinks and told us in detail about dishes. Overall, I would come back here on the way through California. Definitely recommend stopping by!
(5)Zin M.
Highly recommend Abruzzi if you are looking to have a nice dinner in a cozy settling. Perfect location for locals, near Arcata Plaza. Intimate space with great service and selection. Full bar with local beers on tap. Got to try a variety of their pastas and it as all delicious. This is definitely one of my go to places when we are hosting visitors.
(4)Crystal F.
Walked here for dessert last night & it was incredible!!! The bartender was overly helpful & picking a wine to go with what I had been drinking already earlier in the evening. Then watching him make drinks was a show in itself!!! The flourless cake was over the top incredible! Next date night we eat HERE for more than just dessert!
(5)Viktoria B.
I've stayed in Arcata a number of times over the years as I traverse the California coast and visit the redwoods. I live in Los Angeles, where we certainly have our share of excellent Italian restaurants. Abruzzi's offerings are certainly competitive, and I highly recommend this restaurant to travelers who wish to dine on carefully prepared cuisine. In addition, Chris provided me with the best table for solo diners in the house and pointed out where I could plug in my devices. That coveted table even has a light strong enough to illuminate the solo diner's reading. My server, Ashley, was delightful. Everyone on board from kitchen to the floor seemed to be functioning well as a team, which contributes to a positive ambiance. I started with the kombucha squash ravioli in brown butter...three ravioli for ten dollars. Delicious! Then moved on to the soup of the day, a creamy carrot-fennel with a kick of heat and drizzled with balsamico. For the main meal I chose the ruby trout, butterflied and grilled, and served over a divine concoction of leek, chard, cannelini bean, and fresh herbs. I've just finished the leftovers for breakfast, which prompts to report in this review. To top it off I splurged on their very yummy tiramisu for dessert. Also had a couple of glasses of Montepulciano red. And in the end, they called me a cab. I can't recommend Abruzzi highly enough for the discerning diner.
(5)Alina B.
Abruzzi's is one of my favorite places to go for a fancy dinner. There's a very elegant atmosphere there, and all the staff are professional and friendly. Everything on the menu tastes great, you can't go wrong! Like many upscale restaurants, they tend to focus on meat-based dishes, which I'm sure are delicious as well, but they need more vegetarian options in a town like Arcata! My only complaint is that I often have a hard time selecting something with the limited vegetarian options on the menu. I think abruzzi's could easily maintain their upscale, gourmet taste while adding a couple dishes without meat to the menu. They often have some amazing specials that i would love to see incorporated into the standard menu. I would recommend abruzzi's to anyone looking for fine dining, be sure to try the vanilla ice cream with sea salt and olive oil for dessert!
(4)Tim S.
I had a wonderful meal at Abruzzi between Christmas and New Year's. As a walk-in and single diner, I chose to eat at the bar. It was an excellent choice, as the Sunday bartender, Alyssa, was superb, balancing knowledge of product (both food and wine), with the right amount of professionalism and personal attention. I ordered the spicy sausage fusili al forno, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely come back to Abruzzi the next time I am in town.
(4)Adam P.
The quality of Abruzzis has dropped considerably over the years. This used to be one of the finest restaurants in Humboldt and the smoked salmon fettuccine was of what dreams were made. Unfortunately those days are gone and what's left is a restaurant with a good ambiance, pleasant waiters, but overpriced food lacking in taste.
(2)Robert C.
Best Italian on the North Coast. Been coming here since 1985 or so and I can't speak highly enough...compares to the best in SF!! Last meal was March 2015...I had Linguine Pescara and it was fantastic. Great service....great ambience....and it's location just off the town square in Arcata makes for a place to stroll around after dinner! Love this place....a little pricey but I have no problem paying for excellence!!
(5)Mama S.
I have been here numerous times over the years and have yet to be disappointed. I usually get the duck breast because I haven't found anywhere else in HumCo that does it near as well. My hubby got the Saltimbocca on our most recent visit and it was delicious as well. Other past favorites have been the smoked salmon fettuccini alfredo and lobster when they have it on special. Very good experience all around.
(5)Dan C.
We loved this gem in Arcata. Dark, quiet, might even say elegant, Abruzzi has a limited menu that features duck and fish along with Italian entrees. We started with raw scallops, which were delicious. We then shared, as we always do, two entrees: the duck salad and the salmon. Both were excellent; the polenta was an unexpected treat. The wine list was decent for a small town, the service outstanding.
(4)Craig J.
Excellent service and fantastic food, made a reservation only a couple hours earlier, the place was packed when we arrived yet we were treated like honored guests. Table for two no waiting and everything was superb, our server did a fantastic job of recommending wines, describing menu items and made us feel very welcome. Wonderful atmosphere too.
(5)Jason R.
Really a great italian restaurant. We had no reservations but were seated quickly. Server was friendly and efficient. Food very favorable and well presented. I had the cheese board appetizer to start out with and a lemon drop martini, spaghetti with marinara and meatballs. For desert the panna cotta. To top it off the owner Chris even came to our table to chat with us a bit. What a wonderful place!
(5)Beth D.
We were vacationing in the area from Beaverton, OR and found this little gem based on a local search. I'm a big review reader. This place had more up's than down's so we gave it a shot. I'm so happy we did! Outstanding food and service! The pasta is homemade and so delicious. Ignore any negative reviews and give this place a try. You won't be disappointed!!
(5)Genevieve M.
Never had a bad meal there. The food is always exquisite and service is professional. We brought the family from out of town, and they really liked it. My only disappointment is that they don't have an espresso machine to finish the night at an excellent Italian restaurant.
(5)Mike H.
One of the classier places in Humboldt. My wife and I enjoyed a couple of nice meals while living there for a year. Pasta is delicious and it's the atmosphere that takes it from a 3 to a 4. I order the eggplant parm and my wife enjoys the Alfredo. $ range?: two meals, wine/cocktails, and appetizer comes out to 55 bucks
(4)Courtney W.
It used to be really good, traditional Italian. Now it seems like it has changed hands... I also found the hostess to be borderline rude. No, we didn't have a reservation, but having us wait 30 minutes in your half-empty restaurant was just strange. The food has gotten a little wild as well, almost like the chef is experimenting. One of the dishes was this weird spaghetti, with mint and artichoke, sitting in a half-inch of starchy water. I think this was our last visit.
(3)John S.
This seems to be one of the nicest Italian restaurants I have had the pleasure of frequenting. The food is excellent, the service is wonderful and the atmosphere is pleasant. Would recommend to anyone who visits Arcata.
(5)Lori S.
One of the best meals of my life. The appetizer (cheese board with honeyed walnuts), to the pasta with Marsala sauce, to the ultimate desserts. Fabulous. I will be back. Delicious.
(5)DR M.
Now open for lunch. We had lunch here. New, simple menu. All items are served à la carte. Overpriced for what you get. Meal for two was a little over $30, with no food left over. The food was tasty, but not spectacular. Bread doesn't come with your meals. The waitress was efficient, the owner seemed stressed and uptight. We love coming here for dinner, but we think Mazzotti's on the plaza is a much better choice for lunch if you're craving Italian.
(3)Jeanne C.
Well we keep trying because they used to be one of the best Italian restaurants in Humbolt county but not really just plan average the desert was a disaster tasted like there was no sugar ugg!! Sorry guys keep trying!!
(2)Cate H.
Some new, tasty treats on the menu. Greatly appreciated the wine recommendation. Such a cozy spot on a chilly, winter night.
(5)E. S.
Went with my husband for the first time and was very disappointed: Agnolotti: it was fine, very heavy. Prosecco: they brought me my own tiny, single serving bottle, pour it yourself! Tomato Bisque: chunky and tart, not smooth and creamy. Scampi: Overcooked, gummy shrimp, no basil to speak of, the white wine and butter sauce turned out to be more like marinara. Caesar Salad: drowned in dressing Chicken, pancetta, and pasta dish (can't find the name): tasted like they overdid it on the maple syrup, why does this taste like breakfast? Yuck.
(1)Colleen F.
We've found "our" place in Humboldt (Arcata). Warm & cozy, friendly attentive service, honored our reservation, perfect dirty Grey Goose, and then there was dinner. Seared scallops w/fresh spinach, great little garlic toasts. Mr. Man's craving for steamers was well satisfied by the succulent serving over linguine, excellent dipping broth. The lasagna met the "comfort food" requirement, served with half Alfredo/half red meat sauce. Even if you don't save room for dessert, get a dish of spumoni - they serve the really yummy creamy one. The open kitchen is fascinating - the chef with the tattoo sleeves has some moves!
(5)Adina F.
I don't give 5 stars very easy so this only gets 4. Debated whether to go here after reading the reviews. But I thought it was awesome. It was $75 with tip but I had a half carafe of wine and mi amore a g&t and our 2 pastas were so big that they made for a great second meal. Saltimbocca...awesome! Prawns and sausage, check. Salads that came with the meal were not cashed in but very good and very fresh. Great olive oil for the bread. It reminded me of the old school Italian places we went to when in Philly. Definitely will go back next time I'm in Arcata.
(4)De5tin4 U.
It was ok from the start. I left a voicemail message rsvp and no one called to confirm. Since we were having an early dinner we took our chances. We were seated - fine. The wait staff is very friendly and they try to be professional, but there are some comments that i hope the establishment will take away from my posting: Wait staff - Waiters should not scream out orders to the bartenders. I heard it all the way across the room. It destroyed the ambiance Ambiance - It is really nice and romantic. It is dimly lit with soothing jazz or classical music. Wine - Mediocre. I had a glass of sanvignon blanc and tempranillo. Mediocre Food Starters - Raw Oysters that came with lemon and olive oil (ok), tomato sauce (typical cocktail), and pesto (absolute NO. It is too strong of a taste and it took over the raw oyster. The chef should try wasabi or champagne dressing next time). ALSO, there were lots of shell pieces or something when you eat the oysters making it very unenjoyable when you have to take pieces of shell out of your mouth! We had 1/2 dozen and it happened 3 times! - Bread basket and olive oil. Bread basket was bland and very unexciting. The restaurants should just get a french baguette from Winco's and i would be more impressed. Olive oil was ok but not bad. Entrees - Spicy red sauce fettuccine with seafood: not enough seafood and pasta was overcooked - Spaghetti with filet mignon Bolognese: The bolognese was very good except the pasta was way overcooked. - 1/2 order of "truffle" risotto. There was NO hint of risotto. I saw some black shavings but there was no scent or taste of truffle oil. I was seriously disappointed. We did not get dessert. Pros- the staff is very accommodating. I was allowed to swap out spaghetti with fettuccinne and order 1/2 portion of the risotto.
(3)Leo W.
Saltimbocca = HEAVEN. With each bite, I was taken to a far away place, a land of peace and happiness, a place where nobody gained weight, where everyone was happy all of the time, where wars didn't exist, where children didn't scream or cry and where skunks smelled like roses. As close to five star dining as I've received in this fine town, and I slept like a newborn.
(5)Krystal M.
Service was good. Our waiter was very classy even though we were in jeans and tee shirts. The room is set up well with dim lighting and an open kitchen. The tomato bisque was yummy and they brought more bread to go with it without me even asking. The Caesar salad was nice and I told my waiter when he told me about the anchovies garnish that I loved them, so he brought out extra which was very thoughtful. The soup and salad we well seasoned so I expected my scallop and risotto dish to be seasoned well but I felt it had very little flavor at all. Plus i love risotto for that creamy texture you get by really stirring it and giving it some love, this risotto was a little more like a rice with veggies in it. My husband liked his halibut but he rarely adds salt to anything he cooks. The waiter did recommend a very nice glass of Chardonnay that wasn't oaky at all which I said I didn't like. Overall the service was good and very professional but the food really left me lacking. I would try them again but I'm not in a rush to make plans.
(3)Jeremiah B.
YUCK! Our waitress couldn't have put on a more fake customer service smile or been less attentive. The food was awful. We couldn't stop laughing. The crab cakes were about the size of a quarter each. For 15 dollars. At least we got a good laugh.
(1)Nichole D.
Will never go here again. Let me start with the positives, the service was decent. Our waiter (who was new) was attentive, but not overly so, and friendly. The atmosphere was pleasant; allot of seating available, dim lighting, nice and casual feeling to the place. The negatives, unfortunately were abundant. We were extremely disappointed with the food. My husbands meal was not much better than Chef Boyardee. He ordered the sausage pasta dish. The noodles were so mushy and the flavor was bland. The sauce tasted as if they just poured some canned tomatoes into the skillet. There was barely any sausage and a ridiculous amount of cheese (and we like a lot of cheese). It was honestly off putting and cost us $21.00. I got the filet and gnocchi. I left feeling gross. Everything was covered in too much thick cream, the gnocchi did not seem home made, was mushy, and possibly raw. My steak was overcooked. The drinks at Abruzzi were waaaaay overpriced. We were hopeful walking in and disappointed and borderline angry walking out. So sad.
(1)Jill D.
We love Abruzzi and have been coming here for special occasions or date nights since 2006. Always great food and wonderful service. They recently changed their menu a bit, and the food is still just as good, if not better. If you are at Costco in Eureka, you can pick up two $50 gift certificates ($100 total) for $80.
(5)G S.
Not what we were promised. I am diabetic and the entree I ordered was pork loin over creamy polenta with mixed vegetables. My husband ordered chicken sambuca fettuccine. The chicken was overdone the flavor was lacking. What I received was a lackluster pork loin with a cheddar risotto with bitter and underdone broccoli and asparagus. To make matters worse, the risotto was undercooked and crunchy. We were disappointed and will not be going back.
(2)Molli W.
I've been going to Abruzzi for over 10 years. The sweet pea agnolotti seriously takes my review from a three to a four. I mean, I crave them. Sometimes the pasta dishes can lack flavor, I don't know why... maybe lacking salt in the pasta itself or the cooking water. I don't know. But the duck is fantastic, and for some reason, my boyfriends food is always better than mine. They used to have a bell pepper sauce with their crab cakes that I really miss.
(4)Sam A.
Pricey, but in an acceptable way if you're bringing your parents or grandparents who are bankrolling your college tuition for a night on the town. I'm a huge fan of the pescatore dish, even though I've discovered as good or better in other regions. I have yet to get an acceptable alternative in this region of the USA. The service has always been good to me here, and other than the price, I whole-heartedly endource this restaurant.
(4)Joy E.
Italian is just better homemade, but Abruzzi does make good ravioli. Not really our go-to for nicer dinners in town.
(3)TL V.
Absolutely delicious pastas made in-house and fresh. The wine list is stupendous with relatively low mark-up. The service was outstanding. We had a wonderful meal.
(4)April W.
One of few fine dining jewels in the Emerald Coast, loved by locals and tourists alike - you're going to need a reservation. Prices range from $15 - $25 an entree, but Abruzzi is worth every penny. You have to try the pasta; they make it fresh, in house, every single day. My first experience with Abruzzi was a belated wedding reception for my roommates. One of the grooms best friends had missed the ceremony because of his Navy deployment, so during his next leave he insisted we all go out to his favorite restaurant - and forbid us to look at prices. Since I was not allowed to be concerned with how much my meal was going to cost I got a very unique chance to fully enjoy everything around me. After eating here, I have to add their non-alcoholic Sonoma Valley wines to the menu for my last meal on earth. I did not order it because I didn't want to drink; I actually drank quite a bit. I ordered it because I was told it was worth trying. I have never tasted anything so special, and the way it complemented my chicken pesto was magical. I think chicken pesto alfredo with linguine is now my favorite food. The service here is amazing. At our host's simple request, the chef came out and torched the creme brulee at our table, for our entertainment. The atmosphere is lovely. The inside has a slightly pub look to it, with two levels to it's sunken floor, dark wood accents, a wrap around bar, and low lighting. I think our bill ended up being nearly $360, for five people, but we did have a few bottles of wine. Abruzzi earned extra points with me a few months later, when the bride and I came back and told them we just couldn't find that non-alcoholic in any of the local groceries, natural food stores, or liquor shops. He said we were welcome to get them from him any time, $25 each, and he'd even order us a crate if we needed.
(5)Chris C.
It's hard for me to be unbiased about Abruzzi since I've had several memorable occassions there. I had my first date with my wife there and she also went into labor there (different days). We also had one of our last meals before moving away from Arcata here. I've never had a bad meal here. The food is better than average and there are some dishes I have really loved. The duck and pork tenderloin dishes stand out in my memory. And they make a great Americano cocktail - a favorite of mine. The ambiance is great and it's hard for me to say which holds the bigger appeal for me. Dark and spacious, it has always been "just right". When it was just me and my wife it was romantic and, now that we have a baby, we love that we can be far enough from other tables and have enough room for all the baby related activities that pretty much occupy our mealtimes now. Although the yelp listing says "not good for kids", I think you'd be alright with a very well behaved one . .we've never had an issue, anyway.
(4)Gudrun H.
While it was a bit peculiar that we had to wait 30 minutes to be seated in the half-full restaurant, our server Zoey was wonderfully attentive. The food was tasty.
(3)David F.
Came through here on vacation with my girlfriend a few months back. It is just off the plaza, not on it, on a little side street where you step down to enter. (It's not the same as Mazzoti's on the Plaza; I got them confused when I first posted this review!) The place is pretty, more than I was expecting for Arcata, with brick walls, little twinkly lights, subdued indirect lighting and nice solid wood tables. The large bar is not bad looking either with large mirrors and pillars. We came because they advertise gluten-free pasta and indeed they had decent GF fusilli; I had the bolognese sauce and it was good, ground beef taking a front seat to the other flavors. Truffled salad was forgettable. Negroni, a house special, was good, not great and missing the traditional orange-slice garnish. Wine list was excellent and got to introduce my girlfriend to real grappa at the end of the meal; that was fun. She drank beer on tap, and the whole thing - cocktail, two beers, glass of wine, grappa, salad, 2 pasta entrees, and a generous tip came to exactly $100, not bad at all. The service was a little silly, dressed-up college kids doing their best to be quiet and obsequious. We didn't have any problem with slow service; the waiter was friendly, unobtrusive, and handled my gluten-free questions gracefully and helpfully. Good value; we'll probably be back again and I'm looking forward to trying the veal chop.
(4)Shannon B.
Love them! Some of the best italain food I've had outside of Italy. Everything tastes amazing and they have a great wine list to top it off!
(5)Julie F.
New lunch menu is terrific. Great selections, fun mix, good and affordable! Great meeting place. Service is perfect, not intrusive. Good place for conversation, business and/or friends.
(4)Michael M.
The food was very good. I had the eggplant. It was very very good. Probably one of the best I have ever had. This is probably one of the best restaurants in Arcata for Italian food!
(4)Chris B.
Amazing Italian, in a classic fashion. This place isn't just a pasta and cheese restaurant, they serve authentic foods and have amazing flavor. They have a great wine selection and foods for everyone, the atmosphere is beautiful and quiet. You wouldn't be disappointed to visit this place at least once!
(5)Katherine P.
The restaurant was just okay. Service was okay, the tomato soup although yummy was way over salted. The salad was kind of strange too. It was pureed goat cheese on top of a mountain of spinach.
(2)Cindy Lou K.
We have dined here for many years for special occasions with the family. Recently we had our celebratory holiday dinner here with our party of 6. We called ahead for reservations, which I highly recommend. We were promptly seated and served. I had a house salad and lasagna with meat sauce. It was good, but average. What was really good was the chocolate cake we shared for dessert. The experience was fine and consistent to what we usually receive. I'm sure I'll be back.
(4)Cecil G.
I had heard a lot of really good things about this place so my boyfriend thought we should try it out as I was visiting for a short time and craving italian food. HORRIBLE mistake, I ordered a salad and a shirley temple to start off followed by a lasagna in marinara sauce. The salad was mediocre at best with nothing but lettuce tossed( if not soaked) in truffle dressing. As for the lasagna It was so small and lacked any flavor whatsoever. Arcata has so many amazing vegetarian and vegan friendly restaurants that this place really fell short on something that could've been amazing strictly through their sauce. Not to mention the bread thats served prior to your meal tastes like mcdonalds buns, unwarmed and a bit stale. The best part of my meal was the shirley temple and significant others company. Needless to say I left hungry and embarrassed a chef would serve something that low of caliber at that price, I will NOT be returning.
(1)Cindi W.
We went here for Valentine's Day. A last minute reservation and they helped us out since our last restaraunt flaked. The owner of Abruzzi owns Moonstone Grill too, another fine establishment!! Abruzzi is always good, I am surprised that I haven't written a review before. I had the best scallops with truffled spinach served over crustini sourdough bread. Hubby had Chicken Pesto with mushrooms, always a hit. This is the only place he orders chicken. You can cut it with a fork! It is so good. I keep telling him there is more to life besides steak and potatoes. So here, he has the chicken. It was a leisurely meal and very nice and we were too full for dessert. The manamer came to our table and asked how everything was. He was really sincere. I appreciate that. We'll be back I am sure of it!
(4)Sarah M.
Delicious food, great service. They are also one of the few restaurants in the area that offer a variety of gluten free options on a nightly basis. I like the fact I can go out to eat with my family (who most can't eat wheat) and know that they can have multiple options of what they eat for dinner. Two pastas are cooked nightly that are gluten free as well as soups and other entrees. Five Stars for taking multiple diets into account!
(5)laverne s.
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING DINNER.... I ordered the scallop salad with the beet and goat cheese salad. I'm stuffed, and my taste buds are dancing!!!!!!! Wonderful dinner. Thank you Connie P. for this adventure!
(5)Julia R.
Abruzzi is located on the plaza. I consider it a more upscale version of Mazzotti's, good for special occasions. Fairly dark with low lighting, which makes it a good date spot. Food is what you would expect- good American Italian. I like the chicken parm and I am not a huge fettuccine lover but my friends love that dish here as well. Pretty good wine selection and really good desserts- try the creme brulee!
(4)Taymoor J.
I was skeptical because it's at 3 1/2 stars, but this place is bomb! The food is 3 1/2 stars (delicious italian but i always compare to the real deal having been to italy) but the service, atmosphere, and wine put it a 5 easy. I'd give it 4 1/2 if i could.
(4)Eva K.
3 stars, though I'm knocking it down to two stars because everything was way overpriced for the quality of food and portions. My boyfriend got the Frescatta and although this was homemade pasta - and a nice attempt - it fell short and tasted like lo mein noodles from a box. Plus, his dish was a salt-lick. Sadly, the servers bus their own tables, and although there were 7 or 8 servers in there the service was relatively slow because of this fact (or some other inefficiency - not sure). For the appetizer we had the beat and goat cheese salad, which was okay, the beats and cheese came stacked in a alternating beet/cheese lasagna-like form, and while entertaining to look at, also puzzled me (Why not just throw beets and cheese on the plate without mushing them together in an overwhelming sculpture?) I ordered the Vongole Di Genoa and although my clams were good, there weren't enough on the plate to compensate for the price and the linguini. (Though I must say I liked the wine I had - Noceto Rosato Di Sangiovese 2007.) We were traveling through, so we probably won't be back to this restaurant, though Arcata was a quaint, low-key town - definitely worth checking out!
(2)Brian C.
This is the most consistently delicious restaurant I have gone to in Arcata. The service is great (the one time it was painfully slow they comped our entire meal!), and the food is always top notch. I am a fan of the ambiance as well. It is not quite as intimate or adventurous as Folie Douce, but it never disappoints. Edit: I got some severe food poisoning there last week that I am still recovering from. I have had nothing else but good experiences there, but that was something I do not want to relive.
(3)Angela W.
Great experience-great food ! We were a group of nine celebrating a friend's birthday. They put us near the back (on an elavated area) so we could see the restaurant but still felt somewhat secluded. Drinks were served promptly and orders taken. We asked for separate checks (sorry, I know the waitstaff kinda hate that) and they were fine with it. I got my usual, Tomato-Basil soup, Caeser Salad and the Crabcakes (an appetizer) for my entree. The soup is phenomenal, just thick enough with hints of parmesan. (A friend that HATES tomatoes in any form loves this soup) Salad is tasty with anchovie but the hearts of romaine not cut up are a little annoying. Crabcakes are a little thick for my taste and not crispy enough but super flavorful/spicy. Noticed that 3 people ordered the salmon and my husband got the filet mignon. No complaints from anyone. Very pleasurable.
(5)CLARE H.
Can't ask for better service & food. Prices are reasonable. Have celebrated countless birthday's, anniversary's, graduations, wedding rehearsals, and just mundane Monday's here. The Quattro Formagi is sinful, cheesy, creamy bliss. Chocolate Paradiso will ruin you; chocolate anything pales in comparison to this decadent slab of pure, deep dark chocolate love. Seriously, I have searched everywhere for a replacement, and have yet to find it - amazing. The owner Chris, runs a tight ship, and it shows. He always makes a point to stop by his regular's tables and chat. Great man, great restaurant. The ONLY thing I would change about Abruzzi is espresso. How can a perfect Italian restaurant not have espresso? Good drip coffee though. Abruzzi, oh how I miss you!
(5)Katie C.
How has Abruzzi stayed in business all these years? Our experience was terrible from start to finish. To start with, they leave their doors open and since the restaurant is right off the street, flies and other flying creatures can come in and swarm your table. Ick. The waitstaff is another problem too. Completely unfriendly and unwilling to be helpful. When our main entrees arrived incorrect, we were told nothing could be done. Seriously?!? And when we complained to the waitress, she then decided to ignore us and didn't even bother coming over for the remainder of the meal. The food was just ok, too. Mostly bland (crab cakes, chicken) or too salty (halibut). They forgot to put the salmon fillet on the pasta dish and used marinara sauce when meat sauce was asked for. All in all - what a waste. To all you Humboldt locals - why bother? There are so many other good restaurants available. This place is WAY WAY WAY overrated.
(1)Scott M.
The duck was awesome. You need to get here and try it. The staff is one of the best I have meet. Attentive and pleasant. Makes the dining experience awesome.
(4)Just J.
Portions so small I started laughing -- prices so high I started crying.
(2)John F.
Went to the restaurant for valentines on the same day as Daniel and Callan (who posted her review on 3/24/2010), interesting that we both ended up there on V-day. I had a great time valentines dinner with my girlfriend and the food was awesome and the staff was great. Got the waiter to take a picture of us as we were gobeling down our cheesecake dessert. I would reccomend it again in the future.
(4)Kristen M.
mehh.....3 stars because our waiter was attentive , kind, and had good food knowledge, Other wise, I have definitely had better. Upon walking in (used the entrance on the main road), My friend and I were ignored for about 5 minutes before the BARTENDER looked up and asked if we needed a seat, She then proceeded to holler at the host to help us. After being seated away from everyone else (like we did not fit in) we didn't get our bread for about another 10 minutes. Anyways, ordered an appetizer that took another 20 minutes.( the cheese appetizer) not worth 11 dollars because it had a big glob of blue cheese and literally 2 slices of bri cheese. I ordered the "duck mac and cheese" and my friend had a simple pasta. While waiting for our food the hostesses began arguing quite loud over a wine bottle and we heard the whole thing. After waiting about 30 minutes for our food it finally came out and I went to go eat my food and found a HUGE DUCK BONE. I took it off the plate and the waiter apologized and told the chef (like i said HE was the only good part of our experience) . He comped our desert which was very sweet, but overalll the food had no flavor and I would definitely recommend MAZOTTIS(next door) for better quality and a cheaper price.
(3)Craig P.
We met our friend here for dinner while we did our yearly trek to beautiful Arcata. I must say that the food and wine selections were very nice and the atmosphere felt cozy, yet the restaurant had ample space. We tried a little of everything. The Lasagna Al Forno, the Bolognese D'olivia, Linguine with Clams and the Panzanella Salad with Scallops sans Breading for the gluten free option. The food came out with good timing with an ample supply of bread. Taste was really nice, portions ample and went well with our reasonably priced J. Lohr Cabernet. I ordered the Lasagna with the Pesto Cream Sauce, an excellent choice. The taste of the basil was not overpowering and the cream giving it a slightly rich flavor. Very delicious! My wife had the Bolognese. The beef was a ground filet mignon, hearty and warming. The Linguine with Clam Sauce was tasty, however, the clams were a little on the smaller side. The Panzanella salad was flavorful with the plump Scallops topping the salad giving it a nice taste. For dessert, the Chocolate Paradso ala mode. A great finish to a great meal! I'm looking forward to going back to Abruzzi's next year. We'll make it an annual gathering for sure!
(4)J T.
Best Italian restaurant in the area ! Food and service are always perfect.
(5)Callan L.
I went here with my partner on Valentine's Day- we had a reservation, but it seemed that there were some open tables, possibly due to the higher prices of Abruzzi? I was nervous that there would be few vegetarian choices, but I was pleasantly surprised when I saw how many dishes were meatless without being labeled "vegetarian." I ended up ordering the lasagna in a creamy pesto-alfredo sauce- it was delicious! I hate mushrooms, but I decided to not do the "-mushrooms" thing I do at most restaurants and I was thrilled with the flavor of this lasagna. It was a small portion, but not in an unsatisfying way- more of an appropriately sized and filling way. Their desserts all sounded amazing, but as a new comer to Humboldt, we decided to go upstairs to Bon Boniere instead and both have dessert for the price of one at Abruzzi. Though spendy, I feel we both got our money's worth. (He ordered spaghetti and pork meatballs and said it was the best pasta he'd ever had). I would definitely go there again for a special occasion.
(4)Ken P.
This was the best Italian food we have had outside of Italy. The crab cakes were deliciously spicy, the chicken (con funghi and saltimboca) wonderfully tasty and the lasagne with artichoke hearts the best veggie lasagne ever.
(5)J Q.
I've been here a few times, it's a mediocre italian spot.. Pricing: 3 stars Locaiton: 2.5 stars Service: 4 stars Last impression: 3.5 stars
(3)Linsey F.
Oh my goodness, I ate too much, but I just could not resist because my diver scallops with pasta was way too good. I staed with the mista salad- which was delicious. My pasta actually tasted a little like chow fun noodles. But it worked. The scallops were cooked perfectly. It was a little pricey, but I thought the food was pretty darn good.
(4)Aaron J.
The food here is pretty good. Not amazing, like their higher prices may suggest, but good. My spinach salad was tasty, as was my pasta with mushrooms, prawns and hot sausage. This review is so short because, good food aside, I wasn't really wowed. The food here certainly is some of the better fare in Humboldt county, and I may come back here at some point, but unfortunately I don't really feel drawn to Abruzzi like I do to other places around here that are in the same price range.
(4)Paolo S.
I know this place can be hit or miss and the menu has changed a lot over the years but I have to give this place a decent review. I ate there often enough for a while that I was able to develop a good rep with the staff. I tip well and people in the server business remember that sort of thing so I have always had good service. As for the food you really know need to know what to order at places like this. Any noodles only dish is going to be par at best so I always go for steak or seafood. They used to have a prawn dish with sausage in home made pasta with a demi-glaze sauce and this was by far the best dish in the restaurant, but I found everything else to be satisfactory.
(3)Damien B.
The atmosphere is great, staff are clean and friendly. The food is decent, but underwhelming. Its all freshly made, but its not particularly good. They tend to skimp a bit on sauce, especially on the lasagna. Portions are small as well, and its EXPENSIVE. Easily the most expensive Itallian in the area. They charge for refills, and its 2$ a glass for a half can of soda. Soup and Salad are not included with the meal and again are very small. We walked away hungry 80$ poorer. It's not terrible, but for your money you can do a lot better at Babettas or Rois in Eureka.
(3)Elizabeth M.
I am giving this restaurant 1 star! and let me tell you why. I have always had a really good meal there, the food has usually been consistently good, but we ate there last night, and I have to say, the food was terrible. My carbonara was dry and not even lukewarm, and the portion size was cut way down. My friend ordered a red clam chowder, that could not be eaten as it was loaded with salt. My husband didnt even get his dinner, since the waiter thought he only ordered salad! How did that happen! crazy. I would not rate so low if the restaurant had been busy, but it was very very slow on a tuesday night, this should not have happened. I'm sorry to say, that this restaurant is not the same as was before, and we may never go back.
(1)Jessi F.
Excellent atmosphere and food. Higher prices, but worth saving up for. Always good service, occasionally a little slower when it's packed, but food is always worth the wait! My parents love it here and we had an wonderful Christmas Eve dinner last year that made the holiday all the more special.
(5)Ben R.
Your food is better than average, but the prices are kind of outrageous. I mean c'mon you know that your busiest time is when school starts and all the parents are taking their kids out for one last good free meal. But I can forgive you! Your food is great! Sorry I was so mean earlier. Maybe if you had windows I would've came to visit more...
(4)Clarence D.
Been going to Abruzzi since my college days many, many years ago. I've never been disappointed in the food, atmosphere or prices. I live miles away now, Walnut Creek, but I make it a point to get back to Arcata and my favorite restaurant at least twice a year for a return to the past and a most satisfying dining experience. Abruzzi never lets you down. It is a special delightful place. It's an item not on the menu any longer, but if you ask for the Quattro Formaggi you're in for a pasta treat! See you there on the 4th of July.
(5)J B.
i liked the italian food here, and the portions are large ! ... the service was fast ( we had a party of ten or so ) the pasta was fresh , as was the pomodoro sauce i had on it .... the creme brulee was excellent, also ... i would definitely go back ...
(4)Alison R.
The best Italian food on the Northcoast, and well, you pay for it, which since it is so good, you don't care - at least I didn't. Pick anything on the menu and you'll be more than satisfied. The staff is excellent as is the wine list.
(5)Amber M.
Everything there is awesome and their filet is the best I've had anywhere. My family and I go there for every special occasion and every year on Christmas eve.
(5)Shannon C.
Looked a lot better than the flashier, family-oriented Italian restaurant upstairs, so we ventured down a staircase into what appeared to be the back of the bar. But it was the right place, and a good if not spectacular meal. The menu is small and features California-ized Italian, like a pork chop in a brown honey sauce. I had the vegetarian lasagna, and it was just right: cheese a little crispy on top, and warm and gooey in the middle. The atmosphere is more English pub than chic Italian restaurant--lots of brick and a dark green carpet--but that was fine. Decent wine menu for this part of the world.
(4)Jennifer F.
The only reason this place is even getting 3 stars is because our waiter was a nice man. The salad was good. However, my entree was boring to begin with and when I cut into my chicken breast, it was RAW in the middle. Not just undercooked - straight-up RAW. Nasty. And rather than make me a new/different entree, the cook simply put my WHOLE PLATE in the oven, thus cooking the chicken but destroying everything else that came with it (pasta, vegetables). AND this was my birthday dinner. I'm never setting foot in here again.
(3)