Armando’s Ristorante Italiano Aurora
5428 S Parker Rd, Aurora, CO, 80015
Armando’s Ristorante Italiano Aurora Menu
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Address :
5428 S Parker Rd
Aurora, CO, 80015 - Phone (303) 690-6660
- Website https://www.armandospizzabar.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
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.
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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Kent C.
Never got to taste the food.....I went with my wife, daughter and boyfriend, son, and my 5 month old (sleeping) grandson. The young man (greeter) gave a disdained look when he saw that we had a baby, again sleeping. He offered some lame excuse that it would be 15 minutes before a table was ready, although we could clearly see that there were open tables. You don't need to be told twice that you are not welcome. We went to another Italian restaurant, Mama Louise, great atmosphere, great food, great service. Shame on you Armando for allowing your staff, or endorsing their behaviour......go somewhere else if you want a nice dinner with your family.
(1)Taiwan M.
I like this place, I wanted to love it, but there is work to be done. The food is good, the service could use some help, the drink prices are a little high. The lunch portion size is perfect, and my Penne Bolognese was done well. The garlic bread was over cooked, but I was able to look past that as I am not a bread guy. Overall the food was good for the price. The service on the other hand left a lot to be desired. The waiter did not seem to be knowledgeable of the menu, or what was in the speciality cocktails. He definitely had never encountered the free cannoli for checking in on yelp. The drinks are a bit pricey but the restaurant has an ombiance that was very pleasant and the lighting was intement, probably a good place to take a date. On the way out, a man who had been busy in the back office, put down his work and thanked me for coming in. For that reason I will come back in a few months to see if the restaurant improves. Plus, I did get the cannoli, and it was good.
(3)James S.
Bad service. Bad food. The carbonara was a joke. No flavor. Carbonara is a hard one to mess up but they missed the mark.
(1)Nicole K.
They ripped us off! Went here for the first time. We got the dinner for two. Bill was 38 and we left 8 in tip. Checked my bank few days later and they charged my card 59 dollars. Keep your receipt!!
(1)David B.
Quality Italian food at reasonable prices. I don't imagine a lot of foodies will be completely raving about it, but I don't see how anyone could complain about it either. Nice interior, good wait staff, good food. Ambiance is casual classy, and they have a nicely lit patio that would make for a romantic setting when the weather is nice. We ordered two entrees, two beers, and a dessert and spent only $50, including a 20% tip. My Chicken Florentine was a nicely sized portion with good flavor. I would definitely recommend Armando's for a nice night out at a very reasonable price.
(4)James B.
My wife and I liked this place... It was solid, tasty italian food. Bar was separate from the restaurant and perfect as there is the ability to head in for a drink and snack without being in a 'pub', plus it had a tv if you wanted it. Service was really friendly and welcoming without being overbearing... We'll be back for sure
(4)Victoria I.
I've been to this place many, many times. I really preferred the old location off of Smoky Hill (it had been there since as long as I can remember, and I have been living in that area since 1990). It was smaller, but it was like a crowded small mom and pop place, as opposed to now. Sure it's bigger and brighter now but it also lost a lot of its charm. On a Saturday night, you might have had to wait an hour in the old place but it was worth it. Classic old style Italian the way my family makes and eats it. Big portions, gooey cheese and sauce everywhere. They never did make their own ravioli (boo) but now ALL of their food has a slightly manufactured feel. That being said, I don't think it is. Maybe it's the atmosphere, I don't know. I just can't get over the atmosphere maybe They tried to class the menu up a bit I think, but they also lost a lot of what made them great...Italian they way my grandmother used to make, while eating it in a place that could have been just a larger version of her house. All in all, I went to the new place twice. The food is good, the experience is fine. Much like Chili's or Olive Garden.
(3)Lisa C.
This place is great. I ordered the taste of italy, its like being back in NY, food was flavorfull.. prices are cheap.. soo delicious, my husband ordered the calzone, which was huge.. huge huge and he also loved it.
(5)BrentandMichelle W.
Not sure how this place had more than 3 stars. The garlic knots were cold and stale. The Chicken Saltimboca was made with frozen spinach. You could actually taste it. The 4 cheese dish I had, had no flavor other than the cheese. The chocolate soufflé wasn't a soufflé wasn't even in the proper dish. It wasn't bad, but closer to a lava cake.
(3)Sonja A.
I miss everything about this place when it was on Smoky Hill. The ambiance, service, food quality have all taken a dip. Sometimes bigger isn't always better. I prefer OG now (yikes, I know).
(2)Cory P.
Don't go here if you have kids. They are not accomidating to children. I've never been there, but a good friend of mine tried going the other day, and wouldn't seat them because of their infant.
(1)Nichole Y.
My husband really likes this place, but I feel it is mediocre. We have been twice. The last time we went it was very hot in the restaurant, and we had to wait 5-10 min to be seated because the host was on the phone, taking a to-go order I think. The host was nice enough and observant enough however to make sure we were next to be served when a couple who came in after us expected to be helped before us. The wait staff is always very slow. I ordered the manicotti last time but was very disappointed as I have had better frozen manicotti bought from the grocery store. The garlic knots have no garlic flavor, they should just be called buttered knots. And we love creme brûlée, but whenever we order it here it comes out burnt. I would choose to eat at Olive Garden over this place in the future.
(3)Laura M.
It's hit or miss. Over the last year we've seen it definitely err on the side of missing in what seems to be a cost-cutting measure potentially. After being asked how dinner tasted i told waiter the chicken Florentine was dry. For me to even mention trust me it was overcooked and warmed up. His initial reaction was to not believe me. I asked to please tell the chef for the next customer. Afterwords the owner came out and said if it's dry do you want some more sauce...enough said. If that's the point of the sauce then any foodie will understand. They proceeded to give us the full bill, lacked any apology and needless to say we will never be back after 15 years as customers. We will miss you Armando's.
(2)Angela R.
I love this place. They always serve fresh, amazing homemade Italian food, The bar staff is consistently wonderful!
(5)Lindy S.
If you are reading this near a meal time, just get up and go to Armando's. First off service is exceptional--it seems everyone that works here is very friendly. Our waitress, Luciana, was very nice and had a great sense of humor. The bartender even came to the table at one point, and we had the door held open by the chef as we left (it was almost closing time). We started with mozzarella cheese sticks that my husband ordered on a whim. I don't recall the last time I had freshly made cheese sticks. They were great. I had the Fettuccine Alfredo, as I guess it is my litmus test for Italian restaurants. Oh My God! I know I have never had such a freshly made, light, Alfredo sauce, and Armando's has likely ruined me for most, if not all, other places. I added broccoli to my pasta, and it is about as close to perfect as I have ever had. He had the Chicken Parmesan, with homemade spaghetti noodles, and wished he could bathe in the marinara sauce. The chicken was tender and the breading crispy throughout, even where covered in cheese and sauce. We shared Creme Brulee and it was a delight. I don't mean to be overly generous with my compliments, it was just nice to find a family owned business in this area full of chains, and it really was a great meal. Look for a follow up, as I am sure we will be back soon.
(5)Chris R.
The food is 4 star. Service is 2 Star. Being new to town, my wife & I are looking for a new go to Italian joint. Armando's delivers on the food front. This time just a starter, pizza & cannoli. Everything was delicious. Our server on the other hand..... Our waiter's answer to 'what tour favorite dish?' was to read the specials. No best sellers. No most popular dishes. No suggestions. Not a big deal, it was pizza night. We just had higher expectations. The food will satisfy but service (at least or server) was lacking. We will try it again & hope the service improves.
(4)S K.
Our family went to this restaurant Friday night and both the food and service was awful. The stuffed mushroom appetizer was all soggy breadcrumbs, the ceasar salads were limp and tasteless. It took nearly half an hour to get our actual meals, with an excuse from the waiter telling us it takes longer for the stuffed mushrooms. HUH? That was our appetizer. When we did finally get our meals it was only to get dry chicken parm, and my pasta aglio e'olio was a bunch of raw garlic on dry pasta. Luckily, the kids were only interested in how much cheese was on their ravioli's and stuffed shells, but I was disgusted. Will be going elsewhere for Italian next time, thank you!
(1)James D.
So disappointed. My favorite Italian restaurant now sucks! Poor poor service!!! So bad could not get a drink in 15 min and walked out before I could have there baked Ziti. Will not be back!!!!!
(1)Audrey M.
My boyfriend and I eat here often. It's solid Italian food. Our favorite dishes are the rigatoni quattro formaggi, Touch of Italy, and the stuffed shells. The carbonara is also tasty but super rich. Their meatballs actually remind me of my Italian grandpa's. Delicious! We highly recommend this place. Don't order seafood here though...it's not bad, but other meals are way better.
(4)James L.
Really great, flavorful standard menu Italian cuisine. No one will confuse Armando's with Little Italy, or the South side of Chicago, but the basics are there, reasonably priced, and enjoyable for kids and adults alike. Decent wine list and beer selection too. They actually season the gravy which apparently is against the law in most standard Italian restaurants these days!
(4)Jennifer H.
Great food, great environment, and great service. Such a gem! We tried a few appetizers and a few entrees. All great. However the garlic knots were not the best I've tried. They do a great job describing the wine on the wine list. It was hard to choose! The chef was also very friendly and came out and sang for the restaurant a couple of times. Overall a good and fun experience!
(4)Amber L.
I adore Armando's. I've been going there since they were in their previous location on Smoky Hill Road. Their food is so fresh and flavorful everytime. I'd recommend the pizza but the stuffed shells are also delicious. Not to mention great service to include sometimes singing traditional Italian songs table side.
(5)Rachel C.
This is the Italian place that used to be on Smokey Hill near SM High School.This is a much better location. Seems more of a neighborhood comfort place in this new location. Less as a place in a strip mall atmosphere. Although it wasn't in a strip mall before, it's location always gave off those vibes. Food is typical, but good, Italian fare. On a cold, snowy day it is a nice place to hunker down and enjoy a warm hearty meal and friendly service. Being inside reminds one of small neighborhood places on the East Coast. New York, New Jersey. Where friends get together and share a warm Friday night meal. Only thing I don't like about this new location are the high bar tables.Why is it necessary to climb up to a table. Just sit down. Also, could use tablecloths to add a little warmth. Definitely will go back next time I am in town visiting family. Good food and service.
(4)Steve L.
Decided to try take-out. If you like fettacini with hair in in it, this the place to go! Add no manager on duty when we called to complain plus a comment from the host abut the hair "I hate when that happens" and no returned call, makes for sucky experience.
(1)Tanu M.
Armando's is good old home cooked Italian food. A solid choice for that pasta craving. I ordered chicken a la limon. It was enjoyable. We ordered calamari but thought the portion could have been bigger to share with 4 people. Garlic knots are given prior to the meal and are delicious. Service was great and we were not rushed.
(4)Josh Z.
Added to my frequent haunts of Italian restaurants in Aurora. Split a caprese and bruschetta. Yummy! Chicken Limon sauces was nice and the pasta was al dante chicken was a bit tough. The Chocolate soufflé was out of this world, definitely need to split the entrees and desserts they don't skimp on portion sizes.
(4)Corinne H.
Had the dinner for 2 for $35. We each got to order an appetizer, soup/salad and an entree. Great price and the food was pretty good. Service was really good. Apps: calamari and mussels- both were very good, hubs really enjoyed the lemon aioli with the calamari. The garlic knots were fresh out of the oven and delicious. Caesar and minestrone were good. Nothing spectacular about the soup so I'd probably get a salad next time. Entrees: chicken parm- very good would order again. Chicken piccata- needed more lemon to brighten up the flavor as it was a little bland. Not bad but we'll try something else next time. The new location is much nicer inside but because it's way in the back of the shopping plaza now it is less busy from what we've noticed. I guess that's a good thing for us since we don't have to wait.
(5)Jese S.
visited Armondo's several times at this location. I have had happy hour on the patio, dinner in the dining room and dessert in the bar area. It's generally a busy place. The service is usually friendly and efficient. The food is generally fresh and hot. The dining room can be a bit of a maze as they have a few different sections and what appears to be a place that can be closed off into a private room for any occasion. They also have started entertainment on the patio. We came for dinner on Saturday and they were advertising live entertainment on the patio. They are tucked in a back corner of the shopping center for this location so there is plenty of parking and access to Parker Road if you want to go North is pretty easy. The garlic knots were especially tasty on this visit. It could be because I had not had them in a while. Lasagna and Veal Parmesan were the dishes of our evening meal and they happily substituted penne pasta for spaghetti on the Veal. Dinner didn't take long to arrive and was very filling. We both had to take 1/2 away so the portion size is generous.
(4)Amanda N.
Solid place for sure. We went there after searching Yelp for some suggestions in Parker. Yummy! The garlic knots were awesome, and much better than "Here's some bread and butter" The house pino grigio was delicious - not bad at all. I had their salmon, and it was cooked TO PERFECTION. Absolutely delicious. Vegetables were cooked well, too. My father in law said his eggplant was slightly chewy, but other than that, no complaints. I tried a few bites of the husband's gnocchi - yummm. The food did take a looooong time to reach the table, but it was worth the wait. Also, after I told them about the two birthdays at the table and requested cannolis, they were brought out and were DELICIOUS. I love a good cannoli. I'd come back - I want to try some pasta!
(4)Emilee D.
I love, love, love Armando's! I've always had good service here (I used to frequent their old location a lot as well) and the food is yummy. The new location has way more parking, but the restaurant seating area is a bit smaller. My favorite dish is the carbonara. I also love the spaghetti and meatball. The bruschetta is really delicious and filling as an appetizer. The garlic knots could use more garlicky flavor, but it's still a great accompaniment to your meal. If they offer the lamb osso bucco on special, I suggest you order it. The meat is very tender, well seasoned, and falls right off the bone. When you're done stuffing your face with your entree, try the tiramisu for dessert. This is one place I don't mind getting fat at.
(5)Arin A.
This is our favorite go-to spot! I've seen reviews about the service not being good, but we haven't experienced that. We ate there again last night and the service was fantastic. The mussels are delish every time, Caesar salad is great and not over dressed. We did say we wished that there was a basket of bread offered as we sipped our wine and to sop up the red sauce from the mussels. But you can only order garlic knots, which aren't my favorite. We continue to go back and love that we have such a yummy Italian spot so close by. After dinner we were heading to a friend's house for her birthday so we took an assortment of desserts to go... Big hit!
(4)Nick R.
The food here is pretty good and the service was great. Everyone with me also enjoyed their food.
(4)Amy W.
This was a delightful find!! We were met by one of the very friendly owners and served by a delightful and highly competent server, Cindy. The food was delicious authentic Italian and each of our dishes were wonderful. The portions were large leaving us some excellent day after meals. We look forward to our next visit!
(5)Katie H.
I had kind of a strange experience here, EXCELLENT service, but subpar food. My guy and I got garlic knots, not very garlicky.... caprese salad which was good, an overcooked calzone with all the ingredients listed in the menu along with a few unexpected additions. And manicotti. The noodles were barely stuffed, very little cheese and definitely not enough sauce on top. The atmosphere is cool, plenty of staff were scheduled, very friendly and attentive service and engaged us in pleasant conversation. If the quality of the food improves, we will definitely come back. Otherwise I doubt we will go there again unless it's just for drinks.
(4)Ana Y.
We searched a long time for good, homemade Italian food and this is outstanding. The owner and chef take pride in their kitchen, delivering inspired specials and always fresh ingredients and robust flavors. Armando's keeps a nice wine selection and delivers excellence and quality.
(5)Drew B.
After frequenting Armando's for years now, I figure it's time to brag about why I keep returning. This is a family run restaurant that takes pride in their food, service and reputation. Every time I visit, there is a new selection of specials which I've tried a couple times and were great! Staff is friendly and always suggests wine pairings with my order. - The Veal cut: Bomb! - Chicken Parm or Piccata: Delicious, not as lemon-y as I like it, but that's personal preference - Chicken Parmesan is top notch! Contender with the way mom used to make it - Lasagna - Thick, creamy and piping hot, really delicious Highly recommend Armando's. I'm an Italian food snob so Armando's had their work cut out for them.
(5)Khara O.
The service was great! Food was delicious! Perfect size portions, not too big. I redeemed the free cannoli with the check in and it was super yummy!
(5)Steven C.
1st time visit.. went for a happy hour special but ended up getting ciaoppino. it was malvelous. our waiter Richie was very accomodating and it was very pleasant 1st time experience at Armando's. Glad to find local gem where we could visit more often.
(4)Jennifer K.
Armandos Aurora recently moved down the street to the shopping center off Parker Road, at the intersection of Chambers and Parker Roads. The new location is quite attractive for dining in. My husband and I have both gotten takeout from the restaurant, so my review will focus on the quality and value of the takeout. Armando's serves good quality food that's pretty tasty, but I do not believe the restaurant offers a good value for the money. Entrees are all over $10, and for a medium amount of pasta, I don't consider this a good value. I ordered a Pasta dish with tomatoes and capers, which had some nice fresh garlic and tasted good. But for the price, it was not substantial enough to satisfy my appetite. Because a meal should include some vegetable, I ordered a salad for "two" and it was OK, but again it was expensive for the amount contained. My son had a meat lasagne, which he enjoyed, but at around $14 was too costly. The garlic knot breads were OK, but a few more might have helped fill us up. Our takeout dinner would have been a better value if salads had been included with the entrees, which would have allowed me to order three entrees and spend about $40. Overall, small dinner for 3 people (we shared two entrees and a large salad) cost me $35. This is before a tip. For takeout, I didn't consider this a good value for my money. I asked whether there was a special, and I was told I needed to bring a coupon to receive that special. The coupon is available in a few local newspapers, which I do not have access to. My husband got their "linguini and clams" special for our family one night. He and my kids liked the food, but I don't like clams and it didn't appeal to me. I will be looking for another Italian restaurant where I can get good food, but if all the entrees cost over $10, some closer to $15, I feel the portions should be more substantial to justify the cost. Especially for simple pasta dishes with just sauce and no meat!
(3)Katie K.
We love this place and we like to head there for date nights. Their garlic knots are amazing! Their specials are always good. They also have a good selection of wine to compliment any of the meals!
(4)David S.
I want to update my earlier review. While the food is still good, the portions have SUBSTANTIALLY decreased in size while the prices have substantially increased. We have been twice recently, and both times were very disappointed. Most recently, we ordered the Chicken Parm dinner for four last night, and for $35, got four half-breasts, two of which were more like a 1/4 breast, and enough pasta for two. They even shorted us on the garlic knots. This used to be a place that offered a good deal on good food, not anymore.
(2)Jessica F.
I have been to Armando's in Parker and in Aurora, both locations are great, however I have to say that the Aurora location is spectacular! The chef Carlos is extremely talented and the specials change regularly. Their Antipasto platter is a meal in itself and just so fabulously tasty. The staff including Armando's youngest daughter and her husband Jose are truly unique, friendly and could not be more accommodating. I highly recommend Armando's for a leisurely Tuesday dinner or a Saturday date night!
(5)David F.
Come on now who doesn't like a home made Itailan meal surrounded by friends and family! I will say this place is just like that and more. Within minutes of arriving we were greeted with smiles and laughter that made it feel like we were dining with friends then the service (did not feel like service) kicked in and it was like family. I will definately be back and will tell my friends that for a real Itailan meal in a clean establishment you can not beat the quality of the food and the price. I miei complimenti al proprietario. grazie!
(4)Colleen T.
We went there for lunch at my friend ordered the homemade spaghetti and meatballs and I had soup and salad. Regular spaghetti and meatball came and when we questioned at the waiter said that they traditionally served angel hair at lunch. It wasn't angel hair it was regular like Box spaghetti. The Caesar salad was good but the soup was cold. The garlic knots or hard and cold. This location was disappointing.
(2)Paul T.
We came night before Christmas eve and it was pretty busy. Great service. The three course dinner for two is a good value and the mussel appetizer is amazing! Of course we filled up with garlic knots, so we will have leftovers to enjoy another day.
(5)Kelli S.
Our fav Italian place in town!! My husband and I had our wedding reception here, and we love to come back on special occasions. The food is great, and prices reasonable. Wait staff is very attentive and friendly. Most entrees are big enough to be shared by 2 (assuming you get an appetizer, which you should) My only complaint is how far away it is from our house in Arvada, but its totally worth the drive.
(5)Raymond C.
any know is this pace is any good
(3)Lee S.
This review is for Happy Hour. (It starts early.) I've never eaten dinner here, but the beer is inexpensive and the wine is 1/2 price. Food is at a special price as well. We tried some garlic bread with marinara and also a potato dish that was very tasty. I'll be back.
(4)Mike R.
3.5 stars for the food, another .5 for superb service by Luciana. We're from out of town, so this was a first time for us (my brother recommended it). Overall, food was very good (saw, but did not eat, the lamb osso buco, which was enormous - maybe next time?). Desserts were excellent.
(4)Scott L.
Great family run Italian place! There is nothing bad on the menu. Service is great, wine list is good, and the specials are always delicious. I'm particularly a fan of the daily risotto dishes and the seafood cannelloni. Portions are large to huge and inevitably we are bringing some home. Staff is great.
(5)Carey L.
We have NEVER had a bad meal here. The kids love the pizza and pasta. We LOVE the pancetta pizza- it does not come with red sauce so we always ask for some on the side. It is fabulous. There prices are a bit more than some but I don't mind paying a bit more for a fresh homemade pizza! We also usually get a side order of meatballs. YUM! The Caesar salad is great- my 3 and 11 year old gobble it down. The cannolis are yummy and they even have chocolate covered cannolis- which I love! We were even right beside a very large party table, but our server never missed a beat- even when we had four requests at once: another beer, milk refill, more marinara, and 2 meatballs. You can't go wrong here. I honesty feel like some reviewers just like to be negative because we have been here sooo many times and have never had a bad experience.
(5)Jan F.
Terrible service. Asked to sit on patio, torn curtains and we were forgotten. Manager and waitress could care less. First time ever,we left no tip!! The one star is for good food although the garlic knots were cold. What happened? It used to be a great place.. We won't be back.
(1)Teresa W.
We eat here often, and the food is always delicious. It's a fun, but busy, place on heavy dining days, but the service has always been pretty good considering. We try to go early for dinner or do lunch on the weekends. Wish they would bring back the ravioli du jour, but they kept a couple of the best ones on the menu. GREAT lasagna - meaty and rich.
(5)Steve M.
Very disappointing visit... Before they relocated to the current place I really loved the food, service, even the crappy run down building they occupied. The only reason they got 2 stars is for past service. On my recent visit I got the baked ziti. I thought this would be nearly impossible to screw up. However I got a runny uncooked noodle bowl with a slab of cheese that could be folded over to dig out the unsavory noodles from under the worst cheese I've ever seen. How do you have cheese that acts more like a thin slab of tofu?. No melty stringy goodness... The Caesar salad was marginal at best. My lady was unimpressed with her meal as well. I did enjoy the garlic knots so I didn't go totally hungry. Why the waitress wouldn't/couldn't/didn't acknowledge that I barely touched my $13 bowl of garbage was very disconcerting. I don't moan and groan and expect a free meal, and proceeded to pay for it. But I think it's their job to ensure patrons enjoy their food. I don't think I could have been any more obvious if I threw it against the wall... The Parker location burned my gnocchi last time (waitress did give me a free slice of cheesecake for the trouble). I don't like cheesecake but she tried at least. Armando's may have lost my business at this point.
(2)Kate K.
The BEST Margarita!
(5)Mike I.
I typically dine at the Armando's in Parker however for this particular evening they were booked so the fam and I ventured out to the Aurora location. Food was great and the wait staff was amazing just as it always is at the Parker location. Louis was our waiter and I can't say enough about how attentive and accommodating he was. The Aurora location is quite a bit smaller than Parker and can feel a bit stuffy. You can't beat Armando's for Italian food and the pizza is out of this world, easily the best on this side of town. I always try to order something different each time, the shrimp scampi is to die for. Either location is good, just depends on what atmosphere you are in the mood for.
(4)GARTH A.
This has to be the best Italian restaurant in Aurora. The linguini with clams in the white sauce is outstanding as are the other items on the menu. Imagine a restaurant that creates a special appetizer everyday for Happy Hour. This is a friendly place with great service and great food.
(5)Amanda A.
We used to frequent Armando's when it was on Smoky Hill Rd. We'd get both takeout and dine-in. The portions have shrunk over the years. Still tastes great though. The lasagna, eggplant florentine, and cannoli are favorites of ours. The servers are always very nice. This new location on Parker Rd is a bit louder than the prior location. Overall, however, we highly suggest this place.
(5)Andrea P.
When you see Armando's from the outside you picture fast food pizza shop like atmosphere. Then you go in, and they have table clothes; and I'm not talking paper ones, I'm talking full on. I.E. this place is kind of fancy. However, it's still affordable, fast service and the food was pretty good. No complaints from anyone in our party of 6. Well there was a bit too much garlic in my pasta, huge chunks of garlic but I still ate it.
(4)Tiffany H.
Everything was delicious .. and servers were really nice.. Make sure u get garlic knots ...YUMMY!1
(4)Joey K.
Okay so first of all being a chef I know i'm a little picky but this was some of the worst Italian food ever! To start we had to wait 40 minutes (expected on a Friday night) but a wait usually means good food, not this time. I got some pasta and ravioli combo, the whole meal seemed like it was laying in water, i asked the waitress why was it so watery and she said they didnt put enough cheese in the sauce, huh? If you know your sauce isn't right why would you put it out, and also thats not a good reason you didn't simmer long enough, then I tried my pasta and it was hard, an Italian guy came over and asked how it was, i said the pasta is hard, he said its cause its homemade, HUH AGAIN. Its cuz you didn't cook it AT ALL! Then I tried my ravioli which was horrible NO TASTE! My daughter ordered a cheese calzone that she said had no taste surprise surpise, but thankfully the waitress kept giving her cokes like its smart for a kid to repeatedly given coke after coke on a Friday night. My mom got the eggplant which was greasey, yet no meat so I guess it was oily. After the complaints did we get a sorry or a discount on our bill NO! Then to top it off on our way out the owner was at some tables he obviously knew and giving them fresh grated parm, WTF! No one else got offered fresh parm just a shaker filled with old parm, what kind of place is this, not Italian I promise you that, cause I am Italian and I know that were family people, I guess they are only nice to people they know. DO NOT UNDER ANY MEANS GO TO THIS PLACE IF YOU WANT GOOD FOOD. It deserves negative reviews. P.S. If Armando's reads these reviews, feel free to contact me at nuttyrecords@gmail.com
(1)Gayle C.
We had a group of 7 on a Friday night and made a late reservation and able to get in. The wait help was great. The drinks were reasonable. I ordered the cioppino which was excellent and very reasonably priced. Everyone at the table enjoyed their entree and we all agreed this was one of our bettter restaurant choices
(4)Sandra H.
We had the Supreme Pizza and it was wonderful. the dough is fantastic!! will be back for sure.
(4)Debbie L.
Great menu, good food, reasonable prices.
(4)Patricia S.
I love this place. I usually go for happy hour because its such a great deal. Half price beer and wine and a nice menu with lots of yummy apps to try. They also have amazing lunch specials. Everyday they have a lunch special for $4.95. The servings are huge. And you can't get lunch ANYWHERE for $5 anymore. The staff is always friendly and helpful. I will keep going back again and again and again.
(4)ann l.
Our meal started out great -- good appetizer. I ordered the special, Lamb Osso Buco, my husband ordered Florentine stuffed shells with a lobster tail on the side. My meal tasted great, but my husband's lobster tail smelled strongly of AMMONIA! The waiter said that he would not charge us for that portion of the meal and that the manager said that lobster was supposed to smell like that. My husband told our waiter that paying for the meal was not the issue, the issue was that they serve rotten food. The waiter told us that the manager would come talk to us, he never did. The waiter came by again, told us that the most he can do is not charge us for that portion of the meal. At this time, the owner, Armando, came by our table. Told us that we didn't have to pay for it and to not worry about it. He said that he smelled and tasted the lobster and it was normal. He has never had a complaint about his lobster, he has been in business for 29 years and he did not need ours. At this time, he took my food away from me and proceeded to tell us to get out of his restaurant! I felt like we were in an episode of Kitchen Nightmares with an owner who serves rotten food and is in denial about it!
(1)Terry H.
Armando's place on Smoky Hill reminded my wife and I of the family Italian restaurants we enjoyed when we lived in New York state. The new place on Parker Rd. lacks some of that ambience and they seem to be working out the kinks of moving, which is why I gave it 4 stars. That said, a good friend was visiting from out of state and we were looking for a good place to eat that would enable her to eat vegan. We went in, explained that our friend had a dietary preference and they were very helpful in offering suggestions. We all had a very tasty and enjoyable meal. The service was just right. Attentive, without being underfoot. We will continue to enjoy dining at Armondos.
(4)Ben W.
We came here on my wife's birthday. The staff was super nice and friendly. The food was overpriced and questionable at best. Overall for the quality of what we got is expect to pay 30% less easily. My veal marsala's sauce was good though rather oily, the actual cuts of beef were thin and slimy. My wife sent back her first ravioli dish and it was replaced by the saltiest penne primavera I've ever heard of or tried. Decent atmosphere but unless the food makes a remarkable improvement we won't be back.
(2)Nicole K.
They ripped us off! Went here for the first time. We got the dinner for two. Bill was 38 and we left 8 in tip. Checked my bank few days later and they charged my card 59 dollars. Keep your receipt!!
(1)David B.
Quality Italian food at reasonable prices. I don't imagine a lot of foodies will be completely raving about it, but I don't see how anyone could complain about it either. Nice interior, good wait staff, good food. Ambiance is casual classy, and they have a nicely lit patio that would make for a romantic setting when the weather is nice. We ordered two entrees, two beers, and a dessert and spent only $50, including a 20% tip. My Chicken Florentine was a nicely sized portion with good flavor. I would definitely recommend Armando's for a nice night out at a very reasonable price.
(4)James B.
My wife and I liked this place... It was solid, tasty italian food. Bar was separate from the restaurant and perfect as there is the ability to head in for a drink and snack without being in a 'pub', plus it had a tv if you wanted it. Service was really friendly and welcoming without being overbearing... We'll be back for sure
(4)Jese S.
visited Armondo's several times at this location. I have had happy hour on the patio, dinner in the dining room and dessert in the bar area. It's generally a busy place. The service is usually friendly and efficient. The food is generally fresh and hot. The dining room can be a bit of a maze as they have a few different sections and what appears to be a place that can be closed off into a private room for any occasion. They also have started entertainment on the patio. We came for dinner on Saturday and they were advertising live entertainment on the patio. They are tucked in a back corner of the shopping center for this location so there is plenty of parking and access to Parker Road if you want to go North is pretty easy. The garlic knots were especially tasty on this visit. It could be because I had not had them in a while. Lasagna and Veal Parmesan were the dishes of our evening meal and they happily substituted penne pasta for spaghetti on the Veal. Dinner didn't take long to arrive and was very filling. We both had to take 1/2 away so the portion size is generous.
(4)Amanda N.
Solid place for sure. We went there after searching Yelp for some suggestions in Parker. Yummy! The garlic knots were awesome, and much better than "Here's some bread and butter" The house pino grigio was delicious - not bad at all. I had their salmon, and it was cooked TO PERFECTION. Absolutely delicious. Vegetables were cooked well, too. My father in law said his eggplant was slightly chewy, but other than that, no complaints. I tried a few bites of the husband's gnocchi - yummm. The food did take a looooong time to reach the table, but it was worth the wait. Also, after I told them about the two birthdays at the table and requested cannolis, they were brought out and were DELICIOUS. I love a good cannoli. I'd come back - I want to try some pasta!
(4)Kent C.
Never got to taste the food.....I went with my wife, daughter and boyfriend, son, and my 5 month old (sleeping) grandson. The young man (greeter) gave a disdained look when he saw that we had a baby, again sleeping. He offered some lame excuse that it would be 15 minutes before a table was ready, although we could clearly see that there were open tables. You don't need to be told twice that you are not welcome. We went to another Italian restaurant, Mama Louise, great atmosphere, great food, great service. Shame on you Armando for allowing your staff, or endorsing their behaviour......go somewhere else if you want a nice dinner with your family.
(1)Taiwan M.
I like this place, I wanted to love it, but there is work to be done. The food is good, the service could use some help, the drink prices are a little high. The lunch portion size is perfect, and my Penne Bolognese was done well. The garlic bread was over cooked, but I was able to look past that as I am not a bread guy. Overall the food was good for the price. The service on the other hand left a lot to be desired. The waiter did not seem to be knowledgeable of the menu, or what was in the speciality cocktails. He definitely had never encountered the free cannoli for checking in on yelp. The drinks are a bit pricey but the restaurant has an ombiance that was very pleasant and the lighting was intement, probably a good place to take a date. On the way out, a man who had been busy in the back office, put down his work and thanked me for coming in. For that reason I will come back in a few months to see if the restaurant improves. Plus, I did get the cannoli, and it was good.
(3)James S.
Bad service. Bad food. The carbonara was a joke. No flavor. Carbonara is a hard one to mess up but they missed the mark.
(1)Katie H.
I had kind of a strange experience here, EXCELLENT service, but subpar food. My guy and I got garlic knots, not very garlicky.... caprese salad which was good, an overcooked calzone with all the ingredients listed in the menu along with a few unexpected additions. And manicotti. The noodles were barely stuffed, very little cheese and definitely not enough sauce on top. The atmosphere is cool, plenty of staff were scheduled, very friendly and attentive service and engaged us in pleasant conversation. If the quality of the food improves, we will definitely come back. Otherwise I doubt we will go there again unless it's just for drinks.
(4)Ana Y.
We searched a long time for good, homemade Italian food and this is outstanding. The owner and chef take pride in their kitchen, delivering inspired specials and always fresh ingredients and robust flavors. Armando's keeps a nice wine selection and delivers excellence and quality.
(5)Rachel C.
This is the Italian place that used to be on Smokey Hill near SM High School.This is a much better location. Seems more of a neighborhood comfort place in this new location. Less as a place in a strip mall atmosphere. Although it wasn't in a strip mall before, it's location always gave off those vibes. Food is typical, but good, Italian fare. On a cold, snowy day it is a nice place to hunker down and enjoy a warm hearty meal and friendly service. Being inside reminds one of small neighborhood places on the East Coast. New York, New Jersey. Where friends get together and share a warm Friday night meal. Only thing I don't like about this new location are the high bar tables.Why is it necessary to climb up to a table. Just sit down. Also, could use tablecloths to add a little warmth. Definitely will go back next time I am in town visiting family. Good food and service.
(4)Steve L.
Decided to try take-out. If you like fettacini with hair in in it, this the place to go! Add no manager on duty when we called to complain plus a comment from the host abut the hair "I hate when that happens" and no returned call, makes for sucky experience.
(1)Tanu M.
Armando's is good old home cooked Italian food. A solid choice for that pasta craving. I ordered chicken a la limon. It was enjoyable. We ordered calamari but thought the portion could have been bigger to share with 4 people. Garlic knots are given prior to the meal and are delicious. Service was great and we were not rushed.
(4)Josh Z.
Added to my frequent haunts of Italian restaurants in Aurora. Split a caprese and bruschetta. Yummy! Chicken Limon sauces was nice and the pasta was al dante chicken was a bit tough. The Chocolate soufflé was out of this world, definitely need to split the entrees and desserts they don't skimp on portion sizes.
(4)Corinne H.
Had the dinner for 2 for $35. We each got to order an appetizer, soup/salad and an entree. Great price and the food was pretty good. Service was really good. Apps: calamari and mussels- both were very good, hubs really enjoyed the lemon aioli with the calamari. The garlic knots were fresh out of the oven and delicious. Caesar and minestrone were good. Nothing spectacular about the soup so I'd probably get a salad next time. Entrees: chicken parm- very good would order again. Chicken piccata- needed more lemon to brighten up the flavor as it was a little bland. Not bad but we'll try something else next time. The new location is much nicer inside but because it's way in the back of the shopping plaza now it is less busy from what we've noticed. I guess that's a good thing for us since we don't have to wait.
(5)Victoria I.
I've been to this place many, many times. I really preferred the old location off of Smoky Hill (it had been there since as long as I can remember, and I have been living in that area since 1990). It was smaller, but it was like a crowded small mom and pop place, as opposed to now. Sure it's bigger and brighter now but it also lost a lot of its charm. On a Saturday night, you might have had to wait an hour in the old place but it was worth it. Classic old style Italian the way my family makes and eats it. Big portions, gooey cheese and sauce everywhere. They never did make their own ravioli (boo) but now ALL of their food has a slightly manufactured feel. That being said, I don't think it is. Maybe it's the atmosphere, I don't know. I just can't get over the atmosphere maybe They tried to class the menu up a bit I think, but they also lost a lot of what made them great...Italian they way my grandmother used to make, while eating it in a place that could have been just a larger version of her house. All in all, I went to the new place twice. The food is good, the experience is fine. Much like Chili's or Olive Garden.
(3)Lisa C.
This place is great. I ordered the taste of italy, its like being back in NY, food was flavorfull.. prices are cheap.. soo delicious, my husband ordered the calzone, which was huge.. huge huge and he also loved it.
(5)BrentandMichelle W.
Not sure how this place had more than 3 stars. The garlic knots were cold and stale. The Chicken Saltimboca was made with frozen spinach. You could actually taste it. The 4 cheese dish I had, had no flavor other than the cheese. The chocolate soufflé wasn't a soufflé wasn't even in the proper dish. It wasn't bad, but closer to a lava cake.
(3)Sonja A.
I miss everything about this place when it was on Smoky Hill. The ambiance, service, food quality have all taken a dip. Sometimes bigger isn't always better. I prefer OG now (yikes, I know).
(2)Cory P.
Don't go here if you have kids. They are not accomidating to children. I've never been there, but a good friend of mine tried going the other day, and wouldn't seat them because of their infant.
(1)Chris R.
The food is 4 star. Service is 2 Star. Being new to town, my wife & I are looking for a new go to Italian joint. Armando's delivers on the food front. This time just a starter, pizza & cannoli. Everything was delicious. Our server on the other hand..... Our waiter's answer to 'what tour favorite dish?' was to read the specials. No best sellers. No most popular dishes. No suggestions. Not a big deal, it was pizza night. We just had higher expectations. The food will satisfy but service (at least or server) was lacking. We will try it again & hope the service improves.
(4)S K.
Our family went to this restaurant Friday night and both the food and service was awful. The stuffed mushroom appetizer was all soggy breadcrumbs, the ceasar salads were limp and tasteless. It took nearly half an hour to get our actual meals, with an excuse from the waiter telling us it takes longer for the stuffed mushrooms. HUH? That was our appetizer. When we did finally get our meals it was only to get dry chicken parm, and my pasta aglio e'olio was a bunch of raw garlic on dry pasta. Luckily, the kids were only interested in how much cheese was on their ravioli's and stuffed shells, but I was disgusted. Will be going elsewhere for Italian next time, thank you!
(1)James D.
So disappointed. My favorite Italian restaurant now sucks! Poor poor service!!! So bad could not get a drink in 15 min and walked out before I could have there baked Ziti. Will not be back!!!!!
(1)Audrey M.
My boyfriend and I eat here often. It's solid Italian food. Our favorite dishes are the rigatoni quattro formaggi, Touch of Italy, and the stuffed shells. The carbonara is also tasty but super rich. Their meatballs actually remind me of my Italian grandpa's. Delicious! We highly recommend this place. Don't order seafood here though...it's not bad, but other meals are way better.
(4)James L.
Really great, flavorful standard menu Italian cuisine. No one will confuse Armando's with Little Italy, or the South side of Chicago, but the basics are there, reasonably priced, and enjoyable for kids and adults alike. Decent wine list and beer selection too. They actually season the gravy which apparently is against the law in most standard Italian restaurants these days!
(4)Amy W.
This was a delightful find!! We were met by one of the very friendly owners and served by a delightful and highly competent server, Cindy. The food was delicious authentic Italian and each of our dishes were wonderful. The portions were large leaving us some excellent day after meals. We look forward to our next visit!
(5)Jennifer H.
Great food, great environment, and great service. Such a gem! We tried a few appetizers and a few entrees. All great. However the garlic knots were not the best I've tried. They do a great job describing the wine on the wine list. It was hard to choose! The chef was also very friendly and came out and sang for the restaurant a couple of times. Overall a good and fun experience!
(4)Arin A.
This is our favorite go-to spot! I've seen reviews about the service not being good, but we haven't experienced that. We ate there again last night and the service was fantastic. The mussels are delish every time, Caesar salad is great and not over dressed. We did say we wished that there was a basket of bread offered as we sipped our wine and to sop up the red sauce from the mussels. But you can only order garlic knots, which aren't my favorite. We continue to go back and love that we have such a yummy Italian spot so close by. After dinner we were heading to a friend's house for her birthday so we took an assortment of desserts to go... Big hit!
(4)Nick R.
The food here is pretty good and the service was great. Everyone with me also enjoyed their food.
(4)Drew B.
After frequenting Armando's for years now, I figure it's time to brag about why I keep returning. This is a family run restaurant that takes pride in their food, service and reputation. Every time I visit, there is a new selection of specials which I've tried a couple times and were great! Staff is friendly and always suggests wine pairings with my order. - The Veal cut: Bomb! - Chicken Parm or Piccata: Delicious, not as lemon-y as I like it, but that's personal preference - Chicken Parmesan is top notch! Contender with the way mom used to make it - Lasagna - Thick, creamy and piping hot, really delicious Highly recommend Armando's. I'm an Italian food snob so Armando's had their work cut out for them.
(5)Khara O.
The service was great! Food was delicious! Perfect size portions, not too big. I redeemed the free cannoli with the check in and it was super yummy!
(5)Amber L.
I adore Armando's. I've been going there since they were in their previous location on Smoky Hill Road. Their food is so fresh and flavorful everytime. I'd recommend the pizza but the stuffed shells are also delicious. Not to mention great service to include sometimes singing traditional Italian songs table side.
(5)Emilee D.
I love, love, love Armando's! I've always had good service here (I used to frequent their old location a lot as well) and the food is yummy. The new location has way more parking, but the restaurant seating area is a bit smaller. My favorite dish is the carbonara. I also love the spaghetti and meatball. The bruschetta is really delicious and filling as an appetizer. The garlic knots could use more garlicky flavor, but it's still a great accompaniment to your meal. If they offer the lamb osso bucco on special, I suggest you order it. The meat is very tender, well seasoned, and falls right off the bone. When you're done stuffing your face with your entree, try the tiramisu for dessert. This is one place I don't mind getting fat at.
(5)Steven C.
1st time visit.. went for a happy hour special but ended up getting ciaoppino. it was malvelous. our waiter Richie was very accomodating and it was very pleasant 1st time experience at Armando's. Glad to find local gem where we could visit more often.
(4)Nichole Y.
My husband really likes this place, but I feel it is mediocre. We have been twice. The last time we went it was very hot in the restaurant, and we had to wait 5-10 min to be seated because the host was on the phone, taking a to-go order I think. The host was nice enough and observant enough however to make sure we were next to be served when a couple who came in after us expected to be helped before us. The wait staff is always very slow. I ordered the manicotti last time but was very disappointed as I have had better frozen manicotti bought from the grocery store. The garlic knots have no garlic flavor, they should just be called buttered knots. And we love creme brûlée, but whenever we order it here it comes out burnt. I would choose to eat at Olive Garden over this place in the future.
(3)Laura M.
It's hit or miss. Over the last year we've seen it definitely err on the side of missing in what seems to be a cost-cutting measure potentially. After being asked how dinner tasted i told waiter the chicken Florentine was dry. For me to even mention trust me it was overcooked and warmed up. His initial reaction was to not believe me. I asked to please tell the chef for the next customer. Afterwords the owner came out and said if it's dry do you want some more sauce...enough said. If that's the point of the sauce then any foodie will understand. They proceeded to give us the full bill, lacked any apology and needless to say we will never be back after 15 years as customers. We will miss you Armando's.
(2)Angela R.
I love this place. They always serve fresh, amazing homemade Italian food, The bar staff is consistently wonderful!
(5)Lindy S.
If you are reading this near a meal time, just get up and go to Armando's. First off service is exceptional--it seems everyone that works here is very friendly. Our waitress, Luciana, was very nice and had a great sense of humor. The bartender even came to the table at one point, and we had the door held open by the chef as we left (it was almost closing time). We started with mozzarella cheese sticks that my husband ordered on a whim. I don't recall the last time I had freshly made cheese sticks. They were great. I had the Fettuccine Alfredo, as I guess it is my litmus test for Italian restaurants. Oh My God! I know I have never had such a freshly made, light, Alfredo sauce, and Armando's has likely ruined me for most, if not all, other places. I added broccoli to my pasta, and it is about as close to perfect as I have ever had. He had the Chicken Parmesan, with homemade spaghetti noodles, and wished he could bathe in the marinara sauce. The chicken was tender and the breading crispy throughout, even where covered in cheese and sauce. We shared Creme Brulee and it was a delight. I don't mean to be overly generous with my compliments, it was just nice to find a family owned business in this area full of chains, and it really was a great meal. Look for a follow up, as I am sure we will be back soon.
(5)Brandy W.
Very disappointed. This place was great once upon a time and was our "go to" place when we had guest. But they've reduced the menu, it does not match the online menu that we would show our guest before taking them. The portions are smaller than ever. We purchased the combo appetizer that should have calamari, fried zucchini & shrimp for $12.95. It had 6 calamari mini rings, 2 shrimp and the rest was fried zucchini. Not impressed. The chicken Parmesan was cold and cheese on top was not melt on 3 of our orders. Quattro Formigo had no flavor, just cheese & noodles. And the spaghetti and meatball- spaghetti sauce/marinara is bitter and the meatball was dry hamburger meat with no flavor. But the upside was they serve wine. For a $200 bill, we should have done SaltGrass.
(2)Shiloh C.
I have been coming to Armando's since 2005 and love love love the food. However, the service is always a disappoine my and last night was no different. The waiter was upset about have a reserved group table and getting annoyed with the people coming in and out. I told him I couldn't drink alcohol and he literally walked away from me. I had to shout over the table I wanted a coffee and some garlic knots. It was just awful. Then, part of the group had to leave and wanted to pay for their portion and he was incredibly rude and dismissive to the woman trying to pay. I can honestly say the service will now prevent me from going there on my own. Before I went last night, the service was just ok but now I just won't go. They really need to focus on pleasing the customer. Oh! And the busy boy spilt diet coke on my friends white shirt and cleaned it up with a towel without consulting him first and made for a horribly awkward moment. Tips are their money maker, customers make that choice, be nice and flexible because it pays in the end!
(2)Paul T.
We came night before Christmas eve and it was pretty busy. Great service. The three course dinner for two is a good value and the mussel appetizer is amazing! Of course we filled up with garlic knots, so we will have leftovers to enjoy another day.
(5)Kelli S.
Our fav Italian place in town!! My husband and I had our wedding reception here, and we love to come back on special occasions. The food is great, and prices reasonable. Wait staff is very attentive and friendly. Most entrees are big enough to be shared by 2 (assuming you get an appetizer, which you should) My only complaint is how far away it is from our house in Arvada, but its totally worth the drive.
(5)David F.
Come on now who doesn't like a home made Itailan meal surrounded by friends and family! I will say this place is just like that and more. Within minutes of arriving we were greeted with smiles and laughter that made it feel like we were dining with friends then the service (did not feel like service) kicked in and it was like family. I will definately be back and will tell my friends that for a real Itailan meal in a clean establishment you can not beat the quality of the food and the price. I miei complimenti al proprietario. grazie!
(4)Colleen T.
We went there for lunch at my friend ordered the homemade spaghetti and meatballs and I had soup and salad. Regular spaghetti and meatball came and when we questioned at the waiter said that they traditionally served angel hair at lunch. It wasn't angel hair it was regular like Box spaghetti. The Caesar salad was good but the soup was cold. The garlic knots or hard and cold. This location was disappointing.
(2)Carey L.
We have NEVER had a bad meal here. The kids love the pizza and pasta. We LOVE the pancetta pizza- it does not come with red sauce so we always ask for some on the side. It is fabulous. There prices are a bit more than some but I don't mind paying a bit more for a fresh homemade pizza! We also usually get a side order of meatballs. YUM! The Caesar salad is great- my 3 and 11 year old gobble it down. The cannolis are yummy and they even have chocolate covered cannolis- which I love! We were even right beside a very large party table, but our server never missed a beat- even when we had four requests at once: another beer, milk refill, more marinara, and 2 meatballs. You can't go wrong here. I honesty feel like some reviewers just like to be negative because we have been here sooo many times and have never had a bad experience.
(5)Steve M.
Very disappointing visit... Before they relocated to the current place I really loved the food, service, even the crappy run down building they occupied. The only reason they got 2 stars is for past service. On my recent visit I got the baked ziti. I thought this would be nearly impossible to screw up. However I got a runny uncooked noodle bowl with a slab of cheese that could be folded over to dig out the unsavory noodles from under the worst cheese I've ever seen. How do you have cheese that acts more like a thin slab of tofu?. No melty stringy goodness... The Caesar salad was marginal at best. My lady was unimpressed with her meal as well. I did enjoy the garlic knots so I didn't go totally hungry. Why the waitress wouldn't/couldn't/didn't acknowledge that I barely touched my $13 bowl of garbage was very disconcerting. I don't moan and groan and expect a free meal, and proceeded to pay for it. But I think it's their job to ensure patrons enjoy their food. I don't think I could have been any more obvious if I threw it against the wall... The Parker location burned my gnocchi last time (waitress did give me a free slice of cheesecake for the trouble). I don't like cheesecake but she tried at least. Armando's may have lost my business at this point.
(2)Kate K.
The BEST Margarita!
(5)Mike R.
3.5 stars for the food, another .5 for superb service by Luciana. We're from out of town, so this was a first time for us (my brother recommended it). Overall, food was very good (saw, but did not eat, the lamb osso buco, which was enormous - maybe next time?). Desserts were excellent.
(4)Scott L.
Great family run Italian place! There is nothing bad on the menu. Service is great, wine list is good, and the specials are always delicious. I'm particularly a fan of the daily risotto dishes and the seafood cannelloni. Portions are large to huge and inevitably we are bringing some home. Staff is great.
(5)Mike I.
I typically dine at the Armando's in Parker however for this particular evening they were booked so the fam and I ventured out to the Aurora location. Food was great and the wait staff was amazing just as it always is at the Parker location. Louis was our waiter and I can't say enough about how attentive and accommodating he was. The Aurora location is quite a bit smaller than Parker and can feel a bit stuffy. You can't beat Armando's for Italian food and the pizza is out of this world, easily the best on this side of town. I always try to order something different each time, the shrimp scampi is to die for. Either location is good, just depends on what atmosphere you are in the mood for.
(4)GARTH A.
This has to be the best Italian restaurant in Aurora. The linguini with clams in the white sauce is outstanding as are the other items on the menu. Imagine a restaurant that creates a special appetizer everyday for Happy Hour. This is a friendly place with great service and great food.
(5)Jennifer K.
Armandos Aurora recently moved down the street to the shopping center off Parker Road, at the intersection of Chambers and Parker Roads. The new location is quite attractive for dining in. My husband and I have both gotten takeout from the restaurant, so my review will focus on the quality and value of the takeout. Armando's serves good quality food that's pretty tasty, but I do not believe the restaurant offers a good value for the money. Entrees are all over $10, and for a medium amount of pasta, I don't consider this a good value. I ordered a Pasta dish with tomatoes and capers, which had some nice fresh garlic and tasted good. But for the price, it was not substantial enough to satisfy my appetite. Because a meal should include some vegetable, I ordered a salad for "two" and it was OK, but again it was expensive for the amount contained. My son had a meat lasagne, which he enjoyed, but at around $14 was too costly. The garlic knot breads were OK, but a few more might have helped fill us up. Our takeout dinner would have been a better value if salads had been included with the entrees, which would have allowed me to order three entrees and spend about $40. Overall, small dinner for 3 people (we shared two entrees and a large salad) cost me $35. This is before a tip. For takeout, I didn't consider this a good value for my money. I asked whether there was a special, and I was told I needed to bring a coupon to receive that special. The coupon is available in a few local newspapers, which I do not have access to. My husband got their "linguini and clams" special for our family one night. He and my kids liked the food, but I don't like clams and it didn't appeal to me. I will be looking for another Italian restaurant where I can get good food, but if all the entrees cost over $10, some closer to $15, I feel the portions should be more substantial to justify the cost. Especially for simple pasta dishes with just sauce and no meat!
(3)Katie K.
We love this place and we like to head there for date nights. Their garlic knots are amazing! Their specials are always good. They also have a good selection of wine to compliment any of the meals!
(4)Ben W.
We came here on my wife's birthday. The staff was super nice and friendly. The food was overpriced and questionable at best. Overall for the quality of what we got is expect to pay 30% less easily. My veal marsala's sauce was good though rather oily, the actual cuts of beef were thin and slimy. My wife sent back her first ravioli dish and it was replaced by the saltiest penne primavera I've ever heard of or tried. Decent atmosphere but unless the food makes a remarkable improvement we won't be back.
(2)David S.
I want to update my earlier review. While the food is still good, the portions have SUBSTANTIALLY decreased in size while the prices have substantially increased. We have been twice recently, and both times were very disappointed. Most recently, we ordered the Chicken Parm dinner for four last night, and for $35, got four half-breasts, two of which were more like a 1/4 breast, and enough pasta for two. They even shorted us on the garlic knots. This used to be a place that offered a good deal on good food, not anymore.
(2)Raymond C.
any know is this pace is any good
(3)Lee S.
This review is for Happy Hour. (It starts early.) I've never eaten dinner here, but the beer is inexpensive and the wine is 1/2 price. Food is at a special price as well. We tried some garlic bread with marinara and also a potato dish that was very tasty. I'll be back.
(4)Amanda A.
We used to frequent Armando's when it was on Smoky Hill Rd. We'd get both takeout and dine-in. The portions have shrunk over the years. Still tastes great though. The lasagna, eggplant florentine, and cannoli are favorites of ours. The servers are always very nice. This new location on Parker Rd is a bit louder than the prior location. Overall, however, we highly suggest this place.
(5)Andrea P.
When you see Armando's from the outside you picture fast food pizza shop like atmosphere. Then you go in, and they have table clothes; and I'm not talking paper ones, I'm talking full on. I.E. this place is kind of fancy. However, it's still affordable, fast service and the food was pretty good. No complaints from anyone in our party of 6. Well there was a bit too much garlic in my pasta, huge chunks of garlic but I still ate it.
(4)Tiffany H.
Everything was delicious .. and servers were really nice.. Make sure u get garlic knots ...YUMMY!1
(4)Jessica F.
I have been to Armando's in Parker and in Aurora, both locations are great, however I have to say that the Aurora location is spectacular! The chef Carlos is extremely talented and the specials change regularly. Their Antipasto platter is a meal in itself and just so fabulously tasty. The staff including Armando's youngest daughter and her husband Jose are truly unique, friendly and could not be more accommodating. I highly recommend Armando's for a leisurely Tuesday dinner or a Saturday date night!
(5)Joey K.
Okay so first of all being a chef I know i'm a little picky but this was some of the worst Italian food ever! To start we had to wait 40 minutes (expected on a Friday night) but a wait usually means good food, not this time. I got some pasta and ravioli combo, the whole meal seemed like it was laying in water, i asked the waitress why was it so watery and she said they didnt put enough cheese in the sauce, huh? If you know your sauce isn't right why would you put it out, and also thats not a good reason you didn't simmer long enough, then I tried my pasta and it was hard, an Italian guy came over and asked how it was, i said the pasta is hard, he said its cause its homemade, HUH AGAIN. Its cuz you didn't cook it AT ALL! Then I tried my ravioli which was horrible NO TASTE! My daughter ordered a cheese calzone that she said had no taste surprise surpise, but thankfully the waitress kept giving her cokes like its smart for a kid to repeatedly given coke after coke on a Friday night. My mom got the eggplant which was greasey, yet no meat so I guess it was oily. After the complaints did we get a sorry or a discount on our bill NO! Then to top it off on our way out the owner was at some tables he obviously knew and giving them fresh grated parm, WTF! No one else got offered fresh parm just a shaker filled with old parm, what kind of place is this, not Italian I promise you that, cause I am Italian and I know that were family people, I guess they are only nice to people they know. DO NOT UNDER ANY MEANS GO TO THIS PLACE IF YOU WANT GOOD FOOD. It deserves negative reviews. P.S. If Armando's reads these reviews, feel free to contact me at nuttyrecords@gmail.com
(1)Gayle C.
We had a group of 7 on a Friday night and made a late reservation and able to get in. The wait help was great. The drinks were reasonable. I ordered the cioppino which was excellent and very reasonably priced. Everyone at the table enjoyed their entree and we all agreed this was one of our bettter restaurant choices
(4)Sandra H.
We had the Supreme Pizza and it was wonderful. the dough is fantastic!! will be back for sure.
(4)Debbie L.
Great menu, good food, reasonable prices.
(4)Patricia S.
I love this place. I usually go for happy hour because its such a great deal. Half price beer and wine and a nice menu with lots of yummy apps to try. They also have amazing lunch specials. Everyday they have a lunch special for $4.95. The servings are huge. And you can't get lunch ANYWHERE for $5 anymore. The staff is always friendly and helpful. I will keep going back again and again and again.
(4)ann l.
Our meal started out great -- good appetizer. I ordered the special, Lamb Osso Buco, my husband ordered Florentine stuffed shells with a lobster tail on the side. My meal tasted great, but my husband's lobster tail smelled strongly of AMMONIA! The waiter said that he would not charge us for that portion of the meal and that the manager said that lobster was supposed to smell like that. My husband told our waiter that paying for the meal was not the issue, the issue was that they serve rotten food. The waiter told us that the manager would come talk to us, he never did. The waiter came by again, told us that the most he can do is not charge us for that portion of the meal. At this time, the owner, Armando, came by our table. Told us that we didn't have to pay for it and to not worry about it. He said that he smelled and tasted the lobster and it was normal. He has never had a complaint about his lobster, he has been in business for 29 years and he did not need ours. At this time, he took my food away from me and proceeded to tell us to get out of his restaurant! I felt like we were in an episode of Kitchen Nightmares with an owner who serves rotten food and is in denial about it!
(1)Terry H.
Armando's place on Smoky Hill reminded my wife and I of the family Italian restaurants we enjoyed when we lived in New York state. The new place on Parker Rd. lacks some of that ambience and they seem to be working out the kinks of moving, which is why I gave it 4 stars. That said, a good friend was visiting from out of state and we were looking for a good place to eat that would enable her to eat vegan. We went in, explained that our friend had a dietary preference and they were very helpful in offering suggestions. We all had a very tasty and enjoyable meal. The service was just right. Attentive, without being underfoot. We will continue to enjoy dining at Armondos.
(4)Josh Z.
Added to my frequent haunts of Italian restaurants in Aurora. Split a caprese and bruschetta. Yummy! Chicken Limon sauces was nice and the pasta was al dante chicken was a bit tough. The Chocolate soufflé was out of this world, definitely need to split the entrees and desserts they don't skimp on portion sizes.
(4)Corinne H.
Had the dinner for 2 for $35. We each got to order an appetizer, soup/salad and an entree. Great price and the food was pretty good. Service was really good. Apps: calamari and mussels- both were very good, hubs really enjoyed the lemon aioli with the calamari. The garlic knots were fresh out of the oven and delicious. Caesar and minestrone were good. Nothing spectacular about the soup so I'd probably get a salad next time. Entrees: chicken parm- very good would order again. Chicken piccata- needed more lemon to brighten up the flavor as it was a little bland. Not bad but we'll try something else next time. The new location is much nicer inside but because it's way in the back of the shopping plaza now it is less busy from what we've noticed. I guess that's a good thing for us since we don't have to wait.
(5)Kent C.
Never got to taste the food.....I went with my wife, daughter and boyfriend, son, and my 5 month old (sleeping) grandson. The young man (greeter) gave a disdained look when he saw that we had a baby, again sleeping. He offered some lame excuse that it would be 15 minutes before a table was ready, although we could clearly see that there were open tables. You don't need to be told twice that you are not welcome. We went to another Italian restaurant, Mama Louise, great atmosphere, great food, great service. Shame on you Armando for allowing your staff, or endorsing their behaviour......go somewhere else if you want a nice dinner with your family.
(1)BrentandMichelle W.
Not sure how this place had more than 3 stars. The garlic knots were cold and stale. The Chicken Saltimboca was made with frozen spinach. You could actually taste it. The 4 cheese dish I had, had no flavor other than the cheese. The chocolate soufflé wasn't a soufflé wasn't even in the proper dish. It wasn't bad, but closer to a lava cake.
(3)Rachel C.
This is the Italian place that used to be on Smokey Hill near SM High School.This is a much better location. Seems more of a neighborhood comfort place in this new location. Less as a place in a strip mall atmosphere. Although it wasn't in a strip mall before, it's location always gave off those vibes. Food is typical, but good, Italian fare. On a cold, snowy day it is a nice place to hunker down and enjoy a warm hearty meal and friendly service. Being inside reminds one of small neighborhood places on the East Coast. New York, New Jersey. Where friends get together and share a warm Friday night meal. Only thing I don't like about this new location are the high bar tables.Why is it necessary to climb up to a table. Just sit down. Also, could use tablecloths to add a little warmth. Definitely will go back next time I am in town visiting family. Good food and service.
(4)Steve L.
Decided to try take-out. If you like fettacini with hair in in it, this the place to go! Add no manager on duty when we called to complain plus a comment from the host abut the hair "I hate when that happens" and no returned call, makes for sucky experience.
(1)Tanu M.
Armando's is good old home cooked Italian food. A solid choice for that pasta craving. I ordered chicken a la limon. It was enjoyable. We ordered calamari but thought the portion could have been bigger to share with 4 people. Garlic knots are given prior to the meal and are delicious. Service was great and we were not rushed.
(4)Sonja A.
I miss everything about this place when it was on Smoky Hill. The ambiance, service, food quality have all taken a dip. Sometimes bigger isn't always better. I prefer OG now (yikes, I know).
(2)Taiwan M.
I like this place, I wanted to love it, but there is work to be done. The food is good, the service could use some help, the drink prices are a little high. The lunch portion size is perfect, and my Penne Bolognese was done well. The garlic bread was over cooked, but I was able to look past that as I am not a bread guy. Overall the food was good for the price. The service on the other hand left a lot to be desired. The waiter did not seem to be knowledgeable of the menu, or what was in the speciality cocktails. He definitely had never encountered the free cannoli for checking in on yelp. The drinks are a bit pricey but the restaurant has an ombiance that was very pleasant and the lighting was intement, probably a good place to take a date. On the way out, a man who had been busy in the back office, put down his work and thanked me for coming in. For that reason I will come back in a few months to see if the restaurant improves. Plus, I did get the cannoli, and it was good.
(3)James S.
Bad service. Bad food. The carbonara was a joke. No flavor. Carbonara is a hard one to mess up but they missed the mark.
(1)David B.
Quality Italian food at reasonable prices. I don't imagine a lot of foodies will be completely raving about it, but I don't see how anyone could complain about it either. Nice interior, good wait staff, good food. Ambiance is casual classy, and they have a nicely lit patio that would make for a romantic setting when the weather is nice. We ordered two entrees, two beers, and a dessert and spent only $50, including a 20% tip. My Chicken Florentine was a nicely sized portion with good flavor. I would definitely recommend Armando's for a nice night out at a very reasonable price.
(4)David F.
Come on now who doesn't like a home made Itailan meal surrounded by friends and family! I will say this place is just like that and more. Within minutes of arriving we were greeted with smiles and laughter that made it feel like we were dining with friends then the service (did not feel like service) kicked in and it was like family. I will definately be back and will tell my friends that for a real Itailan meal in a clean establishment you can not beat the quality of the food and the price. I miei complimenti al proprietario. grazie!
(4)Paul T.
We came night before Christmas eve and it was pretty busy. Great service. The three course dinner for two is a good value and the mussel appetizer is amazing! Of course we filled up with garlic knots, so we will have leftovers to enjoy another day.
(5)Kelli S.
Our fav Italian place in town!! My husband and I had our wedding reception here, and we love to come back on special occasions. The food is great, and prices reasonable. Wait staff is very attentive and friendly. Most entrees are big enough to be shared by 2 (assuming you get an appetizer, which you should) My only complaint is how far away it is from our house in Arvada, but its totally worth the drive.
(5)Colleen T.
We went there for lunch at my friend ordered the homemade spaghetti and meatballs and I had soup and salad. Regular spaghetti and meatball came and when we questioned at the waiter said that they traditionally served angel hair at lunch. It wasn't angel hair it was regular like Box spaghetti. The Caesar salad was good but the soup was cold. The garlic knots or hard and cold. This location was disappointing.
(2)Carey L.
We have NEVER had a bad meal here. The kids love the pizza and pasta. We LOVE the pancetta pizza- it does not come with red sauce so we always ask for some on the side. It is fabulous. There prices are a bit more than some but I don't mind paying a bit more for a fresh homemade pizza! We also usually get a side order of meatballs. YUM! The Caesar salad is great- my 3 and 11 year old gobble it down. The cannolis are yummy and they even have chocolate covered cannolis- which I love! We were even right beside a very large party table, but our server never missed a beat- even when we had four requests at once: another beer, milk refill, more marinara, and 2 meatballs. You can't go wrong here. I honesty feel like some reviewers just like to be negative because we have been here sooo many times and have never had a bad experience.
(5)Jan F.
Terrible service. Asked to sit on patio, torn curtains and we were forgotten. Manager and waitress could care less. First time ever,we left no tip!! The one star is for good food although the garlic knots were cold. What happened? It used to be a great place.. We won't be back.
(1)Teresa W.
We eat here often, and the food is always delicious. It's a fun, but busy, place on heavy dining days, but the service has always been pretty good considering. We try to go early for dinner or do lunch on the weekends. Wish they would bring back the ravioli du jour, but they kept a couple of the best ones on the menu. GREAT lasagna - meaty and rich.
(5)Steve M.
Very disappointing visit... Before they relocated to the current place I really loved the food, service, even the crappy run down building they occupied. The only reason they got 2 stars is for past service. On my recent visit I got the baked ziti. I thought this would be nearly impossible to screw up. However I got a runny uncooked noodle bowl with a slab of cheese that could be folded over to dig out the unsavory noodles from under the worst cheese I've ever seen. How do you have cheese that acts more like a thin slab of tofu?. No melty stringy goodness... The Caesar salad was marginal at best. My lady was unimpressed with her meal as well. I did enjoy the garlic knots so I didn't go totally hungry. Why the waitress wouldn't/couldn't/didn't acknowledge that I barely touched my $13 bowl of garbage was very disconcerting. I don't moan and groan and expect a free meal, and proceeded to pay for it. But I think it's their job to ensure patrons enjoy their food. I don't think I could have been any more obvious if I threw it against the wall... The Parker location burned my gnocchi last time (waitress did give me a free slice of cheesecake for the trouble). I don't like cheesecake but she tried at least. Armando's may have lost my business at this point.
(2)Kate K.
The BEST Margarita!
(5)Victoria I.
I've been to this place many, many times. I really preferred the old location off of Smoky Hill (it had been there since as long as I can remember, and I have been living in that area since 1990). It was smaller, but it was like a crowded small mom and pop place, as opposed to now. Sure it's bigger and brighter now but it also lost a lot of its charm. On a Saturday night, you might have had to wait an hour in the old place but it was worth it. Classic old style Italian the way my family makes and eats it. Big portions, gooey cheese and sauce everywhere. They never did make their own ravioli (boo) but now ALL of their food has a slightly manufactured feel. That being said, I don't think it is. Maybe it's the atmosphere, I don't know. I just can't get over the atmosphere maybe They tried to class the menu up a bit I think, but they also lost a lot of what made them great...Italian they way my grandmother used to make, while eating it in a place that could have been just a larger version of her house. All in all, I went to the new place twice. The food is good, the experience is fine. Much like Chili's or Olive Garden.
(3)James B.
My wife and I liked this place... It was solid, tasty italian food. Bar was separate from the restaurant and perfect as there is the ability to head in for a drink and snack without being in a 'pub', plus it had a tv if you wanted it. Service was really friendly and welcoming without being overbearing... We'll be back for sure
(4)Cory P.
Don't go here if you have kids. They are not accomidating to children. I've never been there, but a good friend of mine tried going the other day, and wouldn't seat them because of their infant.
(1)Chris R.
The food is 4 star. Service is 2 Star. Being new to town, my wife & I are looking for a new go to Italian joint. Armando's delivers on the food front. This time just a starter, pizza & cannoli. Everything was delicious. Our server on the other hand..... Our waiter's answer to 'what tour favorite dish?' was to read the specials. No best sellers. No most popular dishes. No suggestions. Not a big deal, it was pizza night. We just had higher expectations. The food will satisfy but service (at least or server) was lacking. We will try it again & hope the service improves.
(4)Jese S.
visited Armondo's several times at this location. I have had happy hour on the patio, dinner in the dining room and dessert in the bar area. It's generally a busy place. The service is usually friendly and efficient. The food is generally fresh and hot. The dining room can be a bit of a maze as they have a few different sections and what appears to be a place that can be closed off into a private room for any occasion. They also have started entertainment on the patio. We came for dinner on Saturday and they were advertising live entertainment on the patio. They are tucked in a back corner of the shopping center for this location so there is plenty of parking and access to Parker Road if you want to go North is pretty easy. The garlic knots were especially tasty on this visit. It could be because I had not had them in a while. Lasagna and Veal Parmesan were the dishes of our evening meal and they happily substituted penne pasta for spaghetti on the Veal. Dinner didn't take long to arrive and was very filling. We both had to take 1/2 away so the portion size is generous.
(4)Amanda N.
Solid place for sure. We went there after searching Yelp for some suggestions in Parker. Yummy! The garlic knots were awesome, and much better than "Here's some bread and butter" The house pino grigio was delicious - not bad at all. I had their salmon, and it was cooked TO PERFECTION. Absolutely delicious. Vegetables were cooked well, too. My father in law said his eggplant was slightly chewy, but other than that, no complaints. I tried a few bites of the husband's gnocchi - yummm. The food did take a looooong time to reach the table, but it was worth the wait. Also, after I told them about the two birthdays at the table and requested cannolis, they were brought out and were DELICIOUS. I love a good cannoli. I'd come back - I want to try some pasta!
(4)Lisa C.
This place is great. I ordered the taste of italy, its like being back in NY, food was flavorfull.. prices are cheap.. soo delicious, my husband ordered the calzone, which was huge.. huge huge and he also loved it.
(5)S K.
Our family went to this restaurant Friday night and both the food and service was awful. The stuffed mushroom appetizer was all soggy breadcrumbs, the ceasar salads were limp and tasteless. It took nearly half an hour to get our actual meals, with an excuse from the waiter telling us it takes longer for the stuffed mushrooms. HUH? That was our appetizer. When we did finally get our meals it was only to get dry chicken parm, and my pasta aglio e'olio was a bunch of raw garlic on dry pasta. Luckily, the kids were only interested in how much cheese was on their ravioli's and stuffed shells, but I was disgusted. Will be going elsewhere for Italian next time, thank you!
(1)James D.
So disappointed. My favorite Italian restaurant now sucks! Poor poor service!!! So bad could not get a drink in 15 min and walked out before I could have there baked Ziti. Will not be back!!!!!
(1)Audrey M.
My boyfriend and I eat here often. It's solid Italian food. Our favorite dishes are the rigatoni quattro formaggi, Touch of Italy, and the stuffed shells. The carbonara is also tasty but super rich. Their meatballs actually remind me of my Italian grandpa's. Delicious! We highly recommend this place. Don't order seafood here though...it's not bad, but other meals are way better.
(4)James L.
Really great, flavorful standard menu Italian cuisine. No one will confuse Armando's with Little Italy, or the South side of Chicago, but the basics are there, reasonably priced, and enjoyable for kids and adults alike. Decent wine list and beer selection too. They actually season the gravy which apparently is against the law in most standard Italian restaurants these days!
(4)Jennifer H.
Great food, great environment, and great service. Such a gem! We tried a few appetizers and a few entrees. All great. However the garlic knots were not the best I've tried. They do a great job describing the wine on the wine list. It was hard to choose! The chef was also very friendly and came out and sang for the restaurant a couple of times. Overall a good and fun experience!
(4)Arin A.
This is our favorite go-to spot! I've seen reviews about the service not being good, but we haven't experienced that. We ate there again last night and the service was fantastic. The mussels are delish every time, Caesar salad is great and not over dressed. We did say we wished that there was a basket of bread offered as we sipped our wine and to sop up the red sauce from the mussels. But you can only order garlic knots, which aren't my favorite. We continue to go back and love that we have such a yummy Italian spot so close by. After dinner we were heading to a friend's house for her birthday so we took an assortment of desserts to go... Big hit!
(4)Nick R.
The food here is pretty good and the service was great. Everyone with me also enjoyed their food.
(4)Amy W.
This was a delightful find!! We were met by one of the very friendly owners and served by a delightful and highly competent server, Cindy. The food was delicious authentic Italian and each of our dishes were wonderful. The portions were large leaving us some excellent day after meals. We look forward to our next visit!
(5)Katie H.
I had kind of a strange experience here, EXCELLENT service, but subpar food. My guy and I got garlic knots, not very garlicky.... caprese salad which was good, an overcooked calzone with all the ingredients listed in the menu along with a few unexpected additions. And manicotti. The noodles were barely stuffed, very little cheese and definitely not enough sauce on top. The atmosphere is cool, plenty of staff were scheduled, very friendly and attentive service and engaged us in pleasant conversation. If the quality of the food improves, we will definitely come back. Otherwise I doubt we will go there again unless it's just for drinks.
(4)Ana Y.
We searched a long time for good, homemade Italian food and this is outstanding. The owner and chef take pride in their kitchen, delivering inspired specials and always fresh ingredients and robust flavors. Armando's keeps a nice wine selection and delivers excellence and quality.
(5)Drew B.
After frequenting Armando's for years now, I figure it's time to brag about why I keep returning. This is a family run restaurant that takes pride in their food, service and reputation. Every time I visit, there is a new selection of specials which I've tried a couple times and were great! Staff is friendly and always suggests wine pairings with my order. - The Veal cut: Bomb! - Chicken Parm or Piccata: Delicious, not as lemon-y as I like it, but that's personal preference - Chicken Parmesan is top notch! Contender with the way mom used to make it - Lasagna - Thick, creamy and piping hot, really delicious Highly recommend Armando's. I'm an Italian food snob so Armando's had their work cut out for them.
(5)Khara O.
The service was great! Food was delicious! Perfect size portions, not too big. I redeemed the free cannoli with the check in and it was super yummy!
(5)Nichole Y.
My husband really likes this place, but I feel it is mediocre. We have been twice. The last time we went it was very hot in the restaurant, and we had to wait 5-10 min to be seated because the host was on the phone, taking a to-go order I think. The host was nice enough and observant enough however to make sure we were next to be served when a couple who came in after us expected to be helped before us. The wait staff is always very slow. I ordered the manicotti last time but was very disappointed as I have had better frozen manicotti bought from the grocery store. The garlic knots have no garlic flavor, they should just be called buttered knots. And we love creme brûlée, but whenever we order it here it comes out burnt. I would choose to eat at Olive Garden over this place in the future.
(3)Laura M.
It's hit or miss. Over the last year we've seen it definitely err on the side of missing in what seems to be a cost-cutting measure potentially. After being asked how dinner tasted i told waiter the chicken Florentine was dry. For me to even mention trust me it was overcooked and warmed up. His initial reaction was to not believe me. I asked to please tell the chef for the next customer. Afterwords the owner came out and said if it's dry do you want some more sauce...enough said. If that's the point of the sauce then any foodie will understand. They proceeded to give us the full bill, lacked any apology and needless to say we will never be back after 15 years as customers. We will miss you Armando's.
(2)Angela R.
I love this place. They always serve fresh, amazing homemade Italian food, The bar staff is consistently wonderful!
(5)Lindy S.
If you are reading this near a meal time, just get up and go to Armando's. First off service is exceptional--it seems everyone that works here is very friendly. Our waitress, Luciana, was very nice and had a great sense of humor. The bartender even came to the table at one point, and we had the door held open by the chef as we left (it was almost closing time). We started with mozzarella cheese sticks that my husband ordered on a whim. I don't recall the last time I had freshly made cheese sticks. They were great. I had the Fettuccine Alfredo, as I guess it is my litmus test for Italian restaurants. Oh My God! I know I have never had such a freshly made, light, Alfredo sauce, and Armando's has likely ruined me for most, if not all, other places. I added broccoli to my pasta, and it is about as close to perfect as I have ever had. He had the Chicken Parmesan, with homemade spaghetti noodles, and wished he could bathe in the marinara sauce. The chicken was tender and the breading crispy throughout, even where covered in cheese and sauce. We shared Creme Brulee and it was a delight. I don't mean to be overly generous with my compliments, it was just nice to find a family owned business in this area full of chains, and it really was a great meal. Look for a follow up, as I am sure we will be back soon.
(5)Brandy W.
Very disappointed. This place was great once upon a time and was our "go to" place when we had guest. But they've reduced the menu, it does not match the online menu that we would show our guest before taking them. The portions are smaller than ever. We purchased the combo appetizer that should have calamari, fried zucchini & shrimp for $12.95. It had 6 calamari mini rings, 2 shrimp and the rest was fried zucchini. Not impressed. The chicken Parmesan was cold and cheese on top was not melt on 3 of our orders. Quattro Formigo had no flavor, just cheese & noodles. And the spaghetti and meatball- spaghetti sauce/marinara is bitter and the meatball was dry hamburger meat with no flavor. But the upside was they serve wine. For a $200 bill, we should have done SaltGrass.
(2)Shiloh C.
I have been coming to Armando's since 2005 and love love love the food. However, the service is always a disappoine my and last night was no different. The waiter was upset about have a reserved group table and getting annoyed with the people coming in and out. I told him I couldn't drink alcohol and he literally walked away from me. I had to shout over the table I wanted a coffee and some garlic knots. It was just awful. Then, part of the group had to leave and wanted to pay for their portion and he was incredibly rude and dismissive to the woman trying to pay. I can honestly say the service will now prevent me from going there on my own. Before I went last night, the service was just ok but now I just won't go. They really need to focus on pleasing the customer. Oh! And the busy boy spilt diet coke on my friends white shirt and cleaned it up with a towel without consulting him first and made for a horribly awkward moment. Tips are their money maker, customers make that choice, be nice and flexible because it pays in the end!
(2)Amber L.
I adore Armando's. I've been going there since they were in their previous location on Smoky Hill Road. Their food is so fresh and flavorful everytime. I'd recommend the pizza but the stuffed shells are also delicious. Not to mention great service to include sometimes singing traditional Italian songs table side.
(5)Emilee D.
I love, love, love Armando's! I've always had good service here (I used to frequent their old location a lot as well) and the food is yummy. The new location has way more parking, but the restaurant seating area is a bit smaller. My favorite dish is the carbonara. I also love the spaghetti and meatball. The bruschetta is really delicious and filling as an appetizer. The garlic knots could use more garlicky flavor, but it's still a great accompaniment to your meal. If they offer the lamb osso bucco on special, I suggest you order it. The meat is very tender, well seasoned, and falls right off the bone. When you're done stuffing your face with your entree, try the tiramisu for dessert. This is one place I don't mind getting fat at.
(5)Steven C.
1st time visit.. went for a happy hour special but ended up getting ciaoppino. it was malvelous. our waiter Richie was very accomodating and it was very pleasant 1st time experience at Armando's. Glad to find local gem where we could visit more often.
(4)ann l.
Our meal started out great -- good appetizer. I ordered the special, Lamb Osso Buco, my husband ordered Florentine stuffed shells with a lobster tail on the side. My meal tasted great, but my husband's lobster tail smelled strongly of AMMONIA! The waiter said that he would not charge us for that portion of the meal and that the manager said that lobster was supposed to smell like that. My husband told our waiter that paying for the meal was not the issue, the issue was that they serve rotten food. The waiter told us that the manager would come talk to us, he never did. The waiter came by again, told us that the most he can do is not charge us for that portion of the meal. At this time, the owner, Armando, came by our table. Told us that we didn't have to pay for it and to not worry about it. He said that he smelled and tasted the lobster and it was normal. He has never had a complaint about his lobster, he has been in business for 29 years and he did not need ours. At this time, he took my food away from me and proceeded to tell us to get out of his restaurant! I felt like we were in an episode of Kitchen Nightmares with an owner who serves rotten food and is in denial about it!
(1)Terry H.
Armando's place on Smoky Hill reminded my wife and I of the family Italian restaurants we enjoyed when we lived in New York state. The new place on Parker Rd. lacks some of that ambience and they seem to be working out the kinks of moving, which is why I gave it 4 stars. That said, a good friend was visiting from out of state and we were looking for a good place to eat that would enable her to eat vegan. We went in, explained that our friend had a dietary preference and they were very helpful in offering suggestions. We all had a very tasty and enjoyable meal. The service was just right. Attentive, without being underfoot. We will continue to enjoy dining at Armondos.
(4)Ben W.
We came here on my wife's birthday. The staff was super nice and friendly. The food was overpriced and questionable at best. Overall for the quality of what we got is expect to pay 30% less easily. My veal marsala's sauce was good though rather oily, the actual cuts of beef were thin and slimy. My wife sent back her first ravioli dish and it was replaced by the saltiest penne primavera I've ever heard of or tried. Decent atmosphere but unless the food makes a remarkable improvement we won't be back.
(2)Mike R.
3.5 stars for the food, another .5 for superb service by Luciana. We're from out of town, so this was a first time for us (my brother recommended it). Overall, food was very good (saw, but did not eat, the lamb osso buco, which was enormous - maybe next time?). Desserts were excellent.
(4)Scott L.
Great family run Italian place! There is nothing bad on the menu. Service is great, wine list is good, and the specials are always delicious. I'm particularly a fan of the daily risotto dishes and the seafood cannelloni. Portions are large to huge and inevitably we are bringing some home. Staff is great.
(5)Mike I.
I typically dine at the Armando's in Parker however for this particular evening they were booked so the fam and I ventured out to the Aurora location. Food was great and the wait staff was amazing just as it always is at the Parker location. Louis was our waiter and I can't say enough about how attentive and accommodating he was. The Aurora location is quite a bit smaller than Parker and can feel a bit stuffy. You can't beat Armando's for Italian food and the pizza is out of this world, easily the best on this side of town. I always try to order something different each time, the shrimp scampi is to die for. Either location is good, just depends on what atmosphere you are in the mood for.
(4)GARTH A.
This has to be the best Italian restaurant in Aurora. The linguini with clams in the white sauce is outstanding as are the other items on the menu. Imagine a restaurant that creates a special appetizer everyday for Happy Hour. This is a friendly place with great service and great food.
(5)Amanda A.
We used to frequent Armando's when it was on Smoky Hill Rd. We'd get both takeout and dine-in. The portions have shrunk over the years. Still tastes great though. The lasagna, eggplant florentine, and cannoli are favorites of ours. The servers are always very nice. This new location on Parker Rd is a bit louder than the prior location. Overall, however, we highly suggest this place.
(5)Andrea P.
When you see Armando's from the outside you picture fast food pizza shop like atmosphere. Then you go in, and they have table clothes; and I'm not talking paper ones, I'm talking full on. I.E. this place is kind of fancy. However, it's still affordable, fast service and the food was pretty good. No complaints from anyone in our party of 6. Well there was a bit too much garlic in my pasta, huge chunks of garlic but I still ate it.
(4)Tiffany H.
Everything was delicious .. and servers were really nice.. Make sure u get garlic knots ...YUMMY!1
(4)Jessica F.
I have been to Armando's in Parker and in Aurora, both locations are great, however I have to say that the Aurora location is spectacular! The chef Carlos is extremely talented and the specials change regularly. Their Antipasto platter is a meal in itself and just so fabulously tasty. The staff including Armando's youngest daughter and her husband Jose are truly unique, friendly and could not be more accommodating. I highly recommend Armando's for a leisurely Tuesday dinner or a Saturday date night!
(5)Jennifer K.
Armandos Aurora recently moved down the street to the shopping center off Parker Road, at the intersection of Chambers and Parker Roads. The new location is quite attractive for dining in. My husband and I have both gotten takeout from the restaurant, so my review will focus on the quality and value of the takeout. Armando's serves good quality food that's pretty tasty, but I do not believe the restaurant offers a good value for the money. Entrees are all over $10, and for a medium amount of pasta, I don't consider this a good value. I ordered a Pasta dish with tomatoes and capers, which had some nice fresh garlic and tasted good. But for the price, it was not substantial enough to satisfy my appetite. Because a meal should include some vegetable, I ordered a salad for "two" and it was OK, but again it was expensive for the amount contained. My son had a meat lasagne, which he enjoyed, but at around $14 was too costly. The garlic knot breads were OK, but a few more might have helped fill us up. Our takeout dinner would have been a better value if salads had been included with the entrees, which would have allowed me to order three entrees and spend about $40. Overall, small dinner for 3 people (we shared two entrees and a large salad) cost me $35. This is before a tip. For takeout, I didn't consider this a good value for my money. I asked whether there was a special, and I was told I needed to bring a coupon to receive that special. The coupon is available in a few local newspapers, which I do not have access to. My husband got their "linguini and clams" special for our family one night. He and my kids liked the food, but I don't like clams and it didn't appeal to me. I will be looking for another Italian restaurant where I can get good food, but if all the entrees cost over $10, some closer to $15, I feel the portions should be more substantial to justify the cost. Especially for simple pasta dishes with just sauce and no meat!
(3)Katie K.
We love this place and we like to head there for date nights. Their garlic knots are amazing! Their specials are always good. They also have a good selection of wine to compliment any of the meals!
(4)David S.
I want to update my earlier review. While the food is still good, the portions have SUBSTANTIALLY decreased in size while the prices have substantially increased. We have been twice recently, and both times were very disappointed. Most recently, we ordered the Chicken Parm dinner for four last night, and for $35, got four half-breasts, two of which were more like a 1/4 breast, and enough pasta for two. They even shorted us on the garlic knots. This used to be a place that offered a good deal on good food, not anymore.
(2)Raymond C.
any know is this pace is any good
(3)Lee S.
This review is for Happy Hour. (It starts early.) I've never eaten dinner here, but the beer is inexpensive and the wine is 1/2 price. Food is at a special price as well. We tried some garlic bread with marinara and also a potato dish that was very tasty. I'll be back.
(4)Joey K.
Okay so first of all being a chef I know i'm a little picky but this was some of the worst Italian food ever! To start we had to wait 40 minutes (expected on a Friday night) but a wait usually means good food, not this time. I got some pasta and ravioli combo, the whole meal seemed like it was laying in water, i asked the waitress why was it so watery and she said they didnt put enough cheese in the sauce, huh? If you know your sauce isn't right why would you put it out, and also thats not a good reason you didn't simmer long enough, then I tried my pasta and it was hard, an Italian guy came over and asked how it was, i said the pasta is hard, he said its cause its homemade, HUH AGAIN. Its cuz you didn't cook it AT ALL! Then I tried my ravioli which was horrible NO TASTE! My daughter ordered a cheese calzone that she said had no taste surprise surpise, but thankfully the waitress kept giving her cokes like its smart for a kid to repeatedly given coke after coke on a Friday night. My mom got the eggplant which was greasey, yet no meat so I guess it was oily. After the complaints did we get a sorry or a discount on our bill NO! Then to top it off on our way out the owner was at some tables he obviously knew and giving them fresh grated parm, WTF! No one else got offered fresh parm just a shaker filled with old parm, what kind of place is this, not Italian I promise you that, cause I am Italian and I know that were family people, I guess they are only nice to people they know. DO NOT UNDER ANY MEANS GO TO THIS PLACE IF YOU WANT GOOD FOOD. It deserves negative reviews. P.S. If Armando's reads these reviews, feel free to contact me at nuttyrecords@gmail.com
(1)Gayle C.
We had a group of 7 on a Friday night and made a late reservation and able to get in. The wait help was great. The drinks were reasonable. I ordered the cioppino which was excellent and very reasonably priced. Everyone at the table enjoyed their entree and we all agreed this was one of our bettter restaurant choices
(4)Sandra H.
We had the Supreme Pizza and it was wonderful. the dough is fantastic!! will be back for sure.
(4)Debbie L.
Great menu, good food, reasonable prices.
(4)Patricia S.
I love this place. I usually go for happy hour because its such a great deal. Half price beer and wine and a nice menu with lots of yummy apps to try. They also have amazing lunch specials. Everyday they have a lunch special for $4.95. The servings are huge. And you can't get lunch ANYWHERE for $5 anymore. The staff is always friendly and helpful. I will keep going back again and again and again.
(4)Brandy W.
Very disappointed. This place was great once upon a time and was our "go to" place when we had guest. But they've reduced the menu, it does not match the online menu that we would show our guest before taking them. The portions are smaller than ever. We purchased the combo appetizer that should have calamari, fried zucchini & shrimp for $12.95. It had 6 calamari mini rings, 2 shrimp and the rest was fried zucchini. Not impressed. The chicken Parmesan was cold and cheese on top was not melt on 3 of our orders. Quattro Formigo had no flavor, just cheese & noodles. And the spaghetti and meatball- spaghetti sauce/marinara is bitter and the meatball was dry hamburger meat with no flavor. But the upside was they serve wine. For a $200 bill, we should have done SaltGrass.
(2)Shiloh C.
I have been coming to Armando's since 2005 and love love love the food. However, the service is always a disappoine my and last night was no different. The waiter was upset about have a reserved group table and getting annoyed with the people coming in and out. I told him I couldn't drink alcohol and he literally walked away from me. I had to shout over the table I wanted a coffee and some garlic knots. It was just awful. Then, part of the group had to leave and wanted to pay for their portion and he was incredibly rude and dismissive to the woman trying to pay. I can honestly say the service will now prevent me from going there on my own. Before I went last night, the service was just ok but now I just won't go. They really need to focus on pleasing the customer. Oh! And the busy boy spilt diet coke on my friends white shirt and cleaned it up with a towel without consulting him first and made for a horribly awkward moment. Tips are their money maker, customers make that choice, be nice and flexible because it pays in the end!
(2)Jan F.
Terrible service. Asked to sit on patio, torn curtains and we were forgotten. Manager and waitress could care less. First time ever,we left no tip!! The one star is for good food although the garlic knots were cold. What happened? It used to be a great place.. We won't be back.
(1)Teresa W.
We eat here often, and the food is always delicious. It's a fun, but busy, place on heavy dining days, but the service has always been pretty good considering. We try to go early for dinner or do lunch on the weekends. Wish they would bring back the ravioli du jour, but they kept a couple of the best ones on the menu. GREAT lasagna - meaty and rich.
(5)Nicole K.
They ripped us off! Went here for the first time. We got the dinner for two. Bill was 38 and we left 8 in tip. Checked my bank few days later and they charged my card 59 dollars. Keep your receipt!!
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