Tino’s Italian Bistro
8775 Centre Park Dr, Columbia, MD, 21045
Tino’s Italian Bistro Menu
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Address :
8775 Centre Park Dr
Columbia, MD, 21045 - Phone (410) 730-8466
- Website https://www.tinositalianbistro.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
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
Best Nights : Mon, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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George S.
Food was awesome. Definitely will be coming back. Had the shrimp scampi and the meat calzone with Alfredo sauce. It was FABULOUS ..... Raspberry apple sangria was delicious too. A very quaint atmosphere. But definitely worth a shout out..
(5)Russ H.
This place is outstanding!!! Just had the fried calamari for an appetizer and then some shrimp da diavolo. OMFG!!!! The shrimp are huge, the sauce is bangin', and the linguine is great. Awesome people too. Highly recommend this place. Kudos Tinos!
(5)Jane A.
We were in here on a Monday night for dinner. The place was practically empty. Food was fine. Ordered the Antipasto and Spinach Salad for appetizers. The homemade dressing is really good. They were able to accommodate for my wheat allergy. They do have gluten free pasta! We ordered the Chicken Parm, Veal Parm, Chicken Florentine, GF Penne Alfredo and the last entree escapes me. Everything turned out as expected. This is a pretty standard Italian place. Service was fine.
(3)Max P.
Got it for delivery, was very impressed with their thin crust pizza. The meat pizza was really good. Highly recommend
(4)Valentino R.
Dell!! What can I said ? Best play for drinks.! Food looks amazing, my friend and I where here for my birthday and we got drinks and drinks were amazing our bartender Patrick was so nice.! Ask for him next time you guys come here.!! He is amazing !!! :)
(5)Jeni S.
Came here for the first and probably the last time. I gave two stars just for the service. So that tells you the quality of the food. The restaurant has a nice ambience, but it was basically empty. There was one other table and my group. The important part. The food. My friend ordered a pick pasta with penne and meatballs with a red sauce. It had nice sized meatballs, but it was really salty. My other friend ordered the chicken Chesapeake. It was ok, but the chicken had a terrible texture. My bf ordered the saltimbocca which was inedible. The waitress warned him but he wanted to try something different. He usually eats everything but he couldn't even swallow the piece and actually spat it out in a napkin. He ended up sending it back and getting the shrimp scampi. It looked overly oily, very lemony, and again salty. I ordered gluten free penne with the mare bella. I usually wouldn't be so harsh but the price of the plate was just way too high, whose was $25. It was so salty that my tongue went somewhat numb it's in fact inflamed. My bf couldn't even eat more than one bite. The shrimp and scallops were over cooked and rubbery. The plate looked beautiful but looks can be deceiving.
(2)Josh G.
Tino's is a casual Italian restaurant with fare that is unremarkable. However, the service is attentive. It seems like they do a lot of carry out orders for their pizza. Perhaps I'd just as soon try that next time rather than their entrees.
(4)First L.
Meh. Tried it for the first time last weekend, and sadly I have to report that it missed on all counts. If I gave it a second try it would be for something exceedingly safe, like pizza. Reading the previous reviews, and based on my own experience I think what's happening is there are two very different chefs. I also suspect there are a lot of folks who just don't have a good point of reference to compare to. But, as the great Gordon Gano once said - "this is only a guess". Service was warm and personable, but inattentive despite there being many young workers idling about. I do appreciate that they didn't push drinks on me, taking my first "no thanks" and countering with "how about water ? " . I truly appreciate that. I've eaten in restaurants where the staff circled me like vultures trying to sell me more of that nice high markup alcohol and I didn't like it. The bread did nothing for me. It tasted like a loaf of white bread to me, like literally take Wonder Bread, refactor it's physical form, place in basket, return affirmative exit status. No crust to speak of, no character , just basket o' bread. The sauce was way too garlicky for me, but it tasted like decent oil ... decent oil that had been completely overpowered by way to much garlic.. Things went downhill with the Caprese. I was introduced to Caprese salad in the City in which it was a very simple recipe: always a good mozzarella- buffalo preferred or at least whole, slice of good ripe tomato, leaf of fresh basil, slight drizzle of oil, drizzle of balsamic. This is how I've been making it for years at home too, and I guess that's how I'm used to it. I love it that way. Absolutely love it; the simple honest flavors mingling, the complex sweet aromas of the balsamic just lingering over the trio. The way they make it there is different. It was mozzarella (and the cheese was good), sliced red and yellow tomato (that was a cute twist) but the basil was shredded and mixed among lettuce greens and then it was all drowned in oil. The presentation looked disheveled with the greens all over it and I was completely unprepared for that recipe but the biggest takeaway was just the excessive olive oil overwhelming all the natural flavors. Turns out this form of Caprese googles and is a valid preparation, but just not what I was expecting. So I'll take fair shakes for just not knowing what i was ordering, but it was definitely drowning in oil. I couldn't bring myself to finish the Linguine with seafood. I had to discreetly eject the first two clams I tasted (and I am a shellfish WHORE) and then decided to just pass on the other clams, the squid was very tough and chewy, the sauce was appropriately picante but otherwise bland. It tasted like it was prepared by an engineer with a checklist; all the proper ingredients were there: Linguine, cooked to al dente- Check. Squid, sliced and sauteed - check. Clams, steamed in broth ? Check. But it was lacking art and soul. In fact, I think that would really sum up my experience: all the ingredients were there, but none of the soul. So, like I said, if I try this place again it will be for like pizza. Forgot to mention: although I personally don't care about a gluten free diet, I DO want to give them props for having a large GF menu. It must really suck to be on a gluten restricted diet, and personally I think it's pretty awesome of them to serve up so many choices for those who can't / won't eat gluten.
(2)Jennifer S.
I ordered eggplant Parmesan and it was salty for my taste. My husband ordered blackened chicken salad. The salad was good but the chicken only tasted of pepper not Cajun. Bread served at beginning was great!Service was great. Lovely waitress.
(3)Gina P.
Tino's is just like the previous tenant Strapazza because it is the same chef. The food is decent and decently priced. However, I would prefer it to take out over dining in. The staff is very forthcoming and did their job. Regrettably, as mentioned by previous customers, they have a tendency to disappear. You'll receive constant check-ups for a while, and then you have to actually look for your server and flag them down toward the end. The main complaints are parking, which fills up very quick during the dinner rush, and a lack of attention to detail. Servers are nice but their disappearing act is annoying and sometimes they just don't pay attention. So, overall I say this is an OK place to eat. Nothing fantastic and what is good is counteracted by what is not so great.
(3)Julie D.
We recently moved into the area and love Tino's. I've had their gnocchi caprese both times I've went, and it has been delicious! The meals are extremely filling, so you'll definitely have leftovers, which makes their meals a great value. Also, while a little random, their olive oil that accompanies their table bread is amazing. They also have a great and expansive wine menu.
(4)Patapsco M.
Locals love this place. Good pizza, good service, fun atmosphere. I can't fathom the poor reviews, try this place, it's the best local Italian (that I'm aware of).
(4)Samuel C.
The bread is not that great. It was so hard to chew. But I love the shrimp salad.
(3)Jeff A.
My wife and two sons went to check out this newly opened restaurant relatively late on a weeknight for a restaurant in Columbia. Many other diner's also had the same idea. The hostess thought it would be about a 10 minute wait - turned out to be about 20 minutes for a table. I was happy to see that they were using the "pager" system. While this doesn't pair well with upscale restaurants (though neither does yelling out a name form the list), I find them very efficient. The entrance had a small seating area that really didn't lend itself to hold very many people. It was hot outside, so we chose to stand inside, across from the hostess stand. From there, we got to observe a couple of things. The interior itself was much improved from the prior Italian restaurant that was there. Nothing too impressive, but pleasant and a much better use of space. Seemed a lot larger. We also noticed though that the 3 hostesses that were working seemed to be pretty idle. They were all pleasant enough, but while tables sat full of dishes and water glasses got low, they were still standing talking at the front waiting for the next customers. I don't blame them at all, but this is rather a management issue to ensure that the staff is well balanced and that idle time in one area is used to effectively compensate for problems in another. As we sat down, we got to hear our waiter apologize ("sorry again...") to the departing guests at an adjacent table about the wait. It took quite a long time for him to come to our table, but he seemed very friendly and competent once he did. It was clear that the rush had passed (we were one of the last groups who had to wait to be seated). During the time we sat there, some tables were cleared and set, but weren't filled. As a result, we were hopeful that service and wait time would be better for us than prior diners. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Our waiter started out well. He took our orders and followed up on drinks and bread. While waiting for salads, he came back by to ask if we wanted more bread. My wife asked about wheat bread. He said he wasn't sure if they had any, but would check. We waited what seemed like a long time, then the salads arrived, brought by another waiter. We didn't see our waiter though and he never followed up about the bread. We waited what seemed to be a very long time. He finally came to pick up the salad plates and let us know that our food would be "out soon". We then waited for another very long stretch. The kids both were getting really miserable waiting. They are both over 10, so I'm not talking about a 4 year old who has no patience. Finally, the food arrived. My wife ordered a pesto pasta. I ordered pasta with broccoli and a white wine sauce. One son ordered pizza and the other a ravioli dish. The food wasn't particularly impressive - but to be fair, there's probably a limit to how impressive most of those dishes can be. My dish was nice and light (which was my goal), but wasn't hot and was a little too light on the broccoli. We waited a long time again for our waiter to come back around to get a dessert order. He brought that relatively quickly. Prices were definitely good. Not cheap, but definitely not overpriced for what you get. So, in summary, the atmosphere was pretty nice for a strip mall restaurant and a huge improvement over the prior establishment. The service was poor overall - good when our waiter was present, but he was just MIA for most of the time. The kitchen itself was also backed up and I'm not sure I can see why. The food was pretty average. Nothing too much to complain about, but nothing to write rave reviews about either. In short, I hate to say it, but next time I think I'll go to Bertucci's. The atmosphere isn't as nice, but I think I'll get almost the same level of food, but won't deal with falling asleep waiting for my waiter to come by or get my food. Willing to give this place another chance to work out what hopefully are just some operational challenges of a new place. However, I'll probably wait for a while before going back.
(2)Rainon L.
Only had one experience with Tino's but the one I had was fantastic. I ordered delivery to my office. Not only did the order come quite quickly, but the food was still piping hot and fresh. All amenities were included (warm bread, plastic silverware, etc.) and the driver was courteous. The food itself was excellent. The pasta was clearly homemade, the veggies were all fresh, and the sauce rich and flavorful. I will certainly order from them again!
(5)Russell R.
Two things to say. First, if you want to grab a meal, this isn't bad. Lots of people were doing the pizza but we decided to try some pasta. Kathleen had Orrecchiette Montese. Not bad (I had some of her's) but the Rabe was a little sad. I had Farfalle Saraceno with tough "filet mignon tips", canned mushrooms, and uninspired sauce. The bread was OK but a half-hour shy of stale. Second, this is an OK place for forgettable (not regrettable) food but not the place to go if you want Italian. The chain Italian restaurants (you know who I mean) are better. Again, it ain't bad, just nothing to go out of your way for.
(2)Tim S.
We made a reservation on New Years Eve - no problems! As new parents, eating out can be quite an adventure. We often feel insecure and worry about how our new addition is going to be welcomed. It's made us very aware of the level of service at restaurants. When we got to Tino's, the hostess was very flustered with the busyness and stressed out. When she saw our daughter. we got a stern lecture for not "declaring our infant" and saying we were a party of three. She explained how put-out the restaurant would now be by us - needing to place a high chair, or move us from the aisle seat. Honestly, it was totally our mistake with the reservation (we're new parents and still learning the social mores), but the rudeness of this particular hostess really started our evening off on the wrong foot. However, once we were seated our experience shifted dramatically. Our waitress was superb - raved over our daughter and made us feel really comfortable. The bread and oil they bring you is really great. My wife got the Tortellini Bolognese and was probably the best meal of the two. The tortellini was cooked to perfection and the bolognese sauce was creamy and stuffed with spicy meat. Very good. I got Shrimp pasta in spicy marinara. There were 6 enormous shrimp and the sauce was just the right level of spice. Both of us had more than enough leftovers for lunch the next day. The desserts sounded good, but our daughter was getting fussy so we stopped by Baskin Robbins a few doors down for a nice dessert afterward. All in all - a success and I would revisit the restaurant again, and hope that the hostess would have a kinder approach to customers on busy evenings.
(4)Frederick J.
Great meatballs i sure will return again.thanks Lance and staff great job had a great time meeting new people
(5)Shira S.
I came here with a larger group on a Saturday early evening to celebrate a friend's birthday. First off, our waiter (Shaq - I think) was excellent. Super patient and a great sense of humor. He handled a difficult group of people with ease. The food was average, but not great. I also think that many of their food items are on the pricier side, especially the build-your-own pastas - it adds up quick. On the plus side, they have a large selection of wines by the bottle for a great price.
(3)Brittany H.
This place is a hidden gem. It may look like just another strip mall restaurant, but trust me, it is NOT. I chose this place on a whim off of decent Yelp reviews and because they could accommodate my party of 15. I was very PLEASANTLY surprised. Upon arrival, our table was ready and waiting. The people from our party trickled in slowly, meaning our patient and fabulous waiter had to repeat himself a number of times. He did everything with a positive attitude. Everything that I ate here was delicious. From the bread with oil and garlic to the calamari to the fried mozzarella balls to the gnocchi (A++!), I was pleased with every food dish. I didn't have room for any dessert, but I plan to save some room for that the next time! Outside of the food, the atmosphere is cute. It can be a dressy place (when I went there were prom kiddies having dinner there before their big night) OR it can be casual. Very versatile place. Also, the staff was very patient and willing to take pictures of our large group. Much appreciated! Great job Tino's! I definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)Julio F.
I ordered the Fruitti di Mare from this place. This came out nearly perfect. The jumbo shrimp and pasta was cooked perfectly. The marina sauce seemed fresh and had a balanced flavor. Calamari in the pasta wasn't bad. Only problem were the clams which had some minor grittiness/sand in them. They also serve some amazing complimentary warm bread with garlic oil. They might be soft enough that you can even let folks (e.g. parents/grandparents) with dental issues eat this (a typical problem with most Italian restaurants since they usually serve bread with hard crusts). Tip: This could have been a better deal had I shopped at the nearby Giants first. At the time, the back of the Giants receipt has a $2 off $10 or $5 off $25 deal that expires on 7-31-15. Bought an item and got 3 of these coupons. Service was a bit slow considering they had at least 2 servers on staff but just about 6 small tables to serve. Most servers were huddled between the bar and kitchen socializing. You'll want to ask for your check when you get your meal if you need to be somewhere. Overall, great food at reasonable prices.
(4)Megan T.
Excellent food and excellent service. The chicken cheasapeak was delicious, as was the Apple cider martini. Friend also loved her chicken florintine.The atmosphere is also great.
(5)Stephen S.
An Outstanding Experience this evening at Tino's! Only 7 weeks into new ownership, Tino's isn't messing with a winning formula. Our Fettuccine Alfredo was outstanding. The service was extremely good. The owner visited our table to make sure everything was perfect. We feel that we discovered our new Italian restaurant!
(5)Stephanie I.
We came here for lunch during the week off a tip from a coworker who loves this place. They also had an extensive gluten free menu which was a huge plus for my coworker. When we arrived it was confusing. We stood around up front waiting for a hostess to greet us. There were multiple people who were standing around us that also hadn't been greeted. We were finally seated but had to track down the hostess for a gluten free menu since it wasn't already on the menu. Our server didn't greet us for about 10 minutes, but the hostess did bring is bread while we were waiting. The bread tasted like it was store bought, but the oil is perfectly seasoned and very tasty. Here's what I don't like about this place: they nickel and dime for everything. My friend and I got a good laugh over trying to add up how much a pasta would cost. I was disappointed that they didn't have more predesigned pasta besides gnocchi. Her basic pasta ended up being close to $17! I thought they had a large selection of entrees for $10 but don't expect much. Our food took extremely long to come out. I feel like they should work on their timing if they want to attract more of the business crowd. The piece of chicken I got was no bigger than my knuckle. I've also never seen a Marsala sauce that is made with tomatoes. It's totally overpriced for what you get. Dare I say that I'd rather go to Olive Garden for better value for my money, better service, and better tasting food? Yeah, I would.
(2)Tamara Y. W.
Got the Grilled Filet Mignon Salad salad to go. It was okay. Good amount of mixed greens, but the onions were poorly cut (some slices and other big chunks) and there were 3 cucumber slices on it and 4 cherry tomato halves (after specifically asking for extra tomatoes at the time of my order). The salad dressing was just pure balsamic vinegar WITH sugar added (or it was reduced balsamic vinegar). BLEH! Did not like it. The amount of steak in the salad was piddly for the price of the salad ($14). I was in the area for training and forgot my lunch. The fact the the place was COMPLETELY EMPTY should have been a sign for me.
(2)Art J.
Running an errand and was near this place. I almost didn't go in when I saw it was empty. But I took a chance and was happy I did. Food and service was great. Home made no pre-made anything. Fantastic sauce. I ordered fries extra crispy and unlike almost every other restaurant, they did as requested and the fries were amazing. My server, Shack, was attentive without being a bother, friendly and helpful. I will go back.
(5)David F.
Better than average Italian food. Slightly overpriced for the quality of food. The tiramisu was excellent.
(3)Mikisha H.
Truly hits the spot when you're wanting some Italian and can't stand the big chain restaurants. Everything we have tried so far has been extremely tasty, including the bread. It can get a little pricey but in my opinion it's worth it.
(5)Joe P.
It's so hard to find a local Chef Owner run restaurant in Columbia. Good food and atmosphere. My favorite in Columbia. Menu has good variety, and when asked to go off the menu, they have always said yes and tried. I also use Creme' Brulee's to score a restaurant, Tino's is very good, smooth, consistent, nice crust. A good place to make a regular.
(5)Nicole G.
I love this restaurant. It fits any mood-- a great place to run in and grab a bite, hang out for awhile, bring a large group, and a family place. The bar area is fun to eat or just hang out for a drink and we go there as a family with our young girls and always feel welcome. The new management cares and is focused on creating consistent delicious, authentic food. And they are completely focused on customer service. I'm 100% italian; the food is authentic and diverse. Whatever you are in the mood for they have it--meat, pasta, vegan, gluten free (it's actually good!). The homemade ravioli's are fabulous, fresh soups, fresh made bread n garlic dip, chicken tenders (no hormones/antibiotics) for my girls. I'm excited to see the new owners changes.
(5)Paula O.
I ordered the meatball appetizers for delivery and they were large and very delicious. 4 stars and not 5 because they were overpriced IMHO. $23 for 6 meatballs. I would eat here again though. Give it a try. :)
(4)Victoria L.
I tried gluten-free pizza here for the first time. It comes as thin crust and can basically be with any toppings as the wheat pizzas. The server told a friend and I that the pizzas only come in personal-size, so we should order two. Not necessary as we were not that hungry and these were medium-sized pizzas in my opinion. Then again, it's an Italian restaurant so appropriate portions are in the eye of the beholder. Pizza taste was fine, nothing I would tell friends to go back to try. Friendly staff.
(3)Eric L.
Had a nice dinner here tonight under the new ownership. Everyone enjoyed their entrees. Their rose and bolognese sauce was outstanding. The calamari, salads and desserts were also enjoyed by everyone. We will be back.
(4)Barbara M.
Just attended a great wine dinner here. Attentive owners--they are striving to do their best. Excellent food. The marinara has a surprising kick. Grilled vegetables very flavorful. I am not sure that any of these items are on the regular menu, but they should be. I'd come back if I am in the area.
(1)Aly S.
Love this place! I've been here several times and each time the food and wine were great and the service was amazing. The pasta was outstanding and I love the bread and olive oil
(5)Matthew I.
Thank goodness for Tino's! I could eat their Chicken Parmesan 5 days a week. My wife loves their calzone. Their bread and oil is AMAZING! Here is the best part (well, for us). We live close enough that THEY DELIVER!! Their website is very easy to order through and the food is always warm and fresh. We do like to go to the restaurant from time to time. They have a nice wine section and the staff is very friendly. My wife wishes they had Bellini's, but there aren't a lot of places around here that does a nice Bellini.
(4)Joe P.
We needed a sit down pizza place for 14 people in Columbia on a Sunday evening. Many pizza establishments in the area are mostly carry out / delivery with few tables.With few choices we really didn't have much choice but to try Tinos . We were pleasantly surprised after viewing the previous Yelp reviews . The pizza , especially meat lovers was excellent , generous amounts of cheese and just the right amount of perfectly seasoned sauce on thin crust pizza . We chose 3 appetizers that were ok and almost made me give the place 4 stars if not for the pizza. The prices are very reasonable and the waitstaff was great after the initial delay in getting a waitress to the table to take our order.Once we placed our order service was quick and the waitstaff was very attentive. Family friendly but not to noisy with nice decor . Will come back to try more things on the menu.
(5)Neal M.
I've eaten here several times, & keep going back. Service is good, food is fairly priced. Lots of wine to choose from, & lots of specialty mixed drinks are listed. Good warm fresh bread with spiced olive oil dip was complementary. This time we ordered chicken Florentine (tender chunks of breast with spinach on angel hair in a wine/lemon sauce), & chicken cacciatore (same chicken breast chunks in a delicious marinara with sweet peppers & onions on penne). No problem substituting angel hair for the penne. Portions are adequate, but most folks won't have leftovers. Side Caesar or mixed green salad can be ordered for $3; house made dressings are outstanding. Compare with Bertucci's $5 half Caesar & $7 half mixed green salads, which aren't nearly as good. Desserts are house made. Tiramisu was barely large enough for 2, considering the $8 price. At least the Kahlua could be tasted.
(4)Holly F.
This restaurant is okay, my first experience there was not the greatest but I'm willing to give it another try. I ordered the gnocchi with chicken, and the gnocchi were perfect but the chicken not so much. It came with 2 pieces of chicken breast, one was cooked perfectly and the other was rubbery and gross. I ended up eating the one that was cooked perfectly and threw out the other one when I brought the leftovers home.
(3)Fred K.
When this restaurant first opened I was impressed. My las two meals has changed my mind. Last night my wife and I ordered the Shrimp Parmesan and the Lasagna. The Lasagna was tasteless, all Ricotta cheese with the only sauce poured over it. The noodles were over cooked and tasteless. The entire meal was in a word disappointing. The Shrimp in the Shrimp Parmesan were first breaded and deep fried. Then sauced and cheese placed over them and placed in the oven. The shrimp were over fried in the fryer and insulted with the melting of the cheese. Even the sauce which originally was fantastic has lost its taste. Did the original chef leave. This is the second bad meal from them of what has been many good meals. What has happened or have I just been spoiled by the previous restaurant to occupy that space? January 8, 2014 After our last meal we stayed away until last night. After hearing many good things we gave Tino's another try. Wow what a difference. My wife ordered the chicken Marsala and I ordered veal veal parmasean. The veal was tender and not over cooked. The tomato sauce was one of the best I have had. We could actually taste and smell the Marsala wine inn the chicken Marsala which I believe is a first for us. Marsala has a very distinctive taste and aroma that I believe other chefs tone down. This was excellent and the taste of the Marsala really made the dish. We will return for more dinners as long as whoever is in the kitchen remains in this kitchen. Good job all around.
(4)Mary P.
If you are looking for authentic Italian its not here. The food was good but not great and the service was mediocre. The restaurant and restroom was clean though. And the prices are decent.
(3)Becca R.
Really 3.5 stars if I was allowed. Been to Tino's twice in a two year period, it's good, but not great (hence the year long gap before returning). They have a nice selection for their pick your own pasta, sauce, meat, and vegetable. Creamy sauces and "fancy" vegetables (like mushrooms?) are .99 extra. I got angel hair with the diavolo sauce, artichoke hearts and kalmata olives. A great flavorful combination. You get complimentary bread and olive oil to dip in. Side salads are $2.99 more to add to an entree. So if you aren't careful it could add up. I always see coupons, so remember to bring one with you.
(3)Ryan B.
Really enjoyed this newly opened Italian place. Prices are appropriate and the food was great. The service during my visit was better than the other reviewer experienced, and I didn't have to wait too long for any of the courses. Will definitely be going back.
(5)Ned F.
Cold pizza delivery and the pizza was hacked up and it being 1.2 miles away knocks this to 1 star from previous 5 rating. A large pizza was cut into four pieces and there was a huge hack mark in the middle where someone dropped the pizza cutter. We ordered delivery being 1.2 miles away because we had company over and had to do things - but to get it cold? c'mon now.
(1)Brook H.
After seeing this place open up a while ago near my favorite hobby store, I finally decided to bring the family and give it a try. It wasn't a bad experience, but it wasn't a great one either. The staff were very friendly and did their job. Unfortunately, as mentioned by previous customers, they have a tendency to disappear. You'll receive constant check-ups for a while, and then you have to actually look for your server and flag them down toward the end. Prices are alright, although I think they're priced to match the atmosphere rather than the food. Not to say the food wasn't tasty, it was definitely good... but I think the pricing was a little more than what we got. Still, this is Columbia, so you have to expect that. :P The main complaints are parking, which fills up very quick during the dinner rush, and a lack of attention to detail. Servers are nice but their disappearing act is annoying and sometimes they just don't pay attention. Plus, we asked for a coffee one time and it got brought out... cold. After finally flagging down our server they gladly replaced it with a fresh, hot cup, but the concept that you couldn't tell a cup of coffee was cold (or that cold isn't how you serve it) is a bit mind-boggling. So, overall I say this is an OK place to eat. Nothing fantastic and what is good is counteracted by what is not so great.
(3)Elizabeth B.
We've been here 4 or 5 times and never had a problem with the service. The staff is very friendly. We usually sit in the bar area at the booths and everyone is always friendly and attentive. I like the sauces there because they are lighter than other Italian places I've been, they don't seem to use a lot of butter or heavy creams. My favorite dish is the Chicken Cacciatore; however, I do request that the dish be cooked 10 minutes more than they normally serve it. The reason is the onions and peppers are usually crisp and I don't understand that because cacciatore should be slow cooked. However, the sauce is good ( I like their marinara sauce ) and the veggies and chicken always taste very fresh. The chicken seems grilled not slow cooked, but good quality and flavor. Their Chicken Piccatta is also is very good and light as well. Also they have a "build your own" pasta dish option with whole wheat and gluten free pasta options. They serve bread with olive oil and both are very good. My son likes the pizza. We are not a fan of the caesar dressing, it is too fishy flavored, I guess from the anchovies. Last night we got dessert for the first time and the Tiramisu was very good, and my husband enjoyed the chocolate mousse. They said they make the desserts onsite. I also like their wine selections...they separate the wine listing into light, medium or full bodied on the menu and it helps you decide which wine is best for what you are in the mood for. We enjoy the atmosphere and food so have to say I am a fan of this place and plan on coming back!
(4)Megan O.
Tino's is a nice little Italian restaurant that is conveniently located. They aren't fussy or pretentious, and the wait staff has always been nice. Some nights you may need a reservation though, so you've been warned! We used to come here fairly frequently. We sat at the bar one night when we came without a reservation and were going to have a 30 minute wait, but 2 people left the bar not long after we arrived. The experience eating at the bar was great, the bartender was everything you'd want in a bartender when eating there. However, the food was consistently hit or miss. At this point we've had more misses than hits, unfortunately. We really want to like them! But I think we're unlikely to go back unless we want a dine-in pizza experience. The first time we went my husband didn't like his food at all, but I loved my manicotti, so I was able to convince him to give it another try. The second time he got pizza and was happier; I, however, didn't like the lasagna I ordered (way too meaty, the flavors were all wrong, I really strongly disliked it even though I'm usually easy to please with lasagna!). From then on I always got the manicotti, and we basically went whenever I wanted manicotti. My husband tried various pasta dishes and was satisfied enough to continue going, although not generally impressed. But now...the manicotti is gone. It was removed from the menu toward the end of spring, and although I've tried other pasta/red sauce/cheese types of dishes, none are really worth going out for. Since my husband was never impressed to begin with, we've stopped going. I've yet to find a good manicotti in the area to replace it, but when I do that restaurant will get the business we would have given Tino's. LIke I said -- if we go it will only be for eat-in pizza, but why do that when you can do delivery (faster) from 2 other places within a few blocks of Tino's?
(2)K Sera S.
Mid-price-range Italian restaurant to me means Pizza. That's all I want. I can boil pasta and buy good ricotta and sauce on my own. But I can't make good 'za. Luckily for me, Tino's can. As noted in other reviews, I'm a displaced Noo Yawkah. I take my pizza seriously and have found most "pizza" (please make airquotes with your fingers) in MD to be....well, not pizza. And in some cases (Ledo), not even food. Tino's pizza is pretty darn good, though. The New York style is tastey (not quite garlicky enough to really claim the NY flavor, but....). Margarhita is a favorite among the book club gals and I'll eat the heck out of their white pizza. Be sure to ask for the crust to be well-done if you want to get closer to the NY experience. It's not my top pizza choice in the area, but it is a very reliable second.
(4)Paul M.
I find this place to be over priced for what they serve. The portions are small and the quality of the food is subpar. The atmosphere is very nice. I just wish the food was a lite better.
(2)Dana R.
My friends and I like to go to Tino's because our only other option for sit-down Italian food is Olive Garden, and we are not so big on chain restaurants. The atmosphere of the restaurant is really nice and the location is convenient for me but the food is not so outstanding. The first time I went I got the Fusilli Alla Primavera because I had had it at a catered event and it was DELICIOUS. At the catered event, the dish was the consistency of a baked pasta which was fabulous. At the restaurant however, the sauce was very runny and lacking in flavor. I have also had their Fettuccine with Broccoli and Garlic White Wine Sauce. This dish was extremely underwhelming. Overall it is a decent place with decent prices, kind service, and good table bread.
(3)Mary D.
While Tino's isn't horrible, it certainly isn't anything to write home about. Granted, I've only been once, and it was for lunch. But it was with a party, and each of us had the same opinion-the food wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. The prices are relatively low, and the service we experienced was good, so I wouldn't recommend not going. Just know when you do that it isn't going to be anything to rave over.
(2)Amanda K.
Wow what a disappointment. I ordered carry-out for lunch because I work near by. The mozarella fritta was little fried balls of cheese served on sticks, tasted like it was frozen and they just fried it. Not fresh or tasty at all. The fettucine alfredo was disgusting. The alfredo was like water. No flavor at all. The place looked nice inside but wow I will never be wasting my money there again.
(1)Ken K.
Ok. I came, i ate, and meh... Food wasn't horrible but it seems like a lot of "Italian" restaurants around here think they can add some garlic and tomato to a jar of "generic Italian name, lets say Mario koompa stompers" rustic tomato sauce and pow they are a great place for "Italian" dining. LIES! Now to be honest, as my fans deserve muchly, i ate here probably 4 months ago. Now there may or may not have been a monetary exchange for a brief period of silence for my review. This time is over my children. Let the truth shine free. I ordered the veal Marsala and my girl at the time ordered some sort of steak salad. Survey says "BZZZZZ" The Marsala was thinner than An Ethiopian kid on hunger strike. Now a Marsala wine and butter drink may sound delicious, but in practice and on pasta is silly. Picture throwing a pot of linguine into a full bathtub. That's what my plate looked like. The girls salad was fresh, however their idea of rare looks like coal. Now maybe this is just a bunch of sedimentary scientists playing jokes on Columbia for a hilarious rock formation timeline...coal----sirloin-----diamond or they don't pay attention. I hear their pizza is good tho. Sorry forgot to type in pseudo NY. " I hear their ZAAAAAAAAAAAA is like awesome, I'm from NY so i know what I'm talking about" It's been awhile so i guess ill check it out again. However, for good Italian, try pasta plus in laurel if you're local. La Tavola in Baltimore is also ridiculous.
(2)Mark E.
I usually do not particularly care for Italian (see my review of Basta Pasta). Tino's does it right and is a real find. There are many Italian restaurants to choose from, but for this one we'll definitely be back.
(3)Leslie W.
I live right around the corner from this place, and was ecstatic when the dreadful predecessor, Strapazza, went out of business. The pizza at Tino's is solid (just don't order Italian sausage - they use the cheaper sliced kind, not the tasty crumbled kind), and the mozzarella fritti is pretty tasty. I'm also a fan of the fresh bread with the garlic and herb-infused olive oil. To me, fresh bread is a sign of a good restaurant. However, the pasta dishes leave something to be desired. They use the same marinara on everything, and I noticed this last time (tonight, to be exact) it was very acidic. It made the spaghetti with my chicken parmesan taste funny. Also, the chicken wasn't crispy at all. Breaded, fried chicken cutlets should be crispy, at least around the edges if not under the cheese. But the worst thing about Tino's is by far the caesar salad. It's like one of those salads you get at an airport kiosk. An Italian restaurant should be able to make a decent caesar, and it's all about the dressing. Tino's uses a glorified Italian dressing that's all vinegar and clearly from a giant Sysco jar. Finally, a word about the service. They are super-friendly, but I, too, have witnessed the disappearing act. One server was out having a smoke break (she shared this info with me) while I sat for 10 minutes with no water, desperately trying to get the attention of the other staff who were standing around idle. On my next visit, this same server brought my pizza to the table cold. Clearly it was sitting in the window while she was grabbing a smoke. I am not against servers taking breaks, but I am against seeing so many staffers chit-chatting while a new customer sits without drinks, bread or even a menu. I'm also against a server making the mistake of leaving a repeat customer waiting for their food...again.
(2)TJ P.
Dinner at Tino's yesterday, a Friday night. The place was busy at 8:30, which I suppose is a good sign. Parking is tight as others have mentioned. I ordered Tino's seafood salad (insalata di mare). For $13.99, you get a nice sized green salad that has a ton of seafood on it. Mussels lined up shell to shell around the rim of the plate, lots of clams, sliced calamari, and shrimp. The dressing is a light, lemony oil. Seafood was tender, not overcooked. Not bad! Warm, crusty bread served with dinner, with a dish of garlicky olive oil. Service was fine and friendly. Four stars for now but need another few visits to know for sure.
(4)DA K.
We are definitely fans. We have been looking for a really good pizza place and have had the hardest time finding one. Its not our first pick but it definitlely would be our 2nd. They have the convenience of ordering online and when we went inside to pick up the decor and setting seems to be welcoming as well. My boyfriend also got a steak and cheese sub that I tasted it was really good. He enjoyed it as well. The meat seems to be well seasoned. If you want really good pizza I would definitely recommend them.
(4)Leeann D.
Tino's is a great neighborhood find! The bar is great and separate from the main restaurant so you can belly up and have a beer and a pizza while watching the chefs in the kitchen. The dining room is small but that adds to the charm. We started at the bar while we waited for a table and got a red sangria and a maker's mark manhattan on the rocks. The bar tender was very nice and friendly. The sangria was delicious and the manhattan had an extra special treat in it, cherry juice! Our server was great and made good recommendations as it was our first time there. We order steamed mussels to start. We ask that they use white wine and garlic for our mussels and they came out great! So great that we used our bread to dip in the sauce instead of the oil and herbs. I got the shrimp scampi and the shrimp were big and delicious but the sauce was red in color and tasted funny so I returned it and got a Caesar salad instead. My boyfriend got veal saltimbocca. It was delicious and he was thrilled. I think we found our new neighborhood place. We will definitely go back and will bring friends and future guests here.
(4)Amy D.
I've been to Tino's four or five times since they've opened. I was a frequenter of Strapazza. The service is always good and friendly. I grew up in an Italian American family and tend to be picky about Italian restaurants. Tino's is solid and reasonably priced for the quality. Their gnocchis (like Strapazza's) are delicious. And they have reasonable wine selections. While there last week, the food was less than par. The iceberg lettuce in my Ceasar salad was actually icy. Marinara sauce tasted acidic and lacked the full range of flavor it should have. I'm hoping the regular chef was just out sick. It'd also be nice if they turned up the music to drown out kitchen noise.
(3)Jane A.
We were in here on a Monday night for dinner. The place was practically empty. Food was fine. Ordered the Antipasto and Spinach Salad for appetizers. The homemade dressing is really good. They were able to accommodate for my wheat allergy. They do have gluten free pasta! We ordered the Chicken Parm, Veal Parm, Chicken Florentine, GF Penne Alfredo and the last entree escapes me. Everything turned out as expected. This is a pretty standard Italian place. Service was fine.
(3)Max P.
Got it for delivery, was very impressed with their thin crust pizza. The meat pizza was really good. Highly recommend
(4)Joe P.
It's so hard to find a local Chef Owner run restaurant in Columbia. Good food and atmosphere. My favorite in Columbia. Menu has good variety, and when asked to go off the menu, they have always said yes and tried. I also use Creme' Brulee's to score a restaurant, Tino's is very good, smooth, consistent, nice crust. A good place to make a regular.
(5)Nicole G.
I love this restaurant. It fits any mood-- a great place to run in and grab a bite, hang out for awhile, bring a large group, and a family place. The bar area is fun to eat or just hang out for a drink and we go there as a family with our young girls and always feel welcome. The new management cares and is focused on creating consistent delicious, authentic food. And they are completely focused on customer service. I'm 100% italian; the food is authentic and diverse. Whatever you are in the mood for they have it--meat, pasta, vegan, gluten free (it's actually good!). The homemade ravioli's are fabulous, fresh soups, fresh made bread n garlic dip, chicken tenders (no hormones/antibiotics) for my girls. I'm excited to see the new owners changes.
(5)Paula O.
I ordered the meatball appetizers for delivery and they were large and very delicious. 4 stars and not 5 because they were overpriced IMHO. $23 for 6 meatballs. I would eat here again though. Give it a try. :)
(4)Victoria L.
I tried gluten-free pizza here for the first time. It comes as thin crust and can basically be with any toppings as the wheat pizzas. The server told a friend and I that the pizzas only come in personal-size, so we should order two. Not necessary as we were not that hungry and these were medium-sized pizzas in my opinion. Then again, it's an Italian restaurant so appropriate portions are in the eye of the beholder. Pizza taste was fine, nothing I would tell friends to go back to try. Friendly staff.
(3)Tamika A.
This was my first time at the restaurant. It was truly amazing! The food was delicious and the service was great! The owner came out to say hello since we were first time patrons. Pasta was delicious, portions are large, and so affordable! My husband and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Robert M.
Had seen this place mentioned in a few places as being very good. It didn't disappoint. Service was very good, portions were large, and, most importantly, the food was very good. We will be back.
(4)Valentino R.
Dell!! What can I said ? Best play for drinks.! Food looks amazing, my friend and I where here for my birthday and we got drinks and drinks were amazing our bartender Patrick was so nice.! Ask for him next time you guys come here.!! He is amazing !!! :)
(5)Rick G.
In the mood for some casual Italian with generous dose of class? Tino's fits the bill perfectly. The atmosphere is cozy and great for a family or a date night. We started with Mozzarella Fritti. It's presentation came as a surprise. Plenty for two or just enough for three. I won't spoil the quaintness. My wife had the Chicken Alfredo, one of her standby favorites at a new place. The sauce was the best she's had in a long time but the chicken was bland. Trying some, I knew it was baked but it tasted like it was boiled. I tried the Chicken Florentine. The sauce and angel hair pasta was great but the chicken was unseasoned. We opted to share a dish of creme brûlée. The crust was barely caramelized and the texture wasn't as smooth as I was anticipating. But it grew on us. This place always fills the shopping center with amazing aromas and there was a dish being prepared after we finished our desert that smelled amazing. Definitely worth trying, again!
(4)Jessica C.
Tonight we ordered a couple of pizzas for delivery, and this was our first time doing so from here. Ordinarily we order from somewhere else but we recently had a pretty good dinner from Tino's and wanted to see how the pizza would stack up. I ordered the small white pizza without broccoli. I love that it was thin crust and wasn't very greasy at all. The flavor wasn't entirely there, though. It's hard to pin down what exactly was missing, but it was almost like the cheese flavor was barely there, which makes little to no sense with a white pie. My fiance and his friend ordered a large ultimate meat pizza, which came with pepperoni, ham, bacon, ground beef, sausage, and mozzarella cheese. They did NOT seem to skimp on the meat, and the large was HUGE. It puts most other large pies to shame! Delivery was quick, even on a Friday night. The restaurant did forget to give the driver our apartment number, though, so we had a little bit of a delay there (not a big deal). Overall pretty good pizza, and we'll probably order from here again. But I would recommend going to Tino's for the entrees and standard Italian fare even more.
(3)Mike M.
We just arrived in from out of town for wedding, on a tight schedule and needed a good dinnr. I read all the good reviews and saw the extensive menu on Tino's website, so this looked like the perfect match. Our friendly waiter Dan, quickly got us set up with a couple of glasses of wine. My wife ordered the chicken & broccoli in a rose sauce, I had my own personal , " make your own" pasta dish, with linguine, diavalo sauce, sauted calamari, banana peppers & onions. We both loved our dishes, cooked to perfection. The overall atmosphere was casual, classy contemporary, with very comfortable seating. We were very pleased with our pick & would highly recommend Tino's for a great Italian meal.
(5)Jeni S.
Came here for the first and probably the last time. I gave two stars just for the service. So that tells you the quality of the food. The restaurant has a nice ambience, but it was basically empty. There was one other table and my group. The important part. The food. My friend ordered a pick pasta with penne and meatballs with a red sauce. It had nice sized meatballs, but it was really salty. My other friend ordered the chicken Chesapeake. It was ok, but the chicken had a terrible texture. My bf ordered the saltimbocca which was inedible. The waitress warned him but he wanted to try something different. He usually eats everything but he couldn't even swallow the piece and actually spat it out in a napkin. He ended up sending it back and getting the shrimp scampi. It looked overly oily, very lemony, and again salty. I ordered gluten free penne with the mare bella. I usually wouldn't be so harsh but the price of the plate was just way too high, whose was $25. It was so salty that my tongue went somewhat numb it's in fact inflamed. My bf couldn't even eat more than one bite. The shrimp and scallops were over cooked and rubbery. The plate looked beautiful but looks can be deceiving.
(2)Josh G.
Tino's is a casual Italian restaurant with fare that is unremarkable. However, the service is attentive. It seems like they do a lot of carry out orders for their pizza. Perhaps I'd just as soon try that next time rather than their entrees.
(4)Tim S.
We made a reservation on New Years Eve - no problems! As new parents, eating out can be quite an adventure. We often feel insecure and worry about how our new addition is going to be welcomed. It's made us very aware of the level of service at restaurants. When we got to Tino's, the hostess was very flustered with the busyness and stressed out. When she saw our daughter. we got a stern lecture for not "declaring our infant" and saying we were a party of three. She explained how put-out the restaurant would now be by us - needing to place a high chair, or move us from the aisle seat. Honestly, it was totally our mistake with the reservation (we're new parents and still learning the social mores), but the rudeness of this particular hostess really started our evening off on the wrong foot. However, once we were seated our experience shifted dramatically. Our waitress was superb - raved over our daughter and made us feel really comfortable. The bread and oil they bring you is really great. My wife got the Tortellini Bolognese and was probably the best meal of the two. The tortellini was cooked to perfection and the bolognese sauce was creamy and stuffed with spicy meat. Very good. I got Shrimp pasta in spicy marinara. There were 6 enormous shrimp and the sauce was just the right level of spice. Both of us had more than enough leftovers for lunch the next day. The desserts sounded good, but our daughter was getting fussy so we stopped by Baskin Robbins a few doors down for a nice dessert afterward. All in all - a success and I would revisit the restaurant again, and hope that the hostess would have a kinder approach to customers on busy evenings.
(4)Frederick J.
Great meatballs i sure will return again.thanks Lance and staff great job had a great time meeting new people
(5)Shira S.
I came here with a larger group on a Saturday early evening to celebrate a friend's birthday. First off, our waiter (Shaq - I think) was excellent. Super patient and a great sense of humor. He handled a difficult group of people with ease. The food was average, but not great. I also think that many of their food items are on the pricier side, especially the build-your-own pastas - it adds up quick. On the plus side, they have a large selection of wines by the bottle for a great price.
(3)Ryan B.
Really enjoyed this newly opened Italian place. Prices are appropriate and the food was great. The service during my visit was better than the other reviewer experienced, and I didn't have to wait too long for any of the courses. Will definitely be going back.
(5)Ned F.
Cold pizza delivery and the pizza was hacked up and it being 1.2 miles away knocks this to 1 star from previous 5 rating. A large pizza was cut into four pieces and there was a huge hack mark in the middle where someone dropped the pizza cutter. We ordered delivery being 1.2 miles away because we had company over and had to do things - but to get it cold? c'mon now.
(1)First L.
Meh. Tried it for the first time last weekend, and sadly I have to report that it missed on all counts. If I gave it a second try it would be for something exceedingly safe, like pizza. Reading the previous reviews, and based on my own experience I think what's happening is there are two very different chefs. I also suspect there are a lot of folks who just don't have a good point of reference to compare to. But, as the great Gordon Gano once said - "this is only a guess". Service was warm and personable, but inattentive despite there being many young workers idling about. I do appreciate that they didn't push drinks on me, taking my first "no thanks" and countering with "how about water ? " . I truly appreciate that. I've eaten in restaurants where the staff circled me like vultures trying to sell me more of that nice high markup alcohol and I didn't like it. The bread did nothing for me. It tasted like a loaf of white bread to me, like literally take Wonder Bread, refactor it's physical form, place in basket, return affirmative exit status. No crust to speak of, no character , just basket o' bread. The sauce was way too garlicky for me, but it tasted like decent oil ... decent oil that had been completely overpowered by way to much garlic.. Things went downhill with the Caprese. I was introduced to Caprese salad in the City in which it was a very simple recipe: always a good mozzarella- buffalo preferred or at least whole, slice of good ripe tomato, leaf of fresh basil, slight drizzle of oil, drizzle of balsamic. This is how I've been making it for years at home too, and I guess that's how I'm used to it. I love it that way. Absolutely love it; the simple honest flavors mingling, the complex sweet aromas of the balsamic just lingering over the trio. The way they make it there is different. It was mozzarella (and the cheese was good), sliced red and yellow tomato (that was a cute twist) but the basil was shredded and mixed among lettuce greens and then it was all drowned in oil. The presentation looked disheveled with the greens all over it and I was completely unprepared for that recipe but the biggest takeaway was just the excessive olive oil overwhelming all the natural flavors. Turns out this form of Caprese googles and is a valid preparation, but just not what I was expecting. So I'll take fair shakes for just not knowing what i was ordering, but it was definitely drowning in oil. I couldn't bring myself to finish the Linguine with seafood. I had to discreetly eject the first two clams I tasted (and I am a shellfish WHORE) and then decided to just pass on the other clams, the squid was very tough and chewy, the sauce was appropriately picante but otherwise bland. It tasted like it was prepared by an engineer with a checklist; all the proper ingredients were there: Linguine, cooked to al dente- Check. Squid, sliced and sauteed - check. Clams, steamed in broth ? Check. But it was lacking art and soul. In fact, I think that would really sum up my experience: all the ingredients were there, but none of the soul. So, like I said, if I try this place again it will be for like pizza. Forgot to mention: although I personally don't care about a gluten free diet, I DO want to give them props for having a large GF menu. It must really suck to be on a gluten restricted diet, and personally I think it's pretty awesome of them to serve up so many choices for those who can't / won't eat gluten.
(2)Jennifer S.
I ordered eggplant Parmesan and it was salty for my taste. My husband ordered blackened chicken salad. The salad was good but the chicken only tasted of pepper not Cajun. Bread served at beginning was great!Service was great. Lovely waitress.
(3)Matthew I.
Thank goodness for Tino's! I could eat their Chicken Parmesan 5 days a week. My wife loves their calzone. Their bread and oil is AMAZING! Here is the best part (well, for us). We live close enough that THEY DELIVER!! Their website is very easy to order through and the food is always warm and fresh. We do like to go to the restaurant from time to time. They have a nice wine section and the staff is very friendly. My wife wishes they had Bellini's, but there aren't a lot of places around here that does a nice Bellini.
(4)Stephanie I.
We came here for lunch during the week off a tip from a coworker who loves this place. They also had an extensive gluten free menu which was a huge plus for my coworker. When we arrived it was confusing. We stood around up front waiting for a hostess to greet us. There were multiple people who were standing around us that also hadn't been greeted. We were finally seated but had to track down the hostess for a gluten free menu since it wasn't already on the menu. Our server didn't greet us for about 10 minutes, but the hostess did bring is bread while we were waiting. The bread tasted like it was store bought, but the oil is perfectly seasoned and very tasty. Here's what I don't like about this place: they nickel and dime for everything. My friend and I got a good laugh over trying to add up how much a pasta would cost. I was disappointed that they didn't have more predesigned pasta besides gnocchi. Her basic pasta ended up being close to $17! I thought they had a large selection of entrees for $10 but don't expect much. Our food took extremely long to come out. I feel like they should work on their timing if they want to attract more of the business crowd. The piece of chicken I got was no bigger than my knuckle. I've also never seen a Marsala sauce that is made with tomatoes. It's totally overpriced for what you get. Dare I say that I'd rather go to Olive Garden for better value for my money, better service, and better tasting food? Yeah, I would.
(2)Tamara Y. W.
Got the Grilled Filet Mignon Salad salad to go. It was okay. Good amount of mixed greens, but the onions were poorly cut (some slices and other big chunks) and there were 3 cucumber slices on it and 4 cherry tomato halves (after specifically asking for extra tomatoes at the time of my order). The salad dressing was just pure balsamic vinegar WITH sugar added (or it was reduced balsamic vinegar). BLEH! Did not like it. The amount of steak in the salad was piddly for the price of the salad ($14). I was in the area for training and forgot my lunch. The fact the the place was COMPLETELY EMPTY should have been a sign for me.
(2)Art J.
Running an errand and was near this place. I almost didn't go in when I saw it was empty. But I took a chance and was happy I did. Food and service was great. Home made no pre-made anything. Fantastic sauce. I ordered fries extra crispy and unlike almost every other restaurant, they did as requested and the fries were amazing. My server, Shack, was attentive without being a bother, friendly and helpful. I will go back.
(5)David F.
Better than average Italian food. Slightly overpriced for the quality of food. The tiramisu was excellent.
(3)Mikisha H.
Truly hits the spot when you're wanting some Italian and can't stand the big chain restaurants. Everything we have tried so far has been extremely tasty, including the bread. It can get a little pricey but in my opinion it's worth it.
(5)Eric L.
Had a nice dinner here tonight under the new ownership. Everyone enjoyed their entrees. Their rose and bolognese sauce was outstanding. The calamari, salads and desserts were also enjoyed by everyone. We will be back.
(4)Barbara M.
Just attended a great wine dinner here. Attentive owners--they are striving to do their best. Excellent food. The marinara has a surprising kick. Grilled vegetables very flavorful. I am not sure that any of these items are on the regular menu, but they should be. I'd come back if I am in the area.
(1)Aly S.
Love this place! I've been here several times and each time the food and wine were great and the service was amazing. The pasta was outstanding and I love the bread and olive oil
(5)Julio F.
I ordered the Fruitti di Mare from this place. This came out nearly perfect. The jumbo shrimp and pasta was cooked perfectly. The marina sauce seemed fresh and had a balanced flavor. Calamari in the pasta wasn't bad. Only problem were the clams which had some minor grittiness/sand in them. They also serve some amazing complimentary warm bread with garlic oil. They might be soft enough that you can even let folks (e.g. parents/grandparents) with dental issues eat this (a typical problem with most Italian restaurants since they usually serve bread with hard crusts). Tip: This could have been a better deal had I shopped at the nearby Giants first. At the time, the back of the Giants receipt has a $2 off $10 or $5 off $25 deal that expires on 7-31-15. Bought an item and got 3 of these coupons. Service was a bit slow considering they had at least 2 servers on staff but just about 6 small tables to serve. Most servers were huddled between the bar and kitchen socializing. You'll want to ask for your check when you get your meal if you need to be somewhere. Overall, great food at reasonable prices.
(4)Megan T.
Excellent food and excellent service. The chicken cheasapeak was delicious, as was the Apple cider martini. Friend also loved her chicken florintine.The atmosphere is also great.
(5)Stephen S.
An Outstanding Experience this evening at Tino's! Only 7 weeks into new ownership, Tino's isn't messing with a winning formula. Our Fettuccine Alfredo was outstanding. The service was extremely good. The owner visited our table to make sure everything was perfect. We feel that we discovered our new Italian restaurant!
(5)Gina P.
Tino's is just like the previous tenant Strapazza because it is the same chef. The food is decent and decently priced. However, I would prefer it to take out over dining in. The staff is very forthcoming and did their job. Regrettably, as mentioned by previous customers, they have a tendency to disappear. You'll receive constant check-ups for a while, and then you have to actually look for your server and flag them down toward the end. The main complaints are parking, which fills up very quick during the dinner rush, and a lack of attention to detail. Servers are nice but their disappearing act is annoying and sometimes they just don't pay attention. So, overall I say this is an OK place to eat. Nothing fantastic and what is good is counteracted by what is not so great.
(3)Julie D.
We recently moved into the area and love Tino's. I've had their gnocchi caprese both times I've went, and it has been delicious! The meals are extremely filling, so you'll definitely have leftovers, which makes their meals a great value. Also, while a little random, their olive oil that accompanies their table bread is amazing. They also have a great and expansive wine menu.
(4)Patapsco M.
Locals love this place. Good pizza, good service, fun atmosphere. I can't fathom the poor reviews, try this place, it's the best local Italian (that I'm aware of).
(4)Samuel C.
The bread is not that great. It was so hard to chew. But I love the shrimp salad.
(3)Jeff A.
My wife and two sons went to check out this newly opened restaurant relatively late on a weeknight for a restaurant in Columbia. Many other diner's also had the same idea. The hostess thought it would be about a 10 minute wait - turned out to be about 20 minutes for a table. I was happy to see that they were using the "pager" system. While this doesn't pair well with upscale restaurants (though neither does yelling out a name form the list), I find them very efficient. The entrance had a small seating area that really didn't lend itself to hold very many people. It was hot outside, so we chose to stand inside, across from the hostess stand. From there, we got to observe a couple of things. The interior itself was much improved from the prior Italian restaurant that was there. Nothing too impressive, but pleasant and a much better use of space. Seemed a lot larger. We also noticed though that the 3 hostesses that were working seemed to be pretty idle. They were all pleasant enough, but while tables sat full of dishes and water glasses got low, they were still standing talking at the front waiting for the next customers. I don't blame them at all, but this is rather a management issue to ensure that the staff is well balanced and that idle time in one area is used to effectively compensate for problems in another. As we sat down, we got to hear our waiter apologize ("sorry again...") to the departing guests at an adjacent table about the wait. It took quite a long time for him to come to our table, but he seemed very friendly and competent once he did. It was clear that the rush had passed (we were one of the last groups who had to wait to be seated). During the time we sat there, some tables were cleared and set, but weren't filled. As a result, we were hopeful that service and wait time would be better for us than prior diners. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Our waiter started out well. He took our orders and followed up on drinks and bread. While waiting for salads, he came back by to ask if we wanted more bread. My wife asked about wheat bread. He said he wasn't sure if they had any, but would check. We waited what seemed like a long time, then the salads arrived, brought by another waiter. We didn't see our waiter though and he never followed up about the bread. We waited what seemed to be a very long time. He finally came to pick up the salad plates and let us know that our food would be "out soon". We then waited for another very long stretch. The kids both were getting really miserable waiting. They are both over 10, so I'm not talking about a 4 year old who has no patience. Finally, the food arrived. My wife ordered a pesto pasta. I ordered pasta with broccoli and a white wine sauce. One son ordered pizza and the other a ravioli dish. The food wasn't particularly impressive - but to be fair, there's probably a limit to how impressive most of those dishes can be. My dish was nice and light (which was my goal), but wasn't hot and was a little too light on the broccoli. We waited a long time again for our waiter to come back around to get a dessert order. He brought that relatively quickly. Prices were definitely good. Not cheap, but definitely not overpriced for what you get. So, in summary, the atmosphere was pretty nice for a strip mall restaurant and a huge improvement over the prior establishment. The service was poor overall - good when our waiter was present, but he was just MIA for most of the time. The kitchen itself was also backed up and I'm not sure I can see why. The food was pretty average. Nothing too much to complain about, but nothing to write rave reviews about either. In short, I hate to say it, but next time I think I'll go to Bertucci's. The atmosphere isn't as nice, but I think I'll get almost the same level of food, but won't deal with falling asleep waiting for my waiter to come by or get my food. Willing to give this place another chance to work out what hopefully are just some operational challenges of a new place. However, I'll probably wait for a while before going back.
(2)Rainon L.
Only had one experience with Tino's but the one I had was fantastic. I ordered delivery to my office. Not only did the order come quite quickly, but the food was still piping hot and fresh. All amenities were included (warm bread, plastic silverware, etc.) and the driver was courteous. The food itself was excellent. The pasta was clearly homemade, the veggies were all fresh, and the sauce rich and flavorful. I will certainly order from them again!
(5)Russell R.
Two things to say. First, if you want to grab a meal, this isn't bad. Lots of people were doing the pizza but we decided to try some pasta. Kathleen had Orrecchiette Montese. Not bad (I had some of her's) but the Rabe was a little sad. I had Farfalle Saraceno with tough "filet mignon tips", canned mushrooms, and uninspired sauce. The bread was OK but a half-hour shy of stale. Second, this is an OK place for forgettable (not regrettable) food but not the place to go if you want Italian. The chain Italian restaurants (you know who I mean) are better. Again, it ain't bad, just nothing to go out of your way for.
(2)Brittany H.
This place is a hidden gem. It may look like just another strip mall restaurant, but trust me, it is NOT. I chose this place on a whim off of decent Yelp reviews and because they could accommodate my party of 15. I was very PLEASANTLY surprised. Upon arrival, our table was ready and waiting. The people from our party trickled in slowly, meaning our patient and fabulous waiter had to repeat himself a number of times. He did everything with a positive attitude. Everything that I ate here was delicious. From the bread with oil and garlic to the calamari to the fried mozzarella balls to the gnocchi (A++!), I was pleased with every food dish. I didn't have room for any dessert, but I plan to save some room for that the next time! Outside of the food, the atmosphere is cute. It can be a dressy place (when I went there were prom kiddies having dinner there before their big night) OR it can be casual. Very versatile place. Also, the staff was very patient and willing to take pictures of our large group. Much appreciated! Great job Tino's! I definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)Joe P.
We needed a sit down pizza place for 14 people in Columbia on a Sunday evening. Many pizza establishments in the area are mostly carry out / delivery with few tables.With few choices we really didn't have much choice but to try Tinos . We were pleasantly surprised after viewing the previous Yelp reviews . The pizza , especially meat lovers was excellent , generous amounts of cheese and just the right amount of perfectly seasoned sauce on thin crust pizza . We chose 3 appetizers that were ok and almost made me give the place 4 stars if not for the pizza. The prices are very reasonable and the waitstaff was great after the initial delay in getting a waitress to the table to take our order.Once we placed our order service was quick and the waitstaff was very attentive. Family friendly but not to noisy with nice decor . Will come back to try more things on the menu.
(5)Neal M.
I've eaten here several times, & keep going back. Service is good, food is fairly priced. Lots of wine to choose from, & lots of specialty mixed drinks are listed. Good warm fresh bread with spiced olive oil dip was complementary. This time we ordered chicken Florentine (tender chunks of breast with spinach on angel hair in a wine/lemon sauce), & chicken cacciatore (same chicken breast chunks in a delicious marinara with sweet peppers & onions on penne). No problem substituting angel hair for the penne. Portions are adequate, but most folks won't have leftovers. Side Caesar or mixed green salad can be ordered for $3; house made dressings are outstanding. Compare with Bertucci's $5 half Caesar & $7 half mixed green salads, which aren't nearly as good. Desserts are house made. Tiramisu was barely large enough for 2, considering the $8 price. At least the Kahlua could be tasted.
(4)Holly F.
This restaurant is okay, my first experience there was not the greatest but I'm willing to give it another try. I ordered the gnocchi with chicken, and the gnocchi were perfect but the chicken not so much. It came with 2 pieces of chicken breast, one was cooked perfectly and the other was rubbery and gross. I ended up eating the one that was cooked perfectly and threw out the other one when I brought the leftovers home.
(3)Fred K.
When this restaurant first opened I was impressed. My las two meals has changed my mind. Last night my wife and I ordered the Shrimp Parmesan and the Lasagna. The Lasagna was tasteless, all Ricotta cheese with the only sauce poured over it. The noodles were over cooked and tasteless. The entire meal was in a word disappointing. The Shrimp in the Shrimp Parmesan were first breaded and deep fried. Then sauced and cheese placed over them and placed in the oven. The shrimp were over fried in the fryer and insulted with the melting of the cheese. Even the sauce which originally was fantastic has lost its taste. Did the original chef leave. This is the second bad meal from them of what has been many good meals. What has happened or have I just been spoiled by the previous restaurant to occupy that space? January 8, 2014 After our last meal we stayed away until last night. After hearing many good things we gave Tino's another try. Wow what a difference. My wife ordered the chicken Marsala and I ordered veal veal parmasean. The veal was tender and not over cooked. The tomato sauce was one of the best I have had. We could actually taste and smell the Marsala wine inn the chicken Marsala which I believe is a first for us. Marsala has a very distinctive taste and aroma that I believe other chefs tone down. This was excellent and the taste of the Marsala really made the dish. We will return for more dinners as long as whoever is in the kitchen remains in this kitchen. Good job all around.
(4)Mary P.
If you are looking for authentic Italian its not here. The food was good but not great and the service was mediocre. The restaurant and restroom was clean though. And the prices are decent.
(3)Becca R.
Really 3.5 stars if I was allowed. Been to Tino's twice in a two year period, it's good, but not great (hence the year long gap before returning). They have a nice selection for their pick your own pasta, sauce, meat, and vegetable. Creamy sauces and "fancy" vegetables (like mushrooms?) are .99 extra. I got angel hair with the diavolo sauce, artichoke hearts and kalmata olives. A great flavorful combination. You get complimentary bread and olive oil to dip in. Side salads are $2.99 more to add to an entree. So if you aren't careful it could add up. I always see coupons, so remember to bring one with you.
(3)Brook H.
After seeing this place open up a while ago near my favorite hobby store, I finally decided to bring the family and give it a try. It wasn't a bad experience, but it wasn't a great one either. The staff were very friendly and did their job. Unfortunately, as mentioned by previous customers, they have a tendency to disappear. You'll receive constant check-ups for a while, and then you have to actually look for your server and flag them down toward the end. Prices are alright, although I think they're priced to match the atmosphere rather than the food. Not to say the food wasn't tasty, it was definitely good... but I think the pricing was a little more than what we got. Still, this is Columbia, so you have to expect that. :P The main complaints are parking, which fills up very quick during the dinner rush, and a lack of attention to detail. Servers are nice but their disappearing act is annoying and sometimes they just don't pay attention. Plus, we asked for a coffee one time and it got brought out... cold. After finally flagging down our server they gladly replaced it with a fresh, hot cup, but the concept that you couldn't tell a cup of coffee was cold (or that cold isn't how you serve it) is a bit mind-boggling. So, overall I say this is an OK place to eat. Nothing fantastic and what is good is counteracted by what is not so great.
(3)Elizabeth B.
We've been here 4 or 5 times and never had a problem with the service. The staff is very friendly. We usually sit in the bar area at the booths and everyone is always friendly and attentive. I like the sauces there because they are lighter than other Italian places I've been, they don't seem to use a lot of butter or heavy creams. My favorite dish is the Chicken Cacciatore; however, I do request that the dish be cooked 10 minutes more than they normally serve it. The reason is the onions and peppers are usually crisp and I don't understand that because cacciatore should be slow cooked. However, the sauce is good ( I like their marinara sauce ) and the veggies and chicken always taste very fresh. The chicken seems grilled not slow cooked, but good quality and flavor. Their Chicken Piccatta is also is very good and light as well. Also they have a "build your own" pasta dish option with whole wheat and gluten free pasta options. They serve bread with olive oil and both are very good. My son likes the pizza. We are not a fan of the caesar dressing, it is too fishy flavored, I guess from the anchovies. Last night we got dessert for the first time and the Tiramisu was very good, and my husband enjoyed the chocolate mousse. They said they make the desserts onsite. I also like their wine selections...they separate the wine listing into light, medium or full bodied on the menu and it helps you decide which wine is best for what you are in the mood for. We enjoy the atmosphere and food so have to say I am a fan of this place and plan on coming back!
(4)Megan O.
Tino's is a nice little Italian restaurant that is conveniently located. They aren't fussy or pretentious, and the wait staff has always been nice. Some nights you may need a reservation though, so you've been warned! We used to come here fairly frequently. We sat at the bar one night when we came without a reservation and were going to have a 30 minute wait, but 2 people left the bar not long after we arrived. The experience eating at the bar was great, the bartender was everything you'd want in a bartender when eating there. However, the food was consistently hit or miss. At this point we've had more misses than hits, unfortunately. We really want to like them! But I think we're unlikely to go back unless we want a dine-in pizza experience. The first time we went my husband didn't like his food at all, but I loved my manicotti, so I was able to convince him to give it another try. The second time he got pizza and was happier; I, however, didn't like the lasagna I ordered (way too meaty, the flavors were all wrong, I really strongly disliked it even though I'm usually easy to please with lasagna!). From then on I always got the manicotti, and we basically went whenever I wanted manicotti. My husband tried various pasta dishes and was satisfied enough to continue going, although not generally impressed. But now...the manicotti is gone. It was removed from the menu toward the end of spring, and although I've tried other pasta/red sauce/cheese types of dishes, none are really worth going out for. Since my husband was never impressed to begin with, we've stopped going. I've yet to find a good manicotti in the area to replace it, but when I do that restaurant will get the business we would have given Tino's. LIke I said -- if we go it will only be for eat-in pizza, but why do that when you can do delivery (faster) from 2 other places within a few blocks of Tino's?
(2)K Sera S.
Mid-price-range Italian restaurant to me means Pizza. That's all I want. I can boil pasta and buy good ricotta and sauce on my own. But I can't make good 'za. Luckily for me, Tino's can. As noted in other reviews, I'm a displaced Noo Yawkah. I take my pizza seriously and have found most "pizza" (please make airquotes with your fingers) in MD to be....well, not pizza. And in some cases (Ledo), not even food. Tino's pizza is pretty darn good, though. The New York style is tastey (not quite garlicky enough to really claim the NY flavor, but....). Margarhita is a favorite among the book club gals and I'll eat the heck out of their white pizza. Be sure to ask for the crust to be well-done if you want to get closer to the NY experience. It's not my top pizza choice in the area, but it is a very reliable second.
(4)Paul M.
I find this place to be over priced for what they serve. The portions are small and the quality of the food is subpar. The atmosphere is very nice. I just wish the food was a lite better.
(2)Dana R.
My friends and I like to go to Tino's because our only other option for sit-down Italian food is Olive Garden, and we are not so big on chain restaurants. The atmosphere of the restaurant is really nice and the location is convenient for me but the food is not so outstanding. The first time I went I got the Fusilli Alla Primavera because I had had it at a catered event and it was DELICIOUS. At the catered event, the dish was the consistency of a baked pasta which was fabulous. At the restaurant however, the sauce was very runny and lacking in flavor. I have also had their Fettuccine with Broccoli and Garlic White Wine Sauce. This dish was extremely underwhelming. Overall it is a decent place with decent prices, kind service, and good table bread.
(3)Mary D.
While Tino's isn't horrible, it certainly isn't anything to write home about. Granted, I've only been once, and it was for lunch. But it was with a party, and each of us had the same opinion-the food wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. The prices are relatively low, and the service we experienced was good, so I wouldn't recommend not going. Just know when you do that it isn't going to be anything to rave over.
(2)Amanda K.
Wow what a disappointment. I ordered carry-out for lunch because I work near by. The mozarella fritta was little fried balls of cheese served on sticks, tasted like it was frozen and they just fried it. Not fresh or tasty at all. The fettucine alfredo was disgusting. The alfredo was like water. No flavor at all. The place looked nice inside but wow I will never be wasting my money there again.
(1)Ken K.
Ok. I came, i ate, and meh... Food wasn't horrible but it seems like a lot of "Italian" restaurants around here think they can add some garlic and tomato to a jar of "generic Italian name, lets say Mario koompa stompers" rustic tomato sauce and pow they are a great place for "Italian" dining. LIES! Now to be honest, as my fans deserve muchly, i ate here probably 4 months ago. Now there may or may not have been a monetary exchange for a brief period of silence for my review. This time is over my children. Let the truth shine free. I ordered the veal Marsala and my girl at the time ordered some sort of steak salad. Survey says "BZZZZZ" The Marsala was thinner than An Ethiopian kid on hunger strike. Now a Marsala wine and butter drink may sound delicious, but in practice and on pasta is silly. Picture throwing a pot of linguine into a full bathtub. That's what my plate looked like. The girls salad was fresh, however their idea of rare looks like coal. Now maybe this is just a bunch of sedimentary scientists playing jokes on Columbia for a hilarious rock formation timeline...coal----sirloin-----diamond or they don't pay attention. I hear their pizza is good tho. Sorry forgot to type in pseudo NY. " I hear their ZAAAAAAAAAAAA is like awesome, I'm from NY so i know what I'm talking about" It's been awhile so i guess ill check it out again. However, for good Italian, try pasta plus in laurel if you're local. La Tavola in Baltimore is also ridiculous.
(2)Mark E.
I usually do not particularly care for Italian (see my review of Basta Pasta). Tino's does it right and is a real find. There are many Italian restaurants to choose from, but for this one we'll definitely be back.
(3)Leslie W.
I live right around the corner from this place, and was ecstatic when the dreadful predecessor, Strapazza, went out of business. The pizza at Tino's is solid (just don't order Italian sausage - they use the cheaper sliced kind, not the tasty crumbled kind), and the mozzarella fritti is pretty tasty. I'm also a fan of the fresh bread with the garlic and herb-infused olive oil. To me, fresh bread is a sign of a good restaurant. However, the pasta dishes leave something to be desired. They use the same marinara on everything, and I noticed this last time (tonight, to be exact) it was very acidic. It made the spaghetti with my chicken parmesan taste funny. Also, the chicken wasn't crispy at all. Breaded, fried chicken cutlets should be crispy, at least around the edges if not under the cheese. But the worst thing about Tino's is by far the caesar salad. It's like one of those salads you get at an airport kiosk. An Italian restaurant should be able to make a decent caesar, and it's all about the dressing. Tino's uses a glorified Italian dressing that's all vinegar and clearly from a giant Sysco jar. Finally, a word about the service. They are super-friendly, but I, too, have witnessed the disappearing act. One server was out having a smoke break (she shared this info with me) while I sat for 10 minutes with no water, desperately trying to get the attention of the other staff who were standing around idle. On my next visit, this same server brought my pizza to the table cold. Clearly it was sitting in the window while she was grabbing a smoke. I am not against servers taking breaks, but I am against seeing so many staffers chit-chatting while a new customer sits without drinks, bread or even a menu. I'm also against a server making the mistake of leaving a repeat customer waiting for their food...again.
(2)TJ P.
Dinner at Tino's yesterday, a Friday night. The place was busy at 8:30, which I suppose is a good sign. Parking is tight as others have mentioned. I ordered Tino's seafood salad (insalata di mare). For $13.99, you get a nice sized green salad that has a ton of seafood on it. Mussels lined up shell to shell around the rim of the plate, lots of clams, sliced calamari, and shrimp. The dressing is a light, lemony oil. Seafood was tender, not overcooked. Not bad! Warm, crusty bread served with dinner, with a dish of garlicky olive oil. Service was fine and friendly. Four stars for now but need another few visits to know for sure.
(4)DA K.
We are definitely fans. We have been looking for a really good pizza place and have had the hardest time finding one. Its not our first pick but it definitlely would be our 2nd. They have the convenience of ordering online and when we went inside to pick up the decor and setting seems to be welcoming as well. My boyfriend also got a steak and cheese sub that I tasted it was really good. He enjoyed it as well. The meat seems to be well seasoned. If you want really good pizza I would definitely recommend them.
(4)Leeann D.
Tino's is a great neighborhood find! The bar is great and separate from the main restaurant so you can belly up and have a beer and a pizza while watching the chefs in the kitchen. The dining room is small but that adds to the charm. We started at the bar while we waited for a table and got a red sangria and a maker's mark manhattan on the rocks. The bar tender was very nice and friendly. The sangria was delicious and the manhattan had an extra special treat in it, cherry juice! Our server was great and made good recommendations as it was our first time there. We order steamed mussels to start. We ask that they use white wine and garlic for our mussels and they came out great! So great that we used our bread to dip in the sauce instead of the oil and herbs. I got the shrimp scampi and the shrimp were big and delicious but the sauce was red in color and tasted funny so I returned it and got a Caesar salad instead. My boyfriend got veal saltimbocca. It was delicious and he was thrilled. I think we found our new neighborhood place. We will definitely go back and will bring friends and future guests here.
(4)Amy D.
I've been to Tino's four or five times since they've opened. I was a frequenter of Strapazza. The service is always good and friendly. I grew up in an Italian American family and tend to be picky about Italian restaurants. Tino's is solid and reasonably priced for the quality. Their gnocchis (like Strapazza's) are delicious. And they have reasonable wine selections. While there last week, the food was less than par. The iceberg lettuce in my Ceasar salad was actually icy. Marinara sauce tasted acidic and lacked the full range of flavor it should have. I'm hoping the regular chef was just out sick. It'd also be nice if they turned up the music to drown out kitchen noise.
(3)stewie h.
chicken was very dry and had a strange texture to it. Pasta sauce was too sweet with sugar. do they do that in italy? bottled salad dressing. That is not olive oil for the bread dipping! So if you need a quick bite to eat and you dont want to impress anybody or yourself this is the place to go. Otherwise make real italian food at home. its fresher and made with love there.
(2)Scott S.
We've had several things at Tino's and everything has been excellent.
(5)D M.
I have really enjoyed every dish, salad, etc., that I have ordered in my many visits to dine in and carry out at Tino's. My only negative is that, while they do offer gluten free penne, they charge an extra $3.00 it, which seem a little high.
(4)Jennifer J.
I had a great experience at Tino's; it combines two of my favorite things-- Italian food and wine bars!! The restaurant hasn't been around very long, so everything looked clean and new. Rachael was an awesome server-- enthusiastic, knowledgeable, but not smothering. We had a nice conversation, and I noticed her chatting up her other tables as well-- it was nice to see a server actually ENJOY their work and WANT to be there! I decided to try the peach sangria, based on Rachael's recommendation, and was VERY impressed! The mozzarella fritti was great, as were my spaghetti and meatballs-- an all-around great, relaxed, affordable, Italian meal! I highly recommend it.
(5)Marcy L.
Wow - I'm shocked at all the poor reviews! This is not only my and my family's favorite Italian restaurant but it is one of our top two restauarants overall! We really liked it when it used to be Strapazza and were thrilled to find out that the new owner kept the same head chef. The atmosphere is much nicer after the renovations and I think the food is even better. Their minestrone is awesome - so thick it is more like a stew than a soup. Every entree we've had has been great. I always get the seafood Mare Bella. Lots of shrimp and scallops, cooked perfectly in a light tomato broth. Their chicken dishes (Chicken Vesuvio, Chicken Cacciatore) are so good with the most tender chicken breast pieces. I NEVER eat chicken in a restauarant because I am always disappointed in the quality but at Tino's it is amazing. We have also used them for catering for large parties and the quality is just as good for the large pans as it is for individually prepared entrees in the restaurant. My only complaint is that the service is sometimes too fast. I don't like when they bring the entree just as we are finishing or before we have finished our appetizers. Last time we were there we were catching up with old friends so we asked the waiter to space out the dishes and the service was perfect for us.
(5)Mary Ann M.
Love it! Have been here 5 or 6 times since Tino's opened and every experience was great. Even had a good size family party here on a Sunday, late afternoon and couldn't have been happier. Food is terrific and the owner, Chris, is so down to earth and friendly. One of the best bartenders in town, too!!! You gotta give this place a try.
(5)Moses C.
This place is great! I read the last review and have a completely different view of the service. I guess it depends on how you treat them. I usually go there during lunch and everything comes out fast and hot. You absolutely get your value here!
(4)Ryan B.
Really enjoyed this newly opened Italian place. Prices are appropriate and the food was great. The service during my visit was better than the other reviewer experienced, and I didn't have to wait too long for any of the courses. Will definitely be going back.
(5)Ned F.
Cold pizza delivery and the pizza was hacked up and it being 1.2 miles away knocks this to 1 star from previous 5 rating. A large pizza was cut into four pieces and there was a huge hack mark in the middle where someone dropped the pizza cutter. We ordered delivery being 1.2 miles away because we had company over and had to do things - but to get it cold? c'mon now.
(1)Brook H.
After seeing this place open up a while ago near my favorite hobby store, I finally decided to bring the family and give it a try. It wasn't a bad experience, but it wasn't a great one either. The staff were very friendly and did their job. Unfortunately, as mentioned by previous customers, they have a tendency to disappear. You'll receive constant check-ups for a while, and then you have to actually look for your server and flag them down toward the end. Prices are alright, although I think they're priced to match the atmosphere rather than the food. Not to say the food wasn't tasty, it was definitely good... but I think the pricing was a little more than what we got. Still, this is Columbia, so you have to expect that. :P The main complaints are parking, which fills up very quick during the dinner rush, and a lack of attention to detail. Servers are nice but their disappearing act is annoying and sometimes they just don't pay attention. Plus, we asked for a coffee one time and it got brought out... cold. After finally flagging down our server they gladly replaced it with a fresh, hot cup, but the concept that you couldn't tell a cup of coffee was cold (or that cold isn't how you serve it) is a bit mind-boggling. So, overall I say this is an OK place to eat. Nothing fantastic and what is good is counteracted by what is not so great.
(3)Elizabeth B.
We've been here 4 or 5 times and never had a problem with the service. The staff is very friendly. We usually sit in the bar area at the booths and everyone is always friendly and attentive. I like the sauces there because they are lighter than other Italian places I've been, they don't seem to use a lot of butter or heavy creams. My favorite dish is the Chicken Cacciatore; however, I do request that the dish be cooked 10 minutes more than they normally serve it. The reason is the onions and peppers are usually crisp and I don't understand that because cacciatore should be slow cooked. However, the sauce is good ( I like their marinara sauce ) and the veggies and chicken always taste very fresh. The chicken seems grilled not slow cooked, but good quality and flavor. Their Chicken Piccatta is also is very good and light as well. Also they have a "build your own" pasta dish option with whole wheat and gluten free pasta options. They serve bread with olive oil and both are very good. My son likes the pizza. We are not a fan of the caesar dressing, it is too fishy flavored, I guess from the anchovies. Last night we got dessert for the first time and the Tiramisu was very good, and my husband enjoyed the chocolate mousse. They said they make the desserts onsite. I also like their wine selections...they separate the wine listing into light, medium or full bodied on the menu and it helps you decide which wine is best for what you are in the mood for. We enjoy the atmosphere and food so have to say I am a fan of this place and plan on coming back!
(4)Megan O.
Tino's is a nice little Italian restaurant that is conveniently located. They aren't fussy or pretentious, and the wait staff has always been nice. Some nights you may need a reservation though, so you've been warned! We used to come here fairly frequently. We sat at the bar one night when we came without a reservation and were going to have a 30 minute wait, but 2 people left the bar not long after we arrived. The experience eating at the bar was great, the bartender was everything you'd want in a bartender when eating there. However, the food was consistently hit or miss. At this point we've had more misses than hits, unfortunately. We really want to like them! But I think we're unlikely to go back unless we want a dine-in pizza experience. The first time we went my husband didn't like his food at all, but I loved my manicotti, so I was able to convince him to give it another try. The second time he got pizza and was happier; I, however, didn't like the lasagna I ordered (way too meaty, the flavors were all wrong, I really strongly disliked it even though I'm usually easy to please with lasagna!). From then on I always got the manicotti, and we basically went whenever I wanted manicotti. My husband tried various pasta dishes and was satisfied enough to continue going, although not generally impressed. But now...the manicotti is gone. It was removed from the menu toward the end of spring, and although I've tried other pasta/red sauce/cheese types of dishes, none are really worth going out for. Since my husband was never impressed to begin with, we've stopped going. I've yet to find a good manicotti in the area to replace it, but when I do that restaurant will get the business we would have given Tino's. LIke I said -- if we go it will only be for eat-in pizza, but why do that when you can do delivery (faster) from 2 other places within a few blocks of Tino's?
(2)K Sera S.
Mid-price-range Italian restaurant to me means Pizza. That's all I want. I can boil pasta and buy good ricotta and sauce on my own. But I can't make good 'za. Luckily for me, Tino's can. As noted in other reviews, I'm a displaced Noo Yawkah. I take my pizza seriously and have found most "pizza" (please make airquotes with your fingers) in MD to be....well, not pizza. And in some cases (Ledo), not even food. Tino's pizza is pretty darn good, though. The New York style is tastey (not quite garlicky enough to really claim the NY flavor, but....). Margarhita is a favorite among the book club gals and I'll eat the heck out of their white pizza. Be sure to ask for the crust to be well-done if you want to get closer to the NY experience. It's not my top pizza choice in the area, but it is a very reliable second.
(4)Paul M.
I find this place to be over priced for what they serve. The portions are small and the quality of the food is subpar. The atmosphere is very nice. I just wish the food was a lite better.
(2)Dana R.
My friends and I like to go to Tino's because our only other option for sit-down Italian food is Olive Garden, and we are not so big on chain restaurants. The atmosphere of the restaurant is really nice and the location is convenient for me but the food is not so outstanding. The first time I went I got the Fusilli Alla Primavera because I had had it at a catered event and it was DELICIOUS. At the catered event, the dish was the consistency of a baked pasta which was fabulous. At the restaurant however, the sauce was very runny and lacking in flavor. I have also had their Fettuccine with Broccoli and Garlic White Wine Sauce. This dish was extremely underwhelming. Overall it is a decent place with decent prices, kind service, and good table bread.
(3)Mary D.
While Tino's isn't horrible, it certainly isn't anything to write home about. Granted, I've only been once, and it was for lunch. But it was with a party, and each of us had the same opinion-the food wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. The prices are relatively low, and the service we experienced was good, so I wouldn't recommend not going. Just know when you do that it isn't going to be anything to rave over.
(2)Amanda K.
Wow what a disappointment. I ordered carry-out for lunch because I work near by. The mozarella fritta was little fried balls of cheese served on sticks, tasted like it was frozen and they just fried it. Not fresh or tasty at all. The fettucine alfredo was disgusting. The alfredo was like water. No flavor at all. The place looked nice inside but wow I will never be wasting my money there again.
(1)Ken K.
Ok. I came, i ate, and meh... Food wasn't horrible but it seems like a lot of "Italian" restaurants around here think they can add some garlic and tomato to a jar of "generic Italian name, lets say Mario koompa stompers" rustic tomato sauce and pow they are a great place for "Italian" dining. LIES! Now to be honest, as my fans deserve muchly, i ate here probably 4 months ago. Now there may or may not have been a monetary exchange for a brief period of silence for my review. This time is over my children. Let the truth shine free. I ordered the veal Marsala and my girl at the time ordered some sort of steak salad. Survey says "BZZZZZ" The Marsala was thinner than An Ethiopian kid on hunger strike. Now a Marsala wine and butter drink may sound delicious, but in practice and on pasta is silly. Picture throwing a pot of linguine into a full bathtub. That's what my plate looked like. The girls salad was fresh, however their idea of rare looks like coal. Now maybe this is just a bunch of sedimentary scientists playing jokes on Columbia for a hilarious rock formation timeline...coal----sirloin-----diamond or they don't pay attention. I hear their pizza is good tho. Sorry forgot to type in pseudo NY. " I hear their ZAAAAAAAAAAAA is like awesome, I'm from NY so i know what I'm talking about" It's been awhile so i guess ill check it out again. However, for good Italian, try pasta plus in laurel if you're local. La Tavola in Baltimore is also ridiculous.
(2)Mark E.
I usually do not particularly care for Italian (see my review of Basta Pasta). Tino's does it right and is a real find. There are many Italian restaurants to choose from, but for this one we'll definitely be back.
(3)Gina P.
Tino's is just like the previous tenant Strapazza because it is the same chef. The food is decent and decently priced. However, I would prefer it to take out over dining in. The staff is very forthcoming and did their job. Regrettably, as mentioned by previous customers, they have a tendency to disappear. You'll receive constant check-ups for a while, and then you have to actually look for your server and flag them down toward the end. The main complaints are parking, which fills up very quick during the dinner rush, and a lack of attention to detail. Servers are nice but their disappearing act is annoying and sometimes they just don't pay attention. So, overall I say this is an OK place to eat. Nothing fantastic and what is good is counteracted by what is not so great.
(3)Julie D.
We recently moved into the area and love Tino's. I've had their gnocchi caprese both times I've went, and it has been delicious! The meals are extremely filling, so you'll definitely have leftovers, which makes their meals a great value. Also, while a little random, their olive oil that accompanies their table bread is amazing. They also have a great and expansive wine menu.
(4)Patapsco M.
Locals love this place. Good pizza, good service, fun atmosphere. I can't fathom the poor reviews, try this place, it's the best local Italian (that I'm aware of).
(4)Samuel C.
The bread is not that great. It was so hard to chew. But I love the shrimp salad.
(3)Jeff A.
My wife and two sons went to check out this newly opened restaurant relatively late on a weeknight for a restaurant in Columbia. Many other diner's also had the same idea. The hostess thought it would be about a 10 minute wait - turned out to be about 20 minutes for a table. I was happy to see that they were using the "pager" system. While this doesn't pair well with upscale restaurants (though neither does yelling out a name form the list), I find them very efficient. The entrance had a small seating area that really didn't lend itself to hold very many people. It was hot outside, so we chose to stand inside, across from the hostess stand. From there, we got to observe a couple of things. The interior itself was much improved from the prior Italian restaurant that was there. Nothing too impressive, but pleasant and a much better use of space. Seemed a lot larger. We also noticed though that the 3 hostesses that were working seemed to be pretty idle. They were all pleasant enough, but while tables sat full of dishes and water glasses got low, they were still standing talking at the front waiting for the next customers. I don't blame them at all, but this is rather a management issue to ensure that the staff is well balanced and that idle time in one area is used to effectively compensate for problems in another. As we sat down, we got to hear our waiter apologize ("sorry again...") to the departing guests at an adjacent table about the wait. It took quite a long time for him to come to our table, but he seemed very friendly and competent once he did. It was clear that the rush had passed (we were one of the last groups who had to wait to be seated). During the time we sat there, some tables were cleared and set, but weren't filled. As a result, we were hopeful that service and wait time would be better for us than prior diners. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Our waiter started out well. He took our orders and followed up on drinks and bread. While waiting for salads, he came back by to ask if we wanted more bread. My wife asked about wheat bread. He said he wasn't sure if they had any, but would check. We waited what seemed like a long time, then the salads arrived, brought by another waiter. We didn't see our waiter though and he never followed up about the bread. We waited what seemed to be a very long time. He finally came to pick up the salad plates and let us know that our food would be "out soon". We then waited for another very long stretch. The kids both were getting really miserable waiting. They are both over 10, so I'm not talking about a 4 year old who has no patience. Finally, the food arrived. My wife ordered a pesto pasta. I ordered pasta with broccoli and a white wine sauce. One son ordered pizza and the other a ravioli dish. The food wasn't particularly impressive - but to be fair, there's probably a limit to how impressive most of those dishes can be. My dish was nice and light (which was my goal), but wasn't hot and was a little too light on the broccoli. We waited a long time again for our waiter to come back around to get a dessert order. He brought that relatively quickly. Prices were definitely good. Not cheap, but definitely not overpriced for what you get. So, in summary, the atmosphere was pretty nice for a strip mall restaurant and a huge improvement over the prior establishment. The service was poor overall - good when our waiter was present, but he was just MIA for most of the time. The kitchen itself was also backed up and I'm not sure I can see why. The food was pretty average. Nothing too much to complain about, but nothing to write rave reviews about either. In short, I hate to say it, but next time I think I'll go to Bertucci's. The atmosphere isn't as nice, but I think I'll get almost the same level of food, but won't deal with falling asleep waiting for my waiter to come by or get my food. Willing to give this place another chance to work out what hopefully are just some operational challenges of a new place. However, I'll probably wait for a while before going back.
(2)Rainon L.
Only had one experience with Tino's but the one I had was fantastic. I ordered delivery to my office. Not only did the order come quite quickly, but the food was still piping hot and fresh. All amenities were included (warm bread, plastic silverware, etc.) and the driver was courteous. The food itself was excellent. The pasta was clearly homemade, the veggies were all fresh, and the sauce rich and flavorful. I will certainly order from them again!
(5)Russell R.
Two things to say. First, if you want to grab a meal, this isn't bad. Lots of people were doing the pizza but we decided to try some pasta. Kathleen had Orrecchiette Montese. Not bad (I had some of her's) but the Rabe was a little sad. I had Farfalle Saraceno with tough "filet mignon tips", canned mushrooms, and uninspired sauce. The bread was OK but a half-hour shy of stale. Second, this is an OK place for forgettable (not regrettable) food but not the place to go if you want Italian. The chain Italian restaurants (you know who I mean) are better. Again, it ain't bad, just nothing to go out of your way for.
(2)Leslie W.
I live right around the corner from this place, and was ecstatic when the dreadful predecessor, Strapazza, went out of business. The pizza at Tino's is solid (just don't order Italian sausage - they use the cheaper sliced kind, not the tasty crumbled kind), and the mozzarella fritti is pretty tasty. I'm also a fan of the fresh bread with the garlic and herb-infused olive oil. To me, fresh bread is a sign of a good restaurant. However, the pasta dishes leave something to be desired. They use the same marinara on everything, and I noticed this last time (tonight, to be exact) it was very acidic. It made the spaghetti with my chicken parmesan taste funny. Also, the chicken wasn't crispy at all. Breaded, fried chicken cutlets should be crispy, at least around the edges if not under the cheese. But the worst thing about Tino's is by far the caesar salad. It's like one of those salads you get at an airport kiosk. An Italian restaurant should be able to make a decent caesar, and it's all about the dressing. Tino's uses a glorified Italian dressing that's all vinegar and clearly from a giant Sysco jar. Finally, a word about the service. They are super-friendly, but I, too, have witnessed the disappearing act. One server was out having a smoke break (she shared this info with me) while I sat for 10 minutes with no water, desperately trying to get the attention of the other staff who were standing around idle. On my next visit, this same server brought my pizza to the table cold. Clearly it was sitting in the window while she was grabbing a smoke. I am not against servers taking breaks, but I am against seeing so many staffers chit-chatting while a new customer sits without drinks, bread or even a menu. I'm also against a server making the mistake of leaving a repeat customer waiting for their food...again.
(2)TJ P.
Dinner at Tino's yesterday, a Friday night. The place was busy at 8:30, which I suppose is a good sign. Parking is tight as others have mentioned. I ordered Tino's seafood salad (insalata di mare). For $13.99, you get a nice sized green salad that has a ton of seafood on it. Mussels lined up shell to shell around the rim of the plate, lots of clams, sliced calamari, and shrimp. The dressing is a light, lemony oil. Seafood was tender, not overcooked. Not bad! Warm, crusty bread served with dinner, with a dish of garlicky olive oil. Service was fine and friendly. Four stars for now but need another few visits to know for sure.
(4)DA K.
We are definitely fans. We have been looking for a really good pizza place and have had the hardest time finding one. Its not our first pick but it definitlely would be our 2nd. They have the convenience of ordering online and when we went inside to pick up the decor and setting seems to be welcoming as well. My boyfriend also got a steak and cheese sub that I tasted it was really good. He enjoyed it as well. The meat seems to be well seasoned. If you want really good pizza I would definitely recommend them.
(4)Leeann D.
Tino's is a great neighborhood find! The bar is great and separate from the main restaurant so you can belly up and have a beer and a pizza while watching the chefs in the kitchen. The dining room is small but that adds to the charm. We started at the bar while we waited for a table and got a red sangria and a maker's mark manhattan on the rocks. The bar tender was very nice and friendly. The sangria was delicious and the manhattan had an extra special treat in it, cherry juice! Our server was great and made good recommendations as it was our first time there. We order steamed mussels to start. We ask that they use white wine and garlic for our mussels and they came out great! So great that we used our bread to dip in the sauce instead of the oil and herbs. I got the shrimp scampi and the shrimp were big and delicious but the sauce was red in color and tasted funny so I returned it and got a Caesar salad instead. My boyfriend got veal saltimbocca. It was delicious and he was thrilled. I think we found our new neighborhood place. We will definitely go back and will bring friends and future guests here.
(4)Amy D.
I've been to Tino's four or five times since they've opened. I was a frequenter of Strapazza. The service is always good and friendly. I grew up in an Italian American family and tend to be picky about Italian restaurants. Tino's is solid and reasonably priced for the quality. Their gnocchis (like Strapazza's) are delicious. And they have reasonable wine selections. While there last week, the food was less than par. The iceberg lettuce in my Ceasar salad was actually icy. Marinara sauce tasted acidic and lacked the full range of flavor it should have. I'm hoping the regular chef was just out sick. It'd also be nice if they turned up the music to drown out kitchen noise.
(3)stewie h.
chicken was very dry and had a strange texture to it. Pasta sauce was too sweet with sugar. do they do that in italy? bottled salad dressing. That is not olive oil for the bread dipping! So if you need a quick bite to eat and you dont want to impress anybody or yourself this is the place to go. Otherwise make real italian food at home. its fresher and made with love there.
(2)Scott S.
We've had several things at Tino's and everything has been excellent.
(5)D M.
I have really enjoyed every dish, salad, etc., that I have ordered in my many visits to dine in and carry out at Tino's. My only negative is that, while they do offer gluten free penne, they charge an extra $3.00 it, which seem a little high.
(4)Jennifer J.
I had a great experience at Tino's; it combines two of my favorite things-- Italian food and wine bars!! The restaurant hasn't been around very long, so everything looked clean and new. Rachael was an awesome server-- enthusiastic, knowledgeable, but not smothering. We had a nice conversation, and I noticed her chatting up her other tables as well-- it was nice to see a server actually ENJOY their work and WANT to be there! I decided to try the peach sangria, based on Rachael's recommendation, and was VERY impressed! The mozzarella fritti was great, as were my spaghetti and meatballs-- an all-around great, relaxed, affordable, Italian meal! I highly recommend it.
(5)Marcy L.
Wow - I'm shocked at all the poor reviews! This is not only my and my family's favorite Italian restaurant but it is one of our top two restauarants overall! We really liked it when it used to be Strapazza and were thrilled to find out that the new owner kept the same head chef. The atmosphere is much nicer after the renovations and I think the food is even better. Their minestrone is awesome - so thick it is more like a stew than a soup. Every entree we've had has been great. I always get the seafood Mare Bella. Lots of shrimp and scallops, cooked perfectly in a light tomato broth. Their chicken dishes (Chicken Vesuvio, Chicken Cacciatore) are so good with the most tender chicken breast pieces. I NEVER eat chicken in a restauarant because I am always disappointed in the quality but at Tino's it is amazing. We have also used them for catering for large parties and the quality is just as good for the large pans as it is for individually prepared entrees in the restaurant. My only complaint is that the service is sometimes too fast. I don't like when they bring the entree just as we are finishing or before we have finished our appetizers. Last time we were there we were catching up with old friends so we asked the waiter to space out the dishes and the service was perfect for us.
(5)Mary Ann M.
Love it! Have been here 5 or 6 times since Tino's opened and every experience was great. Even had a good size family party here on a Sunday, late afternoon and couldn't have been happier. Food is terrific and the owner, Chris, is so down to earth and friendly. One of the best bartenders in town, too!!! You gotta give this place a try.
(5)Moses C.
This place is great! I read the last review and have a completely different view of the service. I guess it depends on how you treat them. I usually go there during lunch and everything comes out fast and hot. You absolutely get your value here!
(4)Rick G.
In the mood for some casual Italian with generous dose of class? Tino's fits the bill perfectly. The atmosphere is cozy and great for a family or a date night. We started with Mozzarella Fritti. It's presentation came as a surprise. Plenty for two or just enough for three. I won't spoil the quaintness. My wife had the Chicken Alfredo, one of her standby favorites at a new place. The sauce was the best she's had in a long time but the chicken was bland. Trying some, I knew it was baked but it tasted like it was boiled. I tried the Chicken Florentine. The sauce and angel hair pasta was great but the chicken was unseasoned. We opted to share a dish of creme brûlée. The crust was barely caramelized and the texture wasn't as smooth as I was anticipating. But it grew on us. This place always fills the shopping center with amazing aromas and there was a dish being prepared after we finished our desert that smelled amazing. Definitely worth trying, again!
(4)Jessica C.
Tonight we ordered a couple of pizzas for delivery, and this was our first time doing so from here. Ordinarily we order from somewhere else but we recently had a pretty good dinner from Tino's and wanted to see how the pizza would stack up. I ordered the small white pizza without broccoli. I love that it was thin crust and wasn't very greasy at all. The flavor wasn't entirely there, though. It's hard to pin down what exactly was missing, but it was almost like the cheese flavor was barely there, which makes little to no sense with a white pie. My fiance and his friend ordered a large ultimate meat pizza, which came with pepperoni, ham, bacon, ground beef, sausage, and mozzarella cheese. They did NOT seem to skimp on the meat, and the large was HUGE. It puts most other large pies to shame! Delivery was quick, even on a Friday night. The restaurant did forget to give the driver our apartment number, though, so we had a little bit of a delay there (not a big deal). Overall pretty good pizza, and we'll probably order from here again. But I would recommend going to Tino's for the entrees and standard Italian fare even more.
(3)Mike M.
We just arrived in from out of town for wedding, on a tight schedule and needed a good dinnr. I read all the good reviews and saw the extensive menu on Tino's website, so this looked like the perfect match. Our friendly waiter Dan, quickly got us set up with a couple of glasses of wine. My wife ordered the chicken & broccoli in a rose sauce, I had my own personal , " make your own" pasta dish, with linguine, diavalo sauce, sauted calamari, banana peppers & onions. We both loved our dishes, cooked to perfection. The overall atmosphere was casual, classy contemporary, with very comfortable seating. We were very pleased with our pick & would highly recommend Tino's for a great Italian meal.
(5)Tamika A.
This was my first time at the restaurant. It was truly amazing! The food was delicious and the service was great! The owner came out to say hello since we were first time patrons. Pasta was delicious, portions are large, and so affordable! My husband and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Robert M.
Had seen this place mentioned in a few places as being very good. It didn't disappoint. Service was very good, portions were large, and, most importantly, the food was very good. We will be back.
(4)Valentino R.
Dell!! What can I said ? Best play for drinks.! Food looks amazing, my friend and I where here for my birthday and we got drinks and drinks were amazing our bartender Patrick was so nice.! Ask for him next time you guys come here.!! He is amazing !!! :)
(5)Jeni S.
Came here for the first and probably the last time. I gave two stars just for the service. So that tells you the quality of the food. The restaurant has a nice ambience, but it was basically empty. There was one other table and my group. The important part. The food. My friend ordered a pick pasta with penne and meatballs with a red sauce. It had nice sized meatballs, but it was really salty. My other friend ordered the chicken Chesapeake. It was ok, but the chicken had a terrible texture. My bf ordered the saltimbocca which was inedible. The waitress warned him but he wanted to try something different. He usually eats everything but he couldn't even swallow the piece and actually spat it out in a napkin. He ended up sending it back and getting the shrimp scampi. It looked overly oily, very lemony, and again salty. I ordered gluten free penne with the mare bella. I usually wouldn't be so harsh but the price of the plate was just way too high, whose was $25. It was so salty that my tongue went somewhat numb it's in fact inflamed. My bf couldn't even eat more than one bite. The shrimp and scallops were over cooked and rubbery. The plate looked beautiful but looks can be deceiving.
(2)Josh G.
Tino's is a casual Italian restaurant with fare that is unremarkable. However, the service is attentive. It seems like they do a lot of carry out orders for their pizza. Perhaps I'd just as soon try that next time rather than their entrees.
(4)Jane A.
We were in here on a Monday night for dinner. The place was practically empty. Food was fine. Ordered the Antipasto and Spinach Salad for appetizers. The homemade dressing is really good. They were able to accommodate for my wheat allergy. They do have gluten free pasta! We ordered the Chicken Parm, Veal Parm, Chicken Florentine, GF Penne Alfredo and the last entree escapes me. Everything turned out as expected. This is a pretty standard Italian place. Service was fine.
(3)Max P.
Got it for delivery, was very impressed with their thin crust pizza. The meat pizza was really good. Highly recommend
(4)George S.
Food was awesome. Definitely will be coming back. Had the shrimp scampi and the meat calzone with Alfredo sauce. It was FABULOUS ..... Raspberry apple sangria was delicious too. A very quaint atmosphere. But definitely worth a shout out..
(5)Russ H.
This place is outstanding!!! Just had the fried calamari for an appetizer and then some shrimp da diavolo. OMFG!!!! The shrimp are huge, the sauce is bangin', and the linguine is great. Awesome people too. Highly recommend this place. Kudos Tinos!
(5)Tim S.
We made a reservation on New Years Eve - no problems! As new parents, eating out can be quite an adventure. We often feel insecure and worry about how our new addition is going to be welcomed. It's made us very aware of the level of service at restaurants. When we got to Tino's, the hostess was very flustered with the busyness and stressed out. When she saw our daughter. we got a stern lecture for not "declaring our infant" and saying we were a party of three. She explained how put-out the restaurant would now be by us - needing to place a high chair, or move us from the aisle seat. Honestly, it was totally our mistake with the reservation (we're new parents and still learning the social mores), but the rudeness of this particular hostess really started our evening off on the wrong foot. However, once we were seated our experience shifted dramatically. Our waitress was superb - raved over our daughter and made us feel really comfortable. The bread and oil they bring you is really great. My wife got the Tortellini Bolognese and was probably the best meal of the two. The tortellini was cooked to perfection and the bolognese sauce was creamy and stuffed with spicy meat. Very good. I got Shrimp pasta in spicy marinara. There were 6 enormous shrimp and the sauce was just the right level of spice. Both of us had more than enough leftovers for lunch the next day. The desserts sounded good, but our daughter was getting fussy so we stopped by Baskin Robbins a few doors down for a nice dessert afterward. All in all - a success and I would revisit the restaurant again, and hope that the hostess would have a kinder approach to customers on busy evenings.
(4)Frederick J.
Great meatballs i sure will return again.thanks Lance and staff great job had a great time meeting new people
(5)Shira S.
I came here with a larger group on a Saturday early evening to celebrate a friend's birthday. First off, our waiter (Shaq - I think) was excellent. Super patient and a great sense of humor. He handled a difficult group of people with ease. The food was average, but not great. I also think that many of their food items are on the pricier side, especially the build-your-own pastas - it adds up quick. On the plus side, they have a large selection of wines by the bottle for a great price.
(3)First L.
Meh. Tried it for the first time last weekend, and sadly I have to report that it missed on all counts. If I gave it a second try it would be for something exceedingly safe, like pizza. Reading the previous reviews, and based on my own experience I think what's happening is there are two very different chefs. I also suspect there are a lot of folks who just don't have a good point of reference to compare to. But, as the great Gordon Gano once said - "this is only a guess". Service was warm and personable, but inattentive despite there being many young workers idling about. I do appreciate that they didn't push drinks on me, taking my first "no thanks" and countering with "how about water ? " . I truly appreciate that. I've eaten in restaurants where the staff circled me like vultures trying to sell me more of that nice high markup alcohol and I didn't like it. The bread did nothing for me. It tasted like a loaf of white bread to me, like literally take Wonder Bread, refactor it's physical form, place in basket, return affirmative exit status. No crust to speak of, no character , just basket o' bread. The sauce was way too garlicky for me, but it tasted like decent oil ... decent oil that had been completely overpowered by way to much garlic.. Things went downhill with the Caprese. I was introduced to Caprese salad in the City in which it was a very simple recipe: always a good mozzarella- buffalo preferred or at least whole, slice of good ripe tomato, leaf of fresh basil, slight drizzle of oil, drizzle of balsamic. This is how I've been making it for years at home too, and I guess that's how I'm used to it. I love it that way. Absolutely love it; the simple honest flavors mingling, the complex sweet aromas of the balsamic just lingering over the trio. The way they make it there is different. It was mozzarella (and the cheese was good), sliced red and yellow tomato (that was a cute twist) but the basil was shredded and mixed among lettuce greens and then it was all drowned in oil. The presentation looked disheveled with the greens all over it and I was completely unprepared for that recipe but the biggest takeaway was just the excessive olive oil overwhelming all the natural flavors. Turns out this form of Caprese googles and is a valid preparation, but just not what I was expecting. So I'll take fair shakes for just not knowing what i was ordering, but it was definitely drowning in oil. I couldn't bring myself to finish the Linguine with seafood. I had to discreetly eject the first two clams I tasted (and I am a shellfish WHORE) and then decided to just pass on the other clams, the squid was very tough and chewy, the sauce was appropriately picante but otherwise bland. It tasted like it was prepared by an engineer with a checklist; all the proper ingredients were there: Linguine, cooked to al dente- Check. Squid, sliced and sauteed - check. Clams, steamed in broth ? Check. But it was lacking art and soul. In fact, I think that would really sum up my experience: all the ingredients were there, but none of the soul. So, like I said, if I try this place again it will be for like pizza. Forgot to mention: although I personally don't care about a gluten free diet, I DO want to give them props for having a large GF menu. It must really suck to be on a gluten restricted diet, and personally I think it's pretty awesome of them to serve up so many choices for those who can't / won't eat gluten.
(2)Jennifer S.
I ordered eggplant Parmesan and it was salty for my taste. My husband ordered blackened chicken salad. The salad was good but the chicken only tasted of pepper not Cajun. Bread served at beginning was great!Service was great. Lovely waitress.
(3)Brittany H.
This place is a hidden gem. It may look like just another strip mall restaurant, but trust me, it is NOT. I chose this place on a whim off of decent Yelp reviews and because they could accommodate my party of 15. I was very PLEASANTLY surprised. Upon arrival, our table was ready and waiting. The people from our party trickled in slowly, meaning our patient and fabulous waiter had to repeat himself a number of times. He did everything with a positive attitude. Everything that I ate here was delicious. From the bread with oil and garlic to the calamari to the fried mozzarella balls to the gnocchi (A++!), I was pleased with every food dish. I didn't have room for any dessert, but I plan to save some room for that the next time! Outside of the food, the atmosphere is cute. It can be a dressy place (when I went there were prom kiddies having dinner there before their big night) OR it can be casual. Very versatile place. Also, the staff was very patient and willing to take pictures of our large group. Much appreciated! Great job Tino's! I definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)Julio F.
I ordered the Fruitti di Mare from this place. This came out nearly perfect. The jumbo shrimp and pasta was cooked perfectly. The marina sauce seemed fresh and had a balanced flavor. Calamari in the pasta wasn't bad. Only problem were the clams which had some minor grittiness/sand in them. They also serve some amazing complimentary warm bread with garlic oil. They might be soft enough that you can even let folks (e.g. parents/grandparents) with dental issues eat this (a typical problem with most Italian restaurants since they usually serve bread with hard crusts). Tip: This could have been a better deal had I shopped at the nearby Giants first. At the time, the back of the Giants receipt has a $2 off $10 or $5 off $25 deal that expires on 7-31-15. Bought an item and got 3 of these coupons. Service was a bit slow considering they had at least 2 servers on staff but just about 6 small tables to serve. Most servers were huddled between the bar and kitchen socializing. You'll want to ask for your check when you get your meal if you need to be somewhere. Overall, great food at reasonable prices.
(4)Megan T.
Excellent food and excellent service. The chicken cheasapeak was delicious, as was the Apple cider martini. Friend also loved her chicken florintine.The atmosphere is also great.
(5)Stephen S.
An Outstanding Experience this evening at Tino's! Only 7 weeks into new ownership, Tino's isn't messing with a winning formula. Our Fettuccine Alfredo was outstanding. The service was extremely good. The owner visited our table to make sure everything was perfect. We feel that we discovered our new Italian restaurant!
(5)Stephanie I.
We came here for lunch during the week off a tip from a coworker who loves this place. They also had an extensive gluten free menu which was a huge plus for my coworker. When we arrived it was confusing. We stood around up front waiting for a hostess to greet us. There were multiple people who were standing around us that also hadn't been greeted. We were finally seated but had to track down the hostess for a gluten free menu since it wasn't already on the menu. Our server didn't greet us for about 10 minutes, but the hostess did bring is bread while we were waiting. The bread tasted like it was store bought, but the oil is perfectly seasoned and very tasty. Here's what I don't like about this place: they nickel and dime for everything. My friend and I got a good laugh over trying to add up how much a pasta would cost. I was disappointed that they didn't have more predesigned pasta besides gnocchi. Her basic pasta ended up being close to $17! I thought they had a large selection of entrees for $10 but don't expect much. Our food took extremely long to come out. I feel like they should work on their timing if they want to attract more of the business crowd. The piece of chicken I got was no bigger than my knuckle. I've also never seen a Marsala sauce that is made with tomatoes. It's totally overpriced for what you get. Dare I say that I'd rather go to Olive Garden for better value for my money, better service, and better tasting food? Yeah, I would.
(2)Tamara Y. W.
Got the Grilled Filet Mignon Salad salad to go. It was okay. Good amount of mixed greens, but the onions were poorly cut (some slices and other big chunks) and there were 3 cucumber slices on it and 4 cherry tomato halves (after specifically asking for extra tomatoes at the time of my order). The salad dressing was just pure balsamic vinegar WITH sugar added (or it was reduced balsamic vinegar). BLEH! Did not like it. The amount of steak in the salad was piddly for the price of the salad ($14). I was in the area for training and forgot my lunch. The fact the the place was COMPLETELY EMPTY should have been a sign for me.
(2)Art J.
Running an errand and was near this place. I almost didn't go in when I saw it was empty. But I took a chance and was happy I did. Food and service was great. Home made no pre-made anything. Fantastic sauce. I ordered fries extra crispy and unlike almost every other restaurant, they did as requested and the fries were amazing. My server, Shack, was attentive without being a bother, friendly and helpful. I will go back.
(5)David F.
Better than average Italian food. Slightly overpriced for the quality of food. The tiramisu was excellent.
(3)Mikisha H.
Truly hits the spot when you're wanting some Italian and can't stand the big chain restaurants. Everything we have tried so far has been extremely tasty, including the bread. It can get a little pricey but in my opinion it's worth it.
(5)Joe P.
It's so hard to find a local Chef Owner run restaurant in Columbia. Good food and atmosphere. My favorite in Columbia. Menu has good variety, and when asked to go off the menu, they have always said yes and tried. I also use Creme' Brulee's to score a restaurant, Tino's is very good, smooth, consistent, nice crust. A good place to make a regular.
(5)Nicole G.
I love this restaurant. It fits any mood-- a great place to run in and grab a bite, hang out for awhile, bring a large group, and a family place. The bar area is fun to eat or just hang out for a drink and we go there as a family with our young girls and always feel welcome. The new management cares and is focused on creating consistent delicious, authentic food. And they are completely focused on customer service. I'm 100% italian; the food is authentic and diverse. Whatever you are in the mood for they have it--meat, pasta, vegan, gluten free (it's actually good!). The homemade ravioli's are fabulous, fresh soups, fresh made bread n garlic dip, chicken tenders (no hormones/antibiotics) for my girls. I'm excited to see the new owners changes.
(5)Paula O.
I ordered the meatball appetizers for delivery and they were large and very delicious. 4 stars and not 5 because they were overpriced IMHO. $23 for 6 meatballs. I would eat here again though. Give it a try. :)
(4)Victoria L.
I tried gluten-free pizza here for the first time. It comes as thin crust and can basically be with any toppings as the wheat pizzas. The server told a friend and I that the pizzas only come in personal-size, so we should order two. Not necessary as we were not that hungry and these were medium-sized pizzas in my opinion. Then again, it's an Italian restaurant so appropriate portions are in the eye of the beholder. Pizza taste was fine, nothing I would tell friends to go back to try. Friendly staff.
(3)Eric L.
Had a nice dinner here tonight under the new ownership. Everyone enjoyed their entrees. Their rose and bolognese sauce was outstanding. The calamari, salads and desserts were also enjoyed by everyone. We will be back.
(4)Barbara M.
Just attended a great wine dinner here. Attentive owners--they are striving to do their best. Excellent food. The marinara has a surprising kick. Grilled vegetables very flavorful. I am not sure that any of these items are on the regular menu, but they should be. I'd come back if I am in the area.
(1)Aly S.
Love this place! I've been here several times and each time the food and wine were great and the service was amazing. The pasta was outstanding and I love the bread and olive oil
(5)Matthew I.
Thank goodness for Tino's! I could eat their Chicken Parmesan 5 days a week. My wife loves their calzone. Their bread and oil is AMAZING! Here is the best part (well, for us). We live close enough that THEY DELIVER!! Their website is very easy to order through and the food is always warm and fresh. We do like to go to the restaurant from time to time. They have a nice wine section and the staff is very friendly. My wife wishes they had Bellini's, but there aren't a lot of places around here that does a nice Bellini.
(4)Joe P.
We needed a sit down pizza place for 14 people in Columbia on a Sunday evening. Many pizza establishments in the area are mostly carry out / delivery with few tables.With few choices we really didn't have much choice but to try Tinos . We were pleasantly surprised after viewing the previous Yelp reviews . The pizza , especially meat lovers was excellent , generous amounts of cheese and just the right amount of perfectly seasoned sauce on thin crust pizza . We chose 3 appetizers that were ok and almost made me give the place 4 stars if not for the pizza. The prices are very reasonable and the waitstaff was great after the initial delay in getting a waitress to the table to take our order.Once we placed our order service was quick and the waitstaff was very attentive. Family friendly but not to noisy with nice decor . Will come back to try more things on the menu.
(5)Neal M.
I've eaten here several times, & keep going back. Service is good, food is fairly priced. Lots of wine to choose from, & lots of specialty mixed drinks are listed. Good warm fresh bread with spiced olive oil dip was complementary. This time we ordered chicken Florentine (tender chunks of breast with spinach on angel hair in a wine/lemon sauce), & chicken cacciatore (same chicken breast chunks in a delicious marinara with sweet peppers & onions on penne). No problem substituting angel hair for the penne. Portions are adequate, but most folks won't have leftovers. Side Caesar or mixed green salad can be ordered for $3; house made dressings are outstanding. Compare with Bertucci's $5 half Caesar & $7 half mixed green salads, which aren't nearly as good. Desserts are house made. Tiramisu was barely large enough for 2, considering the $8 price. At least the Kahlua could be tasted.
(4)Holly F.
This restaurant is okay, my first experience there was not the greatest but I'm willing to give it another try. I ordered the gnocchi with chicken, and the gnocchi were perfect but the chicken not so much. It came with 2 pieces of chicken breast, one was cooked perfectly and the other was rubbery and gross. I ended up eating the one that was cooked perfectly and threw out the other one when I brought the leftovers home.
(3)George S.
Food was awesome. Definitely will be coming back. Had the shrimp scampi and the meat calzone with Alfredo sauce. It was FABULOUS ..... Raspberry apple sangria was delicious too. A very quaint atmosphere. But definitely worth a shout out..
(5)Russ H.
This place is outstanding!!! Just had the fried calamari for an appetizer and then some shrimp da diavolo. OMFG!!!! The shrimp are huge, the sauce is bangin', and the linguine is great. Awesome people too. Highly recommend this place. Kudos Tinos!
(5)Fred K.
When this restaurant first opened I was impressed. My las two meals has changed my mind. Last night my wife and I ordered the Shrimp Parmesan and the Lasagna. The Lasagna was tasteless, all Ricotta cheese with the only sauce poured over it. The noodles were over cooked and tasteless. The entire meal was in a word disappointing. The Shrimp in the Shrimp Parmesan were first breaded and deep fried. Then sauced and cheese placed over them and placed in the oven. The shrimp were over fried in the fryer and insulted with the melting of the cheese. Even the sauce which originally was fantastic has lost its taste. Did the original chef leave. This is the second bad meal from them of what has been many good meals. What has happened or have I just been spoiled by the previous restaurant to occupy that space? January 8, 2014 After our last meal we stayed away until last night. After hearing many good things we gave Tino's another try. Wow what a difference. My wife ordered the chicken Marsala and I ordered veal veal parmasean. The veal was tender and not over cooked. The tomato sauce was one of the best I have had. We could actually taste and smell the Marsala wine inn the chicken Marsala which I believe is a first for us. Marsala has a very distinctive taste and aroma that I believe other chefs tone down. This was excellent and the taste of the Marsala really made the dish. We will return for more dinners as long as whoever is in the kitchen remains in this kitchen. Good job all around.
(4)Mary P.
If you are looking for authentic Italian its not here. The food was good but not great and the service was mediocre. The restaurant and restroom was clean though. And the prices are decent.
(3)Becca R.
Really 3.5 stars if I was allowed. Been to Tino's twice in a two year period, it's good, but not great (hence the year long gap before returning). They have a nice selection for their pick your own pasta, sauce, meat, and vegetable. Creamy sauces and "fancy" vegetables (like mushrooms?) are .99 extra. I got angel hair with the diavolo sauce, artichoke hearts and kalmata olives. A great flavorful combination. You get complimentary bread and olive oil to dip in. Side salads are $2.99 more to add to an entree. So if you aren't careful it could add up. I always see coupons, so remember to bring one with you.
(3)stewie h.
chicken was very dry and had a strange texture to it. Pasta sauce was too sweet with sugar. do they do that in italy? bottled salad dressing. That is not olive oil for the bread dipping! So if you need a quick bite to eat and you dont want to impress anybody or yourself this is the place to go. Otherwise make real italian food at home. its fresher and made with love there.
(2)Scott S.
We've had several things at Tino's and everything has been excellent.
(5)D M.
I have really enjoyed every dish, salad, etc., that I have ordered in my many visits to dine in and carry out at Tino's. My only negative is that, while they do offer gluten free penne, they charge an extra $3.00 it, which seem a little high.
(4)Jennifer J.
I had a great experience at Tino's; it combines two of my favorite things-- Italian food and wine bars!! The restaurant hasn't been around very long, so everything looked clean and new. Rachael was an awesome server-- enthusiastic, knowledgeable, but not smothering. We had a nice conversation, and I noticed her chatting up her other tables as well-- it was nice to see a server actually ENJOY their work and WANT to be there! I decided to try the peach sangria, based on Rachael's recommendation, and was VERY impressed! The mozzarella fritti was great, as were my spaghetti and meatballs-- an all-around great, relaxed, affordable, Italian meal! I highly recommend it.
(5)Marcy L.
Wow - I'm shocked at all the poor reviews! This is not only my and my family's favorite Italian restaurant but it is one of our top two restauarants overall! We really liked it when it used to be Strapazza and were thrilled to find out that the new owner kept the same head chef. The atmosphere is much nicer after the renovations and I think the food is even better. Their minestrone is awesome - so thick it is more like a stew than a soup. Every entree we've had has been great. I always get the seafood Mare Bella. Lots of shrimp and scallops, cooked perfectly in a light tomato broth. Their chicken dishes (Chicken Vesuvio, Chicken Cacciatore) are so good with the most tender chicken breast pieces. I NEVER eat chicken in a restauarant because I am always disappointed in the quality but at Tino's it is amazing. We have also used them for catering for large parties and the quality is just as good for the large pans as it is for individually prepared entrees in the restaurant. My only complaint is that the service is sometimes too fast. I don't like when they bring the entree just as we are finishing or before we have finished our appetizers. Last time we were there we were catching up with old friends so we asked the waiter to space out the dishes and the service was perfect for us.
(5)Mary Ann M.
Love it! Have been here 5 or 6 times since Tino's opened and every experience was great. Even had a good size family party here on a Sunday, late afternoon and couldn't have been happier. Food is terrific and the owner, Chris, is so down to earth and friendly. One of the best bartenders in town, too!!! You gotta give this place a try.
(5)Moses C.
This place is great! I read the last review and have a completely different view of the service. I guess it depends on how you treat them. I usually go there during lunch and everything comes out fast and hot. You absolutely get your value here!
(4)Rick G.
In the mood for some casual Italian with generous dose of class? Tino's fits the bill perfectly. The atmosphere is cozy and great for a family or a date night. We started with Mozzarella Fritti. It's presentation came as a surprise. Plenty for two or just enough for three. I won't spoil the quaintness. My wife had the Chicken Alfredo, one of her standby favorites at a new place. The sauce was the best she's had in a long time but the chicken was bland. Trying some, I knew it was baked but it tasted like it was boiled. I tried the Chicken Florentine. The sauce and angel hair pasta was great but the chicken was unseasoned. We opted to share a dish of creme brûlée. The crust was barely caramelized and the texture wasn't as smooth as I was anticipating. But it grew on us. This place always fills the shopping center with amazing aromas and there was a dish being prepared after we finished our desert that smelled amazing. Definitely worth trying, again!
(4)Jessica C.
Tonight we ordered a couple of pizzas for delivery, and this was our first time doing so from here. Ordinarily we order from somewhere else but we recently had a pretty good dinner from Tino's and wanted to see how the pizza would stack up. I ordered the small white pizza without broccoli. I love that it was thin crust and wasn't very greasy at all. The flavor wasn't entirely there, though. It's hard to pin down what exactly was missing, but it was almost like the cheese flavor was barely there, which makes little to no sense with a white pie. My fiance and his friend ordered a large ultimate meat pizza, which came with pepperoni, ham, bacon, ground beef, sausage, and mozzarella cheese. They did NOT seem to skimp on the meat, and the large was HUGE. It puts most other large pies to shame! Delivery was quick, even on a Friday night. The restaurant did forget to give the driver our apartment number, though, so we had a little bit of a delay there (not a big deal). Overall pretty good pizza, and we'll probably order from here again. But I would recommend going to Tino's for the entrees and standard Italian fare even more.
(3)Mike M.
We just arrived in from out of town for wedding, on a tight schedule and needed a good dinnr. I read all the good reviews and saw the extensive menu on Tino's website, so this looked like the perfect match. Our friendly waiter Dan, quickly got us set up with a couple of glasses of wine. My wife ordered the chicken & broccoli in a rose sauce, I had my own personal , " make your own" pasta dish, with linguine, diavalo sauce, sauted calamari, banana peppers & onions. We both loved our dishes, cooked to perfection. The overall atmosphere was casual, classy contemporary, with very comfortable seating. We were very pleased with our pick & would highly recommend Tino's for a great Italian meal.
(5)Tamika A.
This was my first time at the restaurant. It was truly amazing! The food was delicious and the service was great! The owner came out to say hello since we were first time patrons. Pasta was delicious, portions are large, and so affordable! My husband and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Robert M.
Had seen this place mentioned in a few places as being very good. It didn't disappoint. Service was very good, portions were large, and, most importantly, the food was very good. We will be back.
(4)