The atmosphere is nice but that's about it. The food was bland and the service from our waitress was equally bland and uninspired. I'll pass next time.
(2)
Adrienne R.
A friend and I went to Pietro's last night for dinner and had a great experience. Our waitress was very friendly, knowledgeable and gave wonderful recommendations. In addition, the food (I got the corkscrew pasta with rosemary chicken) was delicious and came out quickly. It's definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in the area!
(5)
Dan B.
Was not sure what we were going to get this past weekend with the family in town and their favorite Maginamos closed on New Year's Day. Pietro's was a pretty good alternative, the interior and feel you get from the place was great. The flatbread pizza w/ caramelized onion appetizer was the highlight for most of our party, others commented that the olive oil was better than average but I think olive oil is olive oil. Another runny red sauce came with my create your own pasta dish but not the biggest deal, the meatballs were good. Others commented that they liked the chicken michael and some chicken alfredo sauce dish. It looked like a great place for large groups, had round tables in the back that looked like they could seat 12-15 and some longer tables that seat 6-8 no problem. Sometimes that is hard to find. We will keep it on the list like one earlier reviewer said, it's a nice change from the Olive Garden/Carrabas of the world to try how someone else does it. I love me the chains because you know exactly what you are getting every time, never disappointed but you never know what's out there if you don't try something new from time to time.
(4)
Rhonda M.
ok. canaloni was tasty and just the right size for lunch. iced tea was not good. my sister said she was a little underwhelmed with her salad and alfredo michael pasta. great service.
(3)
Rebecca S.
Food is good. Service is sooooo bad that it ruins it. We waited over a half an hour for someone to take our order when dining out with two young children. If we knew the area better we would have left and gone somewhere else. When the food finally came out our meals came before the kids food and the appetizer. The food was also not what we ordered but we ate it anyway because it took so freaking long. We noticed the tables around us also complaining about how absurdly long it took. Note to waitstaff: When you are double or triple seated, you don't complain about it, you treat it as one big table (take everyone's order at once, etc.).
(2)
Steven H.
This is my favorite Italian Restaurant in Grand Rapids. From the outside it does look a little dirty, but inside, it has a really cool look (and it isn't dirty). Lots of wood inside and tile floors, they try really hard to make it look like Italy. The food is also really good. They have a wide variety of foods from all over Italy and are reasonably priced. The waiters are always very helpful and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend this to anyone who is tired of eating at the Olive Garden or Carrabba's.
(4)
Jonathan J.
i have had 2 experiences here and they all have been terrible. most recent was with a group we had reservations for and it was the worst dining trip i've had. This place will never see my business again
(1)
Jonathan M.
Surprised by the negative reviews, as I've been here numerous times with friends or family, and always had a good experience. In fact, my parents have frequently requested Pietro's when visiting. The restaurant in the front tries for a rustic look, and is a little dark yet clean, while there is a more laid back pizza parlor attached at the back. You'll find your standard italian-american fare, along with a few more creative options. The chicken with gorgonzola cream sauce is a personal favorite!
The meatballs are one of the best foods that I have ever tasted. I would kill for that recipe!
(5)
David D.
The Fettuccine Michael was excellent. My wife enjoyed her dish as well. I like cheese in the olive oil for my bread, the waiter ran out and couldn't be bothered to return with more, thus the three stars.
(3)
Kelly R.
Disappointing. Based on the reviews, we were definitely expecting better. My biggest pet peeve is when you walk into or leave a business and there are a few employees standing around chatting, yet none of them say hello or goodbye. That's what happened when we left. The meatball ricotta appetizer was amazing! The house salads were also great, and it was apparent that the dressing was homemade. I had the chicken Parmesan and it was just okay. The pasta was overcooked, the sauce was bland. The chicken was tender though and the breading was good. It came with a veggie medley which wasn't my fav combination, but it was okay. He had the lasagna. It was awful. It was served cold, in fact, so cold, the Parmesan cheese didn't even remotely melt. We sent it back and they re-fired it. It was disappointing at best. The lasagna noodles were waterlogged, and there was barely any stuffing to it. Lots of pasta noodles, little meat, little cheese. We opted out of dessert. Our server was good, it just seems like the kitchen needs improvement. This wasn't worth writing home to mom about.
(2)
Danna W.
Went here for a friend's birthday and received awesome service! But the food.... Well.... It was lacking :-( others with me thought their meals were ok, but we all agreed that we expected more flavor ... My food was bland :-( and then the salt shaker spilled all over because the cap was not fastened. They replaced my meal but when I got the replacement it was seriously overcooked! I paid $17 for salmon jerky (it was that overdone) .... Not going back :-(
(2)
Sandy S.
Our first visit to Pietro's will not be our last. We enjoyed a delicious lunch with plenty of food after church on a Sunday. The restaurant wasn't very busy yet, so it was quiet and we could talk easily with our group.
(3)
Gracie M.
I just attended a dance event here and the owner was a complete asshole. We were from out of town and visiting specifically for this event tonight. I don't know his name but he needs to check his attitude and learn how to conduct a professional business. I have no intention of ever returning to Pietros's.
(1)
Deb Z.
I hadn't been to this restaurant in awhile, I had a gift card. I really think it is over priced, about 8 cars in the parking lot, so we went in. Hostess Stephanie thought she was a little bit and more. I asked for a larger booth or table and she said they were all the same, so we (3 of us adults) were a bit cramped. There were so many empty tables and booths.???? But hang on, we had Jenn as our server, she was a 10, deserved 5 stars all on her own. food was great, we had a great time, in spite of the hostess. Next time ask or demand a bigger table, and ask for Jenn!!
(4)
Maurice F.
Our waitress was never at our table she would go and disappear for 20 minute intervals, our table of 4 was busy enough but did not interest her. I'm sure it was just an off day, the food is always great here, the appetizer is one of my favorites, the family atmosphere is very present here. Prices are about mid-range but it's borderline "alright" food.
(3)
Dominique K.
We went here with a family group on Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving). We had a reservation for about 10 of us and ate at a high-top table in the bar. Pietro's has been here for as long as I can remember, and I'm surprised we haven't been here in the past as we've usually been in GRap at least once or twice a year over the years...and even more frequently in the past year as Tim's parents moved out there. Decent Italian-style food, wine list and a beer list featuring a good selection of local brews. Waiter knew the beer and wine list well and recommended an IPA to accompany my linguine with white clam sauce. Tim had a pasta dish with red sauce with sausage that he liked, and my linguine with clams (featured a few whole clams on top of the pasta with more clam meat in the sauce as well) was good and plentiful enough that I had a small lunch-size portion of leftovers to take home with me. Server was Charlie, who handed our large party efficiently and with good humor.
(4)
Julie K.
Love it here! So hard to find family owned now a days where they actually put love in their food, not corporate bull shit. My mother and I always rave about this place, the best staff always friendly and on their feet, and food is amazing. For the price, would rather go here a million times rather than Olive Garden or uccellos for that matter.
(5)
Kelly B.
We have not been to Pietros in some time. We ordered the calamari as we had in the past this time it was frozen rings with a watered down ketchup sauce. The Caesar salads used to have a rich creamy sauce again it was watered down and blah. Our entrees Fettuccine Michael and Lobster Ravioli were good. Our poor waiter Brian had all the tables 6-7 at 2:00 in the afternoon but he was not in a hurry for anyone. This place used to be so good next time we will go to Carrabbas.
Four went for dinner, everyone enjoyed their meals.
(4)
Amy M.
I would say the meal I had here was just ok. It has been quite some time since I have been to Pietros and quite frankly it was likely the back door I went to last. Some friends got a deal on this 5 course meal - it's on the menu for $20 per person with optional upgrades - but she won them in some auction. She had 2 coupons for 4 so there were 8 of us total. We happened to split so that 4 girls at one table & 4 guys at the other with the tables pushed together. The way the coupon works is you pick 2 appetizers, 2 salads, 2 pastas, 2 entrees & 2 desserts. We had thought it was per table but it turned out since we were all together the 8 of us had to agree on 2 in each option. That was a bit of a bummer but we managed. It is also all you can eat so if you like something you just ask for more and they bring it. We started out with artichoke dip & spring rolls. I thought both were just ok. Everyone else was with was just crazy for the spring rolls. I thought they were a tad spicy too which I wasn't expecting and the plum sauce they came with was tasty. I think we asked for about 5 orders overall!! The bread with the artichoke dip was inconsistent. Some was hard, some was soft. We had 2 orders of the dip. We chose Caesar & Cobb for the salads. I only had the Caesar. Nothing special about it, just a salad. I was told the Cobb was decent as well. I think we had 2 orders of each salad. For the pasta course we had fettuccine alfredo & manicotti marinara. The alfredo sauce was bland and I didn't even eat the full scoop I took. The manicotti was probably my favorite dish of all we had and to be honest it was just good, nothing special. We had 3 fettuccine - one ended up not being eaten and 3 orders of the manicotti. It was mini manicotti, like 1 1/2 - 2" long each. For entrees we had salmon & rosemary chicken. I only tried the chicken. I honestly felt like it was chicken from one of those frozen bags you see in the grocery store. One of the people at the table said the salmon was just barely cooked - almost undercooked but the others seemed to like it. For dessert we chose chocolate spumoni & New York Cheesecake w/ strawberries. The spumoni comes with pralines and when the waiter overheard that one member on our party couldn't eat nuts her brought her a single without nuts & on our 2nd plate he left them off entirely. The cheesecake option was a $1 upcharge per person and they were literally just bite sized pieces. I was kinda meh about our server. He joked a bit which was nice but he was kind of forgetful and when we asked for more of a certain dish he seemed a bit put out and said the kitchen was talking about what big eaters we were. In a way that didn't seem joking. When one person asked for 2 orders of the spring rolls he said they could only put in 1 order at a time and looked at us like gluttons. So what if we are? We paid, we were out to try the food and have fun. Bottom line is overall it was good, nothing I will dream about though.
(2)
David B.
Great experience. The food was very good. They accommodated special requests and our server was friendly and attentive. The food was hot and delivered in a very acceptable time frame.
(4)
Deelilah J.
Ok service and food, some items are good and some just ok. The type of place you go to because you and likely your family and friends have always gone. It's not bad with solid food and service. But if you're thinking, this is our one night to eat out I probably would pass. If you're thinking, hmm you hungry? What's close, go for it. The pizza has that fresh tomato sauce taste unlike a lot of pizza places that taste greasy and a lot like cheese which I prefer sometimes.
(3)
Annie N.
Pietro's is a real hit or miss restraurant. The frist time I was there - I had the best service I've ever experience. The second time I was there, I had the worst service I've ever experienced. The waitress forgot about us, gave us the wrong items (twice), and mis-billed us. The food is pretty good. They have some good deals.
(3)
Lexie V.
My husband and i used to eat here all the time when we lived in MI! We love this place and crave it so much. The bread and oil is delicious. Ive tried many different things on there menu are good. Some of my favorites are chicken marsala, lobster ravioli and the dried cherry salad. Good eat. Not badly priced. Must try, you will not be disappointed!
(5)
Kevin B.
The service was really slow and forgetful. Establishment was not handicap accessible at all. We tried a standard pepperoni pizza with Sicilian crust and it was not that great. Very little sauce and they didn't use real pepperoni... totally store bought.
(2)
Jabez G.
This place was not that bad a couple of years ago. My last visit this year though was a joke. Nothing seems to be made with care. They have a good deal but I'd rather pay a little extra for food that doesn't look like it'll kill me. The service also seems to be a hit or a miss. So go at your own risk. If you find yourself having a good experience, enjoy the rarity. I'd rather opt for Uccellos.
(1)
Bryan F.
Dinners great. To go pick up only pizza I expected a great pie and it's was a bit disappointing...
(3)
Cici F.
Other reviews had us skeptical to try pietros but wow were they wrong! Our server was very attentive and friendly. He was very helpful in deciding what to order for dinner and everything came out in a timely manner. Food was good, service was excellent!
(5)
John L.
Pietro's is always a great choice for affordable Italian food in Grand Rapids. Chef Ernesto has been here for over 20 years and it shows in the food quality. We had a pizza party here last Saturday night. I was the host for 8 guests that had not dined at Pietro's in many years. I am a semi regular as my business is very close by. They were all impressed to say the least. The salad, bread sticks, desserts and of course the pizza were all wonderful. They have catered events for my business too and all of my employee's love it! Make sure that you talk to the day manager Paula as she is the second biggest reason (after the food) that we keep returning to this great long time dining establishment.
(4)
Terri H.
December 2011 we came here for a work-Christmas party. We had been here the year before and everyone enjoyed their meals so we thought we would try it again, big mistake. We had 14 people so we had a "room" in the Backdoor Pizzeria. My food came out hot but a few of the others had, just warm food. Maybe it's hard to time everyone's meals to come out hot? Then came the big surprise of the night. Little did we know that at 9pm if we declined to pay a "cover charge" of $5 per person we would have to leave because salsa dancing was getting started! One look at us and the other "Christmas party" going on in the "room" next to us and you would have to know we are NOT SALSA DANCERS. So we chose to leave. Then we were told we COULD NOT leave out the back door, we had to walk up through to the front of the restaurant and around. (my dad had back surgery a short time ago, so we parked the cars by the back door on purpose.) Didn't mind doing that but the women who told us that could have been a little nicer and not yelled at us for trying to leave out the back door. Sorry we won't be back.
(1)
Emily W.
My family loves Pietro's. For one, they have a gluten-free menu, so my mother-in-law is never hurting to find something to eat. They also have awesome and inexpensive drinks! Regina's Weakness is great for women and their fettucini alfredo is great. If you go in on your birthday (has to be on the day though, not the day after or the day before) you can get a free fettucini micheal. They always give great service and we have never had a bad experience. It's our go-to date place. Usually quiet enough for a romantic dinner. If you want an even cozier experience, sit in the back bar area.
(5)
Tommy G.
I sat in the bar areaand had the ceaser salad, very good. As my entree i had the lobster rav. A little rich but very good.
(3)
Ashley S.
Pietro's is a popular spot in the Grand Rapids area and we have eaten there a few times before. I have never been amazed by the place, and this time was no exception. We went around 4:30pm so we had the restaurant to ourselves but the waiter seemed pretty flustered by such a large party of people. It took a while to get drinks and bread-- but I figure they don't usually get much business at such a weird hour on a Thursday so I won't hold that against them. My husband ordered a trio of a chicken parmesan, cheese enchilada and fettuccine dish. I tasted the chicken and wanted to puke. It was nasty, and I mean NASTY. Think middle school lunch line status. The cheese enchilada was in a pool of fat and butter and I wanted to throw up looking at it. His noodles weren't cooked all the way through and overall he gave his dish a 3/10. I ordered the Lobster Ravioli and devoured it. I loved every bit of it, I thought it was perfect and creamy and the large chunks of lobster didn't hurt either. I thought my meal was a 9/10! I asked around the table and it seemed like everyones dishes were either a hit or complete MISS. This has been our experience in the past at this place, and its such a shame because Grand Rapids doesn't have many non-chain restaurants. If I could make a suggestion, I think they should cut down their large menu and focus on making a small number of options fantastic instead of having a large selection of mediocre stuff. I am not sure if we would choose to go back to Pietro's on our own after a handful of experiences like this. Full review with more photos here: comeoneileen86.blogspot.…
(1)
B L.
We went to Pietro's on a whim. With all the new restaurants popping up in Grand Rapids, we tend to overlook the long standing Pietro's. It was quite busy when we arrived, but only had to wait a couple of minutes to be seated. Our waitress was extremely sweet and very nice. A few hiccups along the way, but she was new and again busy, so it was understandable. Salads and entrees were great and the prices still very reasonable. We'll certainly be back!
(4)
e r.
Let's just say... they provided the free birthday meal we would pay to NOT have. We don't know what happened but the food and service was unacceptable It is one of the worst dining experiences that we've had. The food did not taste fresh AT ALL and we had to send some back because we felt it was spoiled. The service was very poor and slow. We have ate here in the past, but now we will not be going back. Our breakfast at Denny's was better than this.
(1)
Becky D.
I've had food from here four or five times. Once it was ick, like poorly cooked pizza dough, twice the food was just wow this is not that good. The minestrone tasted like it was something from Gordon's Foods and my pasta sauce was bland. But once it was amazing. (Thankfully it was for my rehearsal dinner as well.) The rosemary chicken was well cooked, and light. The fettuccine alfredo was tasty, not too creamy and heavy. Which was surprising. The only thing I didn't really enjoy that meal was the tiramisu. It had almost an honeydew like aftertaste. I love tiramisu, so it was a disappointment. Besides the tasty meal all the other times we ordered take out from the "backdoor" or ate in that more casual area. I'm not sure if that changes what you get quality wise. Mostly Pietro's suffers from the Grand Rapids land of bland syndrome, but I would give them another try.
(3)
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Address :2780 Birchcrest Dr SE
Grand Rapids, MI, 49506
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Toby K.
The atmosphere is nice but that's about it. The food was bland and the service from our waitress was equally bland and uninspired. I'll pass next time.
(2)Adrienne R.
A friend and I went to Pietro's last night for dinner and had a great experience. Our waitress was very friendly, knowledgeable and gave wonderful recommendations. In addition, the food (I got the corkscrew pasta with rosemary chicken) was delicious and came out quickly. It's definitely one of the best Italian restaurants in the area!
(5)Dan B.
Was not sure what we were going to get this past weekend with the family in town and their favorite Maginamos closed on New Year's Day. Pietro's was a pretty good alternative, the interior and feel you get from the place was great. The flatbread pizza w/ caramelized onion appetizer was the highlight for most of our party, others commented that the olive oil was better than average but I think olive oil is olive oil. Another runny red sauce came with my create your own pasta dish but not the biggest deal, the meatballs were good. Others commented that they liked the chicken michael and some chicken alfredo sauce dish. It looked like a great place for large groups, had round tables in the back that looked like they could seat 12-15 and some longer tables that seat 6-8 no problem. Sometimes that is hard to find. We will keep it on the list like one earlier reviewer said, it's a nice change from the Olive Garden/Carrabas of the world to try how someone else does it. I love me the chains because you know exactly what you are getting every time, never disappointed but you never know what's out there if you don't try something new from time to time.
(4)Rhonda M.
ok. canaloni was tasty and just the right size for lunch. iced tea was not good. my sister said she was a little underwhelmed with her salad and alfredo michael pasta. great service.
(3)Rebecca S.
Food is good. Service is sooooo bad that it ruins it. We waited over a half an hour for someone to take our order when dining out with two young children. If we knew the area better we would have left and gone somewhere else. When the food finally came out our meals came before the kids food and the appetizer. The food was also not what we ordered but we ate it anyway because it took so freaking long. We noticed the tables around us also complaining about how absurdly long it took. Note to waitstaff: When you are double or triple seated, you don't complain about it, you treat it as one big table (take everyone's order at once, etc.).
(2)Steven H.
This is my favorite Italian Restaurant in Grand Rapids. From the outside it does look a little dirty, but inside, it has a really cool look (and it isn't dirty). Lots of wood inside and tile floors, they try really hard to make it look like Italy. The food is also really good. They have a wide variety of foods from all over Italy and are reasonably priced. The waiters are always very helpful and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend this to anyone who is tired of eating at the Olive Garden or Carrabba's.
(4)Jonathan J.
i have had 2 experiences here and they all have been terrible. most recent was with a group we had reservations for and it was the worst dining trip i've had. This place will never see my business again
(1)Jonathan M.
Surprised by the negative reviews, as I've been here numerous times with friends or family, and always had a good experience. In fact, my parents have frequently requested Pietro's when visiting. The restaurant in the front tries for a rustic look, and is a little dark yet clean, while there is a more laid back pizza parlor attached at the back. You'll find your standard italian-american fare, along with a few more creative options. The chicken with gorgonzola cream sauce is a personal favorite!
(4)Sheryl R.
We eat there about 6 times a year. Favorite of my fiancé's adult son and I am always happy to eat there too. They added a soup bar....the soups I've tried were excellent! I want the recipes! Took friends there and they loved the traditional flavors and ambience. Our servers have been outstanding and their wheat knot rolls are to envy! Add a little grated cheese and black pepper to your Evoo dipping oil. Prices are very reasonable. Recommend you try this hidden gem but you might want to avoid the Mystery theatre dinner nights.
(4)Brooke E.
The meatballs are one of the best foods that I have ever tasted. I would kill for that recipe!
(5)David D.
The Fettuccine Michael was excellent. My wife enjoyed her dish as well. I like cheese in the olive oil for my bread, the waiter ran out and couldn't be bothered to return with more, thus the three stars.
(3)Kelly R.
Disappointing. Based on the reviews, we were definitely expecting better. My biggest pet peeve is when you walk into or leave a business and there are a few employees standing around chatting, yet none of them say hello or goodbye. That's what happened when we left. The meatball ricotta appetizer was amazing! The house salads were also great, and it was apparent that the dressing was homemade. I had the chicken Parmesan and it was just okay. The pasta was overcooked, the sauce was bland. The chicken was tender though and the breading was good. It came with a veggie medley which wasn't my fav combination, but it was okay. He had the lasagna. It was awful. It was served cold, in fact, so cold, the Parmesan cheese didn't even remotely melt. We sent it back and they re-fired it. It was disappointing at best. The lasagna noodles were waterlogged, and there was barely any stuffing to it. Lots of pasta noodles, little meat, little cheese. We opted out of dessert. Our server was good, it just seems like the kitchen needs improvement. This wasn't worth writing home to mom about.
(2)Danna W.
Went here for a friend's birthday and received awesome service! But the food.... Well.... It was lacking :-( others with me thought their meals were ok, but we all agreed that we expected more flavor ... My food was bland :-( and then the salt shaker spilled all over because the cap was not fastened. They replaced my meal but when I got the replacement it was seriously overcooked! I paid $17 for salmon jerky (it was that overdone) .... Not going back :-(
(2)Sandy S.
Our first visit to Pietro's will not be our last. We enjoyed a delicious lunch with plenty of food after church on a Sunday. The restaurant wasn't very busy yet, so it was quiet and we could talk easily with our group.
(3)Gracie M.
I just attended a dance event here and the owner was a complete asshole. We were from out of town and visiting specifically for this event tonight. I don't know his name but he needs to check his attitude and learn how to conduct a professional business. I have no intention of ever returning to Pietros's.
(1)Deb Z.
I hadn't been to this restaurant in awhile, I had a gift card. I really think it is over priced, about 8 cars in the parking lot, so we went in. Hostess Stephanie thought she was a little bit and more. I asked for a larger booth or table and she said they were all the same, so we (3 of us adults) were a bit cramped. There were so many empty tables and booths.???? But hang on, we had Jenn as our server, she was a 10, deserved 5 stars all on her own. food was great, we had a great time, in spite of the hostess. Next time ask or demand a bigger table, and ask for Jenn!!
(4)Maurice F.
Our waitress was never at our table she would go and disappear for 20 minute intervals, our table of 4 was busy enough but did not interest her. I'm sure it was just an off day, the food is always great here, the appetizer is one of my favorites, the family atmosphere is very present here. Prices are about mid-range but it's borderline "alright" food.
(3)Dominique K.
We went here with a family group on Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving). We had a reservation for about 10 of us and ate at a high-top table in the bar. Pietro's has been here for as long as I can remember, and I'm surprised we haven't been here in the past as we've usually been in GRap at least once or twice a year over the years...and even more frequently in the past year as Tim's parents moved out there. Decent Italian-style food, wine list and a beer list featuring a good selection of local brews. Waiter knew the beer and wine list well and recommended an IPA to accompany my linguine with white clam sauce. Tim had a pasta dish with red sauce with sausage that he liked, and my linguine with clams (featured a few whole clams on top of the pasta with more clam meat in the sauce as well) was good and plentiful enough that I had a small lunch-size portion of leftovers to take home with me. Server was Charlie, who handed our large party efficiently and with good humor.
(4)Julie K.
Love it here! So hard to find family owned now a days where they actually put love in their food, not corporate bull shit. My mother and I always rave about this place, the best staff always friendly and on their feet, and food is amazing. For the price, would rather go here a million times rather than Olive Garden or uccellos for that matter.
(5)Kelly B.
We have not been to Pietros in some time. We ordered the calamari as we had in the past this time it was frozen rings with a watered down ketchup sauce. The Caesar salads used to have a rich creamy sauce again it was watered down and blah. Our entrees Fettuccine Michael and Lobster Ravioli were good. Our poor waiter Brian had all the tables 6-7 at 2:00 in the afternoon but he was not in a hurry for anyone. This place used to be so good next time we will go to Carrabbas.
(3)Richard T.
Really good service and meals. On several visits through the years, we've found a consistency that keeps us revisiting this establishment. The salads are fresh and feature an Italian influence. For an entrée, the Clams Linguini in white (wine) sauce is superb with fresh clams, appropriate seasoning, al dente linguini, milled at the table Parmesan cheese and, of course, their freshly baked breadsticks. Minor note - on occasion, the sauce tends to be a little thin and "Soupy." A variety of Italian style deserts are offered including traditional ices and tiramisu (our fav). Conveniently located with ample parking. Reservations are available.
(4)Norm E.
Four went for dinner, everyone enjoyed their meals.
(4)Amy M.
I would say the meal I had here was just ok. It has been quite some time since I have been to Pietros and quite frankly it was likely the back door I went to last. Some friends got a deal on this 5 course meal - it's on the menu for $20 per person with optional upgrades - but she won them in some auction. She had 2 coupons for 4 so there were 8 of us total. We happened to split so that 4 girls at one table & 4 guys at the other with the tables pushed together. The way the coupon works is you pick 2 appetizers, 2 salads, 2 pastas, 2 entrees & 2 desserts. We had thought it was per table but it turned out since we were all together the 8 of us had to agree on 2 in each option. That was a bit of a bummer but we managed. It is also all you can eat so if you like something you just ask for more and they bring it. We started out with artichoke dip & spring rolls. I thought both were just ok. Everyone else was with was just crazy for the spring rolls. I thought they were a tad spicy too which I wasn't expecting and the plum sauce they came with was tasty. I think we asked for about 5 orders overall!! The bread with the artichoke dip was inconsistent. Some was hard, some was soft. We had 2 orders of the dip. We chose Caesar & Cobb for the salads. I only had the Caesar. Nothing special about it, just a salad. I was told the Cobb was decent as well. I think we had 2 orders of each salad. For the pasta course we had fettuccine alfredo & manicotti marinara. The alfredo sauce was bland and I didn't even eat the full scoop I took. The manicotti was probably my favorite dish of all we had and to be honest it was just good, nothing special. We had 3 fettuccine - one ended up not being eaten and 3 orders of the manicotti. It was mini manicotti, like 1 1/2 - 2" long each. For entrees we had salmon & rosemary chicken. I only tried the chicken. I honestly felt like it was chicken from one of those frozen bags you see in the grocery store. One of the people at the table said the salmon was just barely cooked - almost undercooked but the others seemed to like it. For dessert we chose chocolate spumoni & New York Cheesecake w/ strawberries. The spumoni comes with pralines and when the waiter overheard that one member on our party couldn't eat nuts her brought her a single without nuts & on our 2nd plate he left them off entirely. The cheesecake option was a $1 upcharge per person and they were literally just bite sized pieces. I was kinda meh about our server. He joked a bit which was nice but he was kind of forgetful and when we asked for more of a certain dish he seemed a bit put out and said the kitchen was talking about what big eaters we were. In a way that didn't seem joking. When one person asked for 2 orders of the spring rolls he said they could only put in 1 order at a time and looked at us like gluttons. So what if we are? We paid, we were out to try the food and have fun. Bottom line is overall it was good, nothing I will dream about though.
(2)David B.
Great experience. The food was very good. They accommodated special requests and our server was friendly and attentive. The food was hot and delivered in a very acceptable time frame.
(4)Deelilah J.
Ok service and food, some items are good and some just ok. The type of place you go to because you and likely your family and friends have always gone. It's not bad with solid food and service. But if you're thinking, this is our one night to eat out I probably would pass. If you're thinking, hmm you hungry? What's close, go for it. The pizza has that fresh tomato sauce taste unlike a lot of pizza places that taste greasy and a lot like cheese which I prefer sometimes.
(3)Annie N.
Pietro's is a real hit or miss restraurant. The frist time I was there - I had the best service I've ever experience. The second time I was there, I had the worst service I've ever experienced. The waitress forgot about us, gave us the wrong items (twice), and mis-billed us. The food is pretty good. They have some good deals.
(3)Lexie V.
My husband and i used to eat here all the time when we lived in MI! We love this place and crave it so much. The bread and oil is delicious. Ive tried many different things on there menu are good. Some of my favorites are chicken marsala, lobster ravioli and the dried cherry salad. Good eat. Not badly priced. Must try, you will not be disappointed!
(5)Kevin B.
The service was really slow and forgetful. Establishment was not handicap accessible at all. We tried a standard pepperoni pizza with Sicilian crust and it was not that great. Very little sauce and they didn't use real pepperoni... totally store bought.
(2)Jabez G.
This place was not that bad a couple of years ago. My last visit this year though was a joke. Nothing seems to be made with care. They have a good deal but I'd rather pay a little extra for food that doesn't look like it'll kill me. The service also seems to be a hit or a miss. So go at your own risk. If you find yourself having a good experience, enjoy the rarity. I'd rather opt for Uccellos.
(1)Bryan F.
Dinners great. To go pick up only pizza I expected a great pie and it's was a bit disappointing...
(3)Cici F.
Other reviews had us skeptical to try pietros but wow were they wrong! Our server was very attentive and friendly. He was very helpful in deciding what to order for dinner and everything came out in a timely manner. Food was good, service was excellent!
(5)John L.
Pietro's is always a great choice for affordable Italian food in Grand Rapids. Chef Ernesto has been here for over 20 years and it shows in the food quality. We had a pizza party here last Saturday night. I was the host for 8 guests that had not dined at Pietro's in many years. I am a semi regular as my business is very close by. They were all impressed to say the least. The salad, bread sticks, desserts and of course the pizza were all wonderful. They have catered events for my business too and all of my employee's love it! Make sure that you talk to the day manager Paula as she is the second biggest reason (after the food) that we keep returning to this great long time dining establishment.
(4)Terri H.
December 2011 we came here for a work-Christmas party. We had been here the year before and everyone enjoyed their meals so we thought we would try it again, big mistake. We had 14 people so we had a "room" in the Backdoor Pizzeria. My food came out hot but a few of the others had, just warm food. Maybe it's hard to time everyone's meals to come out hot? Then came the big surprise of the night. Little did we know that at 9pm if we declined to pay a "cover charge" of $5 per person we would have to leave because salsa dancing was getting started! One look at us and the other "Christmas party" going on in the "room" next to us and you would have to know we are NOT SALSA DANCERS. So we chose to leave. Then we were told we COULD NOT leave out the back door, we had to walk up through to the front of the restaurant and around. (my dad had back surgery a short time ago, so we parked the cars by the back door on purpose.) Didn't mind doing that but the women who told us that could have been a little nicer and not yelled at us for trying to leave out the back door. Sorry we won't be back.
(1)Emily W.
My family loves Pietro's. For one, they have a gluten-free menu, so my mother-in-law is never hurting to find something to eat. They also have awesome and inexpensive drinks! Regina's Weakness is great for women and their fettucini alfredo is great. If you go in on your birthday (has to be on the day though, not the day after or the day before) you can get a free fettucini micheal. They always give great service and we have never had a bad experience. It's our go-to date place. Usually quiet enough for a romantic dinner. If you want an even cozier experience, sit in the back bar area.
(5)Tommy G.
I sat in the bar areaand had the ceaser salad, very good. As my entree i had the lobster rav. A little rich but very good.
(3)Ashley S.
Pietro's is a popular spot in the Grand Rapids area and we have eaten there a few times before. I have never been amazed by the place, and this time was no exception. We went around 4:30pm so we had the restaurant to ourselves but the waiter seemed pretty flustered by such a large party of people. It took a while to get drinks and bread-- but I figure they don't usually get much business at such a weird hour on a Thursday so I won't hold that against them. My husband ordered a trio of a chicken parmesan, cheese enchilada and fettuccine dish. I tasted the chicken and wanted to puke. It was nasty, and I mean NASTY. Think middle school lunch line status. The cheese enchilada was in a pool of fat and butter and I wanted to throw up looking at it. His noodles weren't cooked all the way through and overall he gave his dish a 3/10. I ordered the Lobster Ravioli and devoured it. I loved every bit of it, I thought it was perfect and creamy and the large chunks of lobster didn't hurt either. I thought my meal was a 9/10! I asked around the table and it seemed like everyones dishes were either a hit or complete MISS. This has been our experience in the past at this place, and its such a shame because Grand Rapids doesn't have many non-chain restaurants. If I could make a suggestion, I think they should cut down their large menu and focus on making a small number of options fantastic instead of having a large selection of mediocre stuff. I am not sure if we would choose to go back to Pietro's on our own after a handful of experiences like this. Full review with more photos here: comeoneileen86.blogspot.…
(1)B L.
We went to Pietro's on a whim. With all the new restaurants popping up in Grand Rapids, we tend to overlook the long standing Pietro's. It was quite busy when we arrived, but only had to wait a couple of minutes to be seated. Our waitress was extremely sweet and very nice. A few hiccups along the way, but she was new and again busy, so it was understandable. Salads and entrees were great and the prices still very reasonable. We'll certainly be back!
(4)e r.
Let's just say... they provided the free birthday meal we would pay to NOT have. We don't know what happened but the food and service was unacceptable It is one of the worst dining experiences that we've had. The food did not taste fresh AT ALL and we had to send some back because we felt it was spoiled. The service was very poor and slow. We have ate here in the past, but now we will not be going back. Our breakfast at Denny's was better than this.
(1)Becky D.
I've had food from here four or five times. Once it was ick, like poorly cooked pizza dough, twice the food was just wow this is not that good. The minestrone tasted like it was something from Gordon's Foods and my pasta sauce was bland. But once it was amazing. (Thankfully it was for my rehearsal dinner as well.) The rosemary chicken was well cooked, and light. The fettuccine alfredo was tasty, not too creamy and heavy. Which was surprising. The only thing I didn't really enjoy that meal was the tiramisu. It had almost an honeydew like aftertaste. I love tiramisu, so it was a disappointment. Besides the tasty meal all the other times we ordered take out from the "backdoor" or ate in that more casual area. I'm not sure if that changes what you get quality wise. Mostly Pietro's suffers from the Grand Rapids land of bland syndrome, but I would give them another try.
(3)