My wife and I dined here while visiting our daughter at CMU. Although they were obviously busy on a Friday night, we only waited 10 minutes for a table. She has a severe shellfish allergy so we the two of use went to scout them out for her. We asked the waitress how they handle food allergies and were satisfied with her answer. We had a brochette appetizer, a generous portion for two that would have fed four. We were also given a small baguette with a saucer of olive oil and fresh cracked pepper. The baguette had a nice crunch to the crust. They had a fair but not extensive wine selection. My wife had the eggplant parmesan and I ordered a margarita pizza. The waitress suggested the medium pizza, which ended up being a bit too much for me to eat. Not her fault of course, I did ask her opinion. My wife loved the eggplant parmesan. It wasn't smothered and retained the prominent eggplant flavor. The margarita pizza, as most are made in the U.S., had too much cheese and the tomato was not crushed and spread over the crust. They have wood fired pizza ovens and I was expecting a nice bit of char on the crust. But alas, it wasn't. The crust was finished on top, but a bit soft on the bottom. The table next to us ordered lasagna. The portions looked generous and appeared to have a good proportion of cheese, noodle, and sauce. I'd give it a three out of 5 start for the pizza. The eggplant parmesan and prompt friendly service pushes it up to four out of five. We'll be back for more.
(4)
Emily O.
My second time here and was completely disappointed. The chicken Marsala was runny and the chicken tough. I ordered tiramisu for dessert and was less than thrilled when I found it to be stale, as though it had been out for a few days. I realize this is a college town, but the wine list was also less than stellar with only sweet white wines or a Chardonnay. Highly recommend adding a Pinot Grigio or other drier white. My friend ordered eggplant Parmesan and said other slices were too thick, although the vegetables were delicious and cooked perfectly. The service was decent. I'll stick with pizza if I ever come here again.
(2)
Blaise B.
My favorite restaurant in all of Mt. Pleasant :) The bread and dipping oil is great, and the dinners come with soup or salad as well, which is nice. I am a HUGE fan of their ravioli. The best parts are the little touches to this restaurant, though. I love being able to play hangman on the table while waiting for our food (or color, or whatever else you can do with crayons), and I LOVE the foil swans they wrap your food up in. I refuse to eat in Risotto's, the adults-only section, because there is no paper on the tables over there. What's the point? Dates are so much more fun with hangman and tic-tac-toe.
(5)
Amy K.
We were on our way to St Ignace, MI and wanted some pizza. I was not looking for the usual chain places. The inside of the restaurant is nice. It has neat decorations friendly staff. Good salads with bread for dipping in oil. I would go here again if I'm in the area. Good place for children. Very clean. Not bad on cost either two adults one child we ate for under 25.00.
(4)
K B.
Gave it another chance. Caesar salad was wilted and looked like it had been in the refrigerator for a few days. Pizza was so-so and a bit pricey for what it was. Won't be back.
(2)
Todd K.
Italian Oven is a nice Italian place at the end of a strip mall (nicer than it sounds). The decor is Italian-themed and a bit classy (though not pretentious). The food is definitely on the rich side, and I mean that in a good way! Rich and flavorful Italian food is served here by a friendly waitstaff. I recommend the lasagna. CAUTION: The front dining room is often overrun by packs of roving children. There is a glass wall on the front of the kitchen that children are allowed to draw on, so some parents take that as permission to let their children run wild, completely unsupervised (especially near that wall). I love kids, but not in running, screeching packs when I'm trying to eat. Unfortunately, I have never once seen the staff attempt to quiet or control the chaos. Fortunately, the restaurant has an adults-only dining room in back that is significantly more peaceful and conducive to dining. Ask to be seated in the adults-only section, order the lasagna, and you will not be sorry. If you are a parent who doesn't believe in letting your kids go all "Lord of the Flies" while you eat, ask to be seated as far from the pizza oven wall as possible. Italian Oven is currently the best Italian food in town.
(4)
Jere L.
If your in my pleasant this place is a must. Great food and service, my entire family enjoyed this restaurant and the prices were more than fair even with a 25% tip
(5)
Tiffany H.
Basil pesto sauce us amazing!!
(4)
Reanna C.
Been my favorite restaurant in Mt. pleasant since before I can even remember. Wedding soup is on point.
(5)
Tom F.
Do you know where Alma is? I do, about fifteen minutes south on 127. I know this because there aren't any restaurants to take your kid out after an event. My daughter had a performance and we went out to celebrate. She had heard about this restaurant from one of her friends at Alma College. As the waitress came by to tell us she'd be there in a minute she wrote her name on the paper table cloth in crayon. Just like at Macaroni Grill. I'm not big on that aspect because it looks kinda cheesy. I do enjoy the crayons though. I tried the chicken parmisian with meat sauce. It was actually pretty good compared to what I have seen others write about. It was fairly juicy and pretty tasty along side a mound of pasta with meat sauce topping. I got it with a dinner salad with italian dressing. The dressing tasted like it was just poured out of one of those gallon jug dressing you get from the warehouse club. I was hoping for something a little more homemade. The service was good and fast as she kept our drink glasses full. Next time a glass of wine would be good except for the long drive home. We'll probably be back again after our next event gathering.
(4)
Cassie M.
Everything was awesome. The service was fast and friendly, the food tasted great and the wine was fresh and satisfying. It truly is a hidden little gem in Mt Pleasant where most choices consist of college-rated pizza parlors and overrated chain restaurants. I will definitely be coming back to Italian Oven next time I'm here.
(5)
Cynthia D.
If you haven't tried this place in a few years, give it another shot. When we first moved here 10 years ago, I wasn't a fan of the food. But we've gone a few times over the past year, and I've been happy with the quality and the service. Also, it's a great place to take kids -- relaxed and casual. Tuesdays they offer $2 kids' meals, and on select Tuesdays, they host a supervised kids' playroom. Great idea!
(4)
Cheyenne V.
Much better than Olive Garden! I love the pizzas here and the bread with dipping oil is my favorite part of coming here. The atmosphere is so casual and laid back but at the same time perfectly acceptable for a date night or a nice glass of wine. They actually have a private section in back for 18 and up only that is quite fancy with an entirely different menu calls Risotto's. Meatball Sandwich or Calamari with Lemon Aolie are both favorites of ours too.
(4)
R C.
This is our first time visiting this restaurant. The food selection is great, prices are reasonable, and Kendra our server was awesome! Would definitely eat here again...and the rest rooms provide mouth wash for the after garlic meals.
(5)
Cameron E.
My experience with the food was pretty good. We got the appetizer (I forgot what it was called) that involved toasted bread and a dip that was heated by a candle. It tasted amazing. I went ahead and got one of their specialty pizzas since the place is called the Italian OVEN and they cook their pizzas ....well....IN the oven. I was pretty satisfied with it. My girlfriend got the chicken parmesan and was NOT happy. She complained about the dryness and tastelessness of the food. I even thought it was pretty bland and I eat everything. Our servers name was Teresa. She was bright, outgoing, and seriously overworked. I don't know who was the floor manager but she kept placing people in Teresa's area when obviously she couldn't keep up with the customers needs. I'm sorry but if you're running IN the restaurant to get from one place to another then something isn't right. We were suppose to get bread with our meals. That never happened. Our drinks were refilled once at the END of our meal. We were there for an hour, maybe longer, with the majority of our waiting time being for our food and our service. The prices reflect that of a local mom and pop shop. I imagine increased menu prices are because this isn't your typical chain restaurant that gets discount prices on their ingredients. Nonetheless, the prices are pretty high. Just like another customer said....if you're willing to pay high prices for average food and a long wait then hit up the Italian Oven. You'll be pretty disappointed. I guarantee it.
(2)
Erica W.
The Italian oven is greatly missed by this chip alumni! Their bread and oil was delicious to snack on until you got your heaping plate of cheesy, carby goodness. Is usually pretty busy on weekends and anytime there's an event in town, making the parking lot a nightmare. The price is comparable to an Olive Garden, but the quality of the food and portions is much greater.
(4)
Robert G.
Really......this place feels like it has promise until you actually eat here. The cool atmosphere of flavored oils, jars of pasta and paper table covers where the server writes their name upside down on makes you excited for a new experience! Then you get your food and say.....eh.....it tastes average. Then you get your bill and say.....oh.....its costly average food.
(2)
Gayle B.
Always a good Italian meal. Fast attentive service.
(4)
Dennis B.
Slow service. Cold food. One entree wrong. My entree wasn't even hot the second time. Took 9 family members. Total disappointment.
(1)
Mika M.
Friendliest service in town. Excellent menu. Stromboli Deluxe, Chicken Veg pasta (with pesto sauce), Piatto Sciciliano are my favorite dishes. Don't fill up on bread! It is easy to do. Pesto ranch dressing - try it.
(5)
Sue C.
I almost didn't go into this restaurant after I read the reviews but I'm glad I did. My spaghetti , salad and bread were all excellent! I would definitely recommend and will come back next time I'm in town.
(4)
Alan C.
I've had some amazing Italian food from several different restaurants (as well as Italian friends) but my meal at this restaurant was not one of them. The service is indeed slow and the portions are not reflected by the price. The best part of the meal was the bread.
(2)
CA G.
I love this place! The food is good...the atmosphere is perfect for kids, paper over tablecloths and crayons for the kids to draw on. You get wonderful bread with dipping oil...kids can eat for $2 on Tuesday nights. We have had a waitress named Jory several times, and she does a fantastic job!
(4)
Amy M.
This place was just ok. I think my favorite part was the Italian soda so really that isn't a good sign. The fried zucchini was pretty good too though. Light and airy for being fried. The food wasn't bad but it wasn't something I will think about and want to go back. My sister got a basil pesto sauce on her dish that to me had no flavor. I love me some pesto so I was very disappointed in that. My mom had the penne with meat sauce. Again it was decent but nothing to write home about really. I had the fettuccine with four cheese sauce. The sauce was decent but toward the end of the small bowl I had I was definitely done with it. It seemed to lose flavor by the end. Overall it was edible but if in the area I wouldn't really loo into going back.
(2)
Haroun K.
Bleh. This place is a wanna-be Olive Garden with none of the charm. The food is not great and not cheap. The atmosphere reminded me of those awful chain restaurants "Old Chicago." The only redeeming thing was the bread, which was good. Servers seemed blase.
(2)
Derek B.
This place was a pleasant surprise. Nothing fancy, but quaint atmosphere and good food. Based on the earlier reviews here, we were expecting much less than what we got.
(4)
Kayla B.
While a lot of the staff are very rude, this is my choice for great Italian food around town. I love the bread and the calzones are wonderful! I miss Italian Oven since I don't live around the area anymore! Wish San Diego had an Italian Oven!
(4)
Matt M.
I went here once when I was attending college, and that's really all it took for me not to come back. The food was pretty tasteless and overpriced. When friends felt like Italian, I almost always defaulted to Fazoli's, the cheap, free breadstickin', local joint that fed me better on a budget.
(2)
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Address :2336 S Mission St
Mount Pleasant, MI, 48858
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No 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.
Eric M.
My wife and I dined here while visiting our daughter at CMU. Although they were obviously busy on a Friday night, we only waited 10 minutes for a table. She has a severe shellfish allergy so we the two of use went to scout them out for her. We asked the waitress how they handle food allergies and were satisfied with her answer. We had a brochette appetizer, a generous portion for two that would have fed four. We were also given a small baguette with a saucer of olive oil and fresh cracked pepper. The baguette had a nice crunch to the crust. They had a fair but not extensive wine selection. My wife had the eggplant parmesan and I ordered a margarita pizza. The waitress suggested the medium pizza, which ended up being a bit too much for me to eat. Not her fault of course, I did ask her opinion. My wife loved the eggplant parmesan. It wasn't smothered and retained the prominent eggplant flavor. The margarita pizza, as most are made in the U.S., had too much cheese and the tomato was not crushed and spread over the crust. They have wood fired pizza ovens and I was expecting a nice bit of char on the crust. But alas, it wasn't. The crust was finished on top, but a bit soft on the bottom. The table next to us ordered lasagna. The portions looked generous and appeared to have a good proportion of cheese, noodle, and sauce. I'd give it a three out of 5 start for the pizza. The eggplant parmesan and prompt friendly service pushes it up to four out of five. We'll be back for more.
(4)Emily O.
My second time here and was completely disappointed. The chicken Marsala was runny and the chicken tough. I ordered tiramisu for dessert and was less than thrilled when I found it to be stale, as though it had been out for a few days. I realize this is a college town, but the wine list was also less than stellar with only sweet white wines or a Chardonnay. Highly recommend adding a Pinot Grigio or other drier white. My friend ordered eggplant Parmesan and said other slices were too thick, although the vegetables were delicious and cooked perfectly. The service was decent. I'll stick with pizza if I ever come here again.
(2)Blaise B.
My favorite restaurant in all of Mt. Pleasant :) The bread and dipping oil is great, and the dinners come with soup or salad as well, which is nice. I am a HUGE fan of their ravioli. The best parts are the little touches to this restaurant, though. I love being able to play hangman on the table while waiting for our food (or color, or whatever else you can do with crayons), and I LOVE the foil swans they wrap your food up in. I refuse to eat in Risotto's, the adults-only section, because there is no paper on the tables over there. What's the point? Dates are so much more fun with hangman and tic-tac-toe.
(5)Amy K.
We were on our way to St Ignace, MI and wanted some pizza. I was not looking for the usual chain places. The inside of the restaurant is nice. It has neat decorations friendly staff. Good salads with bread for dipping in oil. I would go here again if I'm in the area. Good place for children. Very clean. Not bad on cost either two adults one child we ate for under 25.00.
(4)K B.
Gave it another chance. Caesar salad was wilted and looked like it had been in the refrigerator for a few days. Pizza was so-so and a bit pricey for what it was. Won't be back.
(2)Todd K.
Italian Oven is a nice Italian place at the end of a strip mall (nicer than it sounds). The decor is Italian-themed and a bit classy (though not pretentious). The food is definitely on the rich side, and I mean that in a good way! Rich and flavorful Italian food is served here by a friendly waitstaff. I recommend the lasagna. CAUTION: The front dining room is often overrun by packs of roving children. There is a glass wall on the front of the kitchen that children are allowed to draw on, so some parents take that as permission to let their children run wild, completely unsupervised (especially near that wall). I love kids, but not in running, screeching packs when I'm trying to eat. Unfortunately, I have never once seen the staff attempt to quiet or control the chaos. Fortunately, the restaurant has an adults-only dining room in back that is significantly more peaceful and conducive to dining. Ask to be seated in the adults-only section, order the lasagna, and you will not be sorry. If you are a parent who doesn't believe in letting your kids go all "Lord of the Flies" while you eat, ask to be seated as far from the pizza oven wall as possible. Italian Oven is currently the best Italian food in town.
(4)Jere L.
If your in my pleasant this place is a must. Great food and service, my entire family enjoyed this restaurant and the prices were more than fair even with a 25% tip
(5)Tiffany H.
Basil pesto sauce us amazing!!
(4)Reanna C.
Been my favorite restaurant in Mt. pleasant since before I can even remember. Wedding soup is on point.
(5)Tom F.
Do you know where Alma is? I do, about fifteen minutes south on 127. I know this because there aren't any restaurants to take your kid out after an event. My daughter had a performance and we went out to celebrate. She had heard about this restaurant from one of her friends at Alma College. As the waitress came by to tell us she'd be there in a minute she wrote her name on the paper table cloth in crayon. Just like at Macaroni Grill. I'm not big on that aspect because it looks kinda cheesy. I do enjoy the crayons though. I tried the chicken parmisian with meat sauce. It was actually pretty good compared to what I have seen others write about. It was fairly juicy and pretty tasty along side a mound of pasta with meat sauce topping. I got it with a dinner salad with italian dressing. The dressing tasted like it was just poured out of one of those gallon jug dressing you get from the warehouse club. I was hoping for something a little more homemade. The service was good and fast as she kept our drink glasses full. Next time a glass of wine would be good except for the long drive home. We'll probably be back again after our next event gathering.
(4)Cassie M.
Everything was awesome. The service was fast and friendly, the food tasted great and the wine was fresh and satisfying. It truly is a hidden little gem in Mt Pleasant where most choices consist of college-rated pizza parlors and overrated chain restaurants. I will definitely be coming back to Italian Oven next time I'm here.
(5)Cynthia D.
If you haven't tried this place in a few years, give it another shot. When we first moved here 10 years ago, I wasn't a fan of the food. But we've gone a few times over the past year, and I've been happy with the quality and the service. Also, it's a great place to take kids -- relaxed and casual. Tuesdays they offer $2 kids' meals, and on select Tuesdays, they host a supervised kids' playroom. Great idea!
(4)Cheyenne V.
Much better than Olive Garden! I love the pizzas here and the bread with dipping oil is my favorite part of coming here. The atmosphere is so casual and laid back but at the same time perfectly acceptable for a date night or a nice glass of wine. They actually have a private section in back for 18 and up only that is quite fancy with an entirely different menu calls Risotto's. Meatball Sandwich or Calamari with Lemon Aolie are both favorites of ours too.
(4)R C.
This is our first time visiting this restaurant. The food selection is great, prices are reasonable, and Kendra our server was awesome! Would definitely eat here again...and the rest rooms provide mouth wash for the after garlic meals.
(5)Cameron E.
My experience with the food was pretty good. We got the appetizer (I forgot what it was called) that involved toasted bread and a dip that was heated by a candle. It tasted amazing. I went ahead and got one of their specialty pizzas since the place is called the Italian OVEN and they cook their pizzas ....well....IN the oven. I was pretty satisfied with it. My girlfriend got the chicken parmesan and was NOT happy. She complained about the dryness and tastelessness of the food. I even thought it was pretty bland and I eat everything. Our servers name was Teresa. She was bright, outgoing, and seriously overworked. I don't know who was the floor manager but she kept placing people in Teresa's area when obviously she couldn't keep up with the customers needs. I'm sorry but if you're running IN the restaurant to get from one place to another then something isn't right. We were suppose to get bread with our meals. That never happened. Our drinks were refilled once at the END of our meal. We were there for an hour, maybe longer, with the majority of our waiting time being for our food and our service. The prices reflect that of a local mom and pop shop. I imagine increased menu prices are because this isn't your typical chain restaurant that gets discount prices on their ingredients. Nonetheless, the prices are pretty high. Just like another customer said....if you're willing to pay high prices for average food and a long wait then hit up the Italian Oven. You'll be pretty disappointed. I guarantee it.
(2)Erica W.
The Italian oven is greatly missed by this chip alumni! Their bread and oil was delicious to snack on until you got your heaping plate of cheesy, carby goodness. Is usually pretty busy on weekends and anytime there's an event in town, making the parking lot a nightmare. The price is comparable to an Olive Garden, but the quality of the food and portions is much greater.
(4)Robert G.
Really......this place feels like it has promise until you actually eat here. The cool atmosphere of flavored oils, jars of pasta and paper table covers where the server writes their name upside down on makes you excited for a new experience! Then you get your food and say.....eh.....it tastes average. Then you get your bill and say.....oh.....its costly average food.
(2)Gayle B.
Always a good Italian meal. Fast attentive service.
(4)Dennis B.
Slow service. Cold food. One entree wrong. My entree wasn't even hot the second time. Took 9 family members. Total disappointment.
(1)Mika M.
Friendliest service in town. Excellent menu. Stromboli Deluxe, Chicken Veg pasta (with pesto sauce), Piatto Sciciliano are my favorite dishes. Don't fill up on bread! It is easy to do. Pesto ranch dressing - try it.
(5)Sue C.
I almost didn't go into this restaurant after I read the reviews but I'm glad I did. My spaghetti , salad and bread were all excellent! I would definitely recommend and will come back next time I'm in town.
(4)Alan C.
I've had some amazing Italian food from several different restaurants (as well as Italian friends) but my meal at this restaurant was not one of them. The service is indeed slow and the portions are not reflected by the price. The best part of the meal was the bread.
(2)CA G.
I love this place! The food is good...the atmosphere is perfect for kids, paper over tablecloths and crayons for the kids to draw on. You get wonderful bread with dipping oil...kids can eat for $2 on Tuesday nights. We have had a waitress named Jory several times, and she does a fantastic job!
(4)Amy M.
This place was just ok. I think my favorite part was the Italian soda so really that isn't a good sign. The fried zucchini was pretty good too though. Light and airy for being fried. The food wasn't bad but it wasn't something I will think about and want to go back. My sister got a basil pesto sauce on her dish that to me had no flavor. I love me some pesto so I was very disappointed in that. My mom had the penne with meat sauce. Again it was decent but nothing to write home about really. I had the fettuccine with four cheese sauce. The sauce was decent but toward the end of the small bowl I had I was definitely done with it. It seemed to lose flavor by the end. Overall it was edible but if in the area I wouldn't really loo into going back.
(2)Haroun K.
Bleh. This place is a wanna-be Olive Garden with none of the charm. The food is not great and not cheap. The atmosphere reminded me of those awful chain restaurants "Old Chicago." The only redeeming thing was the bread, which was good. Servers seemed blase.
(2)Derek B.
This place was a pleasant surprise. Nothing fancy, but quaint atmosphere and good food. Based on the earlier reviews here, we were expecting much less than what we got.
(4)Kayla B.
While a lot of the staff are very rude, this is my choice for great Italian food around town. I love the bread and the calzones are wonderful! I miss Italian Oven since I don't live around the area anymore! Wish San Diego had an Italian Oven!
(4)Matt M.
I went here once when I was attending college, and that's really all it took for me not to come back. The food was pretty tasteless and overpriced. When friends felt like Italian, I almost always defaulted to Fazoli's, the cheap, free breadstickin', local joint that fed me better on a budget.
(2)