We used to frequent here often when it was BYOB. Haven't been back in some time because they changed the BYOB option. The food and service has gone WAY downhill since our previous visits. Hostess was WONDERFUL and went out of her way to find us when our table was ready. She was friendly and accomodating. Waitress, was... well... to put it bluntly... really awful. Little/no eye contact, virtually ignored us for 99% of meal except to clear some plates (which we weren't done with ath the time and tried to stop her but she ignored us) and drop our check at the end. I literally took 1 bite from both my app and my entree (didn't care for either AT ALL) and she didn't even ask why they were untouched. She removed our plates and SET THE TABLE for the next guests, before our dessert even came. We ate our desserts trying not to ruin the new plates and wrapped silverware she placed there for the next guest. I hate to call her out on here by name, but seriously - the girl who worked the downstairs/outside this past Saturday night... you would've gotten DOUBLE the tip from us if you simply were pleasant, friendly, or helpful (yes, I still tipped over "base", but we normally do 25-30%) so you lost out on at least $10 on our table for you miserableness. I got the Arancini and Esperanza (both of which I've gotten a few dozen times in teh past.) Both were virtually inedible. Arancini was served with what appeared to be chunky canned tomatoes. NO flavor at all and NOT the same as I've gotten in past. And the Arancini were so cold the the cheese inside literally didn't even stretch. I would bet it was sitting out for at least 20 minutes before we were served. (Which explains why it took waitress literally 22 minutes to even take our drink order?!) Esperanza was CRUNCHY. Literally. The entire bottom was burnt SO badly that it was like eating pretzels. How they were able to burn the entire bottom half of my meal, yet STILL serve it ice cold is beyond me. On the flip side, their dessert (Xango) was phenomenal. I am a HUGE fan of Fellini's...and can't believe the EXTREME difference in food quality and service. I'm so let down, this used to be a favorite, but not anymore.
(1)
Pao P.
Large pizza selection....wife order some fish but was given chicken. We didn't mind cuz it looked good and was good. Wasn't busy at all around 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon.
(4)
K A.
Went here for a late lunch on Sunday. Sat outside, service was good. They had a small, but good beer selection. Food was good, I had a pepperoni, sausage & fresh mozzarella brick oven pizza; the sauce & dough were great & I am very picky about my pizza, but I approve. Hubby had the lunch special salmon BLT panini which he said was so very good. We'll definitely be back.
(4)
Delilah C.
Live in Media and dine out frequently. Was out for a late lunch and unfortunately We picked Ariano. Wow $40 later and a horrible, horrible lunch. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Noise level is beyond tolerable. SO LOUD. We each had panini and both were disgusting. Soggy and oily. We ate because were starving. The paninis came with a side of greasy oil with some day old roasted potatoes in them. We have given this place 3 tries since opening and it just gets worse. Sorry we wont be back.
(1)
James M.
The pizza I ordered taste excellent. They have a really large selection of pizza to choose from. However, it was very crowded and the acoustics were lacking. There is a weird echo and you had to shout to communicate.other than that it was good. I will go back for sure.
(3)
Nick D.
Really nice building, but the food just didn't do it for me. I went with a group of guys so we ordered several appetizers, one of which was pizza. It was a plain margherita pizza, but wasn't anything special. Just a note on the pizzas, while there are a ton of options, some of them are kind of ridiculous (salmon with asparagus and cream sauce?). I get it that they are trying to appeal to a wide range of people, but there is something to be said for simple ingredients. As for my entree, just ok. I had the chicken rolled with prosciutto, provolone and broccoli rabe. They are three very strong flavors, however the dish was somehow bland. Maybe the most perplexing thing was the side of rice. This is an Italian place and they served sides of rice with all meals. Not even risotto, regular white rice. No pasta, in fact there isn't a single pasta dish on the menu. Quite strange. Another quick tip, we sat on the 3rd floor, which was probably the coolest seat inthe house, but you have to go up a spiral staircase to get there. That means tough to get up there for the servers so they don't come around as often as you'd like. Bottom Line: The decor is great, all the walls and ceilings are intricately painted. Unfortunately the food doesn't quite stack up.
(2)
Erin M.
2nd visit after self imposed hiatus for years due to the loud nature of this restaurant. We were a group of 5 sat at a six-top on the 2nd floor. Biggest issue: Noise. The entire restaurant is so noisy that I couldn't hear my friends seated 2 spots away. The wait staff clumps up and down the stairs so loudly that it rumbles the entire table. Incredibly distracting. My ears were physically ringing after spending 2 hours in the restaurant. Service: Ok. Nothing extraordinary. The food runners were not familiar with the plates when serving. They presented the plates "auction" style where the first to speak up could have it...Biggest pet peeve was that all of the food was served and cleared from the end of the table. The staff did not approach the seated individuals although there was plenty of room. The staff was anchored at the end of the table and handed plates to us to "pass along" even after a warning that they were very hot. Food: Fine. I ordered the Luciano pizza. Crust was much thicker than I expected and not as flavorful. I have definitely had better. It is not what I had expected for brick oven in an iitalian restaurant. . Overall: I will not be returning due to the noise and service issues. It's a shame bcse from the exterior it looks like a great little neighborhood venue. Deceiving-
(1)
Alicia O.
Ariano is a cute place. How would I describe their food? Meh. I ordered a salad and shared a pizza with my husband. My salad was similar to a caprese salad but they added olives as well. I love tomatoes, but these tomatoes were flavorless. The pizza we ordered was one of the specials that night and it had chicken, portobello mushrooms, spinach, and sun dried tomatoes. Not bad, but the bottom was a bit oily. My mother-in-law ordered the cioppino and I had a couple of the mussels from that and realized I should have just ordered a bunch of mussels. One thing I will say: get the lemon basil sorbetto! It was so lemony and light, but also creamy and smooth. I noticed they have their gelato and sorbetto right at the counter when you walk in, so you could just walk off the street and order it if you wanna skip the food.
(2)
Rita C.
Alright, Ariano, you may have won me over. I went back here with a few friends and decided to try one of the entrees since the pizza was so blah last time. I ordered the Pazzo Marco (Panko Crusted Lobster Risotto Balls stuffed with Lump Crab Meat, Basil Pesto, and Fontina Cheese) and was pretty excited because I had never tried something like this before. Oh my god. Holy Lord, it was amazing! The risotto was cooked perfectly and shaped into three baseball-sized balls of deliciousness (...did I really just say that?). They also came served with a side of piping hot vodka sauce that was also very good and a side of what looked like broccoli rabe, which really didn't interest me because I had lobster risotto with crab and cheese to dominate. Go to Ariano - skip the pizza - order the entrees. The end.
(3)
Marc P.
Mmmmm delicious pizzas and a nice atmosphere. I went here in the summer and sat on the second floor with the windows all open and it made for a nice lunch date. Like most other places in Media the tables were cramped but it was too busy so it was manageable. The pizzas were very good and they have quite a few to choose from. Hopefully I'll try the bakery downstairs as that also looked very good. This place isn't to die for but it's definitely somewhere to try.
(3)
Holly N.
I've been going to Ariano for a couple of years now; started very shortly after they opened up. The restaurant is very attractive, like somebody stated in an earlier post. The pizza is great and there are so many options to choose from. They used to be a BYOB but starting in November 2012 they acquired a liquor license (sad face). The service is typically very friendly, although because I know one of the managers my opinion may be a little biased. They do have plastic plates and glasses, which I was told one time is because they have a very steep spiral staircase that leads to the 3rd level of seating and at one point glasses/plates were dropped and broken (yikes). I have never dealt with my pizza getting soggy because of the plastic plates, but then again that's probably because I eat so quickly haha! Their gelato is also great, which I usually get with an espresso for dessert. If you're looking for pizza/Italian and you're in Media, I'd suggest Ariano for something a little different.
(4)
Joe P.
Was left really unexcited after my dining experience here last night. The scallop and risotto appetizer had potential but the scallops were overcooked and the risotto was bland. We also had this fried cheese appetizer with red sauce. The fried cheese was OK but the sauce way way to spicy and overpowered by sun dried tomatoes. My main course was a pizza with chicken, provolone and herbs. It was very oily and bland. Thought that the pizza would be really good given its prominence on the menu.
(2)
Karen W.
We like this place for pizza take-out and gelato-- but Never on Monday. Must be chef's day off, and maybe the coat check person gets to play with the pizzas? Otherwise, we like this place a fair amount. It would be three stars, except for Monday.
(2)
Patricia A.
The restaurant is really attractive. The pizza is very good But the fact that it was cooked to perfection quickly was forgotten When the plastic plate that is was served on created so much steam that the pizza became soggy and when I tried to salvage the non soggy part my plastic fork Broke in half oh and I hope you don't mind your wine served in water glasses. It seems that all that plastic has to go Environmentally and it certainly downgrades the decor.
(2)
Tim B.
They've cut down on the number of pizzas but guys, SERIOUSLY, stop with the goddamn slabby, sloppy presentations and with the flavorless toppings. I ordered the pesto and chicken pizza recently and the chicken came in thin square slices topped by big slabs of cheese. The chicken itself was basically boiled or otherwise cooked without any taste whatsoever. It looked like tofu and tasted about the same. The cheese was just barely melted: no browning, no real sense that it had been cooked. Ariano's failure is entirely on the technical side. Get someone in there who knows how to make the damn pizzas and how to prep the ingredients.
(3)
Jeff S.
If you like pizza, Italian settings, and a nice place to eat than you'll really like Arianos. Ive eaten there a few times and I haven't had a bad experience yet. The food has always been really great and the service is always on key! Ive always only had the pizzas there, which are almost like gourmet pizzas. These aren't your average pizza hut, local pizza joint pies, no these are almost like beefed up flat breads in a way. A ton of different varieties that you can try something new each time. They used to be BYOB but as of recently they just got their liquor license and now charge for opening your wine and are slowly phasing it out. That was a bummer but I spoke with the bartender and when he told me the different beers they would be bringing in shortly it raised my spirits! Beers from Italy and other great craft beers! The place itself is a really neat building too with two floors and a neat little loft area with seating and windows all around. The ceiling has a great mural as well which I heard was the story of the owners family over in Italy. Definitely a great place to take a night and try it out!
(4)
Alicia F.
This place is amazing. The owner and the staff are super friendly and knowledgeable and everything is really, really delicious. Their pizza crust is like none other, and their specials are always amazing. Go. Now.
(5)
L M.
Must say I was not expecting much after looking at the reviews. I was meeting relatives here, their choice, and was pleasantly surprised. Sat upstairs on the balcony, great vib. I had the veal piccata, very nicely done. Appetizers of Braciole and the artichoke wrapped in Prosciutto were tasty, I'm not a fan of breaded fried food so would have preferred the artichokes not deep fried, but I would order again. Nice glass of wine with dinner and a great cup of latte to finish. I'm on a diet so the gelato was skipped, looked good though! Would love to try some of the pizzas! This place is worth a visit, watch out for the breaded deep fried though. .
(3)
Roo M.
The pizza is yummy and the guacamole is great but expensive. Everything tastes very fresh. My only complaint is that outta if the 4 times I have been there while going to the bathroom I was bumpedinto by the staff with no apology. I didn't see free body slams in the menu! The sangria is strong but not very good:( The classical guitarist adds so much to the experience! Hive five to that guy!
(4)
Matthew S.
Horrible service, dull, not fresh food. The decor is nice, the place is actually a really nice restaurant, but staff management needs some help. Pizza was 'ok', I've had better pizza at food chains. The toppings were canned, not fresh, the kids meals are just nasty, but their salads were fresh, which is just out of place compared to the rest of the food. Too bad, because this place has such potential, I just wish they would get their act together food and staff wise. Save your cash and hit up some other local joints in Media. I just wish I had looked at Yelp beforehand, I see the reviews are not that great for this place.
(1)
Wyatt S.
Much like their across-the-street neighbors, Dos Gringos, I'm amazed at how harshly the Yelp community is treating this wonderful addition to Media! I think a lot of people are reviewing the restaurant they want and not the restaurant they have - in my experience, it's important to remember that distinction. Ariano is a great casual restaurant serving up unique pizza varieties that you simply won't find this side of downtown. I've eaten there about half a dozen times and have never experienced the unfortunate poor service that some have complained about; I've experienced waits here and there, but I guess nothing that felt uncomfortable for me. During dinner hours the place can be cramped and frantic and that might leave a bad taste in your mouth if you want a quiet and peaceful night out, but again, knowing what you're in for is important when choosing a restaurant. Anyway, the focus for me is undoubtedly the pizza. The pies they serve up are as delicious as they are unique. My personal favorite is the Toluca - trim NY strip with guacamole and chorizo that has a very slight bite to it - but experimenting and trying offerings slightly out of your comfort zone is just as fun as falling back on a reliable choice. Chicken with pesto sauce, fontina and caramelized onions, cabbage and cheese; there are many memorable items on the menu. Finally, I have to mention the gelato. You can get a few scoops for dessert or walk in off the street for quick, over the counter service. It is consistently creamy, flavorful, and wonderful. My three-year old can't walk near that area of Media without demanding a stop for some strawberry or stracciatella! In closing, embrace Ariano for what it offers - decently priced, unique food that is as good as it gets.
(5)
Rob M.
The food is delicious the decor is awesome best place ever! It's cool how its three floors. Nice atmosphere! I like the spiral stair case! The pizza is the best!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Rachel L.
I went to Ariano's on a Saturday night around 6 pm. We were promptly greeted and seated by the friendly host. We sat upstairs on the 3rd floor which gave us an incredible view of the paintings on the ceiling; such a pretty sight! The food in this restaurant is devine! We were with a party of 5 and ate lots of heavenly food! I'll start with the appetizers...our group ordered mussels in red sauce. These yummy suckers were served in a delicious bread bowl. The mussels were served hot and they were so tasty. The bread bowl was so good, we started picking at it and wound up eating that, too! We also ordered two salads. The first one was called the Romangulo. It came with pistachio nuts, sliced granny smith apples, gorgonzola cheese spread throughout the salad with a red raspberry dressing, and red onions sliced nice and thin! The other salad was made with a gorgonzola cheese dressing. They were both fresh, crisp, and the portion was plentiful. We shared with our group since the portions were so big! Another person in our party ordered the Zia Ernesta which is mozzarella with fresh tomatoes and olives...the word fresh does not do the tomato quality justice. These tomatoes were so yummy it was like they were just picked from the vine. Oh, dear, don't let me forget the meatballs! These were on special the evening we went and we were told they may go on the late night menu as a permanent food choice. We told our waiter they should be put on the regular menu --- yes, they are that good! These meatballs were seriously the size of softballs. We had ordered two plates of these. They have cheese on the inside of the meatballs, and there is also melted cheese draped on the top of them. The red sauce on top of the meatballs complemented this appetizer. One person at my table made a comment about how he could eat 10 of thee things. He's right! They were incredible! I'm a big carb person, so found the fresh bread they served us to be heaven! The bread was hearty, and fresh from the oven! A carb queen's dream come true! Pass the butter, please! We wound up sharing all of the entrees since there were so many of us. Two people in my party had the filet...out of this world and cooked to perfection! The filets were covered in a glaze with gorgonzola cheese on top. Another person had a seafood medley type of dish which was called Otino Cioppino. This dish had snapper, shrimp, bay scallops, calamari, mussels, clams, and hot sausage served over risotto. The dish was HUGE and delicious, to say the least. It was served with a red sauce that was to die for! Another person had the Pazzo Marco which is Panko Crusted Lobster Risotto balls stuffed with lump crab meat...and lots of it! It was covered in a basil pesto sauce with and fontina cheese. This dish was in my top 2 favorite of the evening. It was amazingly delicious! I ordered the Esperanza entree. This was my other favorite entree of the evening. It's spinach and ricotta cheese layered between lightly breaded eggplant served with a vodka. Again, a huge hit at my table! The bread crumb layers were just the right amount and the eggplant was super delish! The sauce served on top of this entree was a homerun hit! Many of the entrees we ordered came with a baked potato and vegetables. The veggies looked like they were grilled. They were fresh and cooked just right! Now....onto the improtant part...dessert! Our group shared a thin crusted pizza dessert that was covered in nutella. If you're a fan of this hazelnut chocolate spread, this is the dish for you! Each slice had a fresh strawberry on it and a sprinkling of powdered sugar. We ordered a bunch of gelato and athey brought us a bunch of sppons so we could share it. My favorite of the evening was the cinnamon, which tasted like a yummy for your tummy cinnamon cookie! We also tried lemon...the taste was very refreshing! There was also a hazelnut gelato which was decadent, and a vanilla that had chocolate swirled through it. Is there any better way to end your evneing of good food? Yes! With the dessert they served us! It was unreal! Our waiter was funny, kind and most importantly attentive. He met our ever need throughout our dining experience at this restaurant. He made sure we were happy and had everything we needed throughout the evening. What more could a girl want? The owner of the restaurant came around to each table to chat and find out how everyone's meals were. What good customer service! He was friendly, attentive, and made sure our dining experience was the best on possible! We let him know how happy we were with our food and overall dining experience. Really, it doesn't get any better than this restaurant! I highly recommend this Ariano's --- it was a huge hit for everyone at our table. We will definitley be returning back for one of the best dining experiences we ever had ! Cheers to Ariano's!
(5)
Jessica K.
Arianos is a beautiful restaurant, a very noisy one also though. I've found that going there for lunch on a weekday is when you're going to get the best service. Even than though the waiters don't seem at all friendly. I feel like the pizzas are a hit or a miss, you might get the most delicious pizza or you might get one that's just "so-so". I recommend this place to a person who likes to go out to lunch of weekdays, and does not mind unhappy waiters.
(3)
Dav B.
I have visited arianos many times since it opened. The pizza is thin crust and fantastic. Many options of pizza, at least 20. The lobster and crab risotto balls with vodka sauce and veggies are excellent. Service is usually good. Same owner as Fellinis in Media. Love this place, sit upstairs of you can. Very reasonable prices. Go!
(4)
C P.
My husband and I went here right after our honeymoon in 2011. We had such an abysmal experience that we wrote a Yelp review right after we got home. For some unknown reason, that review is no longer on here. I suspect that friends and family members of Ariano flagged our review until it got taken off. How disingenuous. What about fixing the myriad problems with your restaurant instead of erasing people's honest feedback about it? Bottom line: the food is absolutely awful, I mean inedible. Service is extremely inattentive. And don't come here unless you enjoy paying top dollar for a meal that you're going to eat off of a scratched-up plastic plate.
(1)
Chris H.
A complete disappointment redeemed only by the nice weather. We went here with a group of eight for Dining Under the Stars. I had the Regina, a really tasty pizza with spicy sausage, mozzarella, portobella meshrooms, and stewed tomatoes. Unfortunately that's the end of the positives about Ariano. Once seated the waitstaff was fumbling and awkward to converse with. It took well over an hour for our order to come out and even then not everything arrived at once, some items were wrong, and half were cold. Inexcusable. The pizzas ranged in price from $10 to $20 and while mine was enjoyable every other that I tried at the table was bland, bland, bland. And small. In no way worth the wait. On top of that the manager apparently gave the bottle of wine we brought to another table for...some reason and offered us a replacement bottle probably stolen from some other unfortunate patron. Argh you know what? I'm getting mad again just writing this review. Ariano well earns that coveted one star from me. The apathetic and unapologetic waitstaff was just the cherry on top of the horrible dining experience sundae so I'm taking another point off. Definitely won't be going back.
(1)
Mel A.
If you have a beer on your 'specials' list that's $17 dollars--at a place like this, not even fine dining--you should absolutely list the price... OR instruct your server to notify guests that are interested that the price is higher than most beverages. Extremely annoyed that we ordered several of these ridiculously priced beers without being informed that they were so costly. This place is a ripoff. We will not be returning.
(1)
Chelsea P.
Great and fresh addition to Media! The service was impeccable but they were out of a lot of ingredients including the whole wheat dough which I wanted to try. The pizza was great, and I topped off the meal with a scoop of chocolate gelato. Even drank Oranciatta Pellegrino to top off the Italian experience. Perfection I tell u! Thank u Ariano!
(4)
Katie L.
I was very tempted to give Ariano a 1, but I might have convinced myself out of it. I read the reviews on Yelp and thought, all of this couldn't possibly be true. However, these are a number of SHOCKINGLY TRUE facts (both good & bad) about Ariano: 1. The staff is either over worked or just bad at their jobs. We were ignored for over 40 minutes, sitting with our menus sipping water. We couldn't even get any waiter's attention - they purposefully do not look at you as they walk by. When one finally came close enough that my friend was able to GRAB her, a waiter came to our table about five minutes later. "Oh, have you been helped yet?" No, I just sit here with my menu for fun. Because it's pretty. And I like it. 2. The plates are PLASTIC! The cups are PLASTIC! The shaker for the red pepper flakes is PLASTIC! Unforgivable. It's quite heavy plastic (not picnic plates), so I can't imagine they saved a ton of money. I wonder if it's because the restaurant has some stairs that they made this choice? I just can't imagine any good reason why even a casual dining restaurant should serve $15 pizzas on plastic. 3. Their crust is really, really good. Maybe the only reason they earned that second star. 4. The menu is daunting, but there really must be something for everyone. Even a pizza that didn't have cheese, so I didn't have to deal with someone looking at me like I'm an alien when asking for a cheese-less pizza. I had to really FORCE myself not to tip 20%. I just couldn't. This place has been open long enough that they should have their stuff together. I took that extra dollar and shoved it back into my friend's hands. Take that, Ariano.
(2)
Vivian R.
Bad service doesn't necessarily mean bad food. And there are enough bad-food places out there that I'm willing to sit through moments of bad service just so that I can have good food satisfy my palate. If I had been scared away by bad-service reviews, I would also have never tried numerous other restaurants that have since become my go-to places for a flavor unique and removed from the usual blah. I have yet to experience bad service when I visit Ariano. However, I will qualify my review with the note that we have been there only for lunch/brunch and an afternoon gelato. So on with our 3-hour tour... Our first visit was during our staycation here in my home town, at the end of June of this year. It was completely on a whim in our mission to venture away from our usual haunts in Media. We were tempted by their pizzas, and our whim led us to a delicious meal of the Melazzo and Regina, with a crust that others have also noted is quite good and unique, even through the opaque curtains of bad service. We finished our meal with gelato all around (and with 8 owl eyes smiling at the selection in the gelato case). While reading their menu, we spotted that they had breakfast pizza, so with that fly in our eye and idea in the back of our minds, we headed into... Our second visit. It was later that same week, for an afternoon gelato break with my Baby1. The gelato experience there really is the closest I've had to true Italian gelato, of my attempts to find true gelato this side of the pond. There are enough un-cleaned-to-the-bottom bowls of "gelato" in various establishments up and down the eastern seaboard to prove my attempts (really? you call this gelato? and it's supposed to be italian on top of that? how about trying first with one part, and then with the other?). The fragola, strawberry for those on this side of the pond, is smooth and creamy - not an easy feat considering that catering to the majority leaves us with "gelato da fragola" that is either an icy strawberry-flavored clump of sorbet or sherbet, or strawberry ice cream that has had a name change and, I'm sure, a botox treatment or two. AND - it's not super sweet - another counter-majority feat. They have, however, called their strawberry gelato "sorbet" to help alleviate some level of confusion for patrons. But Baby1 only likes vanilla, so it's all she'll eat. We vowed we'd return for... More savories, on our third visit. We made our excursion in hopes of getting the breakfast pizza. We got there at 1pm, too late for breakfast pizza. But we did order their monstrosity-sized frittatas for lunch, which left us full enough to practically skip dinner, if not for the long walk we took in the afternoon. And we did have more gelato. Then, most recently, we conquered our mission with... Yesterday, when we finally got there before noon and were able to enjoy their breakfast pizza. And what an experience it was. Between the delicious crust (even Baby1 ate it, who usually leaves pizza crusts untouched!), the eggs with fresh parsley on top (such a fresh flavor, I can't believe I hadn't tried this already!), the marscapone and fruit on my pizza (NO NO, I REFUSE TO SHARE, EVEN WITH MY OWN OFFSPRING! BACK, BACK, GET YOUR OWN!), clear lemon-lime soda (Pellegrino limonata?) and coffee that was phenomenal, I've decided that good food is indeed worth waiting for, enough so that I will venture into the infamous dinner course here next time just so I can see for myself exactly how bad it is. Can I also note, how well behaved both Baby1 and Baby2 were, which leads me to my most recent theory: good food yields well-behaved children. Our waiter was wonderful, never leaving our coffee empty, and the owner was warm and welcoming as always. And, of course, we had gelato. Even Baby2 who usually hates ice cream enjoyed the fragola as well as Baby1's vanilla. So here's the verdict: go for the good food, and take your experience with a grain of salt, an ounce of patience, and a momentary lapse into Latin time. Maybe that is how we can let this restaurant survive and continue serving us good food - because you really have no idea, how good their gelatos are and the uniqueness of their crust. And if you happen to see me chomping away on their breakfast pizza - don't let a limb come near me. Just ask my kids, the ones with the bandaids on their arms and scowls on their faces. Hey - not my fault they tried reaching for my food.
(5)
HeeBee G.
This is a pretty little corner bistro in Media. We stopped at Trader Joes and asked for a recommendation. We were told this was an Italian restaurant, but it is mostly about the pizza. I ordered the breaded veal cutlet. It arrived on a plastic (hmmmm...) plate along with sides of sliced potatoes in custard (?) and broccoli mixed with peppers and greens. Very pretty - but everything lacked seasoning...isn't that the first rule of culinary school? The cutlet was sauteed perfectly with a light panko crust. The vegetables were crisp....just needed one more level of flavor. The waiters seemed harried and ran back and forth from the kitchen. Might be helpful to have a manager or "front" person circulating and helping keep the chaos down a bit. Nice hammered copper tables. A bit cramped, but I think this place has potential.
(2)
Sarah M.
My family and I recently dined at this establishment. The atmosphere was nice, but it was a little cramped upstairs and it was way too loud for our taste. The food was pretty delicious, but for the price we paid, was not abundant nor was it really worth it. But the reason why I'm giving this place 2 stars is because my father ordered a pizza and everyone else's meals arrived before his. The waiter didn't even notice he was entree-less until the check came. My father told us not to wait for him, assuming his food would be coming shortly. It never did. By the time his pizza did come, we were all done our food and he was not pleased. He informed the waiter what had happened, and nothing was fixed. We paid for our dinner and left unhappily. We will not be returning.
(2)
Erin M.
3 1/2 stars... I read all of these reviews prior to dining here tonight. Most were helpful since we hadn't eaten here in about a year. We were seated on the first floor and were alone since most guests prefer to be seated on the second floor. The pizza plates are still plastic but the glasses are real and the other plates are fine. The only issue I had with the side plates was that they were dusty since the tables are preset. Service was ok. There were two young boys tending to us. Flies drive us crazy and there were four circling our table and landing on us. We ordered a salad, pizza and an entree since one review noted a particular entree that is what I ordered. Panko Crusted Lobster Risotto Balls stuffed with Lump Crab Meat, Basil Pesto, and Fontina Cheese There were three good sized balls. It was very good when really hot but I am a slow eater. I took 2/3 home. We have been making our own pizza and found that this pizza crust was great. We got it plain because we wanted to taste it on its own without toppings. The sauce was more like pasta sauce which I like. I really enjoy the gelato and usually get hazelnut. The serving size is just enough...just. FYI- *On Monday nights they have Mexican specials since Dos Gringos (across the street) is closed on Mondays. I found it odd to have chips and salsa on the table at an Italian restaurant, but to each his own. *They are phasing out the BYOB, have a liquor license and will have Italian Craft Beers soon. If you wrote a review some time ago you might want to give it another shot.
(3)
Todd B.
The place is beautiful. If you're into art be sure to check out the 2nd/3rd floor ceiling. Some major bucks were spent on it! As for the dining experience...ehhh...wasn't inedible but I wouldn't go back. I wasn't enthused with the appetizer selection. The pizza selection is incredibly and ridiculously HUGE. The entree selection also somewhat limiting. The dessert selection as well. The Gelato is 6 bucks for about a 1/4 cup serving. The apple cake was overly "orangey". I will say the veal with proscuito mozzarella asparagus in a port wine sauce was excellent. Overall...not bad...but just not good enough to return.
(2)
Brad B.
The food here was fantastic! Imaginative flavors and large quantities. Now for the problem on my visit. This is a small place laid out on three floors, but the third floor is actually just a small loft accessed up a spiral staircase. When you first go up here, you'll think that it's very cool and a great use of the space. But that's its only good point: It looks cool. I was here with a large party and being in the loft made it seem very crowded. And the wait staff has to climb that spiral staircase to get to you, which means that you see your server much less frequently. But the staff did do a good job when they were around. Oh, and this place is a BYO, so it's a fairly inexpensive meal. I'll definitely return.
(4)
Jeanne L.
Drove from the DC area to celebrate a special event with a long time buddy's family. Never tried Ariano. Everything about this place is special, ambiance, appetizers, pizzas, sauces, servers, ceiling murals... my wife loveed the sauce with the veal bracciole. I loved the artichoke fritte. Pizza was wonderful, especially the sausage with peppers; spicy, yum Wow, Run ---don't walk to this place. If I was a local I would be there now. And I know food... people.
(5)
Jo D.
update this is no longer a byob... so it loses a star on that count!
(2)
George M.
Dinner on 5/10/11. It was empty and quiet. Lunch on 5/12 was busy and VERY LOUD. Pizza selection was great and I was able to mix and match my own custom pie/ My wife had mussels in a bread bowl - very nice. Excellent sorbets. The cannoli shell stuffed with raspberry gelato delicious. A few gripes: Why they use plastic utensils for lunch is beyond me. They were silver colored but broke like the cheap white ones. Stainless was used for dinner. Scratches, some deep on the melamine plates probably from the stainless. I guess it was OK to eat from, but still a VERY tacky approach to dining. I would not take a client there.
(3)
D. F.
There really ought to be some guidelines about how to grade for service vs. food. In my view, Ariano's is being unfairly slammed for service. I think we're all so used to the formulaic service and mediocre food provided by the big chains that we consider their 'factory-trained' service as a baseline. It's not fair to compare. I've been to Ariano's four times now. Always the food has ranged very good to excellent (I've had pizza and some of the other dishes - all delicious). The service has ranged from somewhat slow to very efficient, but always friendly. I recommend Ariano's all the time. Even when we eat dinner elsewhere in Media, we often wind up stopping in for gelato after our meal. Media has lots of restaurants and there's some poaching of waiters going on. They're in constant training mode with staff. Or, so I've been told by the proprietor of one of the State Street restaurants. Hey, there's an idea, people! Why don't some of you grumpy reviewers chat with the manager and staff of the restaurants you visit?? Honestly, reading some of these reviews makes me think you should stick to the Olive Garden. I hear the bread sticks are great.
(5)
Ann F.
Busy night.... Took the server a little while to acknowledge us. Once we ordered , the food came quickly and the service was fine. Delicious salads!!!!!!
(5)
Ryan W.
I'm conflicted..... Let's start by saying it was full but with little to no line when we arrived on a Sunday night to try the place out. We had to wait maybe 10 minutes for a table to be cleared off and then were seated promptly. We had three different people come over right away to get drinks, talk about specials, etc. Then we got our waiter...... The worst part of the whole meal was the service. It was bad in a way that didn't make me angry....it just made me feel bad for the guy. You could tell he was new to the restaurant, maybe new to serving all together. He forgot our soup, was slow with water refills, etc. But was crazy nice and very apologetic. The food was good. My pizza was awesome, the girlfriend's was good, her mom's was ok. Her dad got the fish special which he enjoyed greatly. Gelato was above average, but they were out of a lot of flavors (end of the weekend perhaps?). We'll definitely be back to try it again, it definitely earned a second trip at the bare minimum.
(3)
Amanda C.
We came on a Sunday at 6pm and were incredibly disappointed. The service was slow and the food was horrible. I ordered a pizza with vegetables and a salad. The salad was drenched in dressing to the point that when I lifted the lettuce on my fork it dripped off onto the plate. The pizza had no sauce and some thick cut vegetables topped with bland cheese. I ate one bite and my children ate NONE of their pizza (I tasted it--it was flavorless). They never once came over to ask how the meal was. If they had, I'm sure they would have noticed that we ate almost nothing. Even the bread was stale. My husband ordered a salad from the specials list. Even though we asked what the price was, and I swear she said $4.95, it was $13!! Our meal came to $95 with tip (no alcohol) and was a complete and total waste of money. We were visibly annoyed to be paying so much for such bad food, no one said anything to us as we left. I have not eaten in Media before, but if this is considered "good food" by Media standards, I will definitely not be back. By the way, we were there to eat at Iron Hill--it had an HOUR wait at 6pm. Wish we had waited the hour...
(2)
Ryan S.
Beautiful decor and gourmet Italian food set this spot apart from a typical "pizza place." Our server, Amanda, was attentive but not obtrusive while my girlfriend, another couple, some wine, and I spent several hours enjoying the fresh and delicious food. Everything was served quickly and never disappointed from first bite to last.
(5)
Christine H.
So adorable. The pizza is EXACTLY how you would receive a pizza in Rome. The gelato and sorbetto was amazing. I will be going back often!
(5)
Maureen L.
Dined there last night 5/25/13. Beautiful building but check your bill, 2 entrees had $2.00 added to each and an appetizer had $2.00 added to prices listed in the menu. When brought to waiter's attention he said that it's been a problem, the computer has the higher prices than the menu! He was embarrassed and changed to bill to reflect the menu prices. What bothered us more is that management is aware of the discrepancy in prices but hasn't fixed the computer to reflect the menu or vice versa. Food was okay, bland for most part and my dau.'s filet mignon didn't appear to be filet mignon and was drenched in a Asian sauce not as described on menu. We also ordered the house Chardonay, it was not good. Waiter said a lot of people do not like it, he did take it off our bill. the accoustics were very bad, way too loud, couldn't hear without talking loudly. Perhaps the food had an off night but will not go back
(1)
Jenny L.
Wish I could do half stars, would do 3.5. Pizza was good, but my salad was way over dressed. It had way too much vinegar for me to finish and I always finish my salads. Wait staff was friendly, but slow and it took the host a really long time to acknowledge us. We had reservations and had to wait for 5-10 min for someone to even say hi and get our name (after flagging down a few people). Bill for 4 was a little over $100 and we got 4 pizzas and 4 salads and brought our own wine & beer. It just opened, so hoping they will work things out and they will get into a groove. Will go back again as it is one of the better pizza options in Media, even though it was on the pricey side for pizza.
(4)
Kay G.
Very lively restaurant. Third floor only has a few tables, and it can get noisy. But we didn't have a problem with it. The first and second floors were quieter, and had a nice warm feel. Food is excellent. Pizza dough is exceptional, and too many choices for toppings! Salads are large, with many taste combinations to choose from. We had a special with spinach, pears, goat cheese, walnuts, pine nuts. Very tasty. One criticism: the utensils are plastic. Should have something more substantial. BYO is a plus, and this place is a nice addition to Media. We will definitely go back!
(4)
Jamie K.
We wanted this place to be great. Cool location. Food was just okay and service was very average. We were forgotten a couple of times and it was a Sunday afternoon..so not super busy. And 2.50 for a small spoonful of gelato is nuts. May give the place one more chance given the cool 2nd floor seating...but that's it.
(3)
Lynn K.
Food is DRY, DRY, DRY
(1)
Mike K.
This was possibly the worst dining experience I ever had. I went here with my 2 sisters and mother for my birthday dinner on a Sat night and it was terrible from the minute we walked in the door. We sat on the 2nd level and it was so loud we had to yell at each other to talk. The service was almost non-existant. We waited 20 minutes for our drinks and they forgot my mom's iced tea so we asked the busboy for that. We got no bread but every table around us had bread. When we finally got our apps, one was wrong and two of us did not get their soup. Eventually, the soups showed up and within 4 minutes the entrees arrived while we were still eating their soups. Mom's entree was inedible, burnt eggplant. She sent it back. My sister ordered a pizza and the entire bottom was charred black. My sister's 2nd drink took 40 minutes to arrive. My entree was good. It was shrimp with sun dried tomato risoto. During dinner, my mom was hit in the head by accident with a tray...not bumped, hit. Then again in the shoulder without recognition or an apology. Once we finished eating and asked for the check, it took about 15-20 minutes to get the check. The table next to us seemed to be having such a miserable time, they got their food to go. Maybe, it was an off night and they were understaffed but we will never dine here again. On a side note, I used to waitress at an Outback Steakhouse along with many other restaurants, so I am not uptight about my food and service. It takes a lot to ruin my restaurant experience but this place somehow hit every button...ugh.
(1)
Maria K.
Come for the taste of heaven, stay for the family feeling! When this little pizzeria/gelateria opened in Media last year, we were first attracted to the decor, came once and started coming regularly. It's cozy and casual, with a coffee bar on the first floor where you can ask for a menu or just have a cappuccino and dessert and chat with the bartender. My winter favorite is hot chocolate, made the European way -- dark, thick, and foamy. Second floor (with a little third floor platform) is really beautiful, with a ceiling mural that depicts the town of Ariano and, we were told, the members of the owner's family. Floor-to-ceiling doors open in the summer to create a terrace. I like to sit at the counter downstairs, but if we get a table, we always go upstairs: the ambiance there is unequaled. Once we sat on the "third floor," and the only problem there were these little funny plastic utensils and glasses -- apparently, someone had dropped a knife from there, so they got plastic ones for the third floor. Ariano became popular so quickly that it gets very crowded now on Friday and Saturday nights and very noisy, so I prefer to go on weekdays, when it's more peaceful. Now to the food. I was astonished to discover there what I'd been missing ever since my semester in Italy in the 90's: the true taste and texture of Italian gelato -- creamy and light, very smooth, delicate mix of flavors, always something new in the display case -- strawberry, banana, hazelnut, chocolate, and more, with a special treat when a gelato is made with fruit or berries from the owner's garden. The pizza menu is a little lengthy, but it's very imaginative, and there's something on it for every palate if you have the patience to wade through it. If not, just ask for what you want: the crust is uniquely authentic, thin and tasty. My personal favorite is Giuseppe e Charlene: cabbage and parmesan on tomato sauce -- surprising, warming, and filling, comfortable like a Russian hearth. And then there is everything else on the menu, and to some of these dishes I've become a bit addicted. In appetizers, there's Scaperotta -- a perfectly balanced asparagus risotto with little scallops. Salads are fascinating combinations of fruits, cheeses, and greens, and I keep discovering new taste buds I didn't know I had. The only thing that keeps me from always getting my favorites on the menu is the specials. I do think that soups and fish are, perhaps, Ariano's most sure bets. New England clam chowder there is the best I've ever had -- and I've lived in New England. Fish specials are a little pricy, but you get what you pay for. They are what I would call "gourmet," every time: gently coordinated flavors and sides, perfect textures, sauces sometimes so unexpeted that "breathtaking" is the only word that comes to mind -- even though I expect the unexpected from Ariano's chef. Overall, Ariano is my favorite restaurant not only to eat but just to stop by for a cup of gelato and coffee. I never feel alone when I'm there: more than one server will stop to say "Hello" even on a busy night, when they run up and down the stairs like little meteors. I'll sit and listen to the music -- sometimes Italian opera, sometimes Italian pop, on Monday nights live guitar on the second floor. There's nothing better.
(5)
Curtis F.
We went last evening with a party of 6 for a 7:00 reservation. The table we were to be seated at did not vacate until 7:40; thankfully we were seated at an alternate table on the first floor by 7:10. Overbooking seemed to be a constant battle through the evening with little to no lobby or space to wait. The team coould definitely improve on scheduling and a space to wait. The service by our waitress Noelle was above par once we were seated - attentive, quick, thorough, etc. We ordered a series of homemade appetizers, salads and pizzas to share family style and could not have been more pleased. We had the Zia Rosa and Arancini and the Via Ottagio salad to start. The Zia Rosa and Ottagio salad were delicious, the Arancini lacked any real punch and was more rice than pancetta. We enjoyed the Bellapigna(eggplant), Giuseppe E Charlene(cabbage - the table favorite), Bisnonno Nicola (eggplant sliced), Mama Francesca (hot sausage and broccoli rabe), and Nonna Guisepina (sausage and sun dried tomatoes). All were delicious, but the cabbage stole the show. For desert we savored delicious gelatto and sorbettos made on site; pistacchio, toblerone, hazelnut, cherry, white chocolate chunk, etc. and delicious Italian coffees. Greta ambience and definitely mobbed and trendy. Be prepared to wait, but you will be glad you did. BYOB.
(4)
Ruth K.
Came here for dining under the stars as recommended by friends. We didnt make reservations so we had about an hour wait. We didn't mind because we hit up another bar beforehand. We then went to the bar since a table wasnt ready. The bar has its' own area. It was nice but nothing impressive. I got the Mackenzie black cherry cider, a pretty girlie drink that was just what i needed at the time. As appetizers, we shared the bang bang shrimp and baselice. The shrimp was pretty bangin! Im not a shrimp person but I was pleasantly surprised. It was breaded amd crispy but the sipping sauce just topped it off. The other app was clams inside a pizza bowl crust- also pretty good esp since the sauce was PURE BUTTER! We ended up dipping the rest of the bread bowl into the sauce. Yum! We shared the zio luciano and zio nicola, both of which were pizzas. They have a large pizza selection. The pizza was quite good, and I really liked the crust. We obviously were seated outside. The atmosphere was great- live music right next to us and happy people all around. The bar was kinda noisy though ( however it is dining under the stars week/month??!! ). The service wasn't bad. I may come back again if I'm in media and craving pizza.
(4)
Gina R.
Went to Ariano in Media tonight for the first time and I have to say if you don't love this place there is something wrong with you and we can no longer be friends. We sat outside in on a balcony and it was a beautiful night so that just added to the experience. I had a pear margarita (or 2) and it was really good but I pretty much love anything with good tequila in it. For appetizers we had steamed clams served in a pizza bread bowl which were really good but the true star of the night was Zia Rosa - Pan fried panko crusted artichoke hearts hand rolled in prosciutto crudo and finished with a fresh basil pesto cream I swear to god I could have eaten these all night long and actually considered getting a second order to take home! For dinner I had Pazzo Marco -Panko crusted lobster risotto balls stuffed with lump crab meat, basil pesto and fontina cheese finished with vodka aurora sauce. My friend had Zi-Tone - Sun dried tomato risotto, topped with sauteed shrimp, drizzled with a basil pesto sauce. For dessert we had amazing home made gelato with alcohol poured over it because why wouldn't you! The lemon basil gelato was amazing! Dan was our server and he was great and so much fun! He totally got our sense of humor and encouraged our ridiculousness!
(5)
Sonia S.
The appetizer was innovative and delicious (see photo) the beef tips and risotto cooked to perfection. Add to a wonderful meal the atmosphere of the Wednesday dining under the stars it made for a perfect date night!
(5)
Maxine C.
This place is packed on the weekends and don't even think about trying to get a table without a reservation during Dining Under the Stars. Entrees can be a little pricey but this is a great spot for date night in the spring and summer. Get a seat upstairs where you can enjoy the artwork on the ceiling and the breeze from the open windows. They have a bar but offer BYOB on certain nights. Can't go wrong with the personal size brick oven pizzas (but beware they can be burnt on the bottom sometimes) or one of their daily specials. They have a decent selection of gelato for dessert as well. From my understanding, Ariano is owned by the same people as Fellini's.
(4)
Christian B.
Trying new places in Media is a fun habit of mine, and learning to find new, interesting ways they bring you in is always fun. I can say that Ariano was a completely unexpected, yet completely wonderful experience, and I will be back soon to partake in some of their great options going forward. Atmosphere - Welcome to a distressed Italian restaurant, with both outdoor upstairs dining and lower level, people watching dining. The gentle sounds of a live acoustic guitar and aroma of warm baked pizza crust fills the air. Two things stand out when you first walk in: The large, extremely delicious looking gelato case with house made gelato, and a cozy, but well stocked bar. Nice greeting from our waitress as we entered. Waitstaff - Our waitress did a good job of bringing out food, and working with runners to make sure our water glasses did not run out. She also recommended some of the specials (more on that later), as well as gave some personal recommendations of entrees to eat during our meal. Food - We happened to dine here on a Monday, which if you've never been, is known as 'Mexican Monday'. I was very confused because this is an Italian restaurant, but the waitress assured me that the head chef knew how to make this food well. We started with some chips/salsa, & guacamole. it's amazing that with another Mexican place across the street and a few blocks up on State, that this Italian restaurant has the best in Media. Chunky, and simple, my diners really enjoyed the flavor and texture. So we expanded, and went with a steak quesadilla, mahi-mahi tacos, and a pizza to boot. While the pizza was liked by my other diners, it was not a personal favorite. What I did enjoy very much was the consistency and flavor of the other dishes. Tacos were perfect. It's my standard order when I try a new place, and between the thick fish and quality sides, these were done right. Add on the great steak quesadilla, and it was an unexpected delicious surprise night. Intangibles - Meal was not expensive at all. Dining for 3 before tip was less then $70! although we only had one diner get bar service. Right across the street from Media parking (which is free after 6pm) was nice for distance. They may move the gelato stand next door, as construction was going on what appears to be a smaller gelato shop so the restaurant can expand. We did not have any dessert on this meal, but will be back to try in the future. Overall - Good on price, location, and flavor. Was pleasantly surprised with Ariano's Mexican food. I'll have to update my review in the future if we go again for pizza, but I'm sure a different pie would have a better result. Don't forget live music some nights as well, so a great spot to get to as we move into the new season. Just another reason to love living near Media to try all these good spots.
(4)
R. S.
The food never disappoints, but the service is another matter. It's always something. Today, they hesitated to let us in and then rushed us out the door. In fact, my dining companion and I were eyeing the espresso machine and debating which flavors of gelato to end our meals with when the waitress arrived (bill in hand) and said something like: "You don't want to order anything else, right?" Well, not anymore. I guess they save coffee and dessert for the chosen few. It's a shame. I have a lot of respect for the chef/owner, whom I met on a previous visit, but the staff seems to take customers for granted.
(3)
Mike R.
PART 1 of my Saturday bang-bang. I woke up this past Saturday, made some coffee and sat outside. The sun was shinning, the birds were chirping and there was absolutely no humidity in the air. I could not waste such a perfect day like this by sitting around, it needed to be special. In all of my glutinous glory, I decided that a bang-bang in Media would be perfect. What is a bang-bang? A bang-bang is when you go to a restaurant and eat a full meal. Immediately after you're done, you walk out the door and go to your next destination, followed by.....you guessed it! Another full meal. Bang-bang's are best experienced with 2 totally different types of foods. Italian : Chinese Indian : Sushi The possibilities are endless...I contacted a friend who's appetite is just as ravenous as mine and we were off. As we were doing our menu window shopping throughout media, Ariano's really grabbed my eye. I must have walked by this place a dozen times and never paid it any mind. The menu is classic Italian but also has some dishes that you don't see very often. We agreed that this will be our first destination and we were seated in their outside, upstairs section. What an amazing view! If you decide to give this place a try and the weather permits, get the outside eating. Down to business. For some reason I am unable to find the exact name of the dish I had from their online menu, which leads me to believe that it was fairly new possibly? It was a bed of risotto with their amazing home-made tomato sauce, light oil, accompanied with little neck clams, shrimp, mussels and baby scallops. Wow! I could not believe how fresh the sea-food was. Another great thing was that this meal was fairly affordable and they did not skimp out on the seafood ingredients. The only aspect of the meal I would change is less butter in the risotto. This by no means had a negative effect on the meal, it was more of just a personal preference. This is one of those places where you cannot wait to really explore their menu. I like to think I may have played it a little safe with a dish like this but I am looking forward to trying some of their more authentic Italian dishes. PART 2 of the bang-bang, See "Dominic's Hand Carved Roast Beef and Roast Pork".
(4)
ML B.
4 stars. Waitstaff is competent. Food came out slowly but that was ok since we had time to chat. Eggplant dish tasted great with good texture. Upstairs seating was perfect for us. Ground level was packed with patrons and noisy. Not what we were looking for that evening. Upscale pizzeria with a broad menu which happens to include pizza.
(4)
Michael A.
Went a few weeks ago. One of the best Italian restaurants I've been to in Delaware County and the greater Philadelphia region. Awesome food, great atmosphere, good staff. BYOB on certain nights. Well all enjoyed our food. Don't have a bad thing to say about this place.
(5)
Greg M.
Great place for pizza or anything Italian in Media. Beautiful 2nd floor decorations and view over media!!
(5)
Precious D.
Great service one again. ..I tried the pizza and it was amazing...also had a veggie dish as my entree and added chicken...it was absolutely delicious and i had the rest for lunch...the fried desert with bananas was great the second time around...had somes drinks and they were made to perfection...
(5)
Sangwoo K.
This place is heaven. I left the area this past June, and I still have dreams about this place. The food is priced well, the decor is great, the servers are super friendly, and the pizzas (and appetizers and rustichelas [sandwiches]) are AMAZING. I've been here a few times, but the dishes that I still dream about are: 1. Melani: the portabella mushrooms, artichokes, peppers and islands of cheese on top of a spicy tomato sauce make this one hell of a pizza. I HIGHLY recommend this pizza to anyone (even to non-vegetarians like myself!). 2. Venditti: this is my girlfriend's favorite, and for good reason. It's simple, just ricotta cheese on tomato sauce with a bit of olive oil, but it's delicious. 3. Alla travaglini: this is a sandwich made with flatbread and it's just delicious. The pesto and red peppers really give you a burst of flavors. A plus is that is comes with a side of pan roasted potatoes, which are also amazing. 4. Arancini: if you liked fried things, cheese, and tomato sauce (and let's be real, you'd be crazy not to), you simply have to order this. This appetizer is good to share, but if you're like me, after one bite, you'll want the whole thing to yourself. Special Mention: Finalmente. This is just a bunch of mussels stewed in a delicious tomato sauce served in a bread bowl made of pizza crust. My sister ordered this a few months back and says she craves this everyday (and note, she lives in the Bay Area where amazing food is on every corner). Whenever my girlfriend and I used to come here, we would get 2 pizzas and a rustichela during the lunch time (smaller pizzas, lower prices), and would finish all of it (granted, I ate about 70% of the food). Their dessert pizza, I hear, is to die for. If you live within a 10 mile radius of this place, you really have to come here at least once.
(5)
Maria C.
We came here for dinner expecting a BYO (as advertised on their website) but when we arrived it was written that it is only BYO on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays and it was a Saturday. We considered canceling out reservation to go elsewhere and when we notified (who I assume is) the owner that we were canceling and he asked why, we politely explained we were expecting a BYO and would come back another night. He promptly asked us to stay and said he would allow us to bring our wine and that "I don't want to lose a first time costumer." That started me off in a positive direction for sure. Our food was good, we got the artichoke appetizer - which was heavy but amazing. We also got the tuna which was delicious and the filet minion - which was good but not great. For dessert we ordered two of the gelato liqueur pairings which were delicious, although it's probably hard to mess up, they have definitely come up with some great matches. Overall it was a great experience, the service was amazing and the owner was gracious and welcoming. I will definitely be back, in large part for their hospitality!
(4)
Alysha F.
We dined here for Media's weekly Dining Under the Stars event. The beautiful outside architecture of the building caught our eye first when we were previously in the area. We had pizza and wine last night and everything was delicious! The pizzas are a good side and loaded up with toppings. There are a TON of menu options here- ranging from salad to lobster and everything in between. Had great service even though they were quite busy. Will definitely be returning!
(5)
Stefanie G.
There are dozens of better places in Media, but not many of them are open on Monday, so we chose Ariano. We loved the balcony seating overlooking Olive Street with a view of State. There was a nice breeze so it was perfect as far as atmosphere. Everything else was just less than ok. The service was worse than the food, that's for sure. Long waits between seeing our very frantic and inexperienced waiter and lots of missed (flat soda, taking but not replacing silverware, sweet tea when unsweetened was ordered etc). I'm sure I would have squeaked out one more star had there been any seasoning on the asparagus risotto & roasted scallop dish. I learned that roasting scallops looks good on paper, tastes pretty bad. I wondered why the chef chose bay scallops for this preparation- all the sweet was just sucked right out of them! We were also baffled that on "Mexican night" there was not a single entree or appetizer that had beans in the ingredients list. They make quite a fuss about the special menu and special chef... Meh. The steamed clams in a pizza bowl is the one and only thing that earned stars. It was outstanding! So, get a balcony seat and order the clams appetizer. Then go somewhere else for dinner.
(2)
John S.
I wish this was better. I was psyched on eating one of their many pizza's, since I was told they have great pizza. Upon entering and heading up to the second floor we were created with an odd fishy smell that was quite disturbing but I really wanted pizza. Yes it's made differently then other pizzas around, however their descriptions do not match the actual pizzas. The one pizza we ordered came out entirely wrong. Another, a white pizza, came out with cold ricotta on top, no garlic sauce base or layer of cheese directly on the crust like NORMAL white pizzas out there. It was really dry and other then the sausage it was disappointing. I also ordered a mojito and it was served in a warm glass. Killed it right away for me. Three pizza and two drinks for $68... Not worth it. Simple as that, pretty disappointed. By the way no soap in the bathroom I was in, so we know the employees can't wash their hands before returning to work. GROSS!
(1)
Nikki B.
Came in for dinner with two friends 25 mins before closing and they were super nice about it. Waiter and other staff member made great food suggestions. Service was quick and attentive. Food was delicious. Would definitely recommend and will return. Prices for pizza aren't bad. Entrees and appetizers are on the more expensive side but not terrible.
(5)
Gerald H.
Stopped in for a Friday night meal with the boss about 5:30. Didn't have reservations but they weren't crowded yet. Manager? took us to the second floor- nice place overall. ATMOSPHERE: The place is very nice and the second floor has incredible views of the town. Can get crowded and be close quarters but we didn't experience that phenomenon. Very upscale place. FOOD: Food was good but there weren't any pasta dishes. The owner is the same as Fellini Cafe around the corner and as I understand the idea behind it... CAN A MAN GET SOME SPAGHETTI ATLEAST?! I ordered the chicken caprese.. (10/10) and the boss ordered the clams.. Snapper thing. (8/10) COST: Higher end but worth it. OVERALL: This place was good but I think the menu can be expanded a bit. I would definitely recommend it and I will be back as well.
(3)
Karen F.
We came on a super-busy Wednesday for Dining Under ste stars - and miraculously our table was ready & waiting even though there were throngs of others. The service was surprisingly good. The food? Just OK - and yes, I had read the reviews on yelp and yes, they are accurate - this place needs to step up their game on the food front. Pizzas are not my thing - but 3 of our group of 6 (well - 5 and an infant) have pizza. They seemed very doughy to me and many do not have sauce. (Cheese and coldcuts on bread.) My kid had the lobster-stuffed arrancina - and they were leaden with a greasy crusty exterior. I have had better but the 9 year old loved them. My dish was a fail. Tasteless salmon with too-vinegary chopped tomatoes on top. I ate the mashed potatoes and brocolli but left most of the fish. Azie's Salmon Teriyaki puts Ariano's salmon to shame! I will not be rushing back here. Disappointing menu and food.
(3)
P E.
I have been here several times after I first saw the place featured on a local TV show about places to eat out in Media. Service here is always pleasant, eat-in or take-out. My understanding is that t is owned by the same folks that own Fellini's around the corner so their menus do not overlap, hence the lack of pasta dishes on this menu. Food here is fine. We like the artichoke appetizer the best, and usually find ourselves ordering one of the pizzas or homemade gelato. You will get an interesting combination of choices for pies. Gelato was very creamy this visit. We got the hazelnut which did not have a strong taste of hazelnut but was perfectly creamy. I don't come here as often as I would like because I am often out with someone who can't get up the steps to the second floor. There are only several tables on the first level, then a bar, and the takeout gelato area. It's very busy, sometimes noisy, and very fish-bowlish.
(3)
Bob N.
My wife and I went for lunch on a quiet Monday and enjoyed the best Italian dining experience I have had outside of Italy. So many places in DelCo that have quality food do not have wine lists that are up to the food. That's not the case at Ariano. The size of the list is modest, but the selections, both by the glass and by the bottle, are great. They offer well balanced selections that are appropriate to the menu. The Zia Rosa artichoke heart and prosciutto appetizer is amazing -- lightly pan fried in a panko crust. Their risottos are also highly recommended. Save room for dessert as their homemade gelato topped with cordials are superb. Pair the gelato with their outstanding espresso and you are transported to a mini vacation in Italy. We can't wait to return!
(5)
Jenna M.
Came in the other night with a plan to share everything between us. The mussels app was outstanding. Small size mussels served in a giant bread bowl and covered in a spicy marinara. The artichoke app was to die for. They were coated in a panco breadcrumb and fried and wrapped with prosciutto. Can't wait to get them again. Both pizzas were just ok. The plain was nothing to write home about and the special pizza was a touch under cooked. I'll definitely be back to try some others though. Our server Nick was very attentive and informative about the food.
(4)
Andrea M.
Great food and lots of gluten free options. Service was fast and very friendly. Great outdoor seating!
(5)
Marie S.
Can't believe this restaurant doesn't have five stars on here. The atmosphere is nice, and the food is simple, fresh, healthy, gourmet and awesome!!! We went on a Sunday afternoon and sat downstairs (they have an upstairs and an outdoor deck) the staff was warm and attentive. I started with the White Cosmopolitan, which was delicious. We had the salad and sandwich combo. Salad was romaine Caesars and large. I had the special, a mahi mahi BLT and my husband had the prosciutto provolone. We split them both, the special (mahi mahi) was outstanding and the prosciutto was nice. The gelatos are great! I had the seasonal Dulce de Leche with sea salt. Fab! Finally, it's a small menu, it's gourmet sandwiches and pizzas and salads and aps thrown in for fun. We will definitely go back.
(5)
Jenny V.
Amazing food!! Appetizers to die for! Pizza was awesome!! Great time with friends and family..
(5)
Jared J.
Despite fantastic pizza, Ariano only deserves 3 stars due to the service. We did go on a Wednesday for Media's signature "dining under the stars" so a little commotion is expected. However, we first stood by our table to have it cleaned off for a solid 5 minutes before someone came over to wipe it down. Then, our waiter was not attentive and we had to wait a lot for him! We waited 10 minutes to get the check! Terrific pizza though, best pizza in media!
(3)
B. W.
Definitely one of my top five pizzas in Delaware County. Unlike the standard pizzeria, where the customer requests the toppings and sizing, each pizza at Ariano is its own entity, blended with ingredients that work in concert. The difference is not unlike drinking at a dive bar versus a brewpub; if you have expectations on how pizza should be made this isn't the place for you, but if you're willing to try something new and different, you're in for a treat. There are at least 30 different pizzas listed on the menu, and it's constantly changing. However, if you had something you liked that's not on the menu, the staff are happy to prepare it for you. I'm particularly fond of the Regina: hot sausage, grilled portobello, fresh mozzarella, basil pesto, and stewed tomatoes. Each pizza is 12" in diameter and slightly greasy, light on the bread but big on crust. The layering of the toppings is by no means traditional; there's no bed of cheese over the sauce, everything is spread throughout the surface, sometimes making each bite quite literally a different experience. Since I enjoy the pizza so much I rarely get anything else, but the Zia Rosa, which is panko crusted artichoke hearts rolled in prosciutto, is delightful. There's a great selection of beer, wine, and liquor, though I fear the bar is a bit pricey. The only real knock on Ariano stems from its popularity; it's a small restaurant, despite being three floors, so you're likely to rub elbows with nearest table and have difficulty navigating out of your seat. If you go when it's not as busy, though, the ambiance is spectacular.
(4)
T. S.
Met some friends here for dinner when I was in town for business, and we all took advantage of their $30 on Tuesday deal: Any (non-special) salad or appetizer, plus any entree or pizza, plus gelato. (After I got home, I looked at the menu online, and realized that the combination of items that I ordered totaled $30, so I saved a whole $0 by ordering more food than I wanted! What a deal! That's my own fault, though, and no reflection on the restaurant.) My appetizer, pan fried artichoke hearts rolled in prosciutto and drizzled with a pesto cream sauce, was not only delicious but beautifully plated. My pizza had eggplant, zucchini and peppers sauteed with garlic and pine nuts, drizzled with olive oil, topped with asiago. I would have preferred it with roasted garlic, to be honest; the garlic was minced and barely cooked, so it was a little too pungent. The hazelnut gelato was served in a coffee cup, three decent sized scoops, and tasted divine. They had Crabbies Orange Ginger Beer on their drink specials, which was a nice bonus. We had excellent service, the view from the second floor was quite pleasant, the decor is lovely. I brought half a pizza back to my hotel. I ended up forgetting it in the hotel fridge, which was a little disappointing until I realized there was no way I would be able to eat the undercooked garlic for lunch and remain in polite company.
(4)
Tyrion L.
Our family walked in at 5:30 and were looked at like we had 3 heads, I guess because we had a young child with us. We said we didn't have a reservation and that evoked a response that was a mixture of incredulity and sneer. We got our overpriced pizza that was not terrible but simply meh. Not recommended.
(1)
Jess V.
Love love love!!!! Did I say Love!!!!??! My first time at Ariano was new years eve 2013 and I fell in love the food is amazing, great atmosphere cozy but very very nice. The owner personally said hello during my dinner. Needless to say Ive gone back again and again and again, I have yet to dislike anything on the menu the food here amazes me over and over again, if I had to pick my favorite dish I'd have to say the entire menu! They always have specials which I highly recommend. Drinks specials are also yummy the sangrias are the best, and BONUS Sun-Tues is BYOB. Staff is very friendly and helpful. And I absolutely must not finish this review without mentioning their homemade gelato! To-die-for the flavors are always different and are sure to leave you wanting more. Enjoy!
(5)
Amanda S.
Went in for dinner last night and loved it. Our server Ben was great, the food was delicious and the atmosphere was warm and fancy. The goat cheese salad I had was in special but I hope to be able to get it again and again, so good. Thanks for the great birthday dinner!
(5)
Michelle B.
We had great food at this restaurant and I love the ode to Italy with the murals on the walls. It is a lovely atmosphere and I will definitely go back. I also love that it is Byob on certain nights!
(4)
Lisa R.
Met friends here for lunch and was so impressed. Outstanding pizza and arancini and my friends were very pleased with the beer selection. Oh, and the gelato was excellent! I recommend the hazelnut. And it was all topped off by the friendly owner and and waiter Rocco. I'll definitely be going back for dinner very soon.
(4)
Debbie H.
I can't think of any reason to give less than 5 stars. My friend and I arrived at 6:45 before the rest of our party of 6 arrived. I assume it was the owner (or Manager) who greeted us at the door and told us our table was all ready for us and we could be seated if we like. All 6 of us got yummy cocktails. I got a amaretto cocktail which was awesome. I also ordered a mozzarella/tomato app which was wonderful. And last I ordered a filet which was cooked perfect and was very tender. All the other meals of chicken and seafood looked wonderful too. Our waiter was extremely nice. I totally would return. Was a little noisy for a Friday night but that's the sign of a thriving restaurant in Media.
(5)
Lisa L.
We have been to this place countless times and it is consistently good. I love the pizza variety. Tasted the risotto last time with lollipop lamb chops and it was delicious! Just what you want a risotto to be, hearty and creamy. The salads are also creative and tastey. And we have always had good service. Edoecially when we had a somewhat large group with kids! They worked hard and were very understanding!
(5)
Bernadette S.
Wish it was larger
(3)
Glynnis O.
I can count on one hand how many times I have dined here, and can say with certainty that it's an absolutely forgettable and unremarkable experience. The decor is beautiful, located on a somewhat quiet side street, so it's got that going for it. The pizza selections (20 different pizza selections? Really?) include limp spinach, tasteless cheese on its last leg, thickly cut vegetables which seemingly lack seasonings, and meat tossed from the back of a freezer into a rolling boil, and a pathetic excuse for prosciutto. At least the tomatoes weren't translucent, but I digress... The service is sub par, the menu aspires to be more than it really is - a woeful lack of simple and honest flavor hidden behind a smokescreen of "modern" Italian cuisine. The busy nature of the menu is an ineffective facade for the lack of true Italian roots- fresh, simple, and satisfying food prepared without pretentiousness. Their pizza crust earns one star, the decor, another. There are much better choices in Media than Ariano.
(2)
C K.
Overall disappointment. The venue is beautiful, really nice place. Sat upstairs at an oddly placed table but still fine. The service was fine. Attentive but not oot which is fine. The food needs help, badly and the prices as well. A basic salad tossed with croutons and no tomato or anything was $8.50. I ordered lobster risotto balls for dinner. It was served with a odd tomato sauce on top, mashed potatoes and broccoli. The risotto balls were warm at best. Just not very flavorful. My husband ordered a fliet mignon dish and they were tiny pieces of fliet already cut up. Odd. The pinot grigio ordered was I suppose the house at $8 glass and I couldn't drink it. Terrible. Dessert was offered and none (including gelato) were under $7.50. Coffee was good! This is not fellini caliber food, quality however they are commanding high price point for low quality dining.I have dined ariano a few times in years and this is probably the worst quality, most expensive experience. Not going back.
(2)
Amanda F.
My friends and I stumbled upon this place one night in Media looking for a place to eat. I love really love it here the pizzas here are absolutely delicious and have creative yet authentic tastes to them. Their gelato is also good. Their atmosphere however is less than desirable. The acoustics on the upper dining area are terrible so you won't be able to hear you dinner partners very well if its a crowded night. But overall still a great place.
(4)
June L.
I love their pizzas, which have a thin, crispy crust and amazing topping combinations. Their gelato and nutella pizza on the dessert menu are also particularly memorable. It's overall a solid date spot or fancier place to go with friends.
(4)
Alex A.
This is my 2nd time eating here, and first for my wife and son. The first time was (from what I can recall) good but nothing spectacular. One thing I did recall was that they offer gluten free pizza crusts for all of their pizzas. Hence the reason why we returned. This time, they each got pizza, which were both good. The gluten free crust was obviously pre-made, but decent nonetheless. The cocktail was good also. The real highlight, though, was the Cioppino. The waiter (who did a very nice job, I might add) recommended that over the tuna special. And it was OUTSTANDING! Loads of fresh fish and seafood in a nice thick and somewhat spicy sauce, over a mound of delicious risotto. This is different from most traditional Cioppini I've ever had- and BETTER, WAY BETTER! The homemade gelato at the end also hit the spot! We shall return here, for sure!
(5)
Denise W.
Went last night and everything was awesome.. The artichokes stuffed and wrapped in prosciutto was perfect , ceassr salad had just the right amount of dressing and the venditti pizza had fresh ricotta and sweet tomatoes , great wine and home made gelato ..
(5)
Kate L.
Wide variety of flatbreads/pizzas. We love going here with a group of friends and ordering a few different pizzas to all share. They also have a fantastic brunch on Sundays where they make a wonderful breakfast pizza. My husband and I truly love the pizza at Ariano--but be warned, it does not heat up well the next day. This pizza must be enjoyed fresh the night of...or else it's a chewy, lost cause.
(5)
Tony D.
I stopped here with a group of friends after we all had dinner at Fellini's on Saturday night. You will be hard pressed to find better Gelato around. I am a big fan of Vaccaro's in Baltimore, but admit that Ariano has it all over them. We tried the pistachio, nutella crunch, peanut butter stracciatella, and vanilla stracciatella. All of them were amazing. They melted in your mouth. There is no better way to top of your night out in Media, than with a gelato and cappuccino from Ariano.
(5)
Alex S.
The Gelato here is delicious, a pesonel favorite for me is their lemon basil. It is nice to know they make it too. I feel this is a true statement because the lemon flavoring various. The inconsistency tells me that they are making it. The rest of the food I have had here is okay, it does not do anything for me.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Nicole R.
We used to frequent here often when it was BYOB. Haven't been back in some time because they changed the BYOB option. The food and service has gone WAY downhill since our previous visits. Hostess was WONDERFUL and went out of her way to find us when our table was ready. She was friendly and accomodating. Waitress, was... well... to put it bluntly... really awful. Little/no eye contact, virtually ignored us for 99% of meal except to clear some plates (which we weren't done with ath the time and tried to stop her but she ignored us) and drop our check at the end. I literally took 1 bite from both my app and my entree (didn't care for either AT ALL) and she didn't even ask why they were untouched. She removed our plates and SET THE TABLE for the next guests, before our dessert even came. We ate our desserts trying not to ruin the new plates and wrapped silverware she placed there for the next guest. I hate to call her out on here by name, but seriously - the girl who worked the downstairs/outside this past Saturday night... you would've gotten DOUBLE the tip from us if you simply were pleasant, friendly, or helpful (yes, I still tipped over "base", but we normally do 25-30%) so you lost out on at least $10 on our table for you miserableness. I got the Arancini and Esperanza (both of which I've gotten a few dozen times in teh past.) Both were virtually inedible. Arancini was served with what appeared to be chunky canned tomatoes. NO flavor at all and NOT the same as I've gotten in past. And the Arancini were so cold the the cheese inside literally didn't even stretch. I would bet it was sitting out for at least 20 minutes before we were served. (Which explains why it took waitress literally 22 minutes to even take our drink order?!) Esperanza was CRUNCHY. Literally. The entire bottom was burnt SO badly that it was like eating pretzels. How they were able to burn the entire bottom half of my meal, yet STILL serve it ice cold is beyond me. On the flip side, their dessert (Xango) was phenomenal. I am a HUGE fan of Fellini's...and can't believe the EXTREME difference in food quality and service. I'm so let down, this used to be a favorite, but not anymore.
(1)Pao P.
Large pizza selection....wife order some fish but was given chicken. We didn't mind cuz it looked good and was good. Wasn't busy at all around 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon.
(4)K A.
Went here for a late lunch on Sunday. Sat outside, service was good. They had a small, but good beer selection. Food was good, I had a pepperoni, sausage & fresh mozzarella brick oven pizza; the sauce & dough were great & I am very picky about my pizza, but I approve. Hubby had the lunch special salmon BLT panini which he said was so very good. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Delilah C.
Live in Media and dine out frequently. Was out for a late lunch and unfortunately We picked Ariano. Wow $40 later and a horrible, horrible lunch. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Noise level is beyond tolerable. SO LOUD. We each had panini and both were disgusting. Soggy and oily. We ate because were starving. The paninis came with a side of greasy oil with some day old roasted potatoes in them. We have given this place 3 tries since opening and it just gets worse. Sorry we wont be back.
(1)James M.
The pizza I ordered taste excellent. They have a really large selection of pizza to choose from. However, it was very crowded and the acoustics were lacking. There is a weird echo and you had to shout to communicate.other than that it was good. I will go back for sure.
(3)Nick D.
Really nice building, but the food just didn't do it for me. I went with a group of guys so we ordered several appetizers, one of which was pizza. It was a plain margherita pizza, but wasn't anything special. Just a note on the pizzas, while there are a ton of options, some of them are kind of ridiculous (salmon with asparagus and cream sauce?). I get it that they are trying to appeal to a wide range of people, but there is something to be said for simple ingredients. As for my entree, just ok. I had the chicken rolled with prosciutto, provolone and broccoli rabe. They are three very strong flavors, however the dish was somehow bland. Maybe the most perplexing thing was the side of rice. This is an Italian place and they served sides of rice with all meals. Not even risotto, regular white rice. No pasta, in fact there isn't a single pasta dish on the menu. Quite strange. Another quick tip, we sat on the 3rd floor, which was probably the coolest seat inthe house, but you have to go up a spiral staircase to get there. That means tough to get up there for the servers so they don't come around as often as you'd like. Bottom Line: The decor is great, all the walls and ceilings are intricately painted. Unfortunately the food doesn't quite stack up.
(2)Erin M.
2nd visit after self imposed hiatus for years due to the loud nature of this restaurant. We were a group of 5 sat at a six-top on the 2nd floor. Biggest issue: Noise. The entire restaurant is so noisy that I couldn't hear my friends seated 2 spots away. The wait staff clumps up and down the stairs so loudly that it rumbles the entire table. Incredibly distracting. My ears were physically ringing after spending 2 hours in the restaurant. Service: Ok. Nothing extraordinary. The food runners were not familiar with the plates when serving. They presented the plates "auction" style where the first to speak up could have it...Biggest pet peeve was that all of the food was served and cleared from the end of the table. The staff did not approach the seated individuals although there was plenty of room. The staff was anchored at the end of the table and handed plates to us to "pass along" even after a warning that they were very hot. Food: Fine. I ordered the Luciano pizza. Crust was much thicker than I expected and not as flavorful. I have definitely had better. It is not what I had expected for brick oven in an iitalian restaurant. . Overall: I will not be returning due to the noise and service issues. It's a shame bcse from the exterior it looks like a great little neighborhood venue. Deceiving-
(1)Alicia O.
Ariano is a cute place. How would I describe their food? Meh. I ordered a salad and shared a pizza with my husband. My salad was similar to a caprese salad but they added olives as well. I love tomatoes, but these tomatoes were flavorless. The pizza we ordered was one of the specials that night and it had chicken, portobello mushrooms, spinach, and sun dried tomatoes. Not bad, but the bottom was a bit oily. My mother-in-law ordered the cioppino and I had a couple of the mussels from that and realized I should have just ordered a bunch of mussels. One thing I will say: get the lemon basil sorbetto! It was so lemony and light, but also creamy and smooth. I noticed they have their gelato and sorbetto right at the counter when you walk in, so you could just walk off the street and order it if you wanna skip the food.
(2)Rita C.
Alright, Ariano, you may have won me over. I went back here with a few friends and decided to try one of the entrees since the pizza was so blah last time. I ordered the Pazzo Marco (Panko Crusted Lobster Risotto Balls stuffed with Lump Crab Meat, Basil Pesto, and Fontina Cheese) and was pretty excited because I had never tried something like this before. Oh my god. Holy Lord, it was amazing! The risotto was cooked perfectly and shaped into three baseball-sized balls of deliciousness (...did I really just say that?). They also came served with a side of piping hot vodka sauce that was also very good and a side of what looked like broccoli rabe, which really didn't interest me because I had lobster risotto with crab and cheese to dominate. Go to Ariano - skip the pizza - order the entrees. The end.
(3)Marc P.
Mmmmm delicious pizzas and a nice atmosphere. I went here in the summer and sat on the second floor with the windows all open and it made for a nice lunch date. Like most other places in Media the tables were cramped but it was too busy so it was manageable. The pizzas were very good and they have quite a few to choose from. Hopefully I'll try the bakery downstairs as that also looked very good. This place isn't to die for but it's definitely somewhere to try.
(3)Holly N.
I've been going to Ariano for a couple of years now; started very shortly after they opened up. The restaurant is very attractive, like somebody stated in an earlier post. The pizza is great and there are so many options to choose from. They used to be a BYOB but starting in November 2012 they acquired a liquor license (sad face). The service is typically very friendly, although because I know one of the managers my opinion may be a little biased. They do have plastic plates and glasses, which I was told one time is because they have a very steep spiral staircase that leads to the 3rd level of seating and at one point glasses/plates were dropped and broken (yikes). I have never dealt with my pizza getting soggy because of the plastic plates, but then again that's probably because I eat so quickly haha! Their gelato is also great, which I usually get with an espresso for dessert. If you're looking for pizza/Italian and you're in Media, I'd suggest Ariano for something a little different.
(4)Joe P.
Was left really unexcited after my dining experience here last night. The scallop and risotto appetizer had potential but the scallops were overcooked and the risotto was bland. We also had this fried cheese appetizer with red sauce. The fried cheese was OK but the sauce way way to spicy and overpowered by sun dried tomatoes. My main course was a pizza with chicken, provolone and herbs. It was very oily and bland. Thought that the pizza would be really good given its prominence on the menu.
(2)Karen W.
We like this place for pizza take-out and gelato-- but Never on Monday. Must be chef's day off, and maybe the coat check person gets to play with the pizzas? Otherwise, we like this place a fair amount. It would be three stars, except for Monday.
(2)Patricia A.
The restaurant is really attractive. The pizza is very good But the fact that it was cooked to perfection quickly was forgotten When the plastic plate that is was served on created so much steam that the pizza became soggy and when I tried to salvage the non soggy part my plastic fork Broke in half oh and I hope you don't mind your wine served in water glasses. It seems that all that plastic has to go Environmentally and it certainly downgrades the decor.
(2)Tim B.
They've cut down on the number of pizzas but guys, SERIOUSLY, stop with the goddamn slabby, sloppy presentations and with the flavorless toppings. I ordered the pesto and chicken pizza recently and the chicken came in thin square slices topped by big slabs of cheese. The chicken itself was basically boiled or otherwise cooked without any taste whatsoever. It looked like tofu and tasted about the same. The cheese was just barely melted: no browning, no real sense that it had been cooked. Ariano's failure is entirely on the technical side. Get someone in there who knows how to make the damn pizzas and how to prep the ingredients.
(3)Jeff S.
If you like pizza, Italian settings, and a nice place to eat than you'll really like Arianos. Ive eaten there a few times and I haven't had a bad experience yet. The food has always been really great and the service is always on key! Ive always only had the pizzas there, which are almost like gourmet pizzas. These aren't your average pizza hut, local pizza joint pies, no these are almost like beefed up flat breads in a way. A ton of different varieties that you can try something new each time. They used to be BYOB but as of recently they just got their liquor license and now charge for opening your wine and are slowly phasing it out. That was a bummer but I spoke with the bartender and when he told me the different beers they would be bringing in shortly it raised my spirits! Beers from Italy and other great craft beers! The place itself is a really neat building too with two floors and a neat little loft area with seating and windows all around. The ceiling has a great mural as well which I heard was the story of the owners family over in Italy. Definitely a great place to take a night and try it out!
(4)Alicia F.
This place is amazing. The owner and the staff are super friendly and knowledgeable and everything is really, really delicious. Their pizza crust is like none other, and their specials are always amazing. Go. Now.
(5)L M.
Must say I was not expecting much after looking at the reviews. I was meeting relatives here, their choice, and was pleasantly surprised. Sat upstairs on the balcony, great vib. I had the veal piccata, very nicely done. Appetizers of Braciole and the artichoke wrapped in Prosciutto were tasty, I'm not a fan of breaded fried food so would have preferred the artichokes not deep fried, but I would order again. Nice glass of wine with dinner and a great cup of latte to finish. I'm on a diet so the gelato was skipped, looked good though! Would love to try some of the pizzas! This place is worth a visit, watch out for the breaded deep fried though. .
(3)Roo M.
The pizza is yummy and the guacamole is great but expensive. Everything tastes very fresh. My only complaint is that outta if the 4 times I have been there while going to the bathroom I was bumpedinto by the staff with no apology. I didn't see free body slams in the menu! The sangria is strong but not very good:( The classical guitarist adds so much to the experience! Hive five to that guy!
(4)Matthew S.
Horrible service, dull, not fresh food. The decor is nice, the place is actually a really nice restaurant, but staff management needs some help. Pizza was 'ok', I've had better pizza at food chains. The toppings were canned, not fresh, the kids meals are just nasty, but their salads were fresh, which is just out of place compared to the rest of the food. Too bad, because this place has such potential, I just wish they would get their act together food and staff wise. Save your cash and hit up some other local joints in Media. I just wish I had looked at Yelp beforehand, I see the reviews are not that great for this place.
(1)Wyatt S.
Much like their across-the-street neighbors, Dos Gringos, I'm amazed at how harshly the Yelp community is treating this wonderful addition to Media! I think a lot of people are reviewing the restaurant they want and not the restaurant they have - in my experience, it's important to remember that distinction. Ariano is a great casual restaurant serving up unique pizza varieties that you simply won't find this side of downtown. I've eaten there about half a dozen times and have never experienced the unfortunate poor service that some have complained about; I've experienced waits here and there, but I guess nothing that felt uncomfortable for me. During dinner hours the place can be cramped and frantic and that might leave a bad taste in your mouth if you want a quiet and peaceful night out, but again, knowing what you're in for is important when choosing a restaurant. Anyway, the focus for me is undoubtedly the pizza. The pies they serve up are as delicious as they are unique. My personal favorite is the Toluca - trim NY strip with guacamole and chorizo that has a very slight bite to it - but experimenting and trying offerings slightly out of your comfort zone is just as fun as falling back on a reliable choice. Chicken with pesto sauce, fontina and caramelized onions, cabbage and cheese; there are many memorable items on the menu. Finally, I have to mention the gelato. You can get a few scoops for dessert or walk in off the street for quick, over the counter service. It is consistently creamy, flavorful, and wonderful. My three-year old can't walk near that area of Media without demanding a stop for some strawberry or stracciatella! In closing, embrace Ariano for what it offers - decently priced, unique food that is as good as it gets.
(5)Rob M.
The food is delicious the decor is awesome best place ever! It's cool how its three floors. Nice atmosphere! I like the spiral stair case! The pizza is the best!!!!!!!!!
(5)Rachel L.
I went to Ariano's on a Saturday night around 6 pm. We were promptly greeted and seated by the friendly host. We sat upstairs on the 3rd floor which gave us an incredible view of the paintings on the ceiling; such a pretty sight! The food in this restaurant is devine! We were with a party of 5 and ate lots of heavenly food! I'll start with the appetizers...our group ordered mussels in red sauce. These yummy suckers were served in a delicious bread bowl. The mussels were served hot and they were so tasty. The bread bowl was so good, we started picking at it and wound up eating that, too! We also ordered two salads. The first one was called the Romangulo. It came with pistachio nuts, sliced granny smith apples, gorgonzola cheese spread throughout the salad with a red raspberry dressing, and red onions sliced nice and thin! The other salad was made with a gorgonzola cheese dressing. They were both fresh, crisp, and the portion was plentiful. We shared with our group since the portions were so big! Another person in our party ordered the Zia Ernesta which is mozzarella with fresh tomatoes and olives...the word fresh does not do the tomato quality justice. These tomatoes were so yummy it was like they were just picked from the vine. Oh, dear, don't let me forget the meatballs! These were on special the evening we went and we were told they may go on the late night menu as a permanent food choice. We told our waiter they should be put on the regular menu --- yes, they are that good! These meatballs were seriously the size of softballs. We had ordered two plates of these. They have cheese on the inside of the meatballs, and there is also melted cheese draped on the top of them. The red sauce on top of the meatballs complemented this appetizer. One person at my table made a comment about how he could eat 10 of thee things. He's right! They were incredible! I'm a big carb person, so found the fresh bread they served us to be heaven! The bread was hearty, and fresh from the oven! A carb queen's dream come true! Pass the butter, please! We wound up sharing all of the entrees since there were so many of us. Two people in my party had the filet...out of this world and cooked to perfection! The filets were covered in a glaze with gorgonzola cheese on top. Another person had a seafood medley type of dish which was called Otino Cioppino. This dish had snapper, shrimp, bay scallops, calamari, mussels, clams, and hot sausage served over risotto. The dish was HUGE and delicious, to say the least. It was served with a red sauce that was to die for! Another person had the Pazzo Marco which is Panko Crusted Lobster Risotto balls stuffed with lump crab meat...and lots of it! It was covered in a basil pesto sauce with and fontina cheese. This dish was in my top 2 favorite of the evening. It was amazingly delicious! I ordered the Esperanza entree. This was my other favorite entree of the evening. It's spinach and ricotta cheese layered between lightly breaded eggplant served with a vodka. Again, a huge hit at my table! The bread crumb layers were just the right amount and the eggplant was super delish! The sauce served on top of this entree was a homerun hit! Many of the entrees we ordered came with a baked potato and vegetables. The veggies looked like they were grilled. They were fresh and cooked just right! Now....onto the improtant part...dessert! Our group shared a thin crusted pizza dessert that was covered in nutella. If you're a fan of this hazelnut chocolate spread, this is the dish for you! Each slice had a fresh strawberry on it and a sprinkling of powdered sugar. We ordered a bunch of gelato and athey brought us a bunch of sppons so we could share it. My favorite of the evening was the cinnamon, which tasted like a yummy for your tummy cinnamon cookie! We also tried lemon...the taste was very refreshing! There was also a hazelnut gelato which was decadent, and a vanilla that had chocolate swirled through it. Is there any better way to end your evneing of good food? Yes! With the dessert they served us! It was unreal! Our waiter was funny, kind and most importantly attentive. He met our ever need throughout our dining experience at this restaurant. He made sure we were happy and had everything we needed throughout the evening. What more could a girl want? The owner of the restaurant came around to each table to chat and find out how everyone's meals were. What good customer service! He was friendly, attentive, and made sure our dining experience was the best on possible! We let him know how happy we were with our food and overall dining experience. Really, it doesn't get any better than this restaurant! I highly recommend this Ariano's --- it was a huge hit for everyone at our table. We will definitley be returning back for one of the best dining experiences we ever had ! Cheers to Ariano's!
(5)Jessica K.
Arianos is a beautiful restaurant, a very noisy one also though. I've found that going there for lunch on a weekday is when you're going to get the best service. Even than though the waiters don't seem at all friendly. I feel like the pizzas are a hit or a miss, you might get the most delicious pizza or you might get one that's just "so-so". I recommend this place to a person who likes to go out to lunch of weekdays, and does not mind unhappy waiters.
(3)Dav B.
I have visited arianos many times since it opened. The pizza is thin crust and fantastic. Many options of pizza, at least 20. The lobster and crab risotto balls with vodka sauce and veggies are excellent. Service is usually good. Same owner as Fellinis in Media. Love this place, sit upstairs of you can. Very reasonable prices. Go!
(4)C P.
My husband and I went here right after our honeymoon in 2011. We had such an abysmal experience that we wrote a Yelp review right after we got home. For some unknown reason, that review is no longer on here. I suspect that friends and family members of Ariano flagged our review until it got taken off. How disingenuous. What about fixing the myriad problems with your restaurant instead of erasing people's honest feedback about it? Bottom line: the food is absolutely awful, I mean inedible. Service is extremely inattentive. And don't come here unless you enjoy paying top dollar for a meal that you're going to eat off of a scratched-up plastic plate.
(1)Chris H.
A complete disappointment redeemed only by the nice weather. We went here with a group of eight for Dining Under the Stars. I had the Regina, a really tasty pizza with spicy sausage, mozzarella, portobella meshrooms, and stewed tomatoes. Unfortunately that's the end of the positives about Ariano. Once seated the waitstaff was fumbling and awkward to converse with. It took well over an hour for our order to come out and even then not everything arrived at once, some items were wrong, and half were cold. Inexcusable. The pizzas ranged in price from $10 to $20 and while mine was enjoyable every other that I tried at the table was bland, bland, bland. And small. In no way worth the wait. On top of that the manager apparently gave the bottle of wine we brought to another table for...some reason and offered us a replacement bottle probably stolen from some other unfortunate patron. Argh you know what? I'm getting mad again just writing this review. Ariano well earns that coveted one star from me. The apathetic and unapologetic waitstaff was just the cherry on top of the horrible dining experience sundae so I'm taking another point off. Definitely won't be going back.
(1)Mel A.
If you have a beer on your 'specials' list that's $17 dollars--at a place like this, not even fine dining--you should absolutely list the price... OR instruct your server to notify guests that are interested that the price is higher than most beverages. Extremely annoyed that we ordered several of these ridiculously priced beers without being informed that they were so costly. This place is a ripoff. We will not be returning.
(1)Chelsea P.
Great and fresh addition to Media! The service was impeccable but they were out of a lot of ingredients including the whole wheat dough which I wanted to try. The pizza was great, and I topped off the meal with a scoop of chocolate gelato. Even drank Oranciatta Pellegrino to top off the Italian experience. Perfection I tell u! Thank u Ariano!
(4)Katie L.
I was very tempted to give Ariano a 1, but I might have convinced myself out of it. I read the reviews on Yelp and thought, all of this couldn't possibly be true. However, these are a number of SHOCKINGLY TRUE facts (both good & bad) about Ariano: 1. The staff is either over worked or just bad at their jobs. We were ignored for over 40 minutes, sitting with our menus sipping water. We couldn't even get any waiter's attention - they purposefully do not look at you as they walk by. When one finally came close enough that my friend was able to GRAB her, a waiter came to our table about five minutes later. "Oh, have you been helped yet?" No, I just sit here with my menu for fun. Because it's pretty. And I like it. 2. The plates are PLASTIC! The cups are PLASTIC! The shaker for the red pepper flakes is PLASTIC! Unforgivable. It's quite heavy plastic (not picnic plates), so I can't imagine they saved a ton of money. I wonder if it's because the restaurant has some stairs that they made this choice? I just can't imagine any good reason why even a casual dining restaurant should serve $15 pizzas on plastic. 3. Their crust is really, really good. Maybe the only reason they earned that second star. 4. The menu is daunting, but there really must be something for everyone. Even a pizza that didn't have cheese, so I didn't have to deal with someone looking at me like I'm an alien when asking for a cheese-less pizza. I had to really FORCE myself not to tip 20%. I just couldn't. This place has been open long enough that they should have their stuff together. I took that extra dollar and shoved it back into my friend's hands. Take that, Ariano.
(2)Vivian R.
Bad service doesn't necessarily mean bad food. And there are enough bad-food places out there that I'm willing to sit through moments of bad service just so that I can have good food satisfy my palate. If I had been scared away by bad-service reviews, I would also have never tried numerous other restaurants that have since become my go-to places for a flavor unique and removed from the usual blah. I have yet to experience bad service when I visit Ariano. However, I will qualify my review with the note that we have been there only for lunch/brunch and an afternoon gelato. So on with our 3-hour tour... Our first visit was during our staycation here in my home town, at the end of June of this year. It was completely on a whim in our mission to venture away from our usual haunts in Media. We were tempted by their pizzas, and our whim led us to a delicious meal of the Melazzo and Regina, with a crust that others have also noted is quite good and unique, even through the opaque curtains of bad service. We finished our meal with gelato all around (and with 8 owl eyes smiling at the selection in the gelato case). While reading their menu, we spotted that they had breakfast pizza, so with that fly in our eye and idea in the back of our minds, we headed into... Our second visit. It was later that same week, for an afternoon gelato break with my Baby1. The gelato experience there really is the closest I've had to true Italian gelato, of my attempts to find true gelato this side of the pond. There are enough un-cleaned-to-the-bottom bowls of "gelato" in various establishments up and down the eastern seaboard to prove my attempts (really? you call this gelato? and it's supposed to be italian on top of that? how about trying first with one part, and then with the other?). The fragola, strawberry for those on this side of the pond, is smooth and creamy - not an easy feat considering that catering to the majority leaves us with "gelato da fragola" that is either an icy strawberry-flavored clump of sorbet or sherbet, or strawberry ice cream that has had a name change and, I'm sure, a botox treatment or two. AND - it's not super sweet - another counter-majority feat. They have, however, called their strawberry gelato "sorbet" to help alleviate some level of confusion for patrons. But Baby1 only likes vanilla, so it's all she'll eat. We vowed we'd return for... More savories, on our third visit. We made our excursion in hopes of getting the breakfast pizza. We got there at 1pm, too late for breakfast pizza. But we did order their monstrosity-sized frittatas for lunch, which left us full enough to practically skip dinner, if not for the long walk we took in the afternoon. And we did have more gelato. Then, most recently, we conquered our mission with... Yesterday, when we finally got there before noon and were able to enjoy their breakfast pizza. And what an experience it was. Between the delicious crust (even Baby1 ate it, who usually leaves pizza crusts untouched!), the eggs with fresh parsley on top (such a fresh flavor, I can't believe I hadn't tried this already!), the marscapone and fruit on my pizza (NO NO, I REFUSE TO SHARE, EVEN WITH MY OWN OFFSPRING! BACK, BACK, GET YOUR OWN!), clear lemon-lime soda (Pellegrino limonata?) and coffee that was phenomenal, I've decided that good food is indeed worth waiting for, enough so that I will venture into the infamous dinner course here next time just so I can see for myself exactly how bad it is. Can I also note, how well behaved both Baby1 and Baby2 were, which leads me to my most recent theory: good food yields well-behaved children. Our waiter was wonderful, never leaving our coffee empty, and the owner was warm and welcoming as always. And, of course, we had gelato. Even Baby2 who usually hates ice cream enjoyed the fragola as well as Baby1's vanilla. So here's the verdict: go for the good food, and take your experience with a grain of salt, an ounce of patience, and a momentary lapse into Latin time. Maybe that is how we can let this restaurant survive and continue serving us good food - because you really have no idea, how good their gelatos are and the uniqueness of their crust. And if you happen to see me chomping away on their breakfast pizza - don't let a limb come near me. Just ask my kids, the ones with the bandaids on their arms and scowls on their faces. Hey - not my fault they tried reaching for my food.
(5)HeeBee G.
This is a pretty little corner bistro in Media. We stopped at Trader Joes and asked for a recommendation. We were told this was an Italian restaurant, but it is mostly about the pizza. I ordered the breaded veal cutlet. It arrived on a plastic (hmmmm...) plate along with sides of sliced potatoes in custard (?) and broccoli mixed with peppers and greens. Very pretty - but everything lacked seasoning...isn't that the first rule of culinary school? The cutlet was sauteed perfectly with a light panko crust. The vegetables were crisp....just needed one more level of flavor. The waiters seemed harried and ran back and forth from the kitchen. Might be helpful to have a manager or "front" person circulating and helping keep the chaos down a bit. Nice hammered copper tables. A bit cramped, but I think this place has potential.
(2)Sarah M.
My family and I recently dined at this establishment. The atmosphere was nice, but it was a little cramped upstairs and it was way too loud for our taste. The food was pretty delicious, but for the price we paid, was not abundant nor was it really worth it. But the reason why I'm giving this place 2 stars is because my father ordered a pizza and everyone else's meals arrived before his. The waiter didn't even notice he was entree-less until the check came. My father told us not to wait for him, assuming his food would be coming shortly. It never did. By the time his pizza did come, we were all done our food and he was not pleased. He informed the waiter what had happened, and nothing was fixed. We paid for our dinner and left unhappily. We will not be returning.
(2)Erin M.
3 1/2 stars... I read all of these reviews prior to dining here tonight. Most were helpful since we hadn't eaten here in about a year. We were seated on the first floor and were alone since most guests prefer to be seated on the second floor. The pizza plates are still plastic but the glasses are real and the other plates are fine. The only issue I had with the side plates was that they were dusty since the tables are preset. Service was ok. There were two young boys tending to us. Flies drive us crazy and there were four circling our table and landing on us. We ordered a salad, pizza and an entree since one review noted a particular entree that is what I ordered. Panko Crusted Lobster Risotto Balls stuffed with Lump Crab Meat, Basil Pesto, and Fontina Cheese There were three good sized balls. It was very good when really hot but I am a slow eater. I took 2/3 home. We have been making our own pizza and found that this pizza crust was great. We got it plain because we wanted to taste it on its own without toppings. The sauce was more like pasta sauce which I like. I really enjoy the gelato and usually get hazelnut. The serving size is just enough...just. FYI- *On Monday nights they have Mexican specials since Dos Gringos (across the street) is closed on Mondays. I found it odd to have chips and salsa on the table at an Italian restaurant, but to each his own. *They are phasing out the BYOB, have a liquor license and will have Italian Craft Beers soon. If you wrote a review some time ago you might want to give it another shot.
(3)Todd B.
The place is beautiful. If you're into art be sure to check out the 2nd/3rd floor ceiling. Some major bucks were spent on it! As for the dining experience...ehhh...wasn't inedible but I wouldn't go back. I wasn't enthused with the appetizer selection. The pizza selection is incredibly and ridiculously HUGE. The entree selection also somewhat limiting. The dessert selection as well. The Gelato is 6 bucks for about a 1/4 cup serving. The apple cake was overly "orangey". I will say the veal with proscuito mozzarella asparagus in a port wine sauce was excellent. Overall...not bad...but just not good enough to return.
(2)Brad B.
The food here was fantastic! Imaginative flavors and large quantities. Now for the problem on my visit. This is a small place laid out on three floors, but the third floor is actually just a small loft accessed up a spiral staircase. When you first go up here, you'll think that it's very cool and a great use of the space. But that's its only good point: It looks cool. I was here with a large party and being in the loft made it seem very crowded. And the wait staff has to climb that spiral staircase to get to you, which means that you see your server much less frequently. But the staff did do a good job when they were around. Oh, and this place is a BYO, so it's a fairly inexpensive meal. I'll definitely return.
(4)Jeanne L.
Drove from the DC area to celebrate a special event with a long time buddy's family. Never tried Ariano. Everything about this place is special, ambiance, appetizers, pizzas, sauces, servers, ceiling murals... my wife loveed the sauce with the veal bracciole. I loved the artichoke fritte. Pizza was wonderful, especially the sausage with peppers; spicy, yum Wow, Run ---don't walk to this place. If I was a local I would be there now. And I know food... people.
(5)Jo D.
update this is no longer a byob... so it loses a star on that count!
(2)George M.
Dinner on 5/10/11. It was empty and quiet. Lunch on 5/12 was busy and VERY LOUD. Pizza selection was great and I was able to mix and match my own custom pie/ My wife had mussels in a bread bowl - very nice. Excellent sorbets. The cannoli shell stuffed with raspberry gelato delicious. A few gripes: Why they use plastic utensils for lunch is beyond me. They were silver colored but broke like the cheap white ones. Stainless was used for dinner. Scratches, some deep on the melamine plates probably from the stainless. I guess it was OK to eat from, but still a VERY tacky approach to dining. I would not take a client there.
(3)D. F.
There really ought to be some guidelines about how to grade for service vs. food. In my view, Ariano's is being unfairly slammed for service. I think we're all so used to the formulaic service and mediocre food provided by the big chains that we consider their 'factory-trained' service as a baseline. It's not fair to compare. I've been to Ariano's four times now. Always the food has ranged very good to excellent (I've had pizza and some of the other dishes - all delicious). The service has ranged from somewhat slow to very efficient, but always friendly. I recommend Ariano's all the time. Even when we eat dinner elsewhere in Media, we often wind up stopping in for gelato after our meal. Media has lots of restaurants and there's some poaching of waiters going on. They're in constant training mode with staff. Or, so I've been told by the proprietor of one of the State Street restaurants. Hey, there's an idea, people! Why don't some of you grumpy reviewers chat with the manager and staff of the restaurants you visit?? Honestly, reading some of these reviews makes me think you should stick to the Olive Garden. I hear the bread sticks are great.
(5)Ann F.
Busy night.... Took the server a little while to acknowledge us. Once we ordered , the food came quickly and the service was fine. Delicious salads!!!!!!
(5)Ryan W.
I'm conflicted..... Let's start by saying it was full but with little to no line when we arrived on a Sunday night to try the place out. We had to wait maybe 10 minutes for a table to be cleared off and then were seated promptly. We had three different people come over right away to get drinks, talk about specials, etc. Then we got our waiter...... The worst part of the whole meal was the service. It was bad in a way that didn't make me angry....it just made me feel bad for the guy. You could tell he was new to the restaurant, maybe new to serving all together. He forgot our soup, was slow with water refills, etc. But was crazy nice and very apologetic. The food was good. My pizza was awesome, the girlfriend's was good, her mom's was ok. Her dad got the fish special which he enjoyed greatly. Gelato was above average, but they were out of a lot of flavors (end of the weekend perhaps?). We'll definitely be back to try it again, it definitely earned a second trip at the bare minimum.
(3)Amanda C.
We came on a Sunday at 6pm and were incredibly disappointed. The service was slow and the food was horrible. I ordered a pizza with vegetables and a salad. The salad was drenched in dressing to the point that when I lifted the lettuce on my fork it dripped off onto the plate. The pizza had no sauce and some thick cut vegetables topped with bland cheese. I ate one bite and my children ate NONE of their pizza (I tasted it--it was flavorless). They never once came over to ask how the meal was. If they had, I'm sure they would have noticed that we ate almost nothing. Even the bread was stale. My husband ordered a salad from the specials list. Even though we asked what the price was, and I swear she said $4.95, it was $13!! Our meal came to $95 with tip (no alcohol) and was a complete and total waste of money. We were visibly annoyed to be paying so much for such bad food, no one said anything to us as we left. I have not eaten in Media before, but if this is considered "good food" by Media standards, I will definitely not be back. By the way, we were there to eat at Iron Hill--it had an HOUR wait at 6pm. Wish we had waited the hour...
(2)Ryan S.
Beautiful decor and gourmet Italian food set this spot apart from a typical "pizza place." Our server, Amanda, was attentive but not obtrusive while my girlfriend, another couple, some wine, and I spent several hours enjoying the fresh and delicious food. Everything was served quickly and never disappointed from first bite to last.
(5)Christine H.
So adorable. The pizza is EXACTLY how you would receive a pizza in Rome. The gelato and sorbetto was amazing. I will be going back often!
(5)Maureen L.
Dined there last night 5/25/13. Beautiful building but check your bill, 2 entrees had $2.00 added to each and an appetizer had $2.00 added to prices listed in the menu. When brought to waiter's attention he said that it's been a problem, the computer has the higher prices than the menu! He was embarrassed and changed to bill to reflect the menu prices. What bothered us more is that management is aware of the discrepancy in prices but hasn't fixed the computer to reflect the menu or vice versa. Food was okay, bland for most part and my dau.'s filet mignon didn't appear to be filet mignon and was drenched in a Asian sauce not as described on menu. We also ordered the house Chardonay, it was not good. Waiter said a lot of people do not like it, he did take it off our bill. the accoustics were very bad, way too loud, couldn't hear without talking loudly. Perhaps the food had an off night but will not go back
(1)Jenny L.
Wish I could do half stars, would do 3.5. Pizza was good, but my salad was way over dressed. It had way too much vinegar for me to finish and I always finish my salads. Wait staff was friendly, but slow and it took the host a really long time to acknowledge us. We had reservations and had to wait for 5-10 min for someone to even say hi and get our name (after flagging down a few people). Bill for 4 was a little over $100 and we got 4 pizzas and 4 salads and brought our own wine & beer. It just opened, so hoping they will work things out and they will get into a groove. Will go back again as it is one of the better pizza options in Media, even though it was on the pricey side for pizza.
(4)Kay G.
Very lively restaurant. Third floor only has a few tables, and it can get noisy. But we didn't have a problem with it. The first and second floors were quieter, and had a nice warm feel. Food is excellent. Pizza dough is exceptional, and too many choices for toppings! Salads are large, with many taste combinations to choose from. We had a special with spinach, pears, goat cheese, walnuts, pine nuts. Very tasty. One criticism: the utensils are plastic. Should have something more substantial. BYO is a plus, and this place is a nice addition to Media. We will definitely go back!
(4)Jamie K.
We wanted this place to be great. Cool location. Food was just okay and service was very average. We were forgotten a couple of times and it was a Sunday afternoon..so not super busy. And 2.50 for a small spoonful of gelato is nuts. May give the place one more chance given the cool 2nd floor seating...but that's it.
(3)Lynn K.
Food is DRY, DRY, DRY
(1)Mike K.
This was possibly the worst dining experience I ever had. I went here with my 2 sisters and mother for my birthday dinner on a Sat night and it was terrible from the minute we walked in the door. We sat on the 2nd level and it was so loud we had to yell at each other to talk. The service was almost non-existant. We waited 20 minutes for our drinks and they forgot my mom's iced tea so we asked the busboy for that. We got no bread but every table around us had bread. When we finally got our apps, one was wrong and two of us did not get their soup. Eventually, the soups showed up and within 4 minutes the entrees arrived while we were still eating their soups. Mom's entree was inedible, burnt eggplant. She sent it back. My sister ordered a pizza and the entire bottom was charred black. My sister's 2nd drink took 40 minutes to arrive. My entree was good. It was shrimp with sun dried tomato risoto. During dinner, my mom was hit in the head by accident with a tray...not bumped, hit. Then again in the shoulder without recognition or an apology. Once we finished eating and asked for the check, it took about 15-20 minutes to get the check. The table next to us seemed to be having such a miserable time, they got their food to go. Maybe, it was an off night and they were understaffed but we will never dine here again. On a side note, I used to waitress at an Outback Steakhouse along with many other restaurants, so I am not uptight about my food and service. It takes a lot to ruin my restaurant experience but this place somehow hit every button...ugh.
(1)Maria K.
Come for the taste of heaven, stay for the family feeling! When this little pizzeria/gelateria opened in Media last year, we were first attracted to the decor, came once and started coming regularly. It's cozy and casual, with a coffee bar on the first floor where you can ask for a menu or just have a cappuccino and dessert and chat with the bartender. My winter favorite is hot chocolate, made the European way -- dark, thick, and foamy. Second floor (with a little third floor platform) is really beautiful, with a ceiling mural that depicts the town of Ariano and, we were told, the members of the owner's family. Floor-to-ceiling doors open in the summer to create a terrace. I like to sit at the counter downstairs, but if we get a table, we always go upstairs: the ambiance there is unequaled. Once we sat on the "third floor," and the only problem there were these little funny plastic utensils and glasses -- apparently, someone had dropped a knife from there, so they got plastic ones for the third floor. Ariano became popular so quickly that it gets very crowded now on Friday and Saturday nights and very noisy, so I prefer to go on weekdays, when it's more peaceful. Now to the food. I was astonished to discover there what I'd been missing ever since my semester in Italy in the 90's: the true taste and texture of Italian gelato -- creamy and light, very smooth, delicate mix of flavors, always something new in the display case -- strawberry, banana, hazelnut, chocolate, and more, with a special treat when a gelato is made with fruit or berries from the owner's garden. The pizza menu is a little lengthy, but it's very imaginative, and there's something on it for every palate if you have the patience to wade through it. If not, just ask for what you want: the crust is uniquely authentic, thin and tasty. My personal favorite is Giuseppe e Charlene: cabbage and parmesan on tomato sauce -- surprising, warming, and filling, comfortable like a Russian hearth. And then there is everything else on the menu, and to some of these dishes I've become a bit addicted. In appetizers, there's Scaperotta -- a perfectly balanced asparagus risotto with little scallops. Salads are fascinating combinations of fruits, cheeses, and greens, and I keep discovering new taste buds I didn't know I had. The only thing that keeps me from always getting my favorites on the menu is the specials. I do think that soups and fish are, perhaps, Ariano's most sure bets. New England clam chowder there is the best I've ever had -- and I've lived in New England. Fish specials are a little pricy, but you get what you pay for. They are what I would call "gourmet," every time: gently coordinated flavors and sides, perfect textures, sauces sometimes so unexpeted that "breathtaking" is the only word that comes to mind -- even though I expect the unexpected from Ariano's chef. Overall, Ariano is my favorite restaurant not only to eat but just to stop by for a cup of gelato and coffee. I never feel alone when I'm there: more than one server will stop to say "Hello" even on a busy night, when they run up and down the stairs like little meteors. I'll sit and listen to the music -- sometimes Italian opera, sometimes Italian pop, on Monday nights live guitar on the second floor. There's nothing better.
(5)Curtis F.
We went last evening with a party of 6 for a 7:00 reservation. The table we were to be seated at did not vacate until 7:40; thankfully we were seated at an alternate table on the first floor by 7:10. Overbooking seemed to be a constant battle through the evening with little to no lobby or space to wait. The team coould definitely improve on scheduling and a space to wait. The service by our waitress Noelle was above par once we were seated - attentive, quick, thorough, etc. We ordered a series of homemade appetizers, salads and pizzas to share family style and could not have been more pleased. We had the Zia Rosa and Arancini and the Via Ottagio salad to start. The Zia Rosa and Ottagio salad were delicious, the Arancini lacked any real punch and was more rice than pancetta. We enjoyed the Bellapigna(eggplant), Giuseppe E Charlene(cabbage - the table favorite), Bisnonno Nicola (eggplant sliced), Mama Francesca (hot sausage and broccoli rabe), and Nonna Guisepina (sausage and sun dried tomatoes). All were delicious, but the cabbage stole the show. For desert we savored delicious gelatto and sorbettos made on site; pistacchio, toblerone, hazelnut, cherry, white chocolate chunk, etc. and delicious Italian coffees. Greta ambience and definitely mobbed and trendy. Be prepared to wait, but you will be glad you did. BYOB.
(4)Ruth K.
Came here for dining under the stars as recommended by friends. We didnt make reservations so we had about an hour wait. We didn't mind because we hit up another bar beforehand. We then went to the bar since a table wasnt ready. The bar has its' own area. It was nice but nothing impressive. I got the Mackenzie black cherry cider, a pretty girlie drink that was just what i needed at the time. As appetizers, we shared the bang bang shrimp and baselice. The shrimp was pretty bangin! Im not a shrimp person but I was pleasantly surprised. It was breaded amd crispy but the sipping sauce just topped it off. The other app was clams inside a pizza bowl crust- also pretty good esp since the sauce was PURE BUTTER! We ended up dipping the rest of the bread bowl into the sauce. Yum! We shared the zio luciano and zio nicola, both of which were pizzas. They have a large pizza selection. The pizza was quite good, and I really liked the crust. We obviously were seated outside. The atmosphere was great- live music right next to us and happy people all around. The bar was kinda noisy though ( however it is dining under the stars week/month??!! ). The service wasn't bad. I may come back again if I'm in media and craving pizza.
(4)Gina R.
Went to Ariano in Media tonight for the first time and I have to say if you don't love this place there is something wrong with you and we can no longer be friends. We sat outside in on a balcony and it was a beautiful night so that just added to the experience. I had a pear margarita (or 2) and it was really good but I pretty much love anything with good tequila in it. For appetizers we had steamed clams served in a pizza bread bowl which were really good but the true star of the night was Zia Rosa - Pan fried panko crusted artichoke hearts hand rolled in prosciutto crudo and finished with a fresh basil pesto cream I swear to god I could have eaten these all night long and actually considered getting a second order to take home! For dinner I had Pazzo Marco -Panko crusted lobster risotto balls stuffed with lump crab meat, basil pesto and fontina cheese finished with vodka aurora sauce. My friend had Zi-Tone - Sun dried tomato risotto, topped with sauteed shrimp, drizzled with a basil pesto sauce. For dessert we had amazing home made gelato with alcohol poured over it because why wouldn't you! The lemon basil gelato was amazing! Dan was our server and he was great and so much fun! He totally got our sense of humor and encouraged our ridiculousness!
(5)Sonia S.
The appetizer was innovative and delicious (see photo) the beef tips and risotto cooked to perfection. Add to a wonderful meal the atmosphere of the Wednesday dining under the stars it made for a perfect date night!
(5)Maxine C.
This place is packed on the weekends and don't even think about trying to get a table without a reservation during Dining Under the Stars. Entrees can be a little pricey but this is a great spot for date night in the spring and summer. Get a seat upstairs where you can enjoy the artwork on the ceiling and the breeze from the open windows. They have a bar but offer BYOB on certain nights. Can't go wrong with the personal size brick oven pizzas (but beware they can be burnt on the bottom sometimes) or one of their daily specials. They have a decent selection of gelato for dessert as well. From my understanding, Ariano is owned by the same people as Fellini's.
(4)Christian B.
Trying new places in Media is a fun habit of mine, and learning to find new, interesting ways they bring you in is always fun. I can say that Ariano was a completely unexpected, yet completely wonderful experience, and I will be back soon to partake in some of their great options going forward. Atmosphere - Welcome to a distressed Italian restaurant, with both outdoor upstairs dining and lower level, people watching dining. The gentle sounds of a live acoustic guitar and aroma of warm baked pizza crust fills the air. Two things stand out when you first walk in: The large, extremely delicious looking gelato case with house made gelato, and a cozy, but well stocked bar. Nice greeting from our waitress as we entered. Waitstaff - Our waitress did a good job of bringing out food, and working with runners to make sure our water glasses did not run out. She also recommended some of the specials (more on that later), as well as gave some personal recommendations of entrees to eat during our meal. Food - We happened to dine here on a Monday, which if you've never been, is known as 'Mexican Monday'. I was very confused because this is an Italian restaurant, but the waitress assured me that the head chef knew how to make this food well. We started with some chips/salsa, & guacamole. it's amazing that with another Mexican place across the street and a few blocks up on State, that this Italian restaurant has the best in Media. Chunky, and simple, my diners really enjoyed the flavor and texture. So we expanded, and went with a steak quesadilla, mahi-mahi tacos, and a pizza to boot. While the pizza was liked by my other diners, it was not a personal favorite. What I did enjoy very much was the consistency and flavor of the other dishes. Tacos were perfect. It's my standard order when I try a new place, and between the thick fish and quality sides, these were done right. Add on the great steak quesadilla, and it was an unexpected delicious surprise night. Intangibles - Meal was not expensive at all. Dining for 3 before tip was less then $70! although we only had one diner get bar service. Right across the street from Media parking (which is free after 6pm) was nice for distance. They may move the gelato stand next door, as construction was going on what appears to be a smaller gelato shop so the restaurant can expand. We did not have any dessert on this meal, but will be back to try in the future. Overall - Good on price, location, and flavor. Was pleasantly surprised with Ariano's Mexican food. I'll have to update my review in the future if we go again for pizza, but I'm sure a different pie would have a better result. Don't forget live music some nights as well, so a great spot to get to as we move into the new season. Just another reason to love living near Media to try all these good spots.
(4)R. S.
The food never disappoints, but the service is another matter. It's always something. Today, they hesitated to let us in and then rushed us out the door. In fact, my dining companion and I were eyeing the espresso machine and debating which flavors of gelato to end our meals with when the waitress arrived (bill in hand) and said something like: "You don't want to order anything else, right?" Well, not anymore. I guess they save coffee and dessert for the chosen few. It's a shame. I have a lot of respect for the chef/owner, whom I met on a previous visit, but the staff seems to take customers for granted.
(3)Mike R.
PART 1 of my Saturday bang-bang. I woke up this past Saturday, made some coffee and sat outside. The sun was shinning, the birds were chirping and there was absolutely no humidity in the air. I could not waste such a perfect day like this by sitting around, it needed to be special. In all of my glutinous glory, I decided that a bang-bang in Media would be perfect. What is a bang-bang? A bang-bang is when you go to a restaurant and eat a full meal. Immediately after you're done, you walk out the door and go to your next destination, followed by.....you guessed it! Another full meal. Bang-bang's are best experienced with 2 totally different types of foods. Italian : Chinese Indian : Sushi The possibilities are endless...I contacted a friend who's appetite is just as ravenous as mine and we were off. As we were doing our menu window shopping throughout media, Ariano's really grabbed my eye. I must have walked by this place a dozen times and never paid it any mind. The menu is classic Italian but also has some dishes that you don't see very often. We agreed that this will be our first destination and we were seated in their outside, upstairs section. What an amazing view! If you decide to give this place a try and the weather permits, get the outside eating. Down to business. For some reason I am unable to find the exact name of the dish I had from their online menu, which leads me to believe that it was fairly new possibly? It was a bed of risotto with their amazing home-made tomato sauce, light oil, accompanied with little neck clams, shrimp, mussels and baby scallops. Wow! I could not believe how fresh the sea-food was. Another great thing was that this meal was fairly affordable and they did not skimp out on the seafood ingredients. The only aspect of the meal I would change is less butter in the risotto. This by no means had a negative effect on the meal, it was more of just a personal preference. This is one of those places where you cannot wait to really explore their menu. I like to think I may have played it a little safe with a dish like this but I am looking forward to trying some of their more authentic Italian dishes. PART 2 of the bang-bang, See "Dominic's Hand Carved Roast Beef and Roast Pork".
(4)ML B.
4 stars. Waitstaff is competent. Food came out slowly but that was ok since we had time to chat. Eggplant dish tasted great with good texture. Upstairs seating was perfect for us. Ground level was packed with patrons and noisy. Not what we were looking for that evening. Upscale pizzeria with a broad menu which happens to include pizza.
(4)Michael A.
Went a few weeks ago. One of the best Italian restaurants I've been to in Delaware County and the greater Philadelphia region. Awesome food, great atmosphere, good staff. BYOB on certain nights. Well all enjoyed our food. Don't have a bad thing to say about this place.
(5)Greg M.
Great place for pizza or anything Italian in Media. Beautiful 2nd floor decorations and view over media!!
(5)Precious D.
Great service one again. ..I tried the pizza and it was amazing...also had a veggie dish as my entree and added chicken...it was absolutely delicious and i had the rest for lunch...the fried desert with bananas was great the second time around...had somes drinks and they were made to perfection...
(5)Sangwoo K.
This place is heaven. I left the area this past June, and I still have dreams about this place. The food is priced well, the decor is great, the servers are super friendly, and the pizzas (and appetizers and rustichelas [sandwiches]) are AMAZING. I've been here a few times, but the dishes that I still dream about are: 1. Melani: the portabella mushrooms, artichokes, peppers and islands of cheese on top of a spicy tomato sauce make this one hell of a pizza. I HIGHLY recommend this pizza to anyone (even to non-vegetarians like myself!). 2. Venditti: this is my girlfriend's favorite, and for good reason. It's simple, just ricotta cheese on tomato sauce with a bit of olive oil, but it's delicious. 3. Alla travaglini: this is a sandwich made with flatbread and it's just delicious. The pesto and red peppers really give you a burst of flavors. A plus is that is comes with a side of pan roasted potatoes, which are also amazing. 4. Arancini: if you liked fried things, cheese, and tomato sauce (and let's be real, you'd be crazy not to), you simply have to order this. This appetizer is good to share, but if you're like me, after one bite, you'll want the whole thing to yourself. Special Mention: Finalmente. This is just a bunch of mussels stewed in a delicious tomato sauce served in a bread bowl made of pizza crust. My sister ordered this a few months back and says she craves this everyday (and note, she lives in the Bay Area where amazing food is on every corner). Whenever my girlfriend and I used to come here, we would get 2 pizzas and a rustichela during the lunch time (smaller pizzas, lower prices), and would finish all of it (granted, I ate about 70% of the food). Their dessert pizza, I hear, is to die for. If you live within a 10 mile radius of this place, you really have to come here at least once.
(5)Maria C.
We came here for dinner expecting a BYO (as advertised on their website) but when we arrived it was written that it is only BYO on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays and it was a Saturday. We considered canceling out reservation to go elsewhere and when we notified (who I assume is) the owner that we were canceling and he asked why, we politely explained we were expecting a BYO and would come back another night. He promptly asked us to stay and said he would allow us to bring our wine and that "I don't want to lose a first time costumer." That started me off in a positive direction for sure. Our food was good, we got the artichoke appetizer - which was heavy but amazing. We also got the tuna which was delicious and the filet minion - which was good but not great. For dessert we ordered two of the gelato liqueur pairings which were delicious, although it's probably hard to mess up, they have definitely come up with some great matches. Overall it was a great experience, the service was amazing and the owner was gracious and welcoming. I will definitely be back, in large part for their hospitality!
(4)Alysha F.
We dined here for Media's weekly Dining Under the Stars event. The beautiful outside architecture of the building caught our eye first when we were previously in the area. We had pizza and wine last night and everything was delicious! The pizzas are a good side and loaded up with toppings. There are a TON of menu options here- ranging from salad to lobster and everything in between. Had great service even though they were quite busy. Will definitely be returning!
(5)Stefanie G.
There are dozens of better places in Media, but not many of them are open on Monday, so we chose Ariano. We loved the balcony seating overlooking Olive Street with a view of State. There was a nice breeze so it was perfect as far as atmosphere. Everything else was just less than ok. The service was worse than the food, that's for sure. Long waits between seeing our very frantic and inexperienced waiter and lots of missed (flat soda, taking but not replacing silverware, sweet tea when unsweetened was ordered etc). I'm sure I would have squeaked out one more star had there been any seasoning on the asparagus risotto & roasted scallop dish. I learned that roasting scallops looks good on paper, tastes pretty bad. I wondered why the chef chose bay scallops for this preparation- all the sweet was just sucked right out of them! We were also baffled that on "Mexican night" there was not a single entree or appetizer that had beans in the ingredients list. They make quite a fuss about the special menu and special chef... Meh. The steamed clams in a pizza bowl is the one and only thing that earned stars. It was outstanding! So, get a balcony seat and order the clams appetizer. Then go somewhere else for dinner.
(2)John S.
I wish this was better. I was psyched on eating one of their many pizza's, since I was told they have great pizza. Upon entering and heading up to the second floor we were created with an odd fishy smell that was quite disturbing but I really wanted pizza. Yes it's made differently then other pizzas around, however their descriptions do not match the actual pizzas. The one pizza we ordered came out entirely wrong. Another, a white pizza, came out with cold ricotta on top, no garlic sauce base or layer of cheese directly on the crust like NORMAL white pizzas out there. It was really dry and other then the sausage it was disappointing. I also ordered a mojito and it was served in a warm glass. Killed it right away for me. Three pizza and two drinks for $68... Not worth it. Simple as that, pretty disappointed. By the way no soap in the bathroom I was in, so we know the employees can't wash their hands before returning to work. GROSS!
(1)Nikki B.
Came in for dinner with two friends 25 mins before closing and they were super nice about it. Waiter and other staff member made great food suggestions. Service was quick and attentive. Food was delicious. Would definitely recommend and will return. Prices for pizza aren't bad. Entrees and appetizers are on the more expensive side but not terrible.
(5)Gerald H.
Stopped in for a Friday night meal with the boss about 5:30. Didn't have reservations but they weren't crowded yet. Manager? took us to the second floor- nice place overall. ATMOSPHERE: The place is very nice and the second floor has incredible views of the town. Can get crowded and be close quarters but we didn't experience that phenomenon. Very upscale place. FOOD: Food was good but there weren't any pasta dishes. The owner is the same as Fellini Cafe around the corner and as I understand the idea behind it... CAN A MAN GET SOME SPAGHETTI ATLEAST?! I ordered the chicken caprese.. (10/10) and the boss ordered the clams.. Snapper thing. (8/10) COST: Higher end but worth it. OVERALL: This place was good but I think the menu can be expanded a bit. I would definitely recommend it and I will be back as well.
(3)Karen F.
We came on a super-busy Wednesday for Dining Under ste stars - and miraculously our table was ready & waiting even though there were throngs of others. The service was surprisingly good. The food? Just OK - and yes, I had read the reviews on yelp and yes, they are accurate - this place needs to step up their game on the food front. Pizzas are not my thing - but 3 of our group of 6 (well - 5 and an infant) have pizza. They seemed very doughy to me and many do not have sauce. (Cheese and coldcuts on bread.) My kid had the lobster-stuffed arrancina - and they were leaden with a greasy crusty exterior. I have had better but the 9 year old loved them. My dish was a fail. Tasteless salmon with too-vinegary chopped tomatoes on top. I ate the mashed potatoes and brocolli but left most of the fish. Azie's Salmon Teriyaki puts Ariano's salmon to shame! I will not be rushing back here. Disappointing menu and food.
(3)P E.
I have been here several times after I first saw the place featured on a local TV show about places to eat out in Media. Service here is always pleasant, eat-in or take-out. My understanding is that t is owned by the same folks that own Fellini's around the corner so their menus do not overlap, hence the lack of pasta dishes on this menu. Food here is fine. We like the artichoke appetizer the best, and usually find ourselves ordering one of the pizzas or homemade gelato. You will get an interesting combination of choices for pies. Gelato was very creamy this visit. We got the hazelnut which did not have a strong taste of hazelnut but was perfectly creamy. I don't come here as often as I would like because I am often out with someone who can't get up the steps to the second floor. There are only several tables on the first level, then a bar, and the takeout gelato area. It's very busy, sometimes noisy, and very fish-bowlish.
(3)Bob N.
My wife and I went for lunch on a quiet Monday and enjoyed the best Italian dining experience I have had outside of Italy. So many places in DelCo that have quality food do not have wine lists that are up to the food. That's not the case at Ariano. The size of the list is modest, but the selections, both by the glass and by the bottle, are great. They offer well balanced selections that are appropriate to the menu. The Zia Rosa artichoke heart and prosciutto appetizer is amazing -- lightly pan fried in a panko crust. Their risottos are also highly recommended. Save room for dessert as their homemade gelato topped with cordials are superb. Pair the gelato with their outstanding espresso and you are transported to a mini vacation in Italy. We can't wait to return!
(5)Jenna M.
Came in the other night with a plan to share everything between us. The mussels app was outstanding. Small size mussels served in a giant bread bowl and covered in a spicy marinara. The artichoke app was to die for. They were coated in a panco breadcrumb and fried and wrapped with prosciutto. Can't wait to get them again. Both pizzas were just ok. The plain was nothing to write home about and the special pizza was a touch under cooked. I'll definitely be back to try some others though. Our server Nick was very attentive and informative about the food.
(4)Andrea M.
Great food and lots of gluten free options. Service was fast and very friendly. Great outdoor seating!
(5)Marie S.
Can't believe this restaurant doesn't have five stars on here. The atmosphere is nice, and the food is simple, fresh, healthy, gourmet and awesome!!! We went on a Sunday afternoon and sat downstairs (they have an upstairs and an outdoor deck) the staff was warm and attentive. I started with the White Cosmopolitan, which was delicious. We had the salad and sandwich combo. Salad was romaine Caesars and large. I had the special, a mahi mahi BLT and my husband had the prosciutto provolone. We split them both, the special (mahi mahi) was outstanding and the prosciutto was nice. The gelatos are great! I had the seasonal Dulce de Leche with sea salt. Fab! Finally, it's a small menu, it's gourmet sandwiches and pizzas and salads and aps thrown in for fun. We will definitely go back.
(5)Jenny V.
Amazing food!! Appetizers to die for! Pizza was awesome!! Great time with friends and family..
(5)Jared J.
Despite fantastic pizza, Ariano only deserves 3 stars due to the service. We did go on a Wednesday for Media's signature "dining under the stars" so a little commotion is expected. However, we first stood by our table to have it cleaned off for a solid 5 minutes before someone came over to wipe it down. Then, our waiter was not attentive and we had to wait a lot for him! We waited 10 minutes to get the check! Terrific pizza though, best pizza in media!
(3)B. W.
Definitely one of my top five pizzas in Delaware County. Unlike the standard pizzeria, where the customer requests the toppings and sizing, each pizza at Ariano is its own entity, blended with ingredients that work in concert. The difference is not unlike drinking at a dive bar versus a brewpub; if you have expectations on how pizza should be made this isn't the place for you, but if you're willing to try something new and different, you're in for a treat. There are at least 30 different pizzas listed on the menu, and it's constantly changing. However, if you had something you liked that's not on the menu, the staff are happy to prepare it for you. I'm particularly fond of the Regina: hot sausage, grilled portobello, fresh mozzarella, basil pesto, and stewed tomatoes. Each pizza is 12" in diameter and slightly greasy, light on the bread but big on crust. The layering of the toppings is by no means traditional; there's no bed of cheese over the sauce, everything is spread throughout the surface, sometimes making each bite quite literally a different experience. Since I enjoy the pizza so much I rarely get anything else, but the Zia Rosa, which is panko crusted artichoke hearts rolled in prosciutto, is delightful. There's a great selection of beer, wine, and liquor, though I fear the bar is a bit pricey. The only real knock on Ariano stems from its popularity; it's a small restaurant, despite being three floors, so you're likely to rub elbows with nearest table and have difficulty navigating out of your seat. If you go when it's not as busy, though, the ambiance is spectacular.
(4)T. S.
Met some friends here for dinner when I was in town for business, and we all took advantage of their $30 on Tuesday deal: Any (non-special) salad or appetizer, plus any entree or pizza, plus gelato. (After I got home, I looked at the menu online, and realized that the combination of items that I ordered totaled $30, so I saved a whole $0 by ordering more food than I wanted! What a deal! That's my own fault, though, and no reflection on the restaurant.) My appetizer, pan fried artichoke hearts rolled in prosciutto and drizzled with a pesto cream sauce, was not only delicious but beautifully plated. My pizza had eggplant, zucchini and peppers sauteed with garlic and pine nuts, drizzled with olive oil, topped with asiago. I would have preferred it with roasted garlic, to be honest; the garlic was minced and barely cooked, so it was a little too pungent. The hazelnut gelato was served in a coffee cup, three decent sized scoops, and tasted divine. They had Crabbies Orange Ginger Beer on their drink specials, which was a nice bonus. We had excellent service, the view from the second floor was quite pleasant, the decor is lovely. I brought half a pizza back to my hotel. I ended up forgetting it in the hotel fridge, which was a little disappointing until I realized there was no way I would be able to eat the undercooked garlic for lunch and remain in polite company.
(4)Tyrion L.
Our family walked in at 5:30 and were looked at like we had 3 heads, I guess because we had a young child with us. We said we didn't have a reservation and that evoked a response that was a mixture of incredulity and sneer. We got our overpriced pizza that was not terrible but simply meh. Not recommended.
(1)Jess V.
Love love love!!!! Did I say Love!!!!??! My first time at Ariano was new years eve 2013 and I fell in love the food is amazing, great atmosphere cozy but very very nice. The owner personally said hello during my dinner. Needless to say Ive gone back again and again and again, I have yet to dislike anything on the menu the food here amazes me over and over again, if I had to pick my favorite dish I'd have to say the entire menu! They always have specials which I highly recommend. Drinks specials are also yummy the sangrias are the best, and BONUS Sun-Tues is BYOB. Staff is very friendly and helpful. And I absolutely must not finish this review without mentioning their homemade gelato! To-die-for the flavors are always different and are sure to leave you wanting more. Enjoy!
(5)Amanda S.
Went in for dinner last night and loved it. Our server Ben was great, the food was delicious and the atmosphere was warm and fancy. The goat cheese salad I had was in special but I hope to be able to get it again and again, so good. Thanks for the great birthday dinner!
(5)Michelle B.
We had great food at this restaurant and I love the ode to Italy with the murals on the walls. It is a lovely atmosphere and I will definitely go back. I also love that it is Byob on certain nights!
(4)Lisa R.
Met friends here for lunch and was so impressed. Outstanding pizza and arancini and my friends were very pleased with the beer selection. Oh, and the gelato was excellent! I recommend the hazelnut. And it was all topped off by the friendly owner and and waiter Rocco. I'll definitely be going back for dinner very soon.
(4)Debbie H.
I can't think of any reason to give less than 5 stars. My friend and I arrived at 6:45 before the rest of our party of 6 arrived. I assume it was the owner (or Manager) who greeted us at the door and told us our table was all ready for us and we could be seated if we like. All 6 of us got yummy cocktails. I got a amaretto cocktail which was awesome. I also ordered a mozzarella/tomato app which was wonderful. And last I ordered a filet which was cooked perfect and was very tender. All the other meals of chicken and seafood looked wonderful too. Our waiter was extremely nice. I totally would return. Was a little noisy for a Friday night but that's the sign of a thriving restaurant in Media.
(5)Lisa L.
We have been to this place countless times and it is consistently good. I love the pizza variety. Tasted the risotto last time with lollipop lamb chops and it was delicious! Just what you want a risotto to be, hearty and creamy. The salads are also creative and tastey. And we have always had good service. Edoecially when we had a somewhat large group with kids! They worked hard and were very understanding!
(5)Bernadette S.
Wish it was larger
(3)Glynnis O.
I can count on one hand how many times I have dined here, and can say with certainty that it's an absolutely forgettable and unremarkable experience. The decor is beautiful, located on a somewhat quiet side street, so it's got that going for it. The pizza selections (20 different pizza selections? Really?) include limp spinach, tasteless cheese on its last leg, thickly cut vegetables which seemingly lack seasonings, and meat tossed from the back of a freezer into a rolling boil, and a pathetic excuse for prosciutto. At least the tomatoes weren't translucent, but I digress... The service is sub par, the menu aspires to be more than it really is - a woeful lack of simple and honest flavor hidden behind a smokescreen of "modern" Italian cuisine. The busy nature of the menu is an ineffective facade for the lack of true Italian roots- fresh, simple, and satisfying food prepared without pretentiousness. Their pizza crust earns one star, the decor, another. There are much better choices in Media than Ariano.
(2)C K.
Overall disappointment. The venue is beautiful, really nice place. Sat upstairs at an oddly placed table but still fine. The service was fine. Attentive but not oot which is fine. The food needs help, badly and the prices as well. A basic salad tossed with croutons and no tomato or anything was $8.50. I ordered lobster risotto balls for dinner. It was served with a odd tomato sauce on top, mashed potatoes and broccoli. The risotto balls were warm at best. Just not very flavorful. My husband ordered a fliet mignon dish and they were tiny pieces of fliet already cut up. Odd. The pinot grigio ordered was I suppose the house at $8 glass and I couldn't drink it. Terrible. Dessert was offered and none (including gelato) were under $7.50. Coffee was good! This is not fellini caliber food, quality however they are commanding high price point for low quality dining.I have dined ariano a few times in years and this is probably the worst quality, most expensive experience. Not going back.
(2)Amanda F.
My friends and I stumbled upon this place one night in Media looking for a place to eat. I love really love it here the pizzas here are absolutely delicious and have creative yet authentic tastes to them. Their gelato is also good. Their atmosphere however is less than desirable. The acoustics on the upper dining area are terrible so you won't be able to hear you dinner partners very well if its a crowded night. But overall still a great place.
(4)June L.
I love their pizzas, which have a thin, crispy crust and amazing topping combinations. Their gelato and nutella pizza on the dessert menu are also particularly memorable. It's overall a solid date spot or fancier place to go with friends.
(4)Alex A.
This is my 2nd time eating here, and first for my wife and son. The first time was (from what I can recall) good but nothing spectacular. One thing I did recall was that they offer gluten free pizza crusts for all of their pizzas. Hence the reason why we returned. This time, they each got pizza, which were both good. The gluten free crust was obviously pre-made, but decent nonetheless. The cocktail was good also. The real highlight, though, was the Cioppino. The waiter (who did a very nice job, I might add) recommended that over the tuna special. And it was OUTSTANDING! Loads of fresh fish and seafood in a nice thick and somewhat spicy sauce, over a mound of delicious risotto. This is different from most traditional Cioppini I've ever had- and BETTER, WAY BETTER! The homemade gelato at the end also hit the spot! We shall return here, for sure!
(5)Denise W.
Went last night and everything was awesome.. The artichokes stuffed and wrapped in prosciutto was perfect , ceassr salad had just the right amount of dressing and the venditti pizza had fresh ricotta and sweet tomatoes , great wine and home made gelato ..
(5)Kate L.
Wide variety of flatbreads/pizzas. We love going here with a group of friends and ordering a few different pizzas to all share. They also have a fantastic brunch on Sundays where they make a wonderful breakfast pizza. My husband and I truly love the pizza at Ariano--but be warned, it does not heat up well the next day. This pizza must be enjoyed fresh the night of...or else it's a chewy, lost cause.
(5)Tony D.
I stopped here with a group of friends after we all had dinner at Fellini's on Saturday night. You will be hard pressed to find better Gelato around. I am a big fan of Vaccaro's in Baltimore, but admit that Ariano has it all over them. We tried the pistachio, nutella crunch, peanut butter stracciatella, and vanilla stracciatella. All of them were amazing. They melted in your mouth. There is no better way to top of your night out in Media, than with a gelato and cappuccino from Ariano.
(5)Alex S.
The Gelato here is delicious, a pesonel favorite for me is their lemon basil. It is nice to know they make it too. I feel this is a true statement because the lemon flavoring various. The inconsistency tells me that they are making it. The rest of the food I have had here is okay, it does not do anything for me.
(3)