What's the best Italian restaurant in town? (rain, Greek)

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by Chorizo

Am I the only person in town who thinks Oregano's absolutely sucks?

Every time I have been there (a sucker for punishment, or hoping for something better maybe?) the service has been horrible. The food there is, in my opinion, mediocre at best - and because of that, the wait times to get into the place and experience so-so food, is ridiculous.

Hmmm...

'Rizo, you're the very first Oregano's detractor I've ever come across!

Ever!

Seriously... you are Numero Uno, dude!

[azdr0710]

Originally Posted by Chorizo

Am I the only person in town who thinks Oregano's absolutely sucks?

I may be wrong, but I think people go to Oregano's just to say they went to Oregano's....it has Scottsdale origins and maybe some Phx transplants go there for a vicarious trip to Scottsdale or something....hip place to go....

speaking of hip, and getting off-topic for just a moment, a place in Scottsdale called Pink Taco opened a couple years ago amid moderate controversy over its risque double-meaning'ed name....it was in a hip location and drew the crowds the first few months just so people could say the restaurant name and giggle knowingly when asked where they ate.....

the crowds dwindled, the chef was replaced, the food was always mediocre and overpriced for Mexican, and the place closed a couple months ago.....a couple other locations remain open in other western towns, but they may not make it either.....

now back to good ol' Italian food.......

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by azdr0710

I may be wrong, but I think people go to Oregano's just to say they went to Oregano's....it has Scottsdale origins and maybe some Phx transplants go there for a vicarious trip to Scottsdale or something....hip place to go....

speaking of hip, and getting off-topic for just a moment, a place in Scottsdale called Pink Taco opened a couple years ago amid moderate controversy over its risque double-meaning'ed name....it was in a hip location and drew the crowds the first few months just so people could say the restaurant name and giggle knowingly when asked where they ate.....

the crowds dwindled, the chef was replaced, the food was always mediocre and overpriced for Mexican, and the place closed a couple months ago.....a couple other locations remain open in other western towns, but they may not make it either.....

now back to good ol' Italian food.......

Wow... hipsters going to Oregano's, and hipsters dwindling at the Pink Taco(s)... hipsters everywhere...

Hipsters have it going on, don't they?

[Chorizo]

Originally Posted by ZonyPony

Hmmm...

'Rizo, you're the very first Oregano's detractor I've ever come across!

Ever!

Seriously... you are Numero Uno, dude!

I do like being a pioneer!

Originally Posted by azdr0710

I may be wrong, but I think people go to Oregano's just to say they went to Oregano's....it has Scottsdale origins and maybe some Phx transplants go there for a vicarious trip to Scottsdale or something....hip place to go....

speaking of hip, and getting off-topic for just a moment, a place in Scottsdale called Pink Taco opened a couple years ago amid moderate controversy over its risque double-meaning'ed name....it was in a hip location and drew the crowds the first few months just so people could say the restaurant name and giggle knowingly when asked where they ate.....

the crowds dwindled, the chef was replaced, the food was always mediocre and overpriced for Mexican, and the place closed a couple months ago.....a couple other locations remain open in other western towns, but they may not make it either.....

now back to good ol' Italian food.......

Going to Oregano's just to say you went there? Maybe that is why I don't like the place. I can't stand stuff like that. I like to resist the masses.

Back to Italian food: Vivace Restaurant
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...gNaSszPsM&cd=1
I have some sources that tell me this is the best in town. This came from people whose business is supplying restaurants with equipment. They get to try a lot of their clients stuff.

Edit: here is their site: http://www.vivacetucson.com/index.html

[szupergipsy]

This is how to test any Italian restaurant: walk in there, ask for a double espresso and a cannoli. If you are a 100% satisfied with them, then everything else will be tip-top.

[Bullmoose]

From Chorizo
Not much into italian food myself - all I know is Macaroni Grill! lol

Not much into Italian, doesn't like Oregano's.

Pioneer, eh?

[Bummer]

I had a GREAT PIZZA at The Big Fat Greek Restaurant tonight.

Does that count?

! ! ! ! ! !

[Gretchen B]

Originally Posted by BillyBaroo

I'll never forget Davinci's on Ft. Lowell! But I can't remember if the food was good. It was where I took my wife on our first date.

We had a very romantic candlelight dinner. Low levels of lighting always worked well for me on a first date. I always tried to impress the women with my personality before they got a good look at me.

We hit it off right from the start, conversation was good, we had a lot in common, and she was looking very attractive, also benefiting from the candlelight.

After dinner we walked to my car parked in back of the restaurant, still under the guise of being a perfect gentleman, I opened the car door for her. We sat there in the parking lot talking for awhile. Now that I think about it, the parking lot was also very dark. The stars were perfectly aligned, it was time to go in for that first kiss.

A lull in the conversation was actually the sound of opportunity knocking. I leaned in and went down on one knee between the bucket seats. Luckily, this was ten years ago, the arthritis that has developed in my knees would make this scenario completely impossible today.

Our lips met and it was like fireworks going off as a warm feeling came over me. Oddly enough, the warmth wasn't centered in my heart, it was coming from my knee and it kept getting warmer, and then it started to feel hot. I told her, "You're making my knee feel hot!" It might be the only time that phrase has ever been uttered during a first kiss.

Funny thing though, it wasn't only feeling hot, it was starting to feel kind of moist. It also started to feel squishy. Then it started to get weird, as if it wasn't already weird, the aroma of lasagna started to fill the car. I looked down and saw that I was kneeling in the leftover lasagna from our dinner. We laughed so hard we couldn't stop. Looking back, I wish I would have saved those pants as they were instead of taking the Spray and Wash to them.

Ours was a match made in heaven, just four months later we were married, and to this day she can still make my knees feel hot, even without the aide of leftover lasagna. And Davinci's will always be my favorite Italian restaurant.

Thanks for giving me my laugh for the day, BB. A spicy little story about a saucy guy and dame gets me every time.

[ZonyPony]

Originally Posted by Bummer

I had a GREAT PIZZA at The Big Fat Greek Restaurant tonight.

Does that count?

! ! ! ! ! !

Actually, I didn't know Greeks made pizza! This truly expands my mind, Bumster!

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by ZonyPony

Actually, I didn't know Greeks made pizza! This truly expands my mind, Bumster!

I'm so sorry, Zony . . . I promise never to do that again. ! ! ! !