authentic Italian spots (Phoenix, Tempe: food, location, place)

[NewlyNatural]

Originally Posted by AZJoeD

Two places I like are:

Michelina's Italian Cuisine - Ristorante Costa Campagnia at 32nd & Shea. A little high priced, but authentic food with daily specials and gaudy Italian decor. They will make just about anything you ask for (within reason) if it is not on the menu.

Guidos Italian Deli, Meats and Deli Near Scottsdale Rd & Shea. This is half restaurant / half deli. Good place for casual meal, lunch or dinner. Good sandwiches, decent pizza, desserts. Real rude Italians. You will find some items that you won't find in other places.

Thanks!

[NewlyNatural]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Some good suggestions in the Phoenix area...if you are ever in Prescott we ate at this gem last week:

Home

Thanks!

[Bird Street]

I occasionally ate at Riazzi's with my family since the early 1950's. They have moved to Tempe from the 53rd. St. and Van Buren location where I ate as a kid. I always thought it was good and the current prices look reasonable.

Riazzis - Home

[crystalys]

Ristorante Arrivederci at Scottsdale and Thunderbird is one of our favorites. The waiters are usually older Italian speaking gentlemen wearing the traditional long server aprons. Here is the website:

~ Ristorante Arrivederci in Scottsdale ~

I also second the suggestion of Pomo's. They are one of the top 5 best places for pizza in all of Arizona in my opinion. The rest of the menu is excellent as well.

Pomo | Forno Fabbri

[exit2lef]

It's always difficult to say if a place is "authentic." Does that mean it serves food actually found in Italy? The Italy of today? The Italy of 100 years ago? Pre-1492 Italy (no tomatoes)? A particular region of Italy? Or maybe the food created by Italian immigrants to the USA?

Likewise, George Costanza reminds us of why mom-and-pop aren't always the best. https://youtu.be/KGiAp6a6-ak?t=28s

With those caveats in mind, I recommend Marcellino. It's a bit upscale, but it is run by an actual couple, so I guess it's mom-and-pop in that respect. The pastas are made on the premises and consistently excellent in my experience.

Marcellino Ristorante

I'll also second the recommendation of Pomo's location in Downtown Phoenix.

[ScottsdaleMark]

I can second Tommaso's. Great ambience, great place for a dressed-up date night or so forth. Just has a really nice menu and classy vibe.

I like Nick's Italian a lot, they have a few locations. I'd say they're at least somewhat authentic, e.g. they have a lot of fish/seafood choices and they're always busy, but I'm not Italian so I don't know for sure. I just remember when I went to Italy being amazed how much fish and how little pasta there was in the restaurants, haha.

[UpTownJon]

My friends at Ristorante Guissepe! (Scottsdale Rd and Thunderbird) Cash only, no cards and BYOB, no corking fee.

For pizza, I would also say POMO. Most authentic I've had in the US. YUMMM

[RenW]

A +1 for DeFalco's for an Italian deli and grocery. I used to work for a Sicilian family at their restaurant and I got spoiled with the good food. The vast majority of American Italian restaurants I end up super disappointed.

I'll be following this thread though and am very interested to hear what you think when you try a place.

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by AZJoeD

Two places I like are:

Michelina's Italian Cuisine - Ristorante Costa Campagnia at 32nd & Shea. A little high priced, but authentic food with daily specials and gaudy Italian decor. They will make just about anything you ask for (within reason) if it is not on the menu.

Guidos Italian Deli, Meats and Deli Near Scottsdale Rd & Shea. This is half restaurant / half deli. Good place for casual meal, lunch or dinner. Good sandwiches, decent pizza, desserts. Real rude Italians. You will find some items that you won't find in other places.

Guido's sucks. They boast "Chicago" on it, but pfft. Its not. Its weak. I TRULY think all the "Chicago" Italian joints are here because they failed in Chicago against all the true Italian joints and couldn't hold a candle. Here they might do good, but I wouldn't recommend Guido's.


Pomo is a far better option! Its not very Italian inside with its modern look, but the pizza (from what I hear) is very close to what you find in Italy.

[asufan]

It advertises itself as a pizza joint (and it sells pizza too), but Amalfi Pizza has some great Italian food. It reminds me of the Italian food I've had in NYC, seems pretty legit. Owned by Sergio and Giuseppe Miele, who owned Miele's in Tempe.

Amalfi Pizzeria