Ricatoni's Italian Grill

What an incredible dining experience! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere set the perfect vibe—warm, inviting, and stylish. The service was absolutely on point; every detail was handled with care and professionalism. The food met all expectations: fresh, flavorful, and served just right. Brooklyn truly stood out—friendly, attentive, and made us feel like VIPs 😍. It’s rare to find such a combination of great food, excellent service, and a welcoming environment. We will definitely be back soon and highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a memorable meal!

I really wanted to like this place—it’s an Italian restaurant, and who doesn’t live good pasta and pizza—but this was one of the most off-putting dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. We visited during an off-peak time (quiet mid-afternoon), with three employees working and three playing on their phones. Instead of using the downtime to clean or prep, the latter three were all just sitting together in the booth directly behind me, scrolling on their phones the whole time I was there. It was impossible not to notice, and it set the tone for everything else.
The restaurant itself was visibly filthy and poorly maintained. In the open kitchen (right in full view of the dining area), a pile of empty bread bags were piled high behind a stack of microwaves, creating what looked like a serious fire hazard. The bread service was bizarre and unappetizing: the host literally threw 2 smashed white bags on the table each containing a ripped in half loaf of Italian bread. There was a large plastic vat of olive oil next to an open bowl of dried herbs with no lid or protection at all—both just exposed to the air, dust, and whatever else was floating around….. oh the fruit flies! A plate of the exposed herb matter was also tossed onto the table with the expectation that its purpose was known.
The kitchen itself looked like it hadn’t seen a deep clean in years: grimy surfaces, buildup everywhere, and general neglect that made me question food safety immediately, not to mention an acrid, vomit-like smell coming from it. The bathroom was in the same sorry state—clearly not cleaned regularly, with visible dirt, tons of litter on the floor, and poor maintenance.
Unfortunately, the food didn’t redeem any of this. Everything tasted flat, underseasoned, and poorly executed—I couldn’t shake the hygiene concerns (or the sight of idle staff) long enough to enjoy it, but even setting that aside, it was just abysmal ~ nothing that felt fresh or thoughtfully prepared.
I understand restaurants can have slow periods, but the combination of visible filth, obvious safety issues, and staff completely checked out on their phones instead of addressing any of it points to a deeper lack of care and oversight. This goes beyond an “off night”—it’s concerning for basic health and professionalism standards. I won’t be returning and can’t recommend this place to anyone. If you’re craving Italian, look elsewhere.
The sign about the strict dress code at the host stand was really cute, though, considering the host himself was wearing shorts, tennis shoes, and an athletic shirt. Curious what dress code concerns they’ve experienced to warrant the sign.

Neat little stop for food while we were at the Alabama Renaissance faire. I’ve never been asked how I wanted my fish cooked before, but I said well done. Maybe I should have went with medium since it was a bit chewy but otherwise it was good. Daughter got a kids pizza. Bit burnt on the edges but the middle was awesome. The wedding soup appetizer was awesome, and the fresh bread with herbs was pretty good.