Venicia - Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Arcata

We recently visitedMazzotti's Italian Restaurant in the charming town square of Arcata, California.

Let's start with the location itself. Nestled in the heart of Arcata's town square, Mazzotti's Italian Restaurant boasts a quaint and inviting atmosphere. The warm and cozy ambiance, coupled with the friendly and attentive staff, made me feel instantly welcomed and at home. The picturesque surroundings only added to the overall charm of the place.

Now, let's talk food!

Mazzotti's truly knows how to deliver an authentic Italian culinary experience. The bruschetta was a flavor explosion, with fresh mozzarella, green tomatoes, fragrant basil, and drizzles of balsamic glaze, basil oil and pesto, that danced on my palate. It was the perfect way to start our meal.

The salads (we chose salad over soup) at Mazzotti's were a refreshing complement to the main courses. Fresh and crisp, they featured a vibrant medley of greens, topped with a variety of flavorful ingredients (peppercinis, garbanzo beans, olives, croutons, etc.).

Next up, the manicotti and cannelloni were absolute showstoppers. The pasta was cooked to perfection, and the fillings were rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor.

And let's not forget about the wine! Mazzotti's boasts an impressive selection of wines, carefully curated to enhance your dining experience. The knowledgeable staff was more than happy to recommend the perfect pairing for our meal (wine recommendations are also on the menu).

Overall, the best meal I had in Arcata was undoubtedly at Mazzotti's Italian Restaurant. The combination of exceptional service, delightful ambiance, and mouthwatering food made for an unforgettable experience. If you find yourself in Arcata, do yourself a favor and pay a visit to Mazzotti's. Your taste buds will...

We are in the new Italian restaurant, it’s nice. There’s live music and the service is excellent with a very bubbly and attentive hostess. We ordered Calamari for an appetizer, and when we got it, we were happily surprised. The plate was nice and full with a side of tartar sauce and cocktail sauce. The calamari was soft and tender with the perfect crunch. The parsley with the flavor of the calamari paired beautifully. The only feedback on the calamari would be to have a bit more dill in the tartar sauce, to make it taste a bit less like mayonnaise. For a drink, I got the pineapple kiwi mockarita and it was excellent with a nice contrast between sweet and sour. The initial flavor was more tart but as the drink settled, it tasted sweeter. For my meal, I had ordered the spaghetti and meatballs and when biting into a meatball, you could taste the flavor of the spices and herbs they seasoned the meat with, specifically oregano. The meat is tender and rich in flavor. The sauce has a fresh tomato taste and has an almost acidic taste, which perfectly complements the herbs used in the sauce. My father had ordered the scallops and polenta and he thoroughly enjoyed the meal. The polenta is good, however it could be firmer and creamier. The polenta is not over salted and has good herbs that encourage the flavor. The scallops are perfect. The scallops are tender and flavorful, overall improving the quality of the meal. Overall the service was pretty great. Our hostess was an amazingly bright and bubbly young lady, who was very lively and energetic. Our waitress was also very kind. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who asks about it, and I am excited to return for another...

Arrived on a Sunday at 530. We were quoted a 30-minute wait so we decided to wait at the bar and have some drinks in the meantime. Around 6:15. The bartender told us our table was about to be ready and they would come get us. 10 minutes later. No one has come to get us. One of us goes to check in with the hostess. She rudely says that after 15 minutes they give our table away since they were unable to contact us. They never once called the number that we left for them and we were sitting at their bar in plain sight. The group they gave our table away to was also sitting at the bar right next to us. The bartenders were lovely and very nice. They made sure to check in on us multiple times while we waited for the table. After being seated at the table, the waitress arrived to take drink orders ironically and appetizer orders. Our appetizers came out really quickly but we did have to ask for bread three times. After the appetizer course. We waited an hour for our entrees. One of the items came out wrong and had to be sent back. Two of the pasta dishes were undercooked, one of which being completely inedible. The pizza however was just fine. During this experience we were polite to the waitress since she was not a part of the waiting process, but we all noticed the looks we were getting from the rest of the staff as if we had done something wrong for waiting over an hour for our table. Can say will not be going back anytime soon. Seeing as and how the service and wait time was not worth the quality of food. The drinks and bartenders however were worth it. But not enough to make me go back. Start to finish. We spent 2 and 1/2 hours in the establishment as we left...