La Bona Pasta — Restaurant in Avondale

This is one of my ALL-TIME favorite restaurants. The food is ALWAYS SPECTACULAR!! Very traditional Italian menu items. I've never had anything that was anything less than amazing. They do everything possible to modify to your preferences...whole wheat pasta, substituting pesto sauce for least I cream sauce, added protein, veggies, extra spice thru homegrown spicy peppers, etc.

They have excellent appetizers.. my fab is the baked Brie.

They have a wide selection of domestic and Italian beers, wines, and liquor.

But by far their creme brulee is amazing!!! They offer tiramisu as well.

I've enjoyed this family-owned restaurant for anniversaries, graduation, as well as many special meals with family or friends. I've referred many people for large groups or date nights and one thing is certain...no one has ever left there unsatisfied. I equate this experience to finding that hidden gem that is in plain sight. I could visit other Italian restaurants with stunning ambiance, but the food at La Bona is by far better than you will find at any other Italian restaurant--chain or independent!!!

Although, I have enjoyed take-out when I wanted comfort food in addition to enjoying excellent food with a loved one any evening. Dress up or casual...you are NEVER over or under dressed...but no matter what you will fall in love with this family who cooks and serves you just like you are part of their family.

I have been going to this restaurant since they opened and although they may have offered different special dining events over the years such as a Sunday brunch, on-site large group events, wine pairing meals, etc. One thing has NEVER changed...the family providing top-notch menu items that are never skimped on. They have become part of my extended family (tho' we only met thru meals enjoyed at their restaurant)...check them out and make their family part of your family...

Normally I don’t like being too negative about smaller businesses because I understand the struggles that can come with it. I was pretty upset last night about the way we were treated and served. We had arrived ahead of four other parties and we all had reservations ours being at 730. We were skipped over multiple times because they were not checking reservations and just letting everyone who came in after us go because they only said they had reservations. No one even checked for reservations until I asked if we were next. So after about a half hour of waiting we were sat next to the bathrooms. I get that this is more of a floor plan and structural problem but it certainly was not appetizing to hear a man vacate his bowels so close to us and the kitchen. This whole time the wait staff had pretty much just sat us down and forgot about us. Only after about another 30 minutes of sitting and listening to bathroom sounds did they even ask what to drink which still took quite some time for a glass of water and apple juice. We then sat for another 20 minutes and throughout this entire ordeal not one person came to check or to assure us that we would be served any time soon. And truly I do understand that it was a very busy night, but the blatant disregard for what seemed like our party only had really soured everything. We had got up to leave to try and find another place to eat. (Nigh impossible on Valentine’s Day) We were excited the whole day to try this place and the food but the service simply was so lacking that our valentines dinner was ruined.

You guys have a lovely establishment and all I ask for the sake of any future patrons is that you be consistent with reservations and do not skip people and to at least check in with people who are waiting to even order. I do not think we will try this...

Tried this little restaurant out when they first opened and then gave them another shot yesturday. Still not impressed. I have to say that had it not been for the Groupon discount.. I would have overpaid.

To start with the decor...it gives you the vibe of an outdated Bistro from the late 80s or 90s. Being that the kitchen is not closed off there is a lot of background noise.

They are listed as a moderately priced facility, noticibly striving for the intimate setting yet they have a television hanging from the wall like a sports bar which is tacky, while selling glasses of white wine at $10 / glass as if they are a classy 5 star restaurant. Last time I checked, places of their caliber charge $5 to $7 / glass. Then a bottle of Moscato was $32 (that's a joke knowing that Moscato runs at most $26 / bottle at high end restaurants and only $5 to $15 retail). Background music was playing originally when we arrived, but 15 minutes in, and the music was off and all you heard was sounds of the kitchen and neighboring tables conversations.

The waiters personal details within his table conversation were a little off pudding and his "fatherly" comments questioning why we didn't eat our tomatoes was awkward. Originally the wrong table's food was brought to our table and then at checkout, the waiter lost our credit card and began to blame us stating that he returned our card. Come to find out that he dropped it on the floor.

The flavor of the food was tasteful which was a delight amongst all that wasn't, but overall, just wasn't very uncomfortable setting for dining out. The only positive for us was that it's not another chain restaurant. It could be something much more with the right TLC and buisness plan...should rebrand as a Bistro and...