Luigi's Restaurant and Delicatessen — Restaurant in Bakersfield

Avoid This Establishment – Disappointing Service and Racism at Play

I visited this restaurant hoping to enjoy their renowned truffle pasta, but my experience was unfortunately soured by poor service by the bartender Julie and what seemed to be racially biased treatment. We were the only POC in the restaurant. After arriving and sitting at the bar, we patiently waited for service. We were clearly seen by the bartender, Julie who even spoke to us, but then proceeded to serve TWO groups that sat down after us—leaving us waiting for a solid 15-20 minutes. Our table was ready before she could even serve us our drinks we ordered so we just left to head to our table. Our server was really nice and probably the only reason why we stayed to eat.

After doing some research, it became clear that this wasn’t an isolated incident. Many other POC patrons have shared similar experiences, where they were either served after others who came in later or were asked to give up their seats for someone else. One review even mentioned the bartender by name, Julie, as the person who deliberately skipped us. I’m guessing this might be part of a larger issue, and judging by the fact that there has been no response to similar feedback, it doesn’t sound like they are in any rush to correct Julie’s behavior.

As for the food, it was okay but really greasy. I understand butter is essential in truffle pasta, but the amount of butter on the plate was excessive, making it feel less like a luxurious dish and more like a greasy mess. Definitely not worth the price, especially given the interior that looks more like a budget pizza parlor than a high-end dining experience.

For anyone who values good food and respectful service, especially POC patrons, I would strongly advise against dining here. It’s not just about the food; it’s about feeling valued as a customer, and sadly, this place misses the...

This seems to be mostly a locals spot. Everyone knows each other, their family members are in the photos on the walls, it’s very cute but a little intimidating coming in for a first time. I’ve been a few times at this point and I still don’t think I’ve got it all down yet. I finally saw a drink menu for the first time recently! Who knew they had a whole bar?! Turns out there’s a bar inside and another one outside! I have tried to order vegetarian each time and have ended up with meat or something cooked in meat every time. Even when I so specifically ask the waiter about how it’s cooked and tell them I am vegetarian it does not help. They do have a “gluten free” section on the menu, I’m not gluten free, I love my pasta but I think that might be my best bet moving forward. There is a ton of seating inside, this place gets packed and has a whole outside patio. They have fans and misters out there because it gets hot! The servers and host are always so friendly, I think they expect everyone has been there before so I do feel kind of awkward asking questions. Parking is insane, the line is usually out the door, people wait hours to get a table here! The deli next door is awesome, tons of fresh and speciality items. Everyone else is obsessed with this place, maybe if I can find something delicious with no meat I can jump on the...

The freshest, most authentic Italian restaurant that they've bottled their classics and now sell it at their adjoining store as they have for decades. I recall the Luigi's sandwich when I was only yeh tall (oh, yeah, you can't see...lol...well, lets say I was bout 10 then and that's about, oh, 40 years ago...to err on the side of youth). I love going, the memories come rushing back to uncover 45 years in the blink of an eye. Beautiful memories, to add! The food is luxuriously distinctive. Today, I often visit the store to purchase 2-4 bags of their fresh, frozen ravioli (sometimes the gnocchi depending on my mood or what I want and either pair with Luigi's meat and/or matinara sauce, or take it home but itself to meet my own freshly made batch of sauce. I still love the restaurant though, donut get lyre wrong. The staff whether it's dining or at the store, everyone is berry kind and helpful. I don't think anyone would have anything negative to say about Luigi's. One last thibg...best wine to vinegar you could want. The choices are endless. After I'm looking gone, Luigi's will still be kickin of...