Ariani Ristorante Italiano — Restaurant in Cape Coral

I finally made reservations and took my significant other for his birthday. We had the 5:00 seating, that was my only choice, and I called a week out. When we arrived the doors opened and a wonderful smell of Italian goodness went straight upon our noses, lol. We went up gave our name and were promptly seated. We had a great table in a nice spot and was greeted by Daniel who filled our water glasses and said if there is anything we need, just let him know. That was the last time we seen Daniel, well at our table. Casper was our waiter, he was wonderful. He attended to our table, explained the specials, I told him it was Richs birthday, and in the end, he brought out a piece of Neapolitan cake with a candle and we were serenaded with a happy birthday. It made me very happy. As for the dining experience. Daniel had filled the water glasses and Casper came over with a basket of bread covered with a cloth napkin. He explained the specials, and took our drink order. I ordered Moscato, Rich ordered the house red. When Casper came back with the drinks he took or dinner order. We ordered appetizers of the scampi mussels and the calamari. Both were excellent. The garlic broth the mussels came with was so delicious, and the little Italian bread medallions went well with the dozen mussels. Richs calamari was fried perfectly and was delicious, he said, as I do not eat calamari lol. Then before we could finish our appetizers the dinners came, I have now finished my glass of water, but the water glass was never filled again. I would of asked but everyone was so busy, I still had my Moscato, so not a big deal, but, well. I wish I had more water as the garlic mussels made me thirsty. Ok so now the meals. Rich ordered the filet mignon wellington. He said it was delicious with the accent on "de" , it was served with a minced spinach and mashed potato. I ordered the special, sea bass with lobster sauce and crab. Mine was served with minced spinach and angel hair pasta and clam sauce. Now my meal was only ok, in my opinion. The sea bass had a fishy taste, I know it's fish, but I also was a restaurant manager, and fish shouldn't be fishy. And my pasta was on the flour side and not much taste. I did ask Casper for some broth like I had for the mussels and he came out with scampi angel hair, but I refused it, I didn't need pasta, I needed taste, but it was just the pasta so it was all ok, as long as Rich was happy, I was happy. After dinner was over Rich had his food wrapped, I didn't want mine wrapped and the special sea bass dinner was almost $40.00. Next thing I see is Casper and a few of his work mates coming out with the cake, candle and singing. I know I told you this already, but it was very special to me that he did that, we were just celebrating the two of us, and this made it feel special. Ok back to dessert. Well Rich was going to get the tiramisu, but since he brought the Neopolitan cake we ordered tiramisu to go, and rich ordered a coffee and baileys, I ordered coffee with cream and spumoni.. Casper brought out the coffees, the cream went and got the bailey's and we were eating our desserts which were very good by the way. I took a sip of my coffee, and Rich says, it's cold, I was like it iscold. He said I out my bailys in so I just drank it. I being that manager (I know the worst kind of diner) needed to tell Casper to either flip on the warmer button or check the machine. He tried to get me more, but I really didn't need it we were ready to go anyways. So we asked for the bill. So I explained everything we ordered so you know what we had for the total. Our bill was $178. And change, and I paid that with a credit card, and tipped Casper $60.00, because that's how we do it. The chef-owner did come out and walk around the tables and talk to his patrons, and he did know it was Richs birthday, so communication in that area was spot on. So we thought overall, it was a little pricey because we lacked in the water, coffee, pasta and clam sauce, and fishy fish. But we will go back and give it...

This level of restaurant is where the five star system really falls down. It's a good restaurant, in that you will get what you are expecting, but it's literally 100% standard fare. Not quite fine dining, but white table cloths and jacketed servers. Less intimate than it should be for not being quite so busy. FYI there were not less than 6 happy birthday choruses throughout our 1.5 hours. Our waiter said there are at least 10 a night. Not really intimate, though the muted lights, murals and dark wood stain make it feel like it should be dignified. ... 1 plus 1 minus...

Solid food. Sauces are uninspired, and a bit industrial, with everything, including the garlic wine sauce on the mussels feeling like it had been thickened with starch. Plain white sauce on the steak, plain red sauce on the pasta. Bread loaves come out warm, but butter comes in plastic packets... 1 plus 1 minus...

I had the manicotti which is normally a good barometer of an Italian restaurant. If you can pull that off, you're legit. So it wasn't bad, with the pasta freshly cooked to just the right level of firmness, stuffed with plain ricotta, and slathered with that red sauce. Just not the best, but no disqualification. Neutral....

The steak, likewise, is hard to do poorly. Filet mignon. But several pieces were sinewy, as if this was not actual prime, center cut, as advertised. Hard to tell under all that white sauce. Minus really....

Finally, the real mark of a good northern Italian restaurant; does it have its own iteration of tiramisu?? I should have started and stuck with dessert. The tiramisu was unique: two long slightly soaked ladyfingers sandwiches a lightly toffee flavored cream filling. Not quite enough coffee flavor or chocolate flavor for me, but definitely a bravo for trying. 1 plus.

If you're only spending a few bucks on dinner, you don't really care about the finer details. It's just a meal. If you're making an investment in an occasion, you want the details.

So back to the scale:

1-botulism 2-you'll live, very disappointing 3-okay for a meal, not a repeat 4-great place, not afraid to recommend 5-pinnacle of dining for what it offers.

There's no shame in a 3 and a high 3 is actually pretty good. This should be a 3.5, but there's no place for that, so I have to round up to 4 to not look like a jerk. Also this might be one of the better italian places ON Cape Coral, so that should temper your...

Had a reservation: Act 1- the hostess was in the weeds, very stressed out and we witnessed her go off on a waitress simply for trying to help. When the waitress tried to assist seating our party of four, she was loudly chastised by the hostess for taking four menus for our party of four saying they only get two.

Act 2- the service was slow. The drinks came out and we waited a while to be able to order apps. We were not allowed to have a menu for each of us so we had to share. The calamari tasted like it was frozen. Rubbery and cold. The escargot was actually tasty. Shorty after the apps, we ordered entrees. Very disappointed that the only cheese they use is fontina so I ordered penne pasta for $15 and added in two meatballs that cost $6. My partner ordered a side of penne in blush sauce and you thought he was taking a foreign language. For the prices, a side salad or cup of soup should be offered.

Act 3- forty minutes after ordering I asked the server who I had watched working the floor for about 10-15 minutes, where our food was. He responded “it should be out shortly” I challenged him to go to the kitchen and actually ask before making a statement when he had no idea where our food was. Then they spun the “wheel of excuses” to explain for the delay: we’re understaffed, it’s busy, my dog ate my homework!!!

Act 4- the food came out 45 minutes after ordering. Luckily our guests from Ohio enjoyed their dinner where I was grossed out by the presentation. The filet in some brown sauce looked like Salisbury steak at a 5&10 diner. The sides of spinach were thrown on with no thought of presentation. My $15 penne pasta was cold and over cooked and my meatballs should be renamed “breadcrumb balls” because I swear I detected little or no meat in them. I pushed it aside. My partner looked at an anemic cold & poor attempt at a blush sauce and pushed it aside. Eventually when the server returned he asked if I wanted my hardly touched $21 bowl pasta and bread balls boxed for take home. I said no thank you. Did he ask if I enjoyed it as he took the full plate away? NOPE! What a waste of money!!!

So here’s the rub: we went there to scope the place out for a wedding event in September…. NO WAY. I should’ve left when we walked in the door and we’re greeted by the stressed out hostess. OVERPRICED AND...