Di Fara Pizza Tavern — Restaurant in Cary

In the esteemed culinary cosmos of Cary, North Carolina, where hearty smiles abound and southern charm serenades the senses, there exists a gastronomic jewel which, dare I say, leaves a beacon of excellence for dining aficionados everywhere. This temple of pie, hidden in plain sight yet worshipped by an opulent throng of devotees, is none other than Di Fara Pizza Tavern.

Upon entering Di Sara, one is immediately greeted by an electric symphony of Cary’s haute and high tech society patrons, their laughter harmoniously intertwined with the clinking of beer pints and wine glasses. The ambiance is a delightful ballet of modernity and classic elegance. The murals and memorabelia lining the walls transport you to the not so mean streets of NYC, while jazz notes, subtle yet omnipresent, hum like whispers from a bygone era where good pizza and good people came together, to eat and sell pizza.

But let's not tarry on mere ambiance, as splendid as it may be. The true marvel of Di Fara lies in its impeccable service. Everly, Nora, and Claire – names that shall be etched in the annals of dining excellence – have mastered the art of hospitality with the precision of seasoned performers. Everly glides through the dining room with the grace of Pavlova, anticipating desires before they have even materialized. Nora, a paragon of attentiveness, ensures every glass is brimming and every plate a masterpiece. Claire, ever vigilant and charismatic, orchestrates this symphony with a calm demeanor reminiscent of legendary maîtres d'hôtel.

To compare these service mavens to mere mortals would be an understatement. Everly is the Marie Kondo of mise en place, tidying your table and your soul. Nora channels Florence Nightingale, but instead of bandages and care, she administers a panacea of wine and wit. Claire, the epitome of geniality, could stand alongside historical icons like Emily Post, navigating the intricate social nuances with effortless aplomb.

At Di Fara, the gustatory delights are rivaled only by the meticulous attention each diner receives. It is not merely dining; it is an experience, an event, a soirée to be remembered. So, for those seeking not just a meal but an opus of flavors and fellowship, the doors of Di Fara await. Their beacon shines bright, a culinary lodestar guiding all who seek a slice (see what I did there) of...

Unfortunately, due to the unprofessional and rude behavior of the owner, I can only give this establishment a one-star rating.

Our encounter with the owner occurred when we requested new garlic knots that had been served to us with most of the knots outsides more than 50% burned/charred and inedible. We did each try ones that were less burned but quickly realized the burned bitter taste was terrible. When we asked our waiter if they could make new garlic knots, the server returned and said that the owner had opened one of the knots and found the inside to be acceptable to them. We insisted again to the waiter that they were burnt on the outside, that they tasted terrible, and that we couldn't consume them in that state or feed them to our children and that we would like for them to request the owner to have new ones made.

The owner then approached our table in an extremely rude, unkind, unreceptive, and aggressive manner. She insisted that we had requested for them to be taken off our bill but that was completely false, it was her who recommended a small discount to appease us. We didn't want a discount or for them to be taken off our bill all we simply wanted were new garlic knots made that were not burned/charred so much. However, the owner continued to refuse our request, citing the fact that they only make them in batches of 12 and that this burned look is the way they are supposed to be. That is unacceptable. The level of defensiveness over a simple amd legitimate request was frightening especially in front of our children.

Throughout the entire encounter, the owner was extremely disrespectful and unprofessional, making us feel embarrassed and guilty for even asking to have our food made right. It was an unpleasant experience.

The treatment we received left a sour taste in our mouths, and we will never return to this restaurant. I implore others to avoid this establishment and seek other options. The owner needs to listen to their customers and treat them with respect and act on their simple request to remake food that is burned. It is quite sad and pathetic that the owner is so staunchly stubborn and defensive that they couldn't honor a simple request such as this and lost customers for life. We will tell everyone we know to avoid...

I hate giving bad reviews, and in many cases, I believe reviews can often be biased and based off emotions, this one is neither. If you've read any of my reviews you will see Im well informed and fair. I think 4 stars is better than they actually should get, my goal isn't to deter folks from eating here, they have a pretty good following for that, but as a New Yorker through and through and someone who knows food. The classic pizza we had, on a scale of 1 to 10 was a 5.5 both my wife and I are New Yorkers and this pizza didnt rank anywhere near what we're used to. The garlic knots were ok. Minus the food, this was a great date night for us. We've been doing this since our early 20's and we're early 60's early... so that should account for something. As a foodservice professional, I've set up scores of Italian restaurants across the country. I was really good and set up some really fine places.. If you want a fair assessment of what good NYC pizza tastes like, there used to be a place called "Casalinga" probably was the best, all around in anything Italian, In NC... Frank, who was one of their chefs passed away many year's ago.. that pizza/food was amazing! Di Fara's crust was perfect, I'll give them that..the sauce to cheese ratio was balanced for me.. the sauce was clearly a plum/ San Marzano, I grow them and others so that was easy for me.. but the flavors just didnt wow me at all. My bill with a tip came to 92.00 I was disappointed in that l spent 92 bucks for a pizza, 12 garlic knots and 2 diet cokes.. I wasn't concerned about how long it took because I was really enjoying my wife, the music they had, and the raffle.... oh yeah, lets get to the raffle.. I had won a 150.00 gift card and made my way up front to the stage they had set up, as quickly as I could, coming from way in the back..and watched them called out another number and pass my 150 to someone else. Geez, not giving me enough time to collect my original prize was diabolical as they say. Mrs Fara had this sad look and gave me a Thule duffel instead.. Here's a thought, before pulling the trigger so quickly, how about giving people enough time to walk up front.. fair? Overall I enjoyed the evening, It was new for the wife and I. We'll see If we ever go...