Nonna Emilia Ristorante Italiano — Restaurant in Beaverton

I did not have a good experience. We drove an hour each way to try this place. We got there and were informed we had entered the wrong way and we were asked to walk around the building. One of the members of our party is 84 years old and I thought this was quite rude and not very accommodating. Another customer chimed in and said there was a way through the inside of the restaurant and the staff begrudgingly let us, not before lecturing us about how it is rude to other customers. Let me tell you the restaurant is quite large and we only passed 3 tables with customers in them. We were seated rather promptly after that. I ordered manicotti, my spouse had chicken parmigiana, my children each had a child’s pepperoni pizza and my aunt had clam chowder. We also ordered mozzarella sticks, they were okay, nothing to shout about for the price. We waited an hour for our food and about 30 minutes before our entrees came we were given “garlic” bread. We anxiously waited hoping this was a sign our food was coming, the waitress never came back. We watched other customers come, order, eat, pay, and leave while we just sat there. It was so loud that we could not hear each other, so we just sat there quietly waiting for our food. I was extremely dissatisfied with the cost, presentation, taste, and everything about my food. Have you ever had the michelinas meals from winco in the frozen section? That’s what I was served. Same size manicotti, same taste, same sauce. The food was served in a very tiny casserole dish with 2 manicotti and just overloaded with sauce. The waitress warned us our plates were hot, they were actually cold. Every one of us had cold food. The kids pizzas looked like freshetta frozen pizza. My daughter loves pizza and would barely eat hers. The clam chowder had mushrooms in it for some reason. The parmigiana was flooded in sauce with a very small portion of spaghetti noodles and a soggy, super thin, chicken patty. I wouldn’t even call that a breast. The bread might as well have been toast with margarine on it, yuck. The waitress never came back so we couldn’t even say our food was cold. Even if she had we ad come back, we had already invested so much time waiting we just wanted to get home. I could have made that entire dinner with frozen food for $10, I could have made a much better tasting quality version for about $30. I paid $85. No I did not tip. It was clear my food had sat for a long time while the waitress disappeared for 45 minutes. They seem very unapologetic about their service, lack of quality, and everything else. I will not come back and I would not recommend to anyone. Next time I’ll make my own food, disappointed I wasted my time. Wish I would have taken photos to post so they could see their shameful product. Go to Olive Garden instead, the food is at...

You haven’t had Italian until you’ve been here. Period

I thought I understood Italian food. I thought I understood big portions. I thought I’d been to restaurants with character. Then I walked into Nonna Emilia Ristorante Italiano in Aloha Oregon and suddenly I realized I’d been playing in the kiddie pool

Step into this place and you’re instantly hit with a vibe that feels like a warm hug from a Sicilian grandma you didn’t know you had. It’s cozy loud and alive. There’s an accordion player walking around the dining room taking song requests like it’s a wedding in Naples and somehow it just works. The energy is incredible. The authenticity is unmatched

Q What’s the food like A No joke It’s better than you expect

We ordered the lemon chicken pasta and I’m not even being dramatic when I say I almost levitated. Creamy lemony buttery and perfectly seasoned like sunshine in a bowl. Then we kept going because self control doesn’t exist here!

Spaghetti and Meatballs Giant juicy meatballs with a sauce that tastes like it simmered all Sunday.

Lasagna Layered like a dream Rich cheesy with edges that crisp up just right.

Pizza Heavy duty No frills Just unapologetically loaded and delicious.

Caesar Salad Cold crisp and the perfect contrast to the richness of everything else.

Garlic Cheesy Bread This should be illegal Reviewers swear by it and now I do too

Q Did we try the calzone A Not this time but believe me it’s already on the list for the next round According to what feels like every single Google review they’re the size of your head and worth every bite

Q How are the vibes really A Think Italian family reunion but make it a restaurant This isn’t some slick minimal spot with quiet background music This is loud alive and full of heart The decor hasn’t changed in years and that’s exactly why it works You’re not just eating You’re feeling something

Pro Tips: Come on an empty stomach You’ll leave full and then some Order more than you think you need Leftovers hit different the next day -Let the accordion player play It’s part of the magic Bring friends or family This place was made for sharing

Final Verdict Nonna Emilia Ristorante Italiano is the kind of place that makes you feel something It’s not trendy It’s not trying too hard It just is and that’s what makes it so special

If you’re anywhere near Aloha Oregon this is your move If you’re visiting the state put this at the top of your list We don’t live here but every time we come to see family this is stop number one because nothing else compares

Trust me You’ll walk in a customer and leave...

Good food, made from family recipes handed down for generations. This location has been open for over 45 years. Most of those years it was owned by generations of the same family, although recently it was sold to a different family. Prices are a bit on the expensive side, but the portions are HUGE. I am 6'01", and weigh in at almost 250 and I got three meals out of the build your own pasta dish. I went with the angel hair pasta with meat sauce, and added a meatball and Italian sausage link. The pasta was around $16 and was served with an anti pasta plate, by itself usually around $4, and a choice of soup or salad with garlic bread. The meatball, again big, and flavorful, and the sausage link, were $3 each. The minestrone soup was pretty good and made on site. I was curious about the clam chowder, so they brought me a sample. It was as good as any I have eaten on the coast. Most of the other dishes start at around $20. The pasta is definitely your most economical choice here. Two people could easily share one plate of pasta and not leave hungry. They have a limited selection of desserts, I think there were 7 options on the list and they change from day to day. I was disappointed that they were out of tiramisu when I was there. Once I was seated, it took almost 15 minutes before someone came to get me a drink, of water or anything else, and get my food order. Once they arrived though, I found the server to be friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. This was prior to Covid restrictions being lifted, and the number of tables that were occupied, was about half of the allowed limit for the county, by my estimation. I went around 7:30 on a Thursday. Reservations are recommended here and so I made one, about an hour before I arrived. It seemed to me there were a lot of tables open, although, again, Covid capacity limits were in effect at the time. They offer an outdoor patio for dining, for those of you who prefer dining Al fresco. They also have an area for video lottery and a fairly well stocked bar. One additional note, they just started offering a military discount, so if you have proof of service, past or present, you can save an additional 10%. I think my bill, with an Ameretto Di Sarono, a non alcoholic beverage, and a $7 dessert, after the military discount, was about $35. Considering I got two additional meals out the pasta, it was pretty good deal. About on par with OSF, but way more food and much better quality. They take pride in their product...