Preteroti's Spaghetti House — Restaurant in Findlay

Tucked away from the well-worn paths of chain restaurants, I stumbled upon an Italian gem that turned an ordinary evening into a feast worth remembering. If every new dining experience were as splendid as this one, I’d happily trade my pen for the life of a professional food critic.

I began with the fried ravioli, golden and audibly crisp, each bite yielding to a silky, creamy filling that sang in harmony with the bright, tangy marinara alongside it. It was the kind of appetizer that sets the stage with confidence—simple in appearance, but flawless in execution. Then, breaking with tradition, I moved straight to dessert—because why not? Their tiramisu was a cloud of espresso-soaked delight, airy yet indulgent, cocoa-kissed and impossible to resist. I saved half for later, but only with great restraint.

A modest salad followed, a refreshing interlude of iceberg and romaine with the usual adornments of shredded cheese and dressing—a palate cleanser more than a centerpiece.

And then came the headliner: The Big Fat Tony. Imagine a theatrical entrance—our server needed both hands to deliver this leviathan of Italian-American bravado. At its base, a tangle of spaghetti cloaked in a marriage of creamy marinara and Alfredo sauces. Atop that, a hulking square of lasagna, oozing molten cheese and layered with hearty meats—even salami, a delightful surprise. This was crowned with chicken Parmesan, then cloaked once more under a hearty, sausage-studded Bolognese. The entire creation was bound together with molten broiled cheese, draped like a decadent curtain over the entire composition. On the side: a slab of garlic bread so immense it could have been a meal in itself, toasted to a satisfying crunch with a garlicky perfume that filled the air.

The platter was less a dish and more an edible spectacle—part opera, part architectural marvel. After only a few forkfuls, I surrendered, boxing the rest to discover later that it stretched into four additional meals.

The experience was elevated by a server whose attentiveness and charm matched the generosity of the kitchen. The restaurant itself evoked nostalgia—clean, warm, and welcoming, the kind of place that feels both familiar and worth traveling for.

This was not just dinner—it was an event, an indulgence, a reminder of why family-run Italian restaurants endure. If your path ever crosses this hidden treasure, don’t hesitate. To miss it would be to miss a feast both fabulous and...

I will start by saying - we LOVE Preteroti's. We've been a few times now and the food is nothing short of exceptional. Staff is friendly and always polite. You can always tell you're getting the best Italian food in Findlay, bar-none.

That all said - I think people SHOULD know what they could expect, especially during busier times. I'm sharing my experience so people don't get confused like we were initially!

The restaurant has a very small waiting area, but a good amount of dining space, and they seem to rely heavily on Doordash/to-go orders to keep them profitable (which I get it, COVID has completely changed what restaurants need to do to survive - no complaints from my end here). If it's really busy, or if they get slammed with to-go orders where the apps dictate when the food HAS to be ready, you can expect to get seated and not be served while they clear out their order queue.

Yes! It's a little unorthodox, but I much preferred that over standing around for 30+ minutes waiting for a table. Me and my partner were able to relax and spend our time catching up after the long week.

I think IF that happens again, the wait staff should explain the situation a little better ahead of time to those that they are seating (I saw a few tables just outright leave - which if that was my first experience at this place - I would have too.)

We stayed though, because this place is 100% worth the wait and we knew it from our previous times there. Seriously, we have yet to find a dish we haven't liked!

After we waited to be served (about 30 minutes) - from the moment the waitress came back and took our order - we had drinks and food in less than 10 minutes. I think if people understood how they can't operate at the same scale as an Olive Garden, they'd have a better expectations when they show up.

After our meal, the waitress explained how they were understaffed due to some members of their core team traveling this weekend. That, combined with graduation and Mother's Day Weekend, IN A DINNER RUSH, I'm not surprised we had to wait.

Take a chance on these guys, and give them some grace, I think once you take a step back, you'll find yourself in a family environment that prioritizes the quality of their food above all else. And I wouldn't ask for...

I rarely ever give 5 stars. You are as close as you can be without getting one. Was very happy overall with this restaurant. Was on a 1st date and can't wait to go back. They were seriously slammed, Like every table full on a Friday night slammed! Awesome and good for them! My date and I shared different things and everything was fantastic and fairly priced. If you come to a larger city in Ohio like Columbus, Cincinnati, or certain areas of Cleveland I'd expect to pay double, or maybe even 2 1/2 times more your your quality. Food costs are the same everywhere so I feel they could raise prices and still have the same amount of business. Minus this next customer I'm referencing. He should stick with fast food. The other bad thing was that there was no salad available. (I didn't personally mind considering there's a ridiculous shortage currently affecting small restaurants.) I did however mind listening to the angry little man behind me complaining about it as if dinner was ruined for him? Seriously? Basically I suggest eating here. Try it at least once and you'll see it's good enough to have again. I even tried a bite of my dates tiramisu dessert and it was a "10" perfectly made from scratch. My date was also a "10" so yeah there's that. Staff was good given situation. Heard the one woman was the owner waiting tables. Well done can't wait to see you or our funny waitress again. Definitely trying something different to find what I dig the most. You're 2 for 2 so far with meatball appetizers and dessert. Thank...