Luigi's Pizzeria of SWFL — Restaurant in Florida

The staff is very friendly and as a regular always say hi, even staff not waiting on us. The food is usually delicious, as we don't eat out often in Port Charlotte, but when we do, often it has been at Luigi's. So now, why a 1* rating? Not only has the restaurant lost my future business, it almost certainly will lose other potential business. Let me explain. I went there the other day to eat at 3 in the afternoon during the week. So not an overly busy time, after most people's lunch and before most dinners. Everything was going the customary fine. I am a mobile notary, and rather than charge a travel fee, usually offer someone the option to meet me at a specific time and location. Well, I was at Luigi's, so they came to me. Rather than do paperwork around drinks and food, I asked them to step outside to one of the four outside tables where no one was eating. It was a little more private and quiet as well. We barely sat down when a very rude lady I had never seen approached me and asked if we needed anything. I told her I was eating inside but didn't know if my customers would eat here after signing their paperwork. It is common (although this was an unusual eating time) for my customers to patronize the establishment where I meet them. So while not always, sometimes these places get additional business because of meeting me here. In this case, they indicated they would not be eating there. Then the rude woman walked away, talking and saying more rude things. My customers and I all commented on how rude she behaved, and I finished their paperwork in about ten minutes. I went back to my table, and asked my server to speak to the manager. She was worried she had done something wrong, but I assured her it had nothing to do with her service. Then, the woman who approached me outside approached me at the table and asked what I wanted in a very confrontational tone. Wow, I questioned if she was the manager, and she said yes, then said she was the owner. Now I sometimes disagree with the business philosophy; the customer is always right because they are not. Still, you don't treat them with rudeness and ignorance. Apparently, this owner doesn't subscribe to that philosophy!! She was just as rude, arrogant, and confrontational (worse actually) in addressing my complaint. She said I should have brought them to my table, but I said no for various reasons. Even today, I'm still dumbfounded she would behave that way, but interestingly enough, upon speaking to one of the regular employees saying goodbye, not sure we will ever come back. She, of course, asked why. And I indicated the rude ignorance of the owner I got the response that she (the wait staff) had to deal with her (the owner) regularly, so she couldn't speak up. As a customer, I CAN speak up by not visiting anymore! I said I'm sorry you need to work under these conditions. This brings back memories of a visit to a Punta Gorda pancake restaurant that we visited about 10+ years ago. The regional manager was treated his employees poorly by yelling at them in public in front of customers, including me. I filed a complaint against him, and they just sent me a gift certificate for two free meals. Once I found out, he was still there and still behaving the same way (unknown to me, I had a friend who knew me and what happened and worked there, and he told me the follow-up). I never used those certificates and never went back there. The complaint was not filed for a free meal; it was filed because I want to see people who help, wait, serve, etc., treated differently. I will tell all I can about this behavior, so hopefully, others will not patronize such establishments. I also expect my customers will never go there based on their comments about events. So this rude owner lost a regular and possible future business for what?? What did this owner gain by such rude and obnoxious behavior? She needs to sell or stay away from the business and let the staff run a more professional business because she DOES NOT belong in there...

This was my first time going to Luigi's. Actually, I found it accidentally looking online for a good burger in the area, and for some reason Luigi's popped up. I think I clicked on the website out of curiosity about burgers at at a pizzeria. As soon as I entered the website, their specials were across the top, and saw that the pizza is 1/2 off on Monday. Wow...that's a great deal, so I thought I'd give them a try. They recommend using the app, which I downloaded & signed up. Unfortunately, it wasn't giving me the 1/2 off price, though it WAS showing the 1/2 off price in my cart. Frustrated, I then tried ordering via their website. Exact same problem, so I just ended up calling it in. It was obvious that the hostess (assuming that's who answered the phone) was very busy, and very frustrated herself with having to answer all these calls that should have been taken online. I gave her my order...Extra large NY with extra cheese & onion on all, and pepperoni & banana peppers on half. I have no idea where she got the price she gave me of $11.40. It should have been $13.50...but again, she was obviously very busy. When I got there to pick it up, it was 7:15, and they were very busy. I stood at the hostess stand for about 5 minutes before someone came over to direct me to the bar for my pizza. The bartender was busy as well, but at least the hostess gave me a smile & a hello. Not the bartender. Unhappy with all the to-go pizzas on 1/2 off night? Probably. And it did cost her a tip from me. Being in the service business myself, it should never matter how busy or unhappy you are at the moment....a smile goes a long way!! The pizza itself had a good taste to it, which was probably the sauce. As you can see in the photo, it was way too greasy..which of course made it soggy on the bottom. I didn't like the tiny diced onions, as you could hardly tell that they were on there. Perfect amount of cheese, in my opinion, but with the pricing being off, I'm not sure if that was the normal amount of cheese that they put on, or if that was extra cheese. The toppings were inconsistent. There was like 2 slices of banana peppers, but the pepperoni was 2-deep. All in all...for $11.40, it was a great fast dinner and I will probably give it another try on a 1/2 off Monday. Now, had I paid the normal price of $27, I would not have been happy at all with the pizza. However, that's not to say that other things on the menu aren't fantastic. I'm here in PC to stay, so I look forward to one day dining in and giving...

Oh boy, where do I even start with this train wreck that is now Luigi's Pizzeria? If I could give zero stars, I absolutely would. This place has officially hit rock bottom since the new owners took over. It's not just bad; it's a culinary crime scene. First, the food. "Disgusting" doesn't even begin to cover it. The pizza tasted like cardboard marinated in regret. The cheese was rubbery, the sauce was watery and bland, and the toppings looked like they’d been scraped off the floor. Honestly, I'm not sure if I'm going to need a tetanus shot or a stomach pump after eating here. The cleanliness is equally appalling. The tables were sticky, the floor had more crumbs than a bird feeder, and I honestly felt like I needed to sanitize my hands after washing them in the restroom. The whole place smells faintly of old grease and broken dreams. But the worst offense? They've completely sucked the soul out of this once-great establishment. It used to be a little slice of Italy—warm, authentic, and delicious. Now? It feels like a sad, sterile corporate ghost. The new owners clearly have no respect for the Italian environment that made this place special. They've ruined the recipes, erased the charm, and turned Luigi's into a generic, greasy dive. To the new owners: Do us all a favor and give the pizzeria back to someone who actually understands good food and authentic Italian hospitality. You've failed. Miserably. Save us all the headache (and the stomach ache) and surrender the keys to someone who can restore its former glory. AVOID this place at all costs. You've been warned. I hope this place closes down until someone with a clue can take over. My only positive takeaway is a very real fear of food poisoning. One Star (and that's for the functional door I...