Marina’s Pizza & Pasta — Restaurant in Florida

I rarely write reviews. But I have been a customer of Marina’s since 1991 when they were located in Largo at 66th St and Ulmerton Rd. I worked at a company in the area for 33 years. I used to work nights so I visited Marina’s multiple times a week for dinner for years in the 90s. Even when I switched to days I still went at least once a week until they closed in 2003. The line at lunch time used to be out the front door. But I got to know the family that originally owned Marina’s. They all worked there. By the time Largo closed the Westchase location was already opened. Four miles from my house. I didn’t know it was that close until I happened to drive by it in 2005. So it was sad when they closed in Largo but having them close to home was great. I would see the father and a couple of the sons working at the Westchase location for a while. Even though they were living in the Bradenton area. But I guess that drive became too much and at some point they must have sold the restaurant. The newspaper article about Marina’s from when they first opened in Largo was no longer on the wall at Westchase. So I have been a customer of Westchase location for 20 years. I don’t visit nearly as often as I used to but I do order a pizza about every two weeks. Sometimes I get the Sicilian pizza with ham and meatball, sometimes a large pizza with ricotta cheese and meatball with extra sauce if I feel like that calzone taste, but usually just get a large cheese pizza. I stopped ordering their calzones years ago because something changed. Same for their Philly Steak subs. Probably when ownership changed but I don’t know for sure. But the pizzas were still so tasty. That is until last night. In 34 years I have never had a pizza from Marina’s taste so bland, NEVER! And the two times I ordered before that they nearly burnt the pizza both times. The cheese on the pizza had a red tinge so you could tell it was left in too long as soon as you open the box. Crust was also turning black in some areas. And one of those times I got there early for pickup so I was literally waiting there for them to nearly burn my pizza. Now they were not always perfect. Over the years they got some things wrong. No big deal. But three times in a row just seems intentional to me. Too much of a coincidence. It’s clear they don’t want me as a customer anymore or don’t care. I have no idea why. So I will return to Gino’s for my pizza needs which is where I went before Marina’s opened in Westchase. They are a little further but their pizzas are also tasty. Nothing could bring me back to Marina's. These people are preparing food for eating so I take that...

Will NOT be coming back, bad crust, lies and horrible customer service

Pizza crust is mediocre, thin, crunchy and barely salted.... I never had a pizza crust that would require me to add salt on it before....

Restaurant does not follow instructions on delivery apps. I wrote "make crust more fluffy and less crisp", I received a cracker crust. Next time I ordered i wrote "no parmesan cheese on the garlic knots" - they put the cheese on it

Garlic knots lacking garlic.... I mean you can sprinkle it with powdered sugar and you got yourself a zepole.

Customer service is non existent and service staff lies to get you off their case. This is a biggie. I ordered through uber eats, and selected regular garlic knots (the only other option was "with cheese + 1.50" The restaurant sent me the garlic knots with cheese (i would normally be happy for a free upgrade, however I am allergic to dairy and cannot have it). When I called the restaurant, I was told by a young lady that all garlic knots come with cheese (lie #1, I ordered from them in the past and got cheese free garlic knots), upon requesting a replacement the same young lady said that they will send out a replacement (lie #2 they never did). When I called back an hour later to check on the replacement I was told that they haven't sent out the replacement and that I will have to come and pick them up myself or pay for uber..... umm no. I then requested for refund and I was told to simply call the restaurant next time I want to order and they will give me garlic knots for free....(when I asked them how would they know to give me free garlic knots they said "we just will"). I went on uber and got my money back from them as speaking to the restaurant staff was completely useless.

Restaurant often does not pick up their phone... I don't know if its on purpose (since I was trying to get a refund, every time I called I kept getting disconnected, but when I used a different phone someone picked up... oh uh)

Do yourself a favor and if you're from NYC or NJ area, order elsewhere, their pizza leaves much...

I have to leave a mixed review. Tonight we called in an order for 25 wings, medium; 10 wings, teriyaki and some fries. When we got home and opened the boxes,we had 25 wings altogether, cooked to death with no sauce whatsoever. Horrible. We called to let them know and they wanted us to come back, but It's pouring down rain AND it's Super Bowl Sunday so we're not driving back. My little boy and I go to McDivots often, and we usually don't have a problem. If we do it's usuallly corrected right away. Just so disappointed this evening ☹️

So bummed! My son talked me into trying McDivots one more time, and we were reminded why we don’t go anymore. We walked in, bartender yells Hi and for us to sit anywhere. We sit down and wait and wait and wait. No one ever showed up at the table, and I never even saw a waitress tend to three tables that were occupied (and the owner’s daughter was sitting at one them). I just don’t get it. I’m not one for franchises, but we ended up at Buffalo Wild Wings for good...