Martini Italian Bistro — Restaurant in Louisville

I really wanted to like this place but after two bad experiences it’s safe to say if you a minority avoid this place! Where do I start? So I visited this place about a month before this visit with a friend and the service was horrible and glasses were dirty but the food was top tier! So today after work I decided to stop in with my 2 year old to enjoy Happy Hour specials and get her dinner…

We arrived around 4:45, we sat at the last both in the bar area which is in a horrible spot but I have a 2yr old so at least it was loud enough to drown out all her noise! I waited like 15 mins for someone to take my drink order (the bartender) who appeared to be in Training or new bc he was reading out of book! Before I could tell him my food order he ran away. But he brought or drinks fast! However he brought my daughter’s apple juice in a glass bottle with no lid 🤦🏾‍♀️. Again she is 2! He then ran away fast again before I could place our food order.

I spent the next 15 mins trying to get his attention to order food! While he was taking another party their check I managed to get his attention, he took my food order which I asked to make it to go since they were taking so long, he thanked me ran away again so fast that I had to yell my dessert order to him. I also got another drink. Again that came fast! But since I ordered food to go you think he would ask if I wanted the check when he brought the second drink! Nope you guessed it he ran away fast!

The food came and I was waiting another 15 mins to get someone’s attention to get my check, when a woman walked up and asked if I wanted another drink and I ask for my check. She got it fast for me and was very nice.

Yes they were busy but not too busy to chat and smooch with the Caucasian customers! One bartender never looked my way at all like stood there and avoided direct eye contact with me. What appeared to be the manager never assisted with anything and several times staff just stood at the bar talking meanwhile I was waving ppl down for help.

Now to the food! I ordered the bar mussels, no one ever brought me silverware or a napkin so I used the seafood fork and baby wipes and they were hot but not fresh tasting at all. My Togo food: I ordered my daughter the cheeseburger and fries but I received a hamburger no cheese and soggy fries which she refused to eat bc there was no cheese and she likes crunchy fries so that went in the trash! I ordered the shrimp and lobster Al Forno which was Amazing last time which is the reason I went back! Well it was scorched this time and gross so that also went in the trash. I also ordered the crème brûlée and I wish they would have told me if you order togo it’s just a spoonful of custard bc they decant it 🤦🏾‍♀️ the cold spoonful I had was okay but they did put a flower on it!

The drinks were the best part of this experience but for $90 I won’t be back bc I felt robbed and I really wanted to like this place due to it being close...

Made a reservation to dine there for my birthday. Upon arrival, there weren’t enough chairs. Eventually we received enough chairs for all parties requested, but after 90 minutes we still didn’t have waters, bread, eating utensils, or all of the alcoholic beverages that we ordered. We watched as equally large and smaller sized parties dined, were served water, apps, serviced in a timely fashion. Even those who arrived after our group. I, the birthday girl, received my drink after 90 minutes which was conveniently delivered by the manager who spilled half the drink on the way to our table before ultimately spilling the rest of my alcoholic beverage on myself, my child, our heads/hair, and coats. It was at that moment that I informed the server, who revealed herself as the manager, that the service was below standard and that we have been long time patrons of the establishment and were very surprised and disappointed by the service tonight. Specific to the spilled drink on my hair, child, clothes, etc she stated that she would “fix the check” but there wasn’t any apology issued at any point. Said manager became enraged by my complaints, threw her hands up, and said I’m not dealing with it. She then sent an aggressively nasty googly eyed manager that arrived with such a bad attitude when I explained what happened, that we just decided to leave. I still don’t understand why she came over as she never provided assistance and was very angry and threatening, menacing even, in her disposition but we took our business elsewhere. I can’t extend grace, give the benefit of the doubt or even entertain why we were on the receiving end of this mistreatment. What I can do is discourage others from dining at this restaurant to avoid experiencing the same and continue to spread the word about how Martinis staff and management feel comfortable to treat their customers. We will reconsider having our offices, companies, and businesses dine here for work events, despite our initial plans and will continue to...

I recently had the chance to dine at Martini Italian Bistro, and overall, it was an excellent experience. The food was absolutely delicious and left a lasting impression. I ordered the chicken parmesan over fettuccine, and it was everything I hoped it would be. The chicken was perfectly breaded and fried to a golden crisp, topped with rich marinara and just the right amount of melted mozzarella and parmesan. Each bite had a great balance of crunch, sauce, and cheese. The pasta underneath was cooked to the perfect texture, coated lightly in sauce so it wasn’t overwhelming but still complemented the chicken beautifully. It was hearty, flavorful, and plated well, making it not only tasty but visually appealing, too.

The atmosphere at Martini Italian Bistro also added to the experience. It had that welcoming, warm Italian restaurant vibe where you can relax and enjoy your meal without feeling rushed. The staff was friendly and attentive for the most part, which made the evening feel comfortable.

The only real downside was with my to-go order. It took over 30 minutes just for one order to be prepared, and while I was told I’d get a call when it was ready, that follow-up never happened. On top of that, the silverware was forgotten, which was a little frustrating since it was meant to be eaten outside the restaurant. These may seem like small things, but they stand out because everything else was so well executed.

All in all, I would definitely recommend Martini Italian Bistro for their food and atmosphere. If they tighten up their to-go service, it would be close to flawless. I’ll definitely be going back for another plate of their...