Rodi Italian — Restaurant in Loveland

So I came back again to give them a second chance and while the service was great, Megan the bartender was terrific. The food just isn't on par with the prices. Tried the Ceasar salad and lasagne this time. Only thing good I can say for the salad was they have terrific croutons. Dressing is biteless and not flavorful, added tomatoes and they might as well been none existent with their lack of taste. Lasagne would've been good had it not been hot on the corners and ice cold in the middle, but for a $21 slice of lasagne it should not be taken out of the refrigerator to be reheated EVER! As well as I clearly was prepared with one style of tomato sauce then reheated with another, I didn't complain as I didn't want to be comped for the food. I try to compare them to a real Italian restaurant such as the Cable House but really it's no comparison. Rodi has a friendly waiting staff and both times I've been there they are the only highlight. As a chef I hold food in high regard and would love to be able to compliment the kitchen staff as they are just being told how to prepare the menu accordingly and I know the hours they put in, but Rodi has food that just doesn't make you feel like your eating authentic Italian. Maybe Itailan inspired but anyone who has been to true upscale Italian restaurants will know the difference. You can't charge $21 for reheated lasagne. I'd truly rather eat a Chicken Parm at O'charleys than eat cold lasagne from Rodi, at least I know it will be hot. I don't want any comps or certificates to return as 2 times is enough to prove yourself and both were lackluster as far as the food goes. I think Rodi is more of a recognition spot for some of the people of Loveland at this point in their creation. But they have a long way to go to become a staple. Bravo on the training of the staff as they are friendly and knowledgeable, but the food needs loads of work to...

There were four of us dining this time and the noise level seemed to be much better! We arrived for our Friday night reservation and were seated immediately. Our server, Tabitha, was wonderful and attentive. We tried more of the dishes that we didn't try the first time around, and had two bottles of the lovely Pieropan Soave. We were served a lovely amuse bouche to start that was some mild blue cheese rice upon a crisp with fresh herbs. Nice touch. Here is what we thought:

Burrata Tartufata - Beautiful, generous portion of creamy burrata with a fresh arugula, cherry tomato, and olive oil and balsamic accompaniment. Very classic Italian.

Tortino - a souffle of mushroom with melted cheese. This was unexpectedly delicious and unique. It was so good that I will try to recreate it at home!

Spaghetti Vongole - spaghetti with clams and shrimp. It was cooked perfectly, however there was not enough shrimp and lacked sauce and some flavor. Still enjoyable.

Gnocchi - very authentic potato gnocchi that just needed a little seasoning and more sauce. Not our favorite, but our guests liked it.

Amatriciana - we are not a fan of bucatini pasta, so we requested spaghetti. For a simple preparation, this dish was the best pasta dish we had all night.

Both of our beef dishes were fantastic: Ten Hour Short Rib - we would order over and over! The short rib was seasoned and cooked to perfection. It was meaty, not fatty, and a nice portion.

Ribeye Special - bone in, perfectly cooked and seasoned steak. The mashed potatoes were also yummy, and the broccolini, which is usually not our favorite, had a light dressing of some kind that brightened it and changed my mind about broccolini.

The creme brulee was just okay. The creme was good, it just tasted like the torch gas a little on top.

Rodi had is it going on for sure. So glad we can eat wonderful Italian without having to go all the...

Gotta downgrade my score from a full 5 stars to just 4.8. Got the Sopresa dessert again and while the flavors were spot on as always, they cut the size of the base of the dessert by about half. 😔 While 4 used to be able to share it, now it's only barely enough for 2. I mean, how much $ could they be saving by cutting the cake size SO small and only serving it with a half scoop of vanilla ice cream? I'd much rather pay a $1-2 more and go back to the same size it used to be!! PLEASE!!! Just so disappointing after the dome melts to have so much "air" underneath it. But, my old review still applies otherwise: OMG! Immediately one of my new favorite places. Everything is very well done. Pasta made fresh, calamari is exquisite (NOT overcooked like so many others do), chopped salad was amazing (see photo), buccatini was wonderful! Pasta was light, not at all dense, and cooked perfectly al dente. Very large servings of every dish, so plan to share or take home lots of food for tomorrow. BUT no matter what, order the dessert. And don't say you're too full, just do it! One of the very best desserts I've had in YEARS!! We got the "Italian lava cake" - not it's real name, but can't remember what they told me it was called and desserts not on the menu. Dark chocolate cake, surrounded by strawberries and vanilla and chocolate crunchies, topped with a huge scoop of vanilla gelato and a 1/2 dome of chocolate shell. THEN tableside they pour hot caramel over it all to melt the shell and make everything oh so delicious. Just 1 of these can do well for 4 people. A perfect end to whatever you had for dinner!!! And if you consider how much food you get (for sharing or a second meal), it's quite affordable. We'll be going back often. Parking can be a challenge, but no matter where you park, it's worth the...