ITA101 — Restaurant in Medford Township

We had wanted to come to this BYOB for quite some time and made a Friday evening reservation. The hostess greeted us, and we were seated by the window (she also asked for our water preference). Our server, Tom, promptly introduced himself, asked if we had dined there before, and then explained that ITA101 was not like the other Americanized Italian restaurants in the area (great!), and that the chef had lived in northern Italy and aimed to cook more in the traditional Italian style with the freshest ingredients available. Tom then delved into the menu with us, pointing out the differences between the daily menu and special regional menu (this week was Campania). He told us that the Stufato di Pesce over house-made angel hair pasta had what the chef described as 5/10 heat. My wife was on the fence being somewhat sensitive to hot spice, so Tom went above and beyond to bring a sample of the sauce to make her choice easier. It had just the right amount of heat (3/10 tops), so we ordered it. I’d be remiss to not mention the house-made bread served with olive oil as well, both excellent and almost an extra course that could be enjoyed throughout the meal with other dishes. For an appetizer, the Cavolfiore (seared cauliflower with ricotta, pecorino, and butter sauce) was perfectly cooked and flavorful, but not heavy or greasy. We each had half portions for the pasta course - my wife enjoyed the Stufato, and I had the Tagliolini con Funghi e Tartufo Nero (pasta with mushrooms and fresh black truffles), which was an earthy, savory delight! All the pasta was al dente. The bread proved especially useful for sopping up every last bit of these plates. I told Tom I regretted not getting the full portion of mine, which he said the chef would be pleased to hear. For our main courses, I ordered the Pollo con Gnocchi, an example of how to properly cook and season chicken (crispy skin, juicy flesh, and balanced hints of honey, butter, sage, and truffle). The gnocchi were small, light, and melted in my mouth. My wife had the Salmone e Capesante, one of the Campanian specials, which was also perfectly cooked and delicious. For dessert, the warm, gooey Tortino al Cioccolato with ice cream and whipped cream was an ideal finale to the progression of well-portioned, carefully crafted dishes. We were extremely satisfied with this meal and plan to return soon (maybe for a Piedmontese or Tuscan-inspired regional menu)! If you’re hungry, which you should be when coming to this restaurant, expect to spend at least $45 to $60 a person for 4 courses (we split the appetizer and dessert, which was plenty for us). And don’t forget to bring a...

I had very high hopes for ITA101 after seeing all the glowing reviews, but my experience yesterday for my birthday was nothing short of awful. My husband made a reservation well in advance and even called ahead to let them know we were celebrating. Unfortunately, the service and food fell far below expectations and absolutely ruined what should have been a special evening. When we arrived, the restaurant wasn’t very full, but we were seated directly across from the restroom. The door was frequently left open, making the seating choice unpleasant and disruptive.

We both opted for the tasting menu, and the only positive thing I can say about the entire evening was the chicken pâté puff pastry from the first course. After that, it all went downhill.

The second course, cavatelli with broccoli rabe, lacked flavor and had an overpowering smell that made it unappetizing for me. I couldn’t eat more than two bites, and my husband ended up finishing it for me.

The third course was the seafood risotto, which was, without exaggeration, the worst risotto I have ever tasted. As a huge fan of seafood, I was appalled by the overwhelming smell as soon as the dish arrived. It was evident that the seafood was not fresh, and the shrimp was overcooked to the point of having a rubbery texture. My husband didn’t enjoy it either but ate his portion out of hunger. I barely managed three bites. When the server, Carol, cleared the plates, I mentioned that I didn’t like the dish. Her only response was a dismissive, “I’ll let them know.” No follow-up questions, no apology, no effort to address the issue.

Throughout the entire meal, not once did anyone check in with us to ask how the food was or if we needed anything.

The fourth course, lamb ragu with spaghetti, was another disappointment. It had zero flavor, and I left the dish untouched. By this point, I realized there was no use in saying anything further.

The dessert course was an orange meringue with chocolate tarte, and I can honestly say the tarte tasted like cement. Neither my husband nor I could eat it. He had to specifically ask for a candle for my birthday dessert, despite the restaurant being aware of the occasion. It felt like an afterthought and added to the overall dismal experience.

The server took a photo of us, which was the only memory we managed to salvage from an otherwise disastrous evening.

I have no idea how this restaurant has a 4.7-star rating. The food was poorly executed, the service was indifferent, and the entire experience was unacceptable. I would not recommend ITA101 to anyone, and I deeply regret choosing this restaurant for my...

My recent outing to Ita101 was quite the letdown. Our party of four was excited for a memorable meal, but instead, we found ourselves facing a series of disappointments that left us hungry.

Our dining journey started on a rocky note. We asked our waitress about a shrimp appetizer's portion size. She assured us that one order would be enough for the table. However, when the dish arrived, it consisted of just three pieces, which was clearly insufficient for four people. I understand it's an appetizer, but if she could've checked with the kitchen and told us it's only three pieces, then we would have ordered a second portion. The cacio e pepe, though flavorful, was also disappointingly small.

From there, things just got worse when our entrees came. A small serving of braised short rib was awkwardly placed on a plate so absurdly large that we asked the waitress if it was normally served like this. Adding to our troubles, our table received both raw scallops and raw chicken, a surprising and concerning mishap. We opted not to inform the waitress, as we didn't want to cause delays or disrupt the busy kitchen on what seemed to be a busy night.

There were a couple of redeeming moments, such as the cannoli and espresso, but even those small positives were overshadowed by the unfortunate blunder that was the tableside tiramisu. What was meant to be a satisfying conclusion to our meal turned out to be a messy, soggy disaster on a plate, lacking the finesse we expected.

Ultimately, the price we paid for this experience felt unjustified. The combination of small portions, raw proteins, and a messy dessert left us with a feeling of disappointment we couldn't shake. To anyone seeking a worthwhile Italian meal, I would suggest looking elsewhere to avoid leaving both hungry and...