La Spiaggia Ristorante — Restaurant in Ocean Shores

Dined here this evening with my wife and a good friend of ours.

Server seemed rushed and did not greet us as she flung her hand in between us to move plates and dump oil and vinegar onto a plate.

We ordered after some time. They were busy and we were in no rush. Not a problem... We sat for sometime and then drinks were delivered along with an appitizer. We had ordered two different ones but the fried calimari came before the cold salumi board.

Several minutes later (twenty minutes after ordering), we were told that one of the menu options we had ordered was unavailable and we would need to choose something else. After ordering that, several minutes later, we were told that the wait for dinner would be well over an hour due to there only being two people in the kitchen and we were asked if we would like to conclude our dinner or wait. How odd as there were only two or three other tables unserved before us. We were well into our meal service at this point, calimari had been eaten, and once again, we were in no rush, we said we would wait. The salumi board was then delivered. I might mention the salumi board was doused in oil, had raw carrots on it, two meats, two cheeses, and very soft almost completely spoiled grapes (hardly what I'd call fresh). The waitress asked if I'd like a to go box, and I kindly said no thank you. No questions of how I liked it or if there were issues.

The main coarse were delivered. We had ordered two chicken marsalas and the pesto Panna. One chicken marsalas was half the size of the other. The larger portion was so salty that I couldn't eat more than a few bites. I asked the rest of the table to try it to see if it was me, the sauce, or the chicken. Definitely the salty chicken! I am told the Panna was good, aside from the lack of pesto and the abundance of cream in the sauce. No drink refills were offered, no apology from our waitress for the experience, or even asking how we liked the meal. She seemed occupied in her own world. It was closing time, I'm sure she had a rough day, but this was a terrible experience for us. $130 tab, and I won't be back nor will I recommend it to anyone else.

I will say, there were several other waitresses as well as the hostess that were very friendly. They even asked if they could take our plates or help us with anything. One even brought the ticket at the end as our waitress had disappeared! It seemed like they were all doing their best, but I suppose I lucked out with the one waitress that had the...

There are not a lot of good options in Ocean Shores. This is toward the top available, but that is just for the area. Environment was a little loud with all hard surfaces everywhere and nothing to absorb sound. A loud couple, conversation or child make conversation across the table difficult as soon everyone increases their volume to be heard causing a competitive crescendo.

Waited a long time before we saw our server...drank an entire glass of water....slowly. Nice server. Patient and sought to meet our desires. Sat for a long time with nothing to even nibble.

Eventually, a plate was brought out with oil and vinegar poured on it for the bread we anticipated. We sat a very long time staring at the plate with no bread. When the bread came, it was a rosemary/herb, soft, crumbly, fresh from the oven, BUT DID NOT GO AT ALL with the oil and vinegar. Would have been wonderful to have a traditional Italian bread for the oil & vinegar like a ciabatta or Tuscan.

The Caesar salad was thickly covered in ground parmesan from a can. Would be much nicer with shredded and didn't need as much. The 3 crouton were soft and not crunchy at all. Kinda strange.

$23 gets you a small portion of calamari with no tentacles...just strips. Ends up being about $2/strip. Seasoning is OK, but the breading was too plain and dipping was either spaghetti sauce or a funky tartar that didn't taste right. Would be nice if they came up with a special dipping sauce that compliments the breading...these did not. It might have mentioned this was calamari steak, but I love and was expecting the authentic calamari selection (rings, tentacles) and crispier fry.

Entre portions are generous and filling. Chicken parmesan was a little overcooked and almost blackened ends. Flavor was nice. Scallops linguini was bay scallops, had a nice flavor and portion but strangely covered in spinach leaves that made it look unappealing. I remove the leaves and it looked beautiful! Save 5 cents and keep the leaves off. However, a burnt half lemon was hidden in the pasta. I liked the lemon in the flavor profile, but a burnt lemon buried in it wasn't needed or adding anything to the...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at one of the best Italian restaurants I’ve ever been to, and it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re comparing local spots. From start to finish, the meal was outstanding, with just a couple of minor adjustments that could have made it perfect.

I started with the ricotta skillet appetizer, which was incredible. The ricotta was creamy and flavorful, paired perfectly with roasted garlic and a delicious homemade pesto-infused red sauce. It was the perfect way to begin the meal, setting the bar high for the rest of the night.

If you get a chance, ask for the focaccia with oil and balsamic. The focaccia is light and air and packed full of flavor. The balsamic is some of the best I’ve ever had — not too tangy with sweet undertones.

For my main course, I ordered the chicken Parm, which came with a Caesar salad. While the chicken was a bit more well-done than I would have preferred, it was still quite good—just a touch less time in the oven would have made it ideal. The Caesar salad was fresh and crisp, with just the right amount of tangy dressing.

To top things off, I indulged in the chocolate mousse for dessert. It was light, airy, and decadently smooth, topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. It was the perfect ending to the meal and left me completely satisfied.

If you get a chance, I highly recommend trying one of their mocktails. I had the pear spritzer, and it was exceptional—nicely balanced, not too sweet, and with just the right hint of pear.

Overall, despite a small detail here or there, this place is a must-visit for anyone who enjoys quality Italian food. I can’t...