Vic's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria — Restaurant in Raleigh

I guess I don't get it. I never leave reviews. I saved my receipt to be sure and remember to review this place. I stopped in with my wife, daughter and mother-in-law to cool off, grab a pizza and relax for a few minutes after enjoying downtown. We ordered a large 2 topping pizza (pep on the whole thing onions on half), 3 sodas, a sweat tea, and 2 side salads. My wife had a Cesar, I had a House Salad. I ordered a House salad, no tomatoes....now, I get it...it's a small side salad...I don't expect much. They brought me a plate with iceberg lettuce and onions along with 1 small container of ranch. No crutons, no cheese...no...nothing. That was a $4.15 salad. I asked for an additional container of dressing...mind you, these are the tiny clear plastic containers with a lid. They literally charged me an additional 90 cents for the second container of ranch to add to my lettuce and onions. My wife's Cesar was a little better...but it wasn't an entree type salad by any means...$7.80. They brought out the pizza, and initially the entire thing had onions...which we had only asked for half because our daughter doesn't eat onions. She pointed it out, they took it back and brought out a pizza made correctly...didn't take too long, maybe an additional 10-15 minutes. They brought us out a thing of garlic knots to hold us over while we waited...but once we tasted them we were all kind of taken aback because they were literally just dry bread. No seasoning, no flavor...just dry bread balls. It was ODD. So, there were barely any onions on the onion half...you can't taste the onions. That's an additional $2.05 to add I dunno...10 small slivers of onions to half a pizza...and then an additional $3.10 to add pep to the whole thing. The pizza itself was decent...it was average. All said and done after paying $15 for 3 sodas and a tea our total bill was $54.83. Add a tip and you're looking at a $65 bill for the family to enjoy 1 large pizza, 2 small salads, and drinks. I totally get it...we eat out a lot, and are used to paying money for good food. It's just...it really wasn't worth $65. When I got the receipt and read all the add ons it just felt like a money grab. We could have walked in any Joe Schmo pizza place and had better pizza for half the price. The location is great, it's nice to be able to walk in from downtown and grab Italian. Our waitress was nice, but the rest of the folks working in the place seem aloof...almost rude. Maybe the pasta is amazing. It's just not that amazing. I really don't get all the incredible reviews. We...

This is a copy of an email that I sent to the owner on October 12, 2021. I have never received a reply; hence, I am posting it as a review.

My husband and I have had dinner at both of your locations several times, and we have attended three of your wine dinners. We have always had a terrific experience. We were really glad to see that you are scheduling the wine dinners again, and invited another couple to join us on October 6th. Unfortunately, we were all very disappointed.

We arrived early at 6:45pm. We were seated immediately, then totally ignored until 7:20pm. Perhaps someone should have greeted us or asked if we wanted a cocktail. I know the distributor selects the wine, but these were truly awful. Worst of all, the wines were warm - including the whites wines. And who the heck serves a (warm) red sparkling wine with pasta and cream sauce???? The first three courses were delicious - especially the pasta. Then things went bad. The filet was tough, overcooked and swimming in so much sauce that the taste of the meat was indiscernible. And what restaurant would actually serve frozen crinkle cut carrots???? The flavor of the ricotta cheesecake was excellent; however, the texture was lumpy. I've had ricotta cheesecake before - and it should be smooth, light, and possibly creamy. None of our group of four took more than two bites. Adding salt to the wound, we have now realized that we double paid the tip. When we went to the register to pay, we were told $155 something per couple. We did not realize (nor were we told) that 20% tip had already been included. I admit that we should have caught this ourselves, but we didn't. Both couples added another 20% to the bill, making our total price $180 something per couple.

We all fully realize that Covid has been incredibly difficult for the restaurant industry. I sincerely hope that this wine dinner is a isolated episode while your restaurant is recovering, because it certainly isn't representative of the excellent reputation that Vic's has established over its long,...

I have been to this restaurant several times. I took my wife here on ofrece first date the service was always very friendly treated us like theyd known us for years. Today on my wife's birthday of all days it was not good at all.

First off garlic knots used to be served for free before the meal today the waitress says three come with the meal but to get it before we have to pay for them as an appetizer. Ok no big deal except when she brings them out they are reheated and wrapped in foil!

Meanwhile the manager guy is going around to all the tables greeting everyone thanking them for comino in making small talk. But acted like he had tunnel vision the many times he walked past me. At which time I took a moment to scan the room and see we were the only Black couple.

Our food came and shortly after I noticed the couple sitting adjacent to us were served a basket of garlic knots like they are supposed to be served fresh in a basket lined with wax paper. When I stopped the waitress to ask about the garlic knots that were supposed to come with our meal she cut me off asking in a condescending tone if I would like more bread. When she brought out the reheated foil wrapped bread again I asked that I be served the same as the other. She returned with bread that hard to bite and drenched in oil and said here is that better.

Then a different waitress came to collect our plates and give the check but she left the bread basket because it was full. Immediately after she took the basket the guy who ignored us the whole time laid a second check on our table like he couldn't wait to get us out of there. Normally I leave a tip even when the service is not that great but today I couldn't they made us feel...