Tuscany Italian Bistro — Restaurant in Richardson

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Tuscany Italian Bistro in Richardson, Texas, and it was an experience that exceeded all expectations! As someone who follows a Zabiha Halal diet, finding a restaurant that not only caters to my dietary needs but also serves delectable cuisine can be quite challenging. However, Tuscany Italian Bistro not only offers halal options but also ensures that every dish is bursting with authentic Italian flavors.

To start off my culinary adventure, I ordered the Bruschetta appetizer, and it was a mouthwatering delight. The toasted bread was perfectly crisp on the outside and wonderfully soft on the inside. The combination of fresh tomatoes, fragrant basil, and a drizzle of olive oil created a burst of vibrant flavors with every bite. It was a delightful prelude to the culinary journey that awaited me.

Next, I opted for the House Salad, which, I must admit, was rather mediocre. The salad consisted mainly of iceberg lettuce, and while it was fresh, it lacked the variety and complexity I was hoping for. I believe the salad options could be improved by offering choices such as Caprese Salad, which would have added a burst of flavors with the combination of juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fragrant basil.

Moving on to the main course, I had the Pasta with Meat Sauce made of beef, and it was a symphony of robust flavors. The pasta was perfectly cooked to al dente, and the meat sauce, prepared with tender beef, was rich, hearty, and bursting with savory goodness. Every forkful was a tantalizing combination of pasta, sauce, and tender meat, leaving me craving for more.

As if that wasn't enough, I also had the Beef Lasagna, and it was a true masterpiece. Layer upon layer of tender beef, perfectly cooked pasta, and a luscious blend of cheeses and herbs created a heavenly combination. The lasagna was baked to perfection, with a golden crust and a gooey, cheesy interior that melted in my mouth. It was an absolute showstopper that left me thoroughly satisfied.

I must commend the attentive service at Tuscany Italian Bistro. The waitress was knowledgeable about the halal options and made sure my dining experience adhered to my dietary preferences. The ambiance of the restaurant was warm and inviting, providing a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy my meal.

In conclusion, Tuscany Italian Bistro in Richardson, Texas, is a haven for those seeking a flavorful and halal dining experience. From the tantalizing Bruschetta appetizer to the satisfying Pasta with Meat Sauce made of beef and the heavenly Beef Lasagna, each dish showcased the restaurant's dedication to both halal standards and authentic Italian cuisine. While the House Salad was mediocre, I believe offering more diverse salad options like Caprese Salad would enhance the overall dining experience. The attentive service and inviting ambiance added to the overall dining experience. I highly recommend Tuscany Italian Bistro to anyone looking for a memorable halal dining experience in the area. It's a culinary gem that will leave you...

By far the worst Italian-style food we've had in our 20+ years living in Dallas area. We made a sizeable order to go, nearly $300 and when I picked it up, we were assured that everything was double-checked. I arrived home to find they'd forgotten an entree, so I drove back 20 minutes each way to get my daughter's dinner. Another entree, eggplant parmigiana, on their pasta dishes menu, came without pasta. When I asked the chef about this pasta omission while getting my daughter's dinner, he said that the eggplant parmigiana was listed with and without pasta. Checking on their online menu, there is no such option of with and without pasta. In his defense, the chef did offer to give me a free side of pasta because of the confusion. I've never had eggplant parmigiana without a side of pasta, and if Tuscany chooses to omit pasta, they should take the dish off the pasta menu. We ordered a few seafood dishes; the mussels and calamari smelled so bad that we threw them away, afraid to eat them. The salmon Florentine was actually pretty good, the only good dish in the order. Everything else not mentioned was way too salty. We can handle salty food (wife is Chinese and traditional Chinese is quite salty) but this was almost inedible. Long story short; other than the Salmon Florentine, the rest of our $290 was sparsely eaten and the leftovers thrown in the trash because we either feared they were rotten or we knew we wouldn't finish them because they tasted so bad. The food was simply awful. The portions were also quite small for the price, which might be a non-issue because we couldn't eat the food anyway. It's not like me to flame a business online and I hate to do it, but this food was expensive, the order was screwed up (yes, they were apologetic), the portions were small, the seafood stunk like it was old and the food was terribly over-salted. They get two stars instead of one because they have potential, seem to be genuinely nice people and their pizza, were it not over-salted, would've been...

Immediately upon walking through the door, one finds that this old-world themed Italian eatery offers a quaint, almost open-air ambiance in the spacious dining area.

Although we had some difficulty communicating with the waitress (from a part of Albania I have never heard of), compounded by the Covid19 masks, she was courteous and efficient, correctly delivering our food to the table, keeping our drinks reasonably refilled, and bringing us 4 or so rounds of their delicious bread.

The house dressing (similar to "Catalina" bottled dressings, but much better) came highly recommended and did NOT disappoint, turning a medium pile of iceberg with mozzarella and a slice of tomato into a decent salad to tide one over until the main course can arrive.

In fact, between pausing to eat more bread and talking, I was unable to finish the salad before my food got to the table. Unfortunately, that is when the only disappointment of the visit came. I have, in the past, enjoyed "tillapia" (sic) and shrimp in various different preparations, but I wasn't fond of their version. The fish tasted a bit more fishy than I remembered and the shrimp were a bit more crunchy than I prefer. My wife seemed ambivalent to her dish (while cleaning her plate), my son enjoyed his custom-made pizza, and our friends (whom had recommended the place), both were complimentary. Even the picky eater exclaimed that she was "too full to finish" her plain noodles and grilled chicken.

Out of the 4 adults, 1 almost-teen boy, and the aforementioned picky eater, we ended up with 4 to-go bowls and 3/8 of a pizza, due to the ample portion sizes. The total (including tax and tip) averaged out to nearly $20 / person, but if you consider the leftovers, it becomes more like $13 or $14 per meal.

Despite ordering a dish that ultimately didn't suit me, I would definitely recommend giving this place a try, and fully expect to return some day to sample another option and give them the opportunity to earn...