Arlo's Ristorante — Restaurant in Sandpoint

Had the worst service I have ever had the displeasure of experiencing. The night started out fine. We sat at our table and were having a good time, we were the only customers in the whole restaurant, ordered two italian sodas we asked for two flavors in one and just one flavor for the other, freind witnessed the waitress making our drinks instead of giving us equal amounts of syrup in each drink she put a shot of each flavor into one drink and only one shot into the other! So one drink tasted very bland and had next to no flavor in it plus the cups were filled with ice, we ended up paying 4 dollars for 5 sips. One of the easiest drinks to make and couldn't even do that right. It says on the menu you can ask for complimentary bread with your dinner, waitress asks if we want bread so naturally we said yes. She brought us our bread and alfredo sauce that we should feel "privileged" to have cause they dont usually make it for anyone unless its with a dish. Waitress then asks us if we want one check ( we havent even got our food yet) and where to put the garlic bread we state that we thought it was complimentary she said no you have to pay for it and doesn't even mention that theirs complimentary bread we can ask for instead and if its garlic bread you have to pay for it, furthermore when she asked if we wanted bread she didnt stipulate that we had to pay for it at all and automatically brought us out the bread we had to buy. Brought us our food that was subpar and way overpriced for what it was, my sisters tortellini pesto was soggy and not good. My food was 20 dollars and the only thing good about it was the 2 out of 6 shrimp that wasnt covered in lemon juice. Freinds food was okay but sauce was clearly from a can, I have never been to an italian place where they dont make their own marinara! So disappointing. Cheif started playing his own music that we could clearly hear over the music playing in the restaurant until they finally turned the music in the dining area up instead of just having the cheif turn his off. Keep in mind this was more than an hour before closing. Things are just getting good, here's where it goes from bad to worse. Our silver haired waitress brings us our check, we tell her to split the bread and alfredo into thirds between us all and that we want three separate checks, she then leaves the itemized check with us and tells us to divide it on our "little phone calculators" and tell her what it is. We figure out how much we each need added to our check for the one thing we were splitting and then the waitress doesn't come back so we have to get up from our table and go find her at the bar, she is tying a bracelet around her coworkers arm, my freind hands her the recipe and says to add 1.98 to each of our checks. Waitress then hands the check back and says to add up what each of us owe and give her the total then ignores us and goes back to messing with her coworkers bracelet! My freind begins to do this and the waitress says over her shoulder "dont forget to add the tax onto that hun". What?! I have never gone anywhere where I have to add up and split my own check! I told my freind not to add the tax cause the restuarant had their own calculator that has the taxes pre programmed Into it and the lady can add it with the click of a button. My freind does all the work adding up our drinks and food separately to see what we each owe. She gave the total to the waitress who handed it back to her and said she did it wrong and needs to add the tax! We ended up doing all the math to figure out our own checks while the waitress stood there doing nothing! She was rude the whole time we were there and seemed flustered and all around bothered by us. Needless to say I will never go back there and that waitress didnt get even a one cent...

If you’re looking for an exceptional dining experience in Sandpoint, Arlo’s Restaurante is the place to go. From the moment we walked in, the warm and inviting atmosphere set the tone for an evening of incredible food, top-tier service, and thoughtful culinary craftsmanship.

We started with the Artichoke Heart Francaise, which was a revelation of flavor. The burrata was an extra treat next to the tender artichoke, which was perfectly prepared. Each bite melted in our mouths, leaving us craving more.

For our main course’s, we indulged in a variety of dishes. My in-laws both had the Cioppino, which was a seafood lover’s dream. It was bursting with fresh flavors from the ocean, featuring a very generous mix of mussels, scallops, shrimp, clams and calamari in a fragrant, tomato-based broth. It is a generous serving - hearty yet refined, with just the right balance of spice and acidity.

My husband couldn’t stop raving about The Penne alla Panna with Sausage. The creamy, velvety sauce clung to the perfectly cooked pasta, and the sausage added a savory depth that elevated the dish to pure comfort-food bliss. The dish was a very generous portion. My husband is thrilled he gets to eat his leftovers today!

Being gluten intolerant with an onion allergy is usually a challenge. However, what set the evening apart was the personal touch from the incredibly talented chef, who curated a special gluten-free scallops dish just for me. The seared scallops were absolute perfection - caramelized on the outside, tender and buttery on the inside - paired with a medley of mushrooms that added an earthy, umami richness. It was a dish crafted with thoughtfulness and care, showcasing the chef’s dedication to accommodating all guests without compromising on flavor or presentation.

Beyond the food, the service was impeccable. The chef himself checked in throughout the evening, ensuring every detail was just right and making us feel like honored guests in his kitchen. This level of hospitality made the evening all the more special.

Arlo’s Restaurante isn’t just a place to eat, it’s a place to experience. Every dish tells a story of passion, family tradition, and artistry, making it a must-visit in Sandpoint. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, do yourself a favor and give it a try. You won’t be...

Husband and I went to Arlo's last Tuesday (July 18th) to celebrate our 36th anniversary. This was our second visit. Our first visit was about a year ago with friends and we all enjoyed a variety of appetizers and good wine. We had such a good time we both thought of going here for our anniversary dinner. We were right and won't wait as long to go back!

We ordered steamed clams and wine. Clams were every bit as good as we recalled from the last visit. We decided to get adventuresome with the wine and ordered an Italian white (Zaccagini) since we knew nothing about the Italian wines on the menu. The clams and bread were excellent and a meal in themselves! The wine was too sweet for our taste and served warm which was odd. We'll remember to ask for the (white) wine to be chilled next time we go. The wine itself was a learning experience and we're fine with that since we knowingly went outside what we knew. They have a short but thorough wine list with some very good local ones.

We wisely skipped ordering a salad since the clams and bread were so filling. We each ordered a marsala dish, chicken and veal respectively. The chicken marsala was a surprise since it was a whole breast rather than the slices we were familiar with in other restaurants. Husband says the chicken was cooked perfectly and very tender. My veal dish was superb, too. The pasta, veal and chicken were perfectly portioned. We were pleasantly full at the end of dinner. We did (planning ahead!) order slices of cheesecake to go!

The service was attentive without being intrusive. We were warned that our meals would be cooked while we waited. We were told we would know when they started when we heard the pounding of the veal. Thought she was kidding! But she was serious! We enjoyed the time over our clams, bread, and wine. This reminded us of how dining use to be and we enjoyed every moment. If you want "fast food", try somewhere else. If you want a true dining experience, this is the place to try.

We won't wait so long to come again. We already have a "lunch" planned where we can indulge in the clams and bread that are so good and revisit some of the other appetizers we enjoyed so much the first visit.

Thank you for a...