Fratelli Ristorante — Restaurant in Sandy

Had a late lunch here with the family. It was a nice meal, good food, but nothing struck me as exceptional.

We ordered arancini, pepperoni pizza, meatball sandwich, gnocchi gorgonzola and a tiramisu.

The arancini is a beautiful plate of three fried cheesey rice balls on pesto, mascarpone, and marinara. The arancini was hot and the cheese inside was melty. It seems like something that should be instantly craveable. But for some reason it just wasn't. The four of us all agreed that it was good, and yet we let the plate be taken away with half of an arancini still left. Why? Dunno. It may have just needed a bit more salt.

The pizza was good. Truly solid. I'd order it again. The pepperoni had a nice bite and the dough was simple and... clean. It tastes clean. Which is honestly a draw. This is not an oily mess of American pizza. Very good, but I know that, for me, I can't justify a trip to a sit down restaurant for a beautifully simple pepperoni pizza.

Then there's the meatball sandwich. Good. Nice texture to the meatball, and the bread choice was perfect, but also not much depth of flavor. I think the marinara can't keep up with the meatball, resulting in an off balance dish. Good, but just not that interesting.

The gnocchi was soft and pillowy as they should be, but again kind of boring. The gorgonzola sauce was okay, but looked like it was broken. Lack of salt may have been a factor here too. The walnuts on top added some texture, but did not seem to be prepared in any way, just added to the plate. A seemingly texture over flavor choice.

Finally the tiramisu. I'm a tiramisu idealist, so seeing that mascarpone was actually used with ladyfingers was a draw we couldn't say no to. But it was just okay. The mascarpone was kept essentially thick and untreated on the ladyfingers which I think were dipped or soaked with a coffee liqueur. The menu says espresso and rum, but it tasted more like a liqueur to me. Then the whole thing was topped with almost toasted coconut. That choice was quite the mystery to me. A non traditional topping that is simply not better than cocoa or chocolate. If you are looking for a creamy delicate dessert with smooth coffee and chocolate tones, you won't find it here. Are all of the ingredients yummy. Yes, but what a disappointment when most of the ingredients are expensive and correct, but not put together properly. This isn't sponge cake and whipped cream, but it's not a quality tiramisu either.

Would I come again? Absolutely. Everything was good. I'd happily keep exploring the menu, there has to be something here...

I feel bad saying that the food was merely "Good," but it's only the truth for my wife and me.

The restaurant itself was very clean, orderly, and pleasant.

The staff was very, very friendly. Service was some of the best we've ever received. They refilled our drinks immediately and without asking. They cleared plates at good times. The food came out quickly and was fresh and hot. They were out of menus when we arrived because they had a party of thirty arrive before us, but they were very apologetic and got us menus after a couple minutes--not a big deal at all, and they did the right thing. We have no complaints with the service.

The food, however, was... lackluster. The best thing that came to the table was my wife's Tomato Basil soup. This was excellent. It tasted fresh, well seasoned, delicious. I, however, got the salad with the gorgonzola vinaigrette. It wasn't bad, it was very mild. The vinaigrette tasted like vinegar and it came with a hard, pale tomato and mozzarella and chick peas. With the exception of the tomato, everything was fresh, but rather boring. I was looking for that gorgonzola flavor.

The entrees were similarly fresh and hot, but not as palatable. I had the carbonara, which had, literally, about a pound of chopped pancetta. If you like pancetta, and it's by-product, salt, get this dish. I'm a self professed salt fiend, but this knocked me out. I quickly took to eating only the noodles. The peas, egg, noodles--everything was mostly eclipsed by salt.

My wife got the lasagna and we both loved the sight of it--big portion, large sausage. It turned out to be rather mushy overall. I have been to Italy, but I didn't have lasagna while visiting. Maybe this is how it's supposed to be. The marinara was very tasty, however. The sausage had good flavor, but was also a bit... mushy. My wife thought the marinara was too thick and the sausage was too bland.

We may go back to try the pizzas. We want to give them another chance. Maybe we ordered the...

Always Worth the Drive — Comforting, Classic Italian with Heart

Fratelli Italian Food has been one of my go-to spots for years—and it never disappoints. Whether it’s date night, dinner with friends, or a bigger group outing, this place consistently delivers delicious food, warm service, and that homey, family-run charm that’s getting harder to find.

I always recommend calling ahead for a reservation, especially if you’re rolling in with more than two people. They’ve got plenty of room for larger groups (huge plus!), but I like the peace of mind knowing we’ve got a table waiting.

We tend to start every meal the same way—with their antipasto board, and honestly, why mess with perfection? It’s a beautiful spread of deli meats, cheeses, olives, sweet peppers, and this time, perfectly cooked asparagus. It’s shareable, satisfying, and the kind of appetizer that feels like an occasion in itself.

Entrees come with a salad, and the house-made feta dressing is always our pick. Creamy, tangy, and addictive—it’s reason enough to clean your plate.

For my main dish, I went with the chicken piccata, and it was a win: tender, bright with lemon, and generously portioned. Between the caper-forward sauce and the size of the plate, it was a win for both my appetite and leftovers the next day. My other half ordered the veal marsala, which is rich and satisfying—just know it leans a bit sweet. Our friend went with the spaghetti and meatballs, which feels like Fratelli’s unofficial signature dish. Always classic, always comforting.

Their wine list leans Italian, of course, and it’s well-curated—plenty of great options by the glass or bottle. I only managed a couple photos this time because, full honesty… I was way too excited to eat. Fratelli is a bit of a drive from home, and when you’re craving comforting Italian in a space that feels like family—you make the trip.

Looking for that mom-and-pop magic with consistently good food, generous portions, and a welcoming vibe? This...