La Montesina Pizza & Grill — Restaurant in Sanford

Updated review - August 2022: we have ordered food from here every 2 months or so, over the last 3 years. The food quality and taste used to be so good, but unfortunately, things have gone progressively downhill over our last several orders. We aren't sure if there are new owners, new management, new cooks, or all of the above, but this place isn't as good as it used to be. Today was likely our last takeout order. We ordered a variety of lunch options ( a sub, pasta, & calzone) plus a large pizza to share with some family we have visiting. If this was our first experience with this restaurant, it would be our last. The sub had low quality meat and the bread tasted stale. The alfredo pasta was rich and creamy but just tasted like butter - it needed flavor like cheese or garlic. The calzone was skimpy and tasted funny. Even the sauce that accompanied the calzone was bland and tasted different. The pizza was the worst we've ever had from here and not worth the price (a Large La Montesina special for $20.99). Things were literally thrown on, were not cooked, and barely covered the surface of the crust. Normally we wouldn't complain about having extra crust, as we used to like their pizza dough, but now the crust tastes funny and isn't tasty like it used to be. We get it, times are tough and businesses are looking for ways to reduce costs. We also want to get value for our money and this is why this is no longer our 'go-to' pizza place. There are much better local pizza places (La Dolce Vita & Elizabeth's) that have better quality food. We will be taking our...

I’m a truck driver and get out and about. I’m stuck in the area while my trailer is getting repaired. I asked the guys at the repair shop for an independent Italian / pizza style place that isn’t a large chain. They recommended this place. I got here and the place looked super nice and it is worth noting super clean looking too. Great job on that aspect. I ordered the chicken parm and had meat sauce added. When the food came, I initially thought the sauce looked too dark, then I tasted it and it tasted burnt or just old like it sat in a vat all day. I really wanted to love it, but the aftertaste was really biting back. The waitress was wonderful. The guy came out of the back passing through and asked me how everything was. I told him, honestly, the spaghetti portion of it was terrible because of the sauce. Without missing a beat, he offered to make new. They brought it out and it looked way better than the first batch. It tasted better as well. I was going to give 2 stars because the service and cleanliness of the place, but opted for 3 because the guy was super friendly and so willing to fix the issue. I will say the fixed meal was not all that impressive. Perhaps their pizza or other items are way better. I will not be going out of my...

Usually, I have nothing but good things to say about this place, but today was a different story when a coworker and I were there during our lunch break. We have never heard anything wrong about ordering ahead and then taking our food to a table to dine in. It actually makes it more convenient for everyone, considering we never finish our entire lunch, so we already have our orders prepared in to-go containers, we always clean up after ourselves, and give a more than reasonable tip each time. When the owner is there, he is always friendly, outgoing, and happy to refill our drinks. However, today, some new girl whom I've never seen working there before with a "LOYALTY" tattoo down her neck caught an attitude with my coworker while he was asking her to refill our drinks because we're "still getting service" when we'd ordered our food to go, EVEN THOUGH not once did she come over to speak to us or offer refills. What service?? You had to refill a couple of drinks? Oh no! Why have a problem with that, and on top of that, why say something to the customer? Keep your comments to yourself, cause you sure don't belong in customer service. I'll be sure to say something to the owner himself next time...