Marcellino Ristorante — Restaurant in Scottsdale

My wife and I had a wonderful meal here on Nov 8/14. It was our second time dining at this restaurant following a very enjoyable initial dining experience here. Sometimes when you go to a restaurant for a second time you go with high expectations based on the previous dining experience and quite often you feel a little disappointed the second time around. This was not the case for our second visit. Our server Pepe (Jose), who was very busy with a couple of larger parties and tables, made us feel welcome from the moment we sat down. Like any professional server he walked us through the menu explaining the various meals and specialty pastas but in this case he also contributed with his personal favourites. This wasn't done just as a simple my favourite is such and such to try and entice you into a particular menu item but done with humour and a detailed explanation as to why it was his favourite and why we would enjoy it. We started with the Insalata Pera and Gamberi Feta for our appetizers and as our mains we enjoyed the home-made pasta (Tortelloni) and the Salmone Porcini. Everything was quite enjoyable with my only complaint being that I wish Chef Marcellino would offer half portions of his homemade pastas because my wife's Tortelloni was great! Being diabetic a full portion was a lot of carbs for me to have along with the other various items so a half portion would have been great. Yes, I managed to "sample" some of my wife's but being Italian she is very protective of her pasta! We had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Chef Marcellino when he came out to greet his remaining guests at the end of the night. This is something that I always enjoy at any restaurant as it gives you an opportunity to meet the Chef and to talk about your meal and any other topics that may come up. During this discussion a number of topics quickly came up after he found out that my wife is Italian and I'm Greek - We were told that he was an honorary Greek because he spends so much time in Greece! All in all a wonderful evening with great food and discussion and even better service. Cost for dinner with a glass of wine each was $124 before tip. This is a restaurant for anyone looking for excellent pasta and mains that are elegantly prepared and plated. We are looking forward to our third meal there after the holidays as we try and get away from the cold weather in...

We have visited here twice now, and the first experience was incredible. Stellar food, service, drinks loved it all, and have consistently told people how much we enjoyed it. Went our second time this evening for our second anniversary, and have to say was very disappointed overall. Started off well, we arrived a bit early for our reservation so we had a drink at the bar while we waited, and the bartender brought us glasses of prosecco for our anniversary which was a thoughtful touch. Once we were seated things went downhill. I had to ask twice for bread for our table which ended up coming the same time as my husband's meal. MY meal was twenty minutes AFTER his. (and I did check my clock on my phone to time it) He finally had to sit and eat without me so it wouldn't go cold. Waiter finally came by and said he inadvertently put mine in as a second course which honestly sounds like an excuse for he simply forgot. I ordered the veal chop special of the night which was $75. It was supposed to be cooked medium, but was much closer medium rare or almost rare, which I assume iscbecause they were rushing it after forgetting to put it in for twenty minutes. Also, I understand it's a fattier cut of meat; however, it seemed to have more than it's share of fat,and was disappointed in the dish itself. The waiter did offer us a free lemoncello they make in house (which we declined) but considering my meal was $75, it really isn't much of an apology offering. He did bring us a few biscotti cookies after and did apologize again, but the sincerity in the tone quite simply wasn't there; it felt artificial and by that point I was just ready to leave. Was our experience terrible? No, but it was certainly not up to the standards we expect from a higher end restaurant we are dropping a couple hundred dollars on between drinks and meals. I really hope perhaps it was simply an off night. Compliments to the bartenders they were very pleasant and the higher point of the evening.

Our first experience was five stars, second was three, at best, so am being generous and splitting the difference at four stars. We couldn't wait to go back, but now we may stop and think before we do...

This is difficult.

The server, David, was amazing-professional, attentive, knowledgeable.

The place is beautiful.

Food was very good. Mussels, pasta, bread, dessert (cheesecake was dry) but all was delicious.

My issue is with the bill and the cost.

We looked at the menu and most pasta dishes were in the $27-$35 range. I decided on the zupa de pesce which was clams, mussels, scallops, calamari in a red pasta sauce. It was $39.

The server came out with a "pasta tray" of special home-made pastas. There were eight options. My wife chose the cheese tortellini (half order) and the parpadelle in meat sauce (half order).

The cacio de pepe looked good and since my zupa did not come with pasta (first time I have ever seen that at a restaurant) I ordered that as well.

We eat, we drink, order dessert, and then the bill comes...

The prices for the "pasta tray" pasta were not on the menu- this was "special" pasta, off menu. I did not know pricing but didn't think I needed to ask, as its pasta.*

Half order (2) tortellini - $39 Half order parpadelle- $29 Order of cacio de pepe pasta - $45

So, the pasta was $113 for two tortellini, three fork turns of parpadelle, and one order of spaghetti.

With two glasses wine ($40) and two desserts ($40), 2 soda waters $15, plus an appetizer of mussels $22, the bill with tip was $325.

A full order of tortellini (4) would have been $80!!

I have never been charged so excessively for homemade pasta at any establishment I have ever been to.

Yes, I know, it is on me to ask for pricing on specials, but, its pasta.. It cost more than a steak?

We were pretty upset.

Again, food was good- service good, but I felt I should put this out there.. Ask them, here, before you order...