Vito's Ristorante & Pizzeria — Restaurant in Southern Pines

The Tomato sauce tasted strange… maybe a little on the rancid side… maybe some like it like that but it tasted off to me. I think Vito’s gets a pass from some locals because there just isn’t that much to compare it to in the area and it’s ok for the kids. The cheese tortalinis were bland, the sauce was blah and strange. My Alfredo was uninspired, the bread rolls were an absolute crime! They were nearly inedible, you’d think that with all the good bread in this town an Italian place would drop the gimmicky Pizza dough bread trick and bring in something special. It’s a sin to the Italian soul, although they would be good to throw at each other.

We were celebrating a very special family reunion, some of us who had literally never met and they placed us at separate tables away from each other. They could have at least pushed the tables together so that we could have talked and tried to get to know each other, an inconsideration that I found appalling. This is not the hospitality I have come to love and expect at every turn in Southern Pines. And then there is the strange policy of only accepting cash, which must embarrass, inconvenience, and turn people away almost every night. I can only imagine the reasons for this farce of a policy and those reasons are not good or exactly legal…

I can not blame them for the disjointed service, the waitress did her best, but our group itself was disjointed, split as it was into two groups. We stayed in Southern Pines for five days and I think we had about thirteen restaurant meals and for the most part, it has been a joy. An absolute epicurean journey into hospitality and incredible food. I will admit there have been a few low points, but for the most part it has been one amazing place after another. Southern Pines and the surrounding areas has been a wonder. I’m afraid Vito’s comes in towards the bottom. A place that seems designed for tourists that does not seems to have any passion for its food… going through...

Decent food, NO customer service. We called and placed an order for a small plain pie to pick up. The person who took the order gave us a TINY pizza - a personal pizza.

When I called to ask what happened that I asked for a small plain pie, and we got this miniature pie with slices smaller than a child's hand, they said they don't have a small pie, only medium and large pies. Nonetheless, it is a silly mistake to give someone who asks for a small plain pie an "individual". The "individual" size is a personal pizza, which equates to about two regular sized slices. If someone calls and orders a small plain pie, they should explain very clearly that they have an individual size that will feed only one person, and to feed more than one adult would require a medium pie. They should explain that the typically sized slices are offered only in medium or large sized pies. They did not explain this.

On top of the fact that the employee who took the order failed to communicate, leaving us with enough food for only one adult when we expected enough for two or three adults, there was NO ATTEMPT by the restaurant to correct the situation. No offer to replace the "individual" with a real plain pie, with typically sized slices of pizza, no offer to return next time for a pie on the house... NOTHING. Simply, "Oh, the person who took the order tonight was not me, so I can't really do anything about it." Nice.

We'll be ordering from So Pies instead from now on.

Also, it's silly to charge $9.99 for an "individual" (miniature, single adult serving) pizza when three times as much pizza (the "medium" pie) costs $12.99.

So...

When we arrived there was a note saying they accept cash only. No credit or debit cards, but there is an ATM located in the foyer entrance. The seating experience was a little rough, but we were acknowledged by the owner and we were seated within 15 mins of our arrival. The host only brought two of the three kids the crayons and paper, and we only were given two sets of silverware for a party of 5 so we had to ask our server for more silverware. The dining room atmosphere was warm and inviting. There is beautiful art on display paying homage to Italy and Vito's family and history. Our server was polite and kind and went at our pace. We enjoyed the Coletta Parmigiana Chicken with a side of fettuccine alfredo, Margarita Pizza, Meatballs, garlic rolls and the mixed spring mix and iceberg salad with creamy Italian. The kids enjoyed their cheese ravioli, penne with butter, garlic bread with cheese and meatballs. We also ended up getting some of our favorite desserts to go. The lemonchello mousse cake and the tiramisu. The meals are a great sized portion, so go hungry! There is a lovely wine menu and adult beverage selection, as well as a full bar when you walk in if you're looking for a drink and/or a quick bite; as well as an outdoor seating area on the patio. Overall, the restaurant was a hit and our family enjoyed our dinner and the friendliness of the staff and attention of the owner and their efforts to create a unique experience for their customers. I recommend bringing family and friends to this restaurant for great quality...