Bruno's Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Springfield

I must say that I was sorely disappointed with my last visit. I arrived at 7: 30 pm on a Friday and was seated at the bar while a table was being readied. I sat for 10 minutes and had no less than 4 different staff members at the bar and not ONE even acknowledged my presence at the bar. Additionally, there were the leavings of two other guests still sitting on the bar. After 15 minutes we were finally seated to our table. It was another 10 minutes that we sat before our server even acknowledged us at our table. We had seen her several times however she did not approach or acknowledge us at her table. Our order was made and bread and oil was brought out. It was another 15 minutes or so before we had to hail her and asked if our appetizer was on its way. It showed up about 20 minutes after its order, she had completely forgotten about it. When our food finally did arrive it was not brought out by our server but kitchen staff. The lobster bisque ravioli had obviously had been sitting for quite a while on the counter as it had a skin on the surface of the sauce and it was Stone Cold. The clam linguine tasted fine and did not smell off, however it was a long time for this food to arrive. We had to send back the lobster ravioli as it was cold and there was barely enough sauce on it and it was not fresh. The bill was corrected to reflect the food that was sent back however I was sorely disappointed in the level of the service and the quality of the food. I had last eaten there when Bruno was still running the restaurant and he ran a tight ship which is why I had chosen to dine here again. However, I will not make that mistake again. Excuses were made that they were short-staffed however that does not preclude a server from at least acknowledging that there are patrons sitting at their table. It costs nothing to drop a word and apologize for the wait in service but at least acknowledge your patrons who are seated...

I dined in at Bruno's Italian Restaurant last Tuesday February 13th and i had heard great things about it but I hadn't been there before. It's a very nice place inside and I was greeted immediately by the hostess and I sat at a table instead of the bar area. My waitress (who also one of the bartenders) came over and greeted me and asked what I would like to drink. I ordered water with lemon but I also wanted to order one martini so my waitress (I apologize I forgot her name) suggested their signature martini which is an espresso martini, so I ordered one of those and I ordered an appetizer eggplant parmesan and told her that I would look over the menu for my entree. There were several customers there and the bar area has a tv to watch sports shows. All the food I saw being served looked amazing and I asked a few tables near me how their food was and they all said "excellent". My drink arrived and I ordered the Pasta Carbonara for my entree. Okay the Espresso Martini was amazing! My appetizer arrived shortly afterwards and it was THE BEST I have had for so long (a few years ago in St. Louis "Hill" area is the only other place where it was this good), you have to try it. About 15 minutes later the Pasta Carbonara arrived and it looked and smelled amazing! Okay so what I said about the Eggplant Parmesan goes doubly for the Pasta Carbonara! It was the most delicious dish and perfectly prepared with balanced flavors and perfect seasoning. I am so looking forward to going back. Bruno's Italian Restaurant is located on South Street just south of Walnut Street. I urge everyone to visit because it is SO MUCH BETTER than other Italian restaurants in Springfield Mo. All these buildings downtown are old and elegant but it is a bit noisy inside but that's true of all the restaurants downtown. 10 stars for the food, service and 8 stars for...

Their authentic menu sets the stage for a wonderful Italian meal in the heart of downtown Springfield. We were eager to try this place after reading such glowing reviews, and we left exceptionally satisfied. As soon as we sat down, we were served focaccia with a blend of Italian olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We ordered two glasses of wine: a Chianti and a Chiarlo Barbera d'Asti. Since we wanted to try both the pasta and the pizza, we decided to share a margherita pizza as an appetizer. The pizza was amazing, with the perfect balance of dough and sauce. Their brick oven allows the pizza to be cooked authentically, as if we were in Italy, and adds an extra touch to the ambiance. With the pizza being so good, we expected no less of the pasta. My husband ordered the fettuccine alla Bolognese, and the ragù was so flavorful that he scooped up every bit and cleaned his plate with the last piece of focaccia! I ordered the daily special--penne with a white sauce (not Alfredo!), sun-dried tomatoes, and Parmigiano--which was absolutely delightful. The flavors blended perfectly. Although we were full, we saved room for dessert and ordered cannoli. The portion came with two, making it perfect for sharing. The way they whisk the ricotta gives it a delicate texture that tastes exceptional! Service was fast, and the staff was friendly and attentive. The location is great, right in the heart of downtown Springfield, so we could easily walk back to our hotel. Overall, it was an absolutely fantastic experience--a must-visit if you're in Springfield and craving authentic...