Dominic's Bistro Italiano — Restaurant in Sun City

This is the story of our experience at Dominic’s Italian Bistro!! Upon entering this establishment my wife & I could see that the place was packed and very busy. The wait time wasn’t too bad considering how busy they were. We were seated at a booth table within 30 minutes without a reservation. We were greeted by our server within 5-7 minutes after being seated , were offered and given bread , which was OUTSTANDING and we already had a beverage in hand because I got my wife & I drinks from the bar while we were waiting for our table. We ordered our meal and were brought our salads in a timely manner and then THE LONGEST WAIT TIME TOOK PLACE for our main course. After giving our order we waited for just shy of an hour to receive our food. I ordered the Chicken Marsala which was THE WORST I HAVE EVER BEEN SERVED IN MY LIFE!! The sauce was watered down and had virtually NO FLAVOR , so much so , you could taste the chicken breast as if it was served with no Marsala Sauce at all. The Pasta was aldente’ and the chicken breast was as to be expected however the Marsala Sauce was watered down and lacked flavor , thickness and was the blandest I’ve EVER TASTED! My wife ordered the Eggplant Parmasean and it was like “ Mush “ NO NEED for a fork because it was so sloppy it required a spoon. We were asked how everything was by the Owner and I was blatantly honest and shared our dissatisfaction with the meal. The Owner said and I quote “ I’m NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE , we are very busy tonight and you rushed the cook with your order so that’s what happens when you do that “ I said “ EXCUSE ME? “ “ We waited almost an hour for our food how long is it supposed to take ?” I did let the server know we were tired of waiting and wanted to know what the delay was and she simply said it was due to how busy they were with 2 very large parties of people all seated at the same time because they were all together!! Well , there you go , you shouldn’t take on such a large party if it’s going to cause unacceptable and Bad service , food , etc. to the rest of your guests. Getting back to rushing the cook with our Meal. I googled how long should the wait be at a “ 5 “ Star Restaurant , Dominic’s Italian Bistro is maybe a 2-3 star at best , just to see what the answer was going to be! The Owner said and I quote “ This isn’t Fast Food , taking an hour when you’re this busy is not unreasonable and I’m NOT going to apologize for the delay “ Here is the answer from Google BTW as to how long the wait time should be at a fine establishment. At a 5-star restaurant, you should expect to wait about 20 to 30 minutes for your main course to arrive after ordering, though this can vary based on the complexity of the dish and how busy the kitchen is. A good experience involves a leisurely pace, with drinks and starters served first, ensuring the wait for the main course is part of a well-paced, enjoyable dining experience rather than a delay. My wife NEVER says ANYTHING when there is confrontation like this , HOWEVER , She got up out of that booth and made a Bee Line for the owner and said “ We don’t eat fast food and I cook and serve very nice meals at home and none of them take an hour to prepare “ My wife then said “ Could we please just have our check so we can get out of here?” The owner said “ You bet “ and then paused and told the server “ Don’t give them a check , just get them out of here and don’t ever come back “ End Quote!! I DON’T CARE WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE , YOU SHOULD NEVER TALK TO PATRONS LIKE THAT AND INSTEAD SHOULD HAVE SAID “ YOU KNOW WHAT? I’M PAYING FOR YOUR MEAL AND APOLOGIZE FOR YOUR DISSATISFIED EXPERIENCE HERE THIS EVENING “ BUT NO , NOT THIS UNPROFESSIONAL & TEMPERMENTAL OWNER!! SHE JUST CAN’T HANDLE CRITICISM AND COMES TO YOUR TABLE DEFENSIVELY AND BLAMES THE CUSTOMER!! THIS TREATMENT WAS 💯 % UNACCEPTABLE AND AN OWNER LIKE THIS SHOULD NEVER BE IN THE...

Step back in time to a 50s Italian restaurant with checkered tablecloths and photographs of movie stars and relax. It's a welcome switch from all the fast paced and almost clinical decor found in so many eateries. The lunch specials are reasonably priced since they start out with some warm bread made on site, followed with a little salad or cup of soup. One friend had the personal pizza and ordered mushroom and peppers for an upcharge, but they were very skimpy with them. The other friend's lasagna was so small a piece it did not come close to filling the little dish. My calzone was very disappointing which was surprising since it was so lovely to look it, but the dough was so tough I could not pick it up to bite into it nor could I get the knife to saw through it. I lifted the top to find a wet interior with lumps of hard ricotta not spread evenly throughout and hardly any mozzarella. My uncharge for mushrooms netted me 5 1/2 pieces. We all agreed they make a good sauce and a unique Italian dressing that seemed a bit like a happy marriage between Catalina and Italian. The server was harried and wound up spilling a glass of water which may have been prevented had she slowed down and not kept reaching across us to serve and pour. Why would you reach across my right to pour and serve the person to my left? Like I said, she was obviously stressed having to take care of the lunch crowd and the kitchen was very slow. I think the oven was taking its time to heat up to proper temp since we arrived shortly after 11 a.m. which might have explained both the tough calzone and the close to 40 min wait time which seemed longer since it took a while to get our bread. This seems to be a popular place with faithful regulars, so maybe it was just an off day since I can't imagine they could keep regulars based on...

If you're looking for a dining experience that delivers more than just incredible food, Dominic’s Bistro Italiano is the place to be. Although it’s not a huge establishment, this charming gem offers something far more meaningful—heart, soul, and authenticity.

From the moment you step in, you're surrounded by nostalgic décor that instantly transports you to a golden era. Walls adorned with classic black-and-white baseball memorabilia, iconic portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, and a shrine to the Rat Pack era make the atmosphere feel like a tribute to the timeless class of the 50s and 60s. Every corner tells a story, making this place not just a restaurant but a walk through history.

The food? Absolutely fantastic. Whether you're indulging in the perfectly crisp fish and chips, savoring the cheesy, saucy richness of the lasagna, or digging into a juicy burger and fries, every bite reflects homemade love and attention. This isn’t just dinner—it’s comfort on a plate.

And let’s not forget the live music. The classic sounds of the 50s fill the air while you dine, often accompanied by live performers who make you feel like you're at a private lounge show. It elevates the night from just a meal to a full experience.

Dominic himself is the heart of it all—a wonderful, friendly, and personable gentleman who makes sure every guest feels welcomed like family. Our server, Tracy, was off the chain—attentive, upbeat, and genuinely caring. You can tell the whole team here loves what they do.

In a world full of chain restaurants and copy-paste atmospheres, Dominic’s Bistro Italiano stands out as truly “one of a kind.” Thank you, Dominic, Tracy, and the gang, for giving us a perfect night out in a perfect atmosphere. We’ll be back—and we’re...