RigaTony's Authentic Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Tempe

I saw a tiktok that recommended this place. My fiancé and I were so excited to try it. When we got there they told us the wait was 30 minutes or less. I came in after 40 minutes to check how much longer. The person in front of me in line had just put his name down and they told him it was a 45 minute wait for 2. When I asked how much longer she said they were getting my table ready and I would get a text. I go back outside with my fiancé to await a text. After 10 minutes a lady comes out and calls the guy who just put his name down. I go in to see how much longer and she said she gave my table away because she texted me and I never came in. I never received a text and I was right outside the front door. They never came out to call my name but came out to call this guys name who just put his name down. After I told her I never got the text and they never called my name she gave me an attitude and said she will get me the next table. There was another group in the lobby saying she didn’t call there name either and gave their table away. Despite this we drove 45 minutes to try the food and didn’t want to leave. Our waitress was very straight to the point and unfriendly but was very nice to the table next to us. My fiancé and I are a biracial couple and we have never been more stared at in our 7 years together then we were here. Guests and staff kept staring at us making me and my black fiancé very uncomfortable. The food was not good at all. I am shocked by the reviews, it gave me so much hope. The bread looks great online but it just plain and they gave me a piece that was so hard I could stick my fork in it and it would stand up straight. The fettuccine Alfredo tasted like lean cuisine from the freezer section. The zucchini fries were good and the ranch was amazing. The Salad was good. The tour of Italy was a 3 out of 10. The chicken parm tasted off and like old chicken. The marinara sauce on the manicotti was sweet and not very good and the meatballs tasted frozen. We are not picky eaters at all and hardly ever have experiences like this. Save your money or go to Olive Garden because their food tastes better and fresher and it’s comparable in price. You couldn’t pay me to...

RigaTony's has been a long time favorite when it comes to Italian food for my family and has been for the last few years, but since we started eating there we have only ever picked up their food to bring it home. This last Saturday we dined in and received better customer service than we could have hoped for: If you have not yet been to eat at this culinary gem I would absolutely recommend asking for Elsir if he is available, or at least a table in his section.

He was patient, polite, professional, and above all else attentive! He remembered details we mentioned throughout the ordering experience and took them into account when he answered questions or made recommendations, despite our reservation taking place during a busy Saturday night he made sure to check in on us regularly and kept our drinks full, and he recommended my new favorite dessert on the menu: The hazelnut chocolate cake. I am a tiramisu fiend and by Elsir's reference I have been converted. That cake is something incredibly special. The food held up to the high standard the restaurant consistently delivers on. We ordered the Baked RigaTony, the Grilled Chicken Linguine, the Fettucine Alfredo, and the Chicken with Lemon, Artichoke, and Capers, and the desserts Tiramisu, Hazelnut Chocolate Cake, and the Apple Bread Pudding. Every member of my family was thoroughly pleased with the dinner item they ordered, the salad Elsir brought us was a huge hit, and the bread he kept bringing us seemed like it got better every time! Absolutely everything we have tried on their menu is worth recommending to someone who has not yet had it or is still on the fence. Perhaps if the food wasn't as good we could have taken some pictures before it was all gone!

All in all this was a fantastic dining experience. Great food, great ambiance, and service of a quality I can only refer to as stellar. I hope this review reaches Elsir's supervisor because he ensured our patronage of RigaTony's going forward will have us sitting down for more dinners and more drinks! However you trained him, please keep it up! And if you are looking for a fantastic Italian meal, make sure to ask for seating in...

Earlier this afternoon my daughter and I drove by Rigatonys as we were running errands and she asked me if I had ever eaten there, I told her no but we should try it. Tonight we decided to eat out, and Rigatonys sounded perfect. After a bad day, we would be able to have a family dinner out, at a nice place. We get there, we get sat quickly..... and no one shows up for a while to say hi, or take a drink order. Eventually the server took our drink order and was also helping new guest arrivals. Eventually other guests started getting their drinks, we got one out of three drinks. Finally the two remaining were delivered. However she didn't ask if we wanted appitizers, simply dropped off the drinks and walked away. As we sit and wait like fools, other guests that had arrived after us are starting to get food, and we haven't even ordered... On three occasions the server looked right at us, and walked away... More time goes by and now more guests are getting their food, and we still have not ordered. We elected to leave. As we were exiting the server didn't ask why we were leaving, only concerned that we pay for our three sodas. So I paid for them. As I pass the the hostels stand the manager was standing there, hanging out with the other female employees , and I explained why we were leaving.... His reply... I'm sorry that happened, have a better night.

I have owned my own business for 10+ years, and I am baffled that the leadership of this resturant has allowed this standard, for not only an employee to act this way, but also a manager, a manager that is clueless of what is happening in the very Resturant he is paid to manage. When a manager is unwilling to put any effort in containing and resolving a self inflicted wound, that only tells me his leadership doesn't care, so why would he? Culture rolls down hill. You have been in business for 30 years, and I am positive that you haven't made it this long by allowing or accepting ...