Pignetti's — Restaurant in Temple

Okay here is the deal. First and foremost Pignetti's should be recognized for having been around almost 15 years in Temple, TX. That is a great thing, and shows you their lasting power. Any place could get stale and slip over time that passes like that, however that is not the case with Pignetti's. My wife and I live in Waco, and after today we will be making the easy 30-40 minutes drive regularly to dine and drink here. When we were seated for a late lunch (about 1:30pm) we were one of three other tables in the whole restaurant being serviced. We sad and began immediately diving into their food menu, and then I asked to see the wine menu as I had heard about it from a client who visits the wine shop where I work. Sure enough the wine list came, and it is extensive! They have just about everything you could want, and from just about everywhere. Sure they have a lot of the big houses from California, France, Italy, and some Spain, but if you'll look closer you will see that there are absolute hidden gems in this wine list. After inspecting it for a couple minutes I asked to speak with the person who curated the list, because I wanted to thank them for assembling such a noteworthy wine list (this is surprisingly a very difficult thing to do, and to find). The waitress told me that it was the owner Clint who chooses all of the wines, and that she would send him over. Clint came by the table, and I thanked him for building such a great list. I also pointed out some of my favorite gems that I had found, and asked how in the world he had found these wineries. He launched into his traveling experiences, and I immediately knew that this was someone who had a passion for wine and seeking out the best. As a restaurant owner he has to carry the big labels to appease the masses, but he didn't let the mainstream demands of the wine world crush his passion to bring out the other players who are hidden and exciting. After about 15 minutes of talking with Clint he wished us well, and then we returned to making our decisions. I was giddy with excitement as I chose a wine. When it comes to this list you should know that the prices are incredibly reasonable for restaurant pricing, so please don't scoff or cause issue over price. It is clear that Clint has gone the extra mile to be fair and encourage the enjoyment of great wine with great food. If you read enough of my reviews you will soon find I am a wine freak, and a Champagne lover. I am talking the real stuff... Champagne from Champagne, France. Clint has a fantastic choice of Champagnes, and I landed on Geoffroy Rose De Saignee. My wife and I also ordered the Candied Bacon. This is about 4 strips of bacon cut into thirds with, fresh grape tomatoes, artichokes, crispy flat bread, a gouda like cheese, and burrata! Rose Champagne demands one eats copious amounts of pork and decadent foods, and so we obliged and it was simply stunning. Beth (our waitress) also brought us their bread and in-house oil for dipping. It was phenomenal, and truly I wish escargot to be added to it along with some butter and baked to perfection... but I will still overindulge in the oil and bread without the escargot since it is french in style and not Italian. The example is simply so you know it is impeccable! We then ordered the Chicken Parmesan, and the Shrimp Scampi. Both dishes were very good, and we were well fed. The portions are large and seasoned perfectly. I will be honest here and say that the candied bacon appetizer completely stole the show, but I will return for it and seek out its entree counterpart gladly over and over again! Topping off the whole experience once the champagne was opened to my pleasure I noticed it was disgorged July of 2013!! All in all this was an experience worth the drive, time, effort, money, tears (none for us except joy), and whatever else life is...

As an ardent patron of Pignettes Italian Restaurant, I approached their wine tasting event with much anticipation, looking forward to a delightful evening of wine discovery and expertly paired Italian bites. Unfortunately, the experience fell far short of expectations.

The event promised an exploration of four distinct wines. However, the paltry offerings of stale bread with salami for the first wine and a lukewarm meatball for the last were a letdown. The middle two wines were devoid of any food pairing, a major oversight that took away from the comprehensive tasting experience. Further marring the wine-tasting was the practice of pouring different wines into the same glass, preventing us from fully appreciating the unique characteristics of each selection.

The event's organization also left much to be desired. Our dedicated driver, who had ordered a meal, was served a lukewarm dish. This seeming lack of attention to meal timing and temperature was not only unappetizing but also raised concerns about the restaurant's ability to effectively manage their kitchen during such events.

This lackluster experience has unfortunately influenced our future plans with Pignettes. We had previously booked a four-course exquisite dinner, thrilled at the prospect of enjoying a variety of their renowned dishes. However, the poorly executed wine tasting event has led us to reconsider. We have now cancelled our reservation due to doubts about the restaurant's ability to properly execute a complex four-course meal.

The charm and ambiance of Pignettes Italian Restaurant, which we've appreciated in the past, were sadly overshadowed by this event. Instead of showcasing their prowess in pairing food and wine and reinforcing their reputation as a premier Italian dining spot, this experience raised questions about their service quality and value for money.

While Pignettes remains a favorite of mine, this wine tasting event has undeniably tarnished its image. I would still recommend the restaurant for its usual dining service, but I sincerely hope they will take strides to improve the organization and execution of their special events.

Despite this setback, I remain hopeful for the future and look forward to the day when Pignettes can redeem themselves, restoring our faith in their culinary capabilities and...

Our experience at Pignetti's proved to be double edge sword. Pignetti's was recommended to us, ironically it would prove, based off its wine selection. We went for a light bite on our way to see friends. Our waitress was spot on! Friendly and attentive but not overly so. The interior looked nice, and the outdoor patio was pleasant and surprisingly quiet. We split a chicken parmesan and an order of bread. First the bread was outrageously good. If you go, make sure you get the bread. Worth every penny of the $5. The Chicken Parm’s presentation was superb, with the chicken done perfectly with a nice light breading, the pasta was perfectly cooked, however, the beans were overdone – to the point of imitating canned. Also, the red sauce was rather sweet (I loved it, she did not).

Now the other cut of the sword... As it was a last minute decision, we did not have reservations and we were greeted with almost contempt. It was 5:00 and it was an empty restaurant. We explained we were there for a light bite but rudely pushed out the door while being sternly reminded “you need a reservation.” So we really did not get to experience the interior space. As the door was about to close behind us, someone shouted “you can sit outside (95 degrees), if you want.” We were hungry and wanted to try Pignetti's, so we sat outside (note - no other patron arrived for 15 minutes, and trickled in closer to 6:00). We then were handed a wine/beer list. The beer selection is quite lacking for a place with this reputation, but it was the wine that did us in. They were out of many wines and when we went to taste what was available, we found most open bottles to be oxidized. If you order wine, pay attention and be sure to ask for a taste before...