Sorriso — Restaurant in The Woodlands

The Woodlands has many restaurants that give you "the look," however, I have often left restaurants feeling like the quality was not there for the high price point. Remembering my wonderful experience several months back, I chose Sorriso for my Father's birthday dinner. While this is a hotel restaurant (attached to The Westin), the service I received and the quality of the dishes ordered made me feel as if we were in a stand-alone authentic Italian restaurant. On my most recent visit with Sorriso, I am sad to say this time missed the mark. The food was tasty, the presentation was lovely, and my reservation experience, which started a week prior, went well. The hostess and managers were very accommodating with the needs of my party and the adjustments up to our actual dinner time. The service of our server is where things fell short. At first, I thought maybe he was just not a "people person"; however, I paid close attention to his interactions with the guest at other tables in his section, and he was pretty jovial with them all. I know I can be a stern critic, so when I'm out with friends and family, I make an effort to overlook certain things as an industry professional I would otherwise make a note of. Still, when the mood change is so noticeable that the guest of honor mentions it, there's a problem. Of course, I don't know how the ticket read. Some things could have been the fault of the kitchen and not the server. Nonetheless, our apps came out incorrectly. When I mentioned this to the server, he apologized only after saying, "Oh, you want that instead. I'll get that put in for you," as if I was the one to make a mistake. When our entrees arrived, modifications were missed entirely. One of my guests chose to eat around the dish, as he mentioned, the server didn't seem too thrilled to be waiting on our table. I'm not sure if he was overwhelmed or what, but he did have two large groups at one time (our party of 8 and a party of 7). However, his performance came across as unrefined and incompetent. This experience, as mentioned, was a vast difference from the dining experience I enjoyed months past.

I hope this review will be used as a resource for training and housekeeping on service standards for the team. I enjoy the food at Sorriso and absolutely plan to return in the...

Our first visit was last night and the food was very good, the service was excellent, the decor was nice - but we won't be going back. Wait, what? Four stars, everything nice, and not going back? Allow me to explain: This is a very good restaurant and we would be happy to eat here every week, except for three big things. First, it's loud. Like, deafening on a Friday night. We had to shout to hear each other from 18 inches away, and as the evening progressed it just got louder. Second, it's crowded. Table to our left: 24 inches away. Chair behind me? 12". I leaned back and almost put my head into the young lady's face. A feeling of claustrophobia prevailed over the entire evening. Lastly, Avanti is just a few miles away. While Sorriso is very good except for noise and space, Avanti is just about perfect in every way. Better food, better service, better decor, less noise and more space. For a $200 night of special Italian food, Avanti wins in every category. Now. Having said all that, we really enjoyed the food. The seafood on my Black Spaghetti was perfectly cooked, and my wife loved her truffled Angliotti. The charcuterie platter was nicely curated and beautifully presented, the best dish of the night. The "profiteroles" we ordered for desert are not profiteroles, they're cream puffs, but still delicious. On the liquid side, the two mixed drinks we had were both made perfectly, and their wine list recently won a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for the third straight year. We were very happy to see both Cakebread and Rombauer chardonnay available by the glass. One odd thing: they offer some of their better wines by the glass, under a separate category called "Coravin 5-oz. Pour". So, the Coravin is a cool device for pouring one glass at a time without having to remove the cork. We use one at home all the time. If you order one of these wines here they come out with a serving table and make a presentation of it, like tableside guacamole, bananas foster, or greek salad (see photo). WAY overdone for a $20 glass of chardonnay. So...yeah. Very good restaurant. I'd go back and order the very same drinks and dishes, and be very happy - if we went on a Tuesday when it's probably less crowded and more quiet. And if Avanti wasn't just a...

Do not overlook this exceptional Italian restaurant that truly captivates the senses. First and foremost, a huge shout-out to John, our waiter. His friendliness and extensive knowledge of the menu made our first visit an incredibly enjoyable experience. 👏👏

We kicked off our meal with a refreshing bottle of San Benedetto sparkling water, which was just as invigorating as Pellegrino. Although they were out of my preferred Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio, John suggested an excellent alternative. (I regret to note the name) The bartender also crafted a superb dirty martini that was incredibly well-balanced.

As for the bread, it arrived warm and soft, paired with a luscious olive oil and a balsamic vinegar that originated from Milan, adding a delightful touch to our starter experience. For our antipasto selection, we indulged in Charred Octopus, Clams in a delightful white wine sauce, Nonna’s Meatballs, and a Whole Leaf Caesar Salad. Each dish was bursting with flavor, artfully prepared, and simply delicious.

Our main courses were nothing short of extraordinary: the Ricotta Gnocchi, a delicate pasta made with fresh ricotta and guanciale—often likened to American bacon or pancetta, but with a far richer flavor profile—was a standout. We also enjoyed Pan-roasted Scallops served atop a creamy shrimp risotto, cooked to perfection and delivering that perfect al dente texture. Additionally, the Black Spaghetti featured an abundance of seafood, including clams, octopus, shrimp, and scallops, creating a wonderfully harmonious plate that can only be described as “frutti di mare” or “fruits of the sea.”

All pasta is homemade and prepared with impeccable skill, showcasing the restaurant's commitment to authentic Italian cuisine.

We finished our wonderful dinning experience with the best espresso I've ever tasted and a shot of sambuca with 3 coffee beans.

I wholeheartedly recommend this fine Italian restaurant. We are already planning our return visit, eager to explore other dishes on the menu. Compliments to the chef—tutto molto...