La Piazza Cucina Italiana & Wine Bar
La Piazza Cucina Italiana & Wine Bar, located at 512 Walt Whitman Rd, Melville, NY, offers a vibrant dining experience that blends Italian culinary traditions with a cozy, welcoming atmosphere. This restaurant stands out not only for its flavorful dishes but also for its exceptional service, which has earned it consistent praise from guests.
The menu at La Piazza features a variety of dishes, each carefully crafted to highlight the rich flavors of Italy. Regular visitors rave about their experiences, particularly recommending dishes like the Chicken Madeira, which has received high marks for its delicious combination of flavors, and the Crab Cakes, which are considered a must-try. Additionally, the Beet Salad provides a fresh and unique twist, while the Strip Steak is another solid choice for meat lovers.
Despite the generally positive feedback, some customers have had mixed experiences with a few dishes. While the food is mostly praised for its quality, items like the Fried Calamari have been noted as being bland and chewy. Similarly, the Lasagna Pinwheels, though decent, didn't leave as strong of an impression as other menu items.
Service at La Piazza is another area where opinions are divided. While many guests appreciate the attentive and friendly staff, there have been occasional lapses in service. One notable highlight, however, is the exceptional service provided by Richard, a waiter who has earned repeat mentions for going above and beyond to make guests feel welcome. His personalized attention, such as creating a special rum punch upon request, has contributed to several positive experiences.
Overall, La Piazza Cucina Italiana & Wine Bar provides a warm and inviting setting for enjoying authentic Italian food, with a few areas for improvement in service consistency. Whether you're there for a special celebration or a casual meal, the combination of great food and attentive service is sure to make your visit memorable.
La Piazza Cucina Italiana & Wine Bar Reviews
We had a birthday celebration today and our server, Richard, could not have been more attentive, the service he provided us was extremely exceptional and this is the type of service and attentiveness that can only separate your establishment from your competitors, as a group we look forward to our next visit and hope to have him again thank you for having him on your staff
We have now eaten here four times in the last month. The food is always good. Two times, it was really good or great. I've tried multiple apps, entrees, salads, and soups at this point. Some items to try. The chicken Madeira was really good. The strip steak was good. The crab cakes are excellent. The beet salad...really good Things that were, well, let's just say I won't order again. The fried calamari was bland and really chewy. The lasagna pinwheels were just ok. Service was about the same. Two times, it was excellent, and two times, it was lackluster. Last night, our waiter took our order and never returned until the check. We all ran out of drinks and water. We had to flag someone down for spoons for soup. Now it was busy....but still, he could have refilled our drinks or come by. So....again, it's been 50/50 on service and food.
They had a line for valet so took a while to get in. Place was packed on a Saturday night. To start off we received complimentary bread. We ordered a bunch of apps but only took a few pics. Apps portion sizes were small so keep that in mind when sharing. We got the burrata which was really good. Shrimp cocktail was okay but that's usually how it is. Pieces of shrimp were big. The stuffed mushrooms were really good and flavorful. No pics because we ate them too fast. The pizza was good. Kids loved it. I got the bunless burger. It has no taste. No flavor. Not even salt. I took a bite of my husbands roasted chicken which was so so good. Very moist and flavorful. I would definitely get that next time. My friend had the chicken and sausage. Also very good and it was a big portion. For dessert I got the coffee, and it was so cute with the "me and you" message one it. It was a little pricey, $275 for the both of us but I feel like we got our moneys worth. Would go back.
Our waiter Richard was the best. I asked if the restaurant made rum punch and he said he would make one just for me. Very great service from Richard