Experience two levels of dining at one of Stratford, Ontario's great restaurants. Our pizzeria serves the best thin crust pizza, pasta and fresh salads and is a fabulous bar to meet up with friends after shopping. Or dine in our stunning main level Taverna for a romantic evening where we feature hand made pastas, locally sourced meats and seafood while you select the perfect wine from our extensive wine cellarmore...See more text
Extremely rude waitstaff. We asked to have our pizza re-cut ( an elderly companion'srequest). Rolling of the eyes from the server, insistence that it was already cut. When we politely and respectfully asked again, lo and behold, we were told to leave the restaurant. Myself and my 88 year old newly widowed mother were mortified. (Her first time out since her bereavement). I was appalled and horrified. Wrote twice to the management and no response. Would never set foot in this place again.
We visited we a friend who lives in town and is regular. He did make reservations for 7:45 so we would miss the evening theater crowd. Great pick your toppings thin crust pizza (there is a checklist on the table for each pizza), about medium sized .A decent size bowl of spaghetti and meat balls. My wife loved her linguine. Unlike some of the posts below, we found the staff to pleasant and the service to great.
I was in Stratford this week, visiting my Mom, we went up town to finish off some Christmas shopping and stopped into Pazzos for lunch. At first I was impressed, it appeared quaint but because it was in a basement it was cold and a little dark inside. We stood waiting to be seated for quite some time, while some of the staff just stood behind the bar, I don't know if they just didn't see us or what. My Mom who is elderly and frail , was quite tired. They did not seem overly busy there was just a handful of others in the restaurant that I could see. Finally when we were seated, and ordered the food, the staff seemed a little abrupt, and preoccupied. We had to remind them to bring us the coffee we ordered x 3. We ordered some pizza and an appetizer, the appetizer came promptly but then we waited for some time for the pizza, and it was room temperature. My mom was so tired, she just wanted to go home so we took it to go and warmed it up later. For the price you pay you would think the food would be hot, and that the staff would be a little more courteous to a senior. This is the first review I have ever wrote, but after reading the reviews of others, I agree, the food is only fair (when warm) and the customer service is so poor. My mom was so disappointed she wouldn't even consider going into the bakery beside it.
This place was great. My friend and I came into Stratford from London for a day in an awesome city and went out for a Saturday night dinner in the Pizzeria and it turns out we had accidentally chosen the busiest restaurant in town. Looking around I could see why some might view the service as rude, but I think that's just a misinterpretation. What I saw was a staff working their buns off to get everyone to the theatre on time. A demanding job, I would think since everyone is wanting everything at once. Our server was friendly and polite and even though she didn't have much time to stop and chat, made a point of giving a bit of a smile when she walked by. The food was delicious. We were seated in the section by the kitchen. There were no windows and it was fairly hot and loud but I guess that's to be expected from a very full basement restaurant. Overall I enjoyed my time and would go back but if I were to properly enjoy it I would slip in for an afternoon snack and beat the theatre crowd I think.
I wish I had headed the advice of the previous review. So so so rude. From the moment we walked in we felt we were an inconvenience. I had grown up in Stratford, and even went to high school with Greg at Central so took it for granted it would be great. We arrived at approx. 4:30 pm trying to beat the rush knowing it was a busy time for them. The restaurant was pretty much empty when we got there. They asked us if we had a reservation we said no and got a huge sigh, but because the restaurant was empty they figured it wouldn't be a problem. Throughout our meal we were approached three times and asked if they could box up the remainder of our meal for us ... we still were chewing and most of the food was still on our plates the first time they asked. We finally asked the server to stop offering to box up our food. The table we were seated at was too small for our party size, and we were not permitted to join another table to hold all our food we had ordered. We finally boxed up our food half way through our meal and left. We were so upset. When we left it was only 5:15 pm and the restaurant was only a third full.
Greg ...You could have the potential to have an amazing thing going there if you kept your customer service a priority. For tourists visiting, if you are thinking of a quick bite before the theatre ... don't. The service ruined the atmosphere. You can get a really nice thin crust gourmet pizza more delicious, half the price with more toppings out the other end of Huron st. at Pino's and their customer service is pretty good.
My husband and I walked into the pizzeria, hoping to have a nice meal. Upon entering the pizzeria, we waited to be seated. And waited, and waited. We were just about to give up when a server approached us and asked if we had reservations. We told him we did not, but we would take a table for two if one was available. The server sighed, rolled his eyes and walked away. He was so uncommunicative and his demeanour so cold, that we were unsure if we should follow him. He quickly came back and told us he had found a table. We followed him to the table, where he threw the menus down and pulled out one chair so brusquely that it banged against the floor. He then walked away. We were both thirsty and would have loved a glass of water, but none was served. We were also looking forward to splitting a bottle of wine, but we were not given a list. Nor were we asked if we would like a drink while we browsed the menu. We were seated right next to a large party that was being served their meals by two, possibly three servers, so we were patient, thinking one of the servers might come over and at least ask us if we wanted some drinks after serving the group. None came. The person who seated us did venture into our area at least three times but did not even acknowledge us. After fifteen minutes, we left, hungry, thirsty and more than a little unimpressed.
OMG My husband and I had the prix fixe menu on August 8 2010. It consisted of a heritage tomato salad, the smoked trout linguine and a roasted peach soup.Every selection surpassed the next. Kudos to all the preparation staff that day. It was a wonderful meal. Our waitress was an attentive young lady. She wore a lacy top with a scallopped skirt hem. Unfortunely we did not get her name.
A great place.
4 adults. We ate in the downstairs Pizzeria. Excellent atmosphere, trendy place.
Our server was really good.
We had each had appetizer salads - all very tasty.
We all had a pizza - they were great. Fresh ingredients and great crust.
It was a Friday nite so the Stratford lager and common ale were half price too.
Overall we had a really good experience here and would highly recommend the Pazzo Pizzeria.
This is definately a place we will come back to visit.
We ate in Pazzo's ristorante section for fine dining. The atmosphere was very crisp and modern. We ordered the prime rib, well done, and it was cooked to perfection. The seasonal veggies were steamed just right, the potatoes were deliciously roasted, and the caramelized onions were to die for (this latter from my husband, who is not an onion fan by any means). The bread was also incredible. We asked to see the dessert menu, but by the time it was brought out, we felt we didn't have time to order, eat it, and make our show. Our only complaint would be the long wait between receiving the menu and getting the food.
We really enjoyed this restaurant. My husband and I had our first date here before seeing a play. We returned after the play for coffee and dessert downstairs. The food was delicous and the service was very gracious. I highly recommend Pazzo.
Visited the restaurant and was put off by the service staff - they seemed put out that we were at the restuarant.
The food was good but the pizza was not hot. Service was very slow. We will be returning to Stratford in a couple of weeks but I am afraid we will find a restaurant that wants customers.
This experience was a disasterand upset our evening. Our salads arrived after 45 minutes, We waited a further 15 minutes'then the pizza arrived (gee, I guess we should have made room on the table for it). As our salad and cutlery plates were removed, we had to request (from another server' replacement cutlery and plates). -Very sullen and arrogant response from server. Extremely unfriendly and contemptuous attitude from the wait-staff, Pizza was un-cut, (and the waitress argumentatively and loudly insisted it was -even though none of us could find a cut, she insisted. "It is SO cut!" -which made us want to crawl under the table),But it was not cut, and it was stone cold -which we brought to the attention of the wait-staff.
. When we requested a hot fresh pizza, we were refused. Staff became belligerent, claiming we had eaten a few bites from this pizza-(yes, that is how we had determined it was cold!) They told us we would have to pay for this pizza, (which we now had no intention of eating) and we became upset. One member of our party, aged 89. said later she had never experienced such rude behaviour. Needless to say , our evening was ruined. When we asked for the bill, the waitstaff said "GOOD" and slapped it on our table. We were stunned.
In my working years, I have spent 20 years in the Hospitality industry on 4 continents, and this was the rudest and most unpleasant experience of my life.
I did take the time and effort to write to the manager (not about cold food, lolng waits, or exhorbitant prices-that was really insignificant) but more about the arrogance and rudeness of the staff. As expected, there was not even the common courtesy of a response. Obviously, the owner seeks to profit from one-time tourist, never-to-come-back-business. Unfortunate, as I am a local customer and will certainly dissuade my friends and colleagues from patronizing this poor-representation of a dining establishent.
This review is for the basement pizzeria.
The atmosphere is great: brick walls, lovely indirect lighting, attractive bar, and views into the pizza kitchen. And you'll find some of the best thin crust pizza anywhere with a long list of toppings to choose from. Go on a Friday (after 7:30 in the high theatre season - all day otherwise) and the basic pizza is half price and you can get 20oz pints of Stratford Pilsner for $3.50.
Oh, and you get a free appetizer of homemade bread and an olive oil/balsamic vinegar dipping sauce - very addictive.
Servers are sometimes brusque - but that's usually due to the busyness of the place.
I think a lot of the negative reviews are for the fancier upstairs venue. Haven't tried it yet as it is the pizza that always beckons.
You can also get Pazzo pizza to go (at 15% off, I think...).
This place is located on Ontario Street beside the memorial gardens.
When I was a kid growing up here in Stratford I remember going to this building with my mother to buy me clothes. It was for as long as I could remember Brown's clothing store. Little did I know that as an adult I would be eatting and drinking in the same building. Stranger things happen I suppose.
The establishment is divided into a higher end upper restaurant and the lower casual "basement". As noted in the heading the focus of this post is the downstairs casual restaurant and bar. To call it a basement does it a diservice as it is decorated in a sleek modern fashion that blends well with the location. Entry can be had from Ontario street through the main doors and down the stairs or from a back door just off the corner of memorial gardens and the alley by the apartment building. To the right of the stairs is restaurant style seating and the open kitchen. The floor is architectural concrete throughout the place with oriental rugs and the exposed brick and stone foundations give a cosy old world feel. To the left and straight ahead is the bar, booth seating and a half dozen tables toward the back entry. Tucked behind the stairs is a wonderfully done wine cellar with a glass wall for viewing. Nice touch. We tend to always sit in the bar area either at the bar or in one of the booths. The decor here is dark mahogany woods, sleek lighting and surprisingly for a basement some nice sized windows. They also have local art on the walls and it is available for sale.
The menu is straight forward and uncluttered. They have an extensive list of hand made pizza with top notch ingrediants which you can order as you like or in pre-done combinations. I must say that the pizza is excellent. Yes... a bit more expensive that the usual delivery fare, but the quality and taste is well worth the price. They had a special on friday nights last year and I hope they do it again, buy two pints of stratford pilsiner and get a margaritia pizza for half price. We did this several times during the winter months. Yes this place stays open in the winter....high marks from me as many of the good places in town close.
Three other notables on the menu are the Mushroom Brushetta...unbeleiveably good.....the mussels...the best and probably only place to get them in town....and virtually any pasta on the menu is top notch italian. The quality and presentation is excellent in all the pasta dishes. The only place in town that can come close is the daily pasta special at Fosters.
Service has always been good. Friendly and prompt.
Downstairs at Pazzo is worth a visit for a drink, food or both.
I went to find out what all the talk was about. The man I went with said he had tried to book a reservation, but they were full. When in Stratford, we walked right in.
Of course, we were a little stuck, so went upstairs although I liked the look of the downstairs menu much more.
I won't really say the food was bad or good- it was passing fair, but the layout of this little restaurant is terrible. The seating is too close. You can't walk around the tables or find a natural pathway. You sit right beside the people at the next table and everyone looked terribly unhappy.
I'm not much on desert so ordered the cheese dessert tray. It was over the top strong cheeses. There was nothing exotic or wonderful about the blend that they chose, they were just pungent and made me want something else...
Oh, and heads up- The washroom is a shared accommodation that you can't get to unless you're willing to take off a couple heads on the way.
We dine out alot (Toronto, London and while travelling)and enjoy doing so. We like all kinds of stuff.... from $ to $$$$ and all styles & cultures.
We had a reservation and were seated upstairs - the room was quite nice - trendy and sleek - quite appealing, especially when dark. But for some reason we were put right at the back, near the kitchen entrance - not sure why since the restaurant was not full & we had reserved over a week prior.
The menu was not large; they did suggest wines to go with each dish - good idea. I think the menu set up is confusing for the North American consumer - apps, pasta mains. North Americans find it hard to think of small amounts of pasta being served like an app - they want a big mound, so I think some people may be put off by the size and content of the pasta dishes. They really aren't meant to be a main course and fill you like one. And since it's mostly North Americans you get, it probably makes sense to make it work for your marketplace. Hmmmmmm?
The food was o.k. but there is was nothing I'd be dying to have again soon. The salad was tasty but not fresh tossed.
The pastas were o.k. but not memorable. The meat dishes were o.k. too - its funny - while we were eating we didn't discuss the food - and we usually do.
The downfall was the absolutely abysmal service. None of us could recall having anything that bad in the past dozen years. It sure had us scratching our heads.
We were still deciding when the waitress came to take the order and rather than working through it with us & answering questions she said she had something else to do and disappeared for another 15 minutes. The order was finally taken more than 30 minutes after we had arrived.
After waiting for a further 55 minutes one of our party asked the waitress when we might expect our food and he was promptly fluffed of with a very obnoxious reply - we were gob-smacked. Condescending and rude! Inexcuseable in a business where customer service is at the core. 5 mins later 3 of the dinners arrived but the 4th had to wait another 5 minutes. The whole time we waited there was no attempt to defuse the situation or make an attempt at customer service.
Since it took so long to order and be served we ended up staying longer than we normally would have, leaving at around 10pm & being the last out. And boy, it was very clear that the wait staff was anxious to have us out of there so they could close. We were really made to feel that we had overstayed the 'welcome'.
What is management thinking here? Nothing, obviously.
There are lots of places to eat in this town and you can get good customer service at most of them.
We won't go back.
I'm not much for posting my complaints on the internet and as such don't really like forums like these. Having said that I'm not going to post a complaint but rather a well deserved compliment about my experience here. I've been reading these postings and I must confess am an ex restaurant owner from a large American city so I am familiar with the kind of reviewers/diners who come into a restaurant of this caliber with champagne tastes on soda pop budgets. It seems like you would have something negative to say about everything so Pazzo take heart, here are some things you've done very well!
The room is lovely NOT pretentious. It is one of the nicest your town has to offer. There has been obvious care and consideration taken to make this space alive and beautiful. Secondly, you have a well thought out wine list with careful consideration given to your selections. We particularly enjoyed the feature Argentinian Malbec, (among numerous others) which was both professionally described and presented by our lovely and well dressed server. Some items we shared included the rabbit liver toscani - slightly spicy, with a marinated fennel and grilled radicchio salad. The mussels were amazing - with saffron and a hint of grapefruit. Summer vegetable salad features local and organic greens and the antipasti plate was original and exciting featuring house cured meats, local cheese from Monforte dairy as well as marinated vegetables, peppers and olives. For main courses we tried the Lamb chops (cooked perfectly with a balsamic and fig reduction). The beef striploin is local, extra aged in their cooler and served with a gorgonzola butter that sets the dish apart from many other steaks I've had in the past.
Organic chicken was delicious with a hazelnut picada and the pancetta wrapped rabbit stuffed with quinoa and served with an oregano brown butter may have been the highlight. Pastas included a vegetarian rigatoni with fresh tomato and local mushroom sauce which was cooked and seasoned perfectly. And the ravioli stuffed with goats cheese, contrary to a previous review, was wonderful - served with an arugula pesto, pine nuts and shaved parmesan might explain his misunderstanding of the dish. Perhaps he was wanting to pay for Chef Boyardee instead of a staff trained at the Stratford Chef School.
Dessert was panna cotta with fresh cherries marinated in grappa, house made chocolate gelato with sesame tuille and a chocolate tart with house made vanilla ice cream and blood orange sauce which was to die for.
Just a tip from one formerly in the business folks. If you want a bowl of pasta and a glass of water - don't go to a restaurant of this caliber. You'll be unhappy with the experience because you don't know how to dine.
Thank You all at Pazzo!
We will be back.
The food was fab! The wait staff equally so. We truly enjoyed our meal. The only downside was that it was very noisy and we were in the part with no windows, so it was a bit oppressive. Nonetheless we truly enjoyed it and hopefully someday be back.
