- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Alice Fazooli's
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert, Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
16 reviews for Alice Fazooli's
15 reviews in English
-
Review from Darren S.
Markham, ON
3/20/2012
Just when I thought that the ambience and decor here were impressive...they went and re-did the whole thing again! And man does it look even better now! The place was already a nice combination of rustic Italian feel and a modern touch, but the new open spaces (made possible by literally knocking down all the walls inside the restaurant) and the dim chandeliers made this place exquisitely decorated.
We came on a busy Saturday night, and were lucky to find a spot close to the restaurant. Note that this is VERY atypical, as this sprawling suburban culinary collection of restaurants are usually chock-full of cars and you'd be lucky to get a spot close to where the old theatre used to be (i.e. middle of nowhere). We ordered two things, the pizza salsiccia (sp?) and the risotto.
The pizza was very good. The taste wasn't as bold as I had hoped, after reading that one of the ingredients was chili oil (seriously), but the overall composition was smooth. The arugula greens put on top of the pizza gave a nice chewy contrast to the subtle meaty taste brought on by the meat. The risotto was also excellent, consistent with how it tastes every time I order it (I love risotto a bit too much), as it was creamy without overdoing it. The chicken breast slices were a bit dry, but that's pretty much how I normally get it too.
Service was quick and efficient, and I must really salute how this place consistently re-invents itself, presentation-wise, to keep with the times. I remember coming here when they did the previous renovation and was blown away. This time the changes were more subtle (the old decor wasn't dated yet) but it really freshened things up.
Plus points to the always-amusing Italian language lesson tapes playing in the washrooms. I know that the ladies' room plays it too as I made a point to my girlfriend to check when she went.
Food wasn't very cheap, but it one of the most reasonably priced Italian restaurants out there, and it was worth it for the experience. A long-time favourite in my books, and at this rate, will continue to be one for many years to come! -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Savour York Region's Lunch for $15 at Alice Fazooli's is definitely a great deal.
Mushroom & Sherry Soup (Porcini, Shiitake, Cremini, Tarragon, White Onion, Cream)
- Tons of mushrooms and it is not too creamy... the taste of Sherry is quite strong
Fettuccini Al'Pollo (Roasted Chicken Breast, Sundried Tomatoes,
Spinach, Cream Sauce)
- The chicken breast is surprising quite tender and plentiful
- Cream sauce makes this pasta dish really hearty.....
Tartufo (Rolled in Toasted Almonds, Caramel Sauce)
- Almonds.... hmmm love that! and it is quite sizable...
Service is really friendly.
I would definitey come back for their drink specials at their bar area which is more casual... Thursday Martini Specials sounded good!!
BTW, those spot lights shining right at my table are awesome for photo taking! :) -
Review from Vivian P.
North York, ON
2/24/2012
Came here for lunch; ordered from the Savour York menu. ($15 prix fixe menu)
started with Mushroom and Sherry Zuppa
- very nice mushroom soup. I would highly recommend it to people who like mushroom soup (this is the right amount of creamy-ness)
Entrée: Salmon Panino: Bacon, Cucumber, Radish, White Balsamic Vinegar, Dill,
Tomato, Salsa Verde Aioli
it was ok; different take on fishburger - fish was fairly fresh. I would`ve tried the pasta instead though.
Dessert: Tiramisu
I didn`t really like the deconstructed version - very strong coffee taste (which was refreshing) but i wouldn`t have minded if it was a bit sweeter. Raspberries as garnish, with a bit of chocolate syrup on the plate.
Service:
Server recommended pinot grigio from italy - white wine, which was ok. Except she served it in the same glass they use for water (looked like a candle holder). I didn`t say anything because i didn`t want to be mean (but next time, i`ll definitely say something) The wrong glass really put me off - even if i don`t look like a person who would know wines, servers should still make the effort to use the right glass.
Also, I asked to have my panino packed to go. The server took out the toothpick that was holding the sandwich together and now i have a fallen-apart sandwich. It's the small things that count when it comes to service. This server has definitely fallen short.
I`ll come back - the other time i was there = 4 star (i went for dinner). pasta is amazing there so next time i`m definitely choosing one of those. -
Review from D'Arcy L.
Terrebonne, QC
3/15/2012
Took a business client here for lunch, I ordered the Funghi pizza and she ordered the Arctic Char on my recommendation for something different. Pizza was okay. My friend really liked her AC! Like a Boston Pizza but with better Italian fare selection! If I could I'd rate this a 3.5 but alas Yelp only has whole stars! This is a huge restaurant with a huge selection. I've eaten here before and been a bit disappointed with the pasta but such is life!
-
Review from Christine R.
Scarborough, ON
10/1/2011 7 photos
The interior of this restaurant is gorgousss! Totally not what I expected, Brick walls, Chandeliers, Dim Lighting, Wooden Shutters, Very Cozy and Warm Feeling.
The parking lot however......jammed packed..if your coming on a Friday or Saturday night be prepared to wait for a spot. We came around 8:30pm and there was not a free spot to be found. Also you should make reservations because the dining room was a one hour wait however we were lucky enough to snag the last table on the lounge side.
Service wise, food came out Fast and Piping Hot! Our waitress however was slow as snail but was friendly and helpful...just slow in doing so.
But the Food was Amazinggg! No faults on the Food!
Drink - Limonata - its a sparkling lemon flavoured Italian Soda ..... not too sweet but had a good tartness which I love!
Complimentary Bread - Mini Ciabatta, served warm, crunchy exterior, chewy interior and comes with a dip of garlic olive oil with something else mixed in it - warm bread.....how can you go wrong?
Appetizer - Alice's Homemade Meatballs - A mix of veal, pork and beef, stuffed with asiago, simmered in tomato sauce. You get 2 medium sized piping hot, tender meatballs, with a delicious suprise of gooey cheese in the centre.
Main - Margherita Pizza -Fresh niagara artisanal mozzarella, tomato sauce, basil. Thin curst, you get the option of white or whole wheat. I wanted to stay traditional and opted for white. Good tasting pizza I was expecting a super crispy crust.....because that how I like my pizza....however this wasn't super crispy but still a great tasting pizza.
Desserts -
Tiramisu - Lady fingers, Kahlua, espresso, mascarpone, chocolate shavings, espresso cream. More of a deconstructed tiramisu, with the mascarpone drapped over the lady fingers, not as dense or as sweet as a traditional tiramisu but still delicious.
Cioccolato Fuso - Molten Lava Cake, Chocolate ganache, cafe latte ice cream. Extremely decadent and equally delicious! I loved the pairing of the coffee flavoured ice cream with the rich warm chocolatey goodness! A must for chocolate/coffee lovers. The definite winner of the night!
Overall what its lacking in service it surpassed in food and ambiance.
FYI be prepared to wait for a parking spot!Listed in: 30-Day Yelp Challenge, Pizza Time!
-
Review from anita y.
9/23/2011
We went here as my SD's choice, I probably would have pulled out my trusty yelp app and chosen an Indy place.
The Calamari was a little mushy, not so good for my preferences, so I wouldn't do that one again.
I liked my pizza ( no sauce, sausage, local artisan mozzarella, arugula, and a dash of lemon) I would have preferred a bit more lemon, but not a bad pizza.
My husband thought his pasta was just so-so and didn't have enough sauce.
The space is very Big, airy, open, but dark. You get the same service and menu in the lounge/bar as the restaurant, so what's the difference? The LOUD music.
I think the place gets a very average average, but I keep reading here about the good bread that comes with the meal, and we weren't given any so -1 star. -
Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
Alice Fazooli's changed up their menu recently, so I received a promotional email for a free appetizer. Luckily, I managed to drag my family here to try the new menu before the promotion expired.
After studying the menu for a very long time, I opted for the ravioli fritti as our free appetizer: deep-fried ricotta and spinach ravioli, dusted with cornmeal and herbed breadcrumbs, spicy tomato sauce. This was an excellent starter for sharing and I don't regret my choice one bit.
Next, we ordered a Bruschetta to share: Roma tomatoes, roasted garlic, grana padano, e.v.o.o., balsamic, grilled crostini.
From the pasta section, I chose something new on the menu: Rigatone Salsiccia, featuring ragu with Niagara Berkshire pork sausage, spinach, roasted cherry tomatoes. I loved this! Generally, pasta can be really heavy because of all the sauce, but the non-saucy pasta are often overly dry. This wasn't the case here because the sausage and the vegetables retained a lot of moisture, and the pasta was cooked al dente.
The steak sandwich was rather mediocre. Although the combination of sautéed mushrooms, onions, and provolone sounded delicious on paper, the execution didn't impress. The steak was rather tough. I enjoyed my grilled chicken panini last time a lot more.
As a cheesecake fanatic, I couldn't resist ordering the mascarpone cheesecake for dessert. The cake was pretty big- perfect for sharing, and very creamy and delicious.
Oh yes, and the tapes teaching you Italian in the washroom are pretty amusing. -
Review from Marie M.
1/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm not sure if it was the -20 degrees that was keeping people away when I went, but don't let the emptiness on a cold day fool you, Alice has beautiful interior design, spacious seating in the dinning room and bar area, and decent food for a franchise. What's I remember most from my visit about he establishment is the awesome service I received: the waitress was friendly, cool and kind. She gave us the time we need to decide on the menu and brought the food out in a timely manner. The hostess was awesome too, she let me pick where I want to sit: I didn't want to sit in the dinning room with everyone else, I preferred a booth in the bar area with a window. There wasn't many people in the bar area, which gave me and my friend the privacy and peace we wanted at a public restaurant.
What amuses me is Alice's dedication to it's Italian origins: instead of music, they have a tape that teaches you Italian playing in the washroom.
I would most def come back to this Alice location for more fun times and ok food. They have a good variety in their menu, some even vegan friendly, I was more or less satisfied, but I wasn't too impressed with their pizza, but that was probably my fault for asking them to make it cheeseless: it was a tad too dry for me. BUT their house salad was good: fresh and crisp, AND washed, just the way salads are supposed to be! -
Review from Mel C.
9/20/2011
Came here with a coupon ($10 off if you spend $30 or more). I got the ravioli. I love the bread that comes with the meal. The ravioli is a bit salty (it's consistently salty from all the times I ordered it) but tasty. In general, I think most of their entrees were a bit too salty. However, I do come back here because if the coupon it's a great deal and the food is decent for the price. I do like coming here when I feel like eating at a "upscale" chain restaurant. The service here was also very good.
-
Review from S B.
Youngs Cove, NB
10/30/2011
Drinks were good once we got them. SLOW service. Did I say SLOW. Waitress was far from great. But YUM the ravioli fritti was great!!!!!Decent experience. By no means great though.
-
Review from Rita E.
4/27/2010
I've been pretty happy with the food and service at Alice Fazooli's. It's par for the course with the several other restaurants in this plaza.
Italian food + wine. Gotta love it.
I recommend:
+Tuscan Tenderloin: It's a goooood piece 'o meat.
+Whichever fish is on their seasonal menu. I was quite pleased with mine.
I (half) recommend:
Chicken Risotto: I've had it twice. The first time I ordered it, the risotto was a little "dry"(?). The second time I ordered it, I was much more pleased. Creamy and rich like it's supposed to be.
Other notes:
Parking is tough around here even though it's a shopping center. Don't get frustrated though. People are going in and out at all times. -
Review from Joanne W.
4/11/2010
Wonderful service! The waiters/waitresses were very friendly. The food came to our table in less than 10 minutes! The food is quite cheap as well.
I've come by a few times now. I thoroughly recommend any of their pizzas, the seafood fettucini, their pennes, or chicken risotto. However, was not a fan of the shrimp angel hair pasta.
For dessert, i had the marscapone cheesecake - which was rich and delicious. However, make sure you have someone to share it with you, or it will be too much.
For drinks/cocktails, I really enjoyed the Dolce Diva - a mix of Smirnoff Orange Vodka, triple sec, fresh orange, lime and cranberry juices. It was absolutely delicious and the sugar coating on the martini glass was a great extra touch to it. -
Review from Jam A.
8/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good Italian food in a juxtapose atmosphere of old and modern. My fish was done perfectly and the vodka sauce was quite the compliment.
-
Review from Secyw W.
Richmond Hill, ON
5/13/2011
I went here for a friends' birthday last weekend. I ordered the Chicken Risotto and I really enjoyed it. The seafood pasta is not that great as most of the mussels were only shells, and it was very filling. The calamari met my expectations and our group very well enjoyed it. But the spinach dip was not pleasing as it had a lot of goat cheese flavour in the dip and I'm not the biggest fan of goat cheese. The dip came with large pieces of bread instead of the usual chips. The service was very slow though as it took a while for our food to come. The place was renovated with an open concept since I've last gone there a year ago. It was not that noisy even on a Saturday evening. Great for a causal dining, and its one of the few restaurants that take restaurants in that plaza.
-
Review from Read M.
Toronto, ON
11/25/2010
Ate here twice in the last month. They have a very delicious Chicken Risotto. Once we went was on a weekend and ate in the lounge area which was very noisy but we ate in the dining area on a week day and the atmosphere was really nice. Prices are reasonable and the taste of the food is quite good. Customer service is friendly as well. The restaurant is also very clean and modern looking.
Read more reviews for this business:
Italian (1)
