- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
The Old Spaghetti Factory
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
West Edmonton Mall8882 170th St
Unit 1632
Edmonton, AB T5T 4M2
(780) 444-2181
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 11 am - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
15 reviews for The Old Spaghetti Factory
15 reviews in English
-
Review from Bernard S.
Edmonton, AB
Updated - 1/30/2012
This rating was higher because I just went there today with my friends and the food was much better than the first time we went there. The salad, the calamari and the bread was good as usual. Service was excellent.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/28/2010
Few months ago we went to this location and the dishes wasn't that good that we have expected. The… Read more »
-
-
Review from Kevin M.
Edmonton, AB
2/2/2012
Have ate at both this one and the downtown location. Food quality is poor, they care more about getting the food out and you. They give no care to the quality of food our service.
-
Review from David S.
11/22/2011
One of the worst restaurants i've been to. First salad came and had moving bug in my salad. Then they called manager who said sorry and he'll take care of it. Second they dropped our entrees on floor, then told us take another 20 mins re-make. When food finally came it was microwave heated chicken on pasta. basically like microwave pasta with rubber chicken. And when bill came they took off a whopping 1.75$ for bug in salad. Waiter said infested with bugs in kitchen.
-
Review from Kristin K.
Edmonton, AB
Okay... so it's not fancy but it's good (consistent), cheap & fast!
This place is perfect for large groups or coming with small children.
I love that all the meals come with a small starter salad and unlimited bread with garlic butter... Mmm.... yeah, I'm usually pretty full after eating more than my share of warm & fresh bread with garlic butter (that my husband and I always sprinkle the dried parmesean cheese on that's at the table...) then comes the entrees... we're pretty predictable and usually pick Ala Homer's Mizra (spelling) pasta - Mmm... cheese and butter... so delicious and so bad for you & ravioli because it reheats well from here! And to finish the meal off, we always enjoy the included spumoni ice cream and coffee... For under $30 including tip - you can have a meal for 2 with bread, salad, pasta, dessert, and coffee!
Mmm... I can almost taste it now... so simplistic and yet so satisfying!
And the best part... I don't feel bad if my toddler starts to fuss! It's definitely a family atmosphere and there is always a parking lot of strollers to prove the point! -
Review from Dan W.
7/5/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I found this place delightful. Service was good. We came in with aprox 24 people without a reservation and they accommodated us right away. Food was out quickly and the delicious all you can eat bread was really tasty. The server even went out of her way to make some cherry coke by mixing some syrup in the back. Great experience and great food. I must keep going back.
-
Review from Adam S.
2/3/2009
It's amazing how different the experiences at two different locations of the same chain of restaurant can be. While I've always been a big fan of the downtown Old Spaghetti Factory, I cannot say the same about the WEM location.
I've rarely heard anything positive about the WEM location, so when a friend decided to have her birthday dinner here, I was hesitant. But, it would be bad form not to show up on my friend's birthday just because of her choice of venue, so I went along hoping that the rumours were wrong.
Unfortunately, all of the negative things I had heard in the past turned out to be true.
While my own meal was fine, many people in our party had a less than pleasant experience. One person found a huge hair in their pasta, another was served spumoni that had a piece of lettuce in it (not a big deal, but still poorly prepared/served) and another person found their steak was over-cooked (though she decided not to complain about it).
On top of that, my girlfriend's wine seemed like it had been heated up (the half-litre carafe was actually warm to the touch). When she requested a new carafe that was at room temperature, she was served what appeared to be the same wine, shaken with ice in a cocktail shaker and then poured back into the carafe (this is just a guess, based on the amount of bubbles in the wine when it was returned to the table). There also appeared to be a bit of a film when she poured her first glass. We couldn't tell if this was just from the bubbles or if it was soap film from the glass not being rinsed off after being washed.
Our waitress wasn't as attentive as I'd have liked, but it was her first shift, so I'm willing to forgive her errors and won't suggest that her performance was representative of the rest of the staff. However, I did notice some odd behaviour by other staff members, the most disturbing of which was the fact that the busboy was carrying the towel used for wiping tables around his neck. I'm sorry, but I don't want your neck grease and hair gel all over my table. Use a clean rag that hasn't been rubbing against your sweaty neck all night, please!
After the experience I had at the WEM location of the Old Spaghetti Factory, you can bet that I won't be back. There is a much better, independently-owned Italian restaurant mere steps away and, if I really feel the urge to go to the Old Spaghetti Factory, I'll stick to the downtown location. -
Review from Lauren N.
12/5/2008
I've always loved the Old Spaghetti Factory. It's a warm and friendly place that always seems to invite you in, even at this location, amidst all the mayhem that is West Ed. This spot is set right on the outer edge of Bourbon Street in the mall, and the actual restaurant is set on a lower ground, allowing more privacy for the diners.
I like the cozy booth seats they have. It's more private and intimate, so you can concentrate on your conversation with your eating partner(s). The interior of the restaurant is rather old-fashioned, but I think it adds to the comfort factor of the place. My favorite part is the colorful stained glass lamps dangling from the ceiling.
The food is always reliably good. Not "oh my gosh this is the best spaghetti i've had EVER" but not "i refuse to eat this". It's in between, I guess. And yes, I realize that is a vague and large space, but you get what I mean, right? It's affordable, filling, and downright comforting. The Old Spaghetti Factory is like an old friend you can turn to when other restaurants have repeatedly let you down. -
Review from Jason L.
Edmonton, AB
6/11/2010
GHAAAK GHAAAK GHAAAK
Every time I'm reluctantly shanghaied into coming to an Old Spaghetti Factory I feel ripped off. There's a meal I'll never get back. The best thing about this place is that it makes no pretencions about being remotely authentic; they don't even claim to be Italian.
The pasta is obviously cooked in large batches, not to order for your meal. It's then rinsed in cold water (to stop the cooking process and remove all the starchy goodness), covered in oil (to prevent it from clumping together while it sits), to be covered in a watery "sauce". A pasta sauce is supposed to coat the noodles not be a soup.
This is the MacDonalds/Chucky Cheese of pasta, all manufactured corporate "atmosphere" to distract you from the bad food. The "antiques" are even fake, because the decor down to the knick knackery are all the same in each of their locations.
The food doesn't even make sense: Sourdough bread? New England clam chowder? What does that have to do with pasta? Ragù alla bolognese, the closest actual Italian dish to what they serve (and I apologize for the insult) doesn't come from Naples as the menu claims. It comes from Bologna. Alla vongole, with clams, isn't done with French Bechamel sauce, "a favourite of Italian fishermen", my keester. "Con pollo", isn't even in Italian, it's Spanish for "with chicken".
If you like this kind of bad fake food or you have kids who like Chef Boyardee, then I guess this is your place. The pity is that there are plenty of good independent actual Italian restaurants and trattoria in town, even really good independent pizzerias that make good fresh pasta. Why on Earth would you fork money over to this non-local chain is beyond me. -
Review from Jennifer P.
Edmonton, AB
12/5/2008 1 photo
This is a popular family place so if you don't want to dine next to a kid's birthday party good luck with that. It seems there are a few a night. My boyfriend used to work her years and years ago and he knows everything on the menu, so he could rhyme off the ingredients they use, portion sizes and personal ratings.
The food is essentially Italian comfort food. I would give it a 3 out of 5. If you need a carb fix, you can't go wrong with the spaghetti and meatballs or the lasagna. It's hot and delicious, if not gourmet. The portions are really big here, so if you're feeling a big family on a budget, each meal includes drink, salad and dessert, so you're set. I like this location because it's multi-leveled, has lots of different crooks and crannies, so you can find a space you like, and the service is fast and ultra-friendly. Don't let them know it's your birthday unless you like to wear a crown and have sparklers waved in your face. -
Review from Jack G.
Edmonton, AB
6/10/2010 2 photos
The Old Spaghetti factory really stand outs from the rest of the restaurants in the mall. It's not exactly the food but its the look. It's furnished in a way that makes it look classic and a bit older.
The food here is good and the menu has a lot to offer. I say it's a place suited appropriately for families. It has a really friendly atmosphere. They also serve giant portions so don't snack before hand. The service is really good too.
I find that it's not always the first choice but it's usually a good choice. -
Review from Mo H.
Edmonton, AB
4/17/2010 1 photo
The Old Spaghetti Factory in West Ed is one of my favourite restaurants in the city!
The restaurants reminds me (in my altered dream state of reality) of a 1910's New York back alley/warehouse. The walls are brick, lots of wood interior, stained glass, knick-knacks, and turn of the twentieth century items and decor - fun things to look at when you're waiting for your meal. Not to mention the illustrations and pictures on the menu.
OK, now about the food. The focus of their cuisine is Italian of course. It's not executive chef quality but very good none-the-less. The pasta dishes are great - I recommend the chicken con pollo (yup, love cream based pasta). Each meal comes with warm loaves of bread and butter/garlic butter as an appetizer. Of course additional appetizers are available. Their menu also offers soup, salad, sandwiches and of course pasta. They have a full bar so you can have a tasty beverage with your meal.
Anytime I've been to the Old Spaghetti Factory I've found the service to be good, a little slow at times but that is due to the sheer amount of people to serve and the over all experience enjoyable. -
Review from sima s.
6/3/2011
Decent food, good price, perfect for families with young children!
-
Review from Paula K.
12/5/2008
This location of Old Spaghetti Factory is located in West Edmonton Mall and has the same menu as the downtown location. The layout is quite interested, and I enjoy the cozy comfort of the private corners. I always enjoy the food because the portions are generous and include a full meal with salad, bread, drinks, and dessert. The prices are also reasonable given the amount of food you get. I actually prefer coming here than Olive Garden because the atmosphere is a bit more laid back.
-
Review from Maria F.
12/10/2009
I have never been to Old Spaghetti Factory's downtown location, and visited the one in West Edmonton Mall for a birthday party only once. The place has cheerful décor, and has booth seats that provide a certain level of privacy. Since this restaurant is family-oriented, I would advice coming here as late at night as possible if you want to avoid crowds of kids, and have a peaceful dining experience with your adult companions. The menu at Old Spaghetti Factory offers simple Italian comfort food. List of appetizers consists of such things as mozzarella sticks and popcorn shrimp, as well as chicken wings and bruschetta. All pasta dishes come with your choice of either minestrone soup or salad, and bread with garlic butter. I found minestrone bland and unspectacular; and I don't really see the point of filling your stomach with bread when you are about to eat a huge plate of pasta. Carbs overload, anyone?
During my visit, I ordered Manicotti - pasta tubes stuffed with cheese and spinach, and topped with more cheese and tomato sauce. It was delicious! Pasta was cooked to perfection; cheese and spinach tasted rich and creamy; and tomato sauce provided a burst of freshness.
All meals at Old Spaghetti Factory are priced very reasonably considering their size. Our waitress looked extremely tired but managed to stay friendly and considerate, which we all appreciated. -
Review from Natalie M.
Edmonton, AB
12/13/2009 1 photo
It was date night for Curtis and I so we decided to be brave and venture out into the cold frozen tundra that Edmonton is currently in. We both felt like pasta so what better place (so we thought) to go than The Old Spaghetti Factory. It was a Friday night at West Edmonton Mall so that means it was busy in the mall and there was a wait to get a table at the restaurant. It was about a 20-minute wait, so that wasn't too bad. We ordered and the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. The Caesar salad was really good and so was the bread with the garlic butter spread that comes with your meal. The main dishes came out, Curtis got the Spinach and Cheese Ravioli and I got the Chicken Parmigiana. I was kind of disappointed with the taste, there really wasn't any, and to top it off it was a little cold (not cold, not hot...warm). Curtis seemed to really enjoy his dish, which was baked (I believe), so it was hot.
The service we had was fine; they were really busy so everything seemed very rush. There were a couple of kid's celebrating birthdays so that didn't make it any easier for them. There was an incident that occurred between the staff but the customers could hear it. At fist it was intended to be a joke but the joke went too far and it ended with tears coming for the eyes of another server. The joke included a swear word (female dog) and don't forget there were kids in the restaurant.
Overall I don't think I would like to go back there unless the place was dead. We also didn't want to spend the money to order dessert in house so we decided to go somewhere else for something sweet.
Price for two people was pretty average; it was about $40.00 for the both of us.
