A Lesson we all can learn in hospitality

“Every hotel company has its customer service models which they use to improve the guest experience. While each of these models are effective in there own right, to me the Tuscany Grill did 3 things right. They were assertive with there guest service, they serve a quality product, and they listen and care about my experience.” Read More…

Beautifully decorated. Romantic. AWESOME Service.

“Tuscany Grill truly deserves five stars! Excellent service! Decoration is great. The restaurant feels like home. Food is delicious, especially with the extra things they served. They do not seem rushed to serve you food, and serves food in a way like no other. The food is also not over priced. I would really recommend this restaurant if you wanted to take someone on a romantic dinner! The environment is just right, especially at night because outside the restaurant is beautiful as well!”

Our favorite Italian Restaurant

“We love the food, sevice and the reasonable prices at Tuscany Mediterranee Grill. Lamb chops are my favorite. My husband loves the kebabs. And grand kids love the pasta dishes. So, whenever we are in the mood of pasta and kebabs our destination is Tuscany M. Grill. Thank you for the personalized service and delicious food. We highly recommend this lovely eatery.”

Wonderful restaurant.

“We’d like to encourage anyone looking for an excellent dining experience to give the Tuscany Mediterranee Grill in Irvine a try. It’s a little challenging to find because it is located amid a complex of office buildings very near the Embassy Suites and McCormick & Schmicks at Gillette and Main, but it’s certainly worth the effort. We dined there first with a large group and were impressed with the quality of food and the service delivered under the stress of our large crowd. We came back for a really lovely dinner for two to confirm our impression. The food is exceptionally good, the service outstanding and their house wines superb. Matthew, the owner, is charming and gracious—very attentive to his guests. We liked it so well we held a dinner party for 40 there last month and came away with nothing but rave reviews from our guests, most of whom are experienced and discriminating diners. You owe it to yourselves to spend a wonderful evening at Tuscany Mediterranee Grill.” —Bob and Genie

The best dining experience yet!

First and foremost, the reason why I joined Yelp was because of this restaurant. I left the restaurant approximately an hour ago and rushed back to my apartment to write a review.

Yes, I had an AMAZING experience. The best dining experience yet!

FOOD (Appetizer): My friend and I ordered the Beef Carpacio, which basically consists of sliced filet mignon, topped VERY generously with parmesan cheese (thick slices! not the crappy shredded ones!), capers, olive oil, and arugula. I never had Beef Carpacio before, but my friend had. He described how the ones he had before were always shaved so thinly you couldn’t even tell you were eating beef! It was obvious to us, however, that we were eating beef. It almost tasted like smoked salmon! The best parts about this dish (not just the beef), but also the parmesan cheese and the rustic Italian bread. TERRIFIC start.

Main Courses: My friend ordered the gnocchi and requested to add chicken. The gnocchi had thick slices of prosciutto and mushrooms in a very yummy tomato cream/brandy sauce. I’ve actually been to Italy before and ate in many restaurants in Rome. This has got to be the BEST gnocchi I’ve ever had. Homemade from scratch, the owner tells us, and it definitely shows. Fresh with a bit of a springy-ness when you bite into it. None of that stale flour taste. Portion was really really huge. Nevertheless, due to the lovely ambiance of the restaurant, we sat in the restaurant for more than 2 hours and was able to finish it! I ordered the salmon special which came in a creamy white sauce with baby shrimp, penne pasta in tomato cream sauce, and some garlic sauteed vegetables. Being Asian, I thought I’ve got the stir-fried vegetables DOWN. But man, those vegetables were so tasty it almost makes me want to be vegetarian. The salmon was very tender and I seriously wish I could swim in that white sauce. =) Oh yes, all ingredients fresh and organic!

Dessert: We were seriously SO stuffed but just out of curiosity (since we’ve enjoyed the appetizer and main course SO MUCH), we asked the owner whether or not we could just “see” the dessert menu. He just listed the dessert to us: chocolate mousse, chocolate layer cake, cheesecake, and tiramisu. We were too full, however. After sipping on some complimentary black tea and eating some Swiss dark chocolate, the owner brought us a piece of tiramisu—complimentary yet again!!! We were so surprised and so touched. I think free food makes it taste even better. =D The cheese part was so fluffy and light and the ladyfingers and cake part were soaked in slightly sweetened coffee. So good. Drizzled in raspberry sauce. So good!!

Coffee: This one deserves its own category. Hands down best coffee I’ve had in my life. I was stupid enough to order it at the beginning of my meal, but I ended up having two cups. Italian coffee is black, black, black. Very strong. I hope I didn’t ruin it by adding some sugar and cream. Nevertheless, freshly ground coffee and brewed specially for you by the owner himself!!!! Almost makes me want to never drink Starbucks coffee again! (And I’m a HUGE Starbucks addict!)

PRICE: Nothing to scare you away with. I am a poor starving graduate student and I think the prices are really decent considering the portion you get! (The gnocchi was around 10 bucks)

PARKING: Starting next month, they can validate up to 2 hours. Right now, it’s 1.5 hours. If you’re going south on Main St., turn right on Gillette and the parking lot will be on the right.

LONG review, I know. It’s too bad I’m not done yet. =D

This last section is all about the dining EXPERIENCE. I think the fact that the owner was SO personal and SO friendly made the experience all the more better. We had the chance to chat a bit. The owner, Matthew, born in Milan, moved to Switzerland, Turkey, and now resides in the U.S. It’s just amazing how he is able to take all his experience and embody it into this restaurant. Milan—well, the Italian food he serves. Switzerland—the dark chocolates that came with the coffee and the black tea. Turkey—the kebobs and tea in Turkish glass teacups. You can tell that he puts so much care and attention into many aspects of his restaurant—if not all. He personally trained the chefs and the recipes are from his mother! Mother’s cooking is always the best. =D

Wow. I think I’m almost done. Usually after eating such a wonderful meal, I would be in a food coma state. But because I’ve had such an awesome awesome experience, I just had to write a review and spread the word about this GEM of a place!

Don’t look out the window at the modern corporate buildings. Close your eyes, listen to the Italian opera music in the background while savoring that piece of (plug in anything from their menu) and be transported to the Tuscan countryside!!

(Read more reviews—or post your own!—by visiting one of the sites listed on our links page.)