Tutto Italia- I'm just sick about the bill!

[jheigl]

You know, I knew I was going to be spending some $$$ going to this restaurant, but I didn't know it would be that much. First of all, let me say that while the waiter was extremely nice, he took a very long time to get our drink orders and our dinner orders. Also, it took him a very long time to ask for refills and to bring them back. Anyway, my girlfriend got a meal on the menu...she will eat almost anything that's at an Italian place...as long as there is no seafood on it....and since I am not a HUGE italian food/ weird combination food fan, I asked if I could just get penne pasta with sauce and meatballs. Her meal was on the menu, listed at $18, which I thought was a little high, but I expected that, since we were at a theme park, namely WDW. My meal, however, was not on the menu, so I had no idea what the price would be, but since I only ordered pasta and meatballs, I figured no more than $13-$15 dollars, especially since she had all sorts of stuff in her meal (it was the Caprese or Capresi or whatever meal). When the bill came, my meal was $24, just for pasta and meatballs! I was shocked! I didn't even eat half the plate because pasta sauce doesn't necessarily mix well with my digestive system, so when he came back to bring the bill and take the plates away, he asked if everything was ok. I said yes, just not that hungry, but wasn't overly impressed with the size of the portions. Then I looked at the bill and after tax and tip, it cost me $55 for two plates of pasta and a soda! Insane! I expected somewhere in the $30s, but $55? Ouch!

 

[airhead]

Yup. that's a ripoff for sure!

 

[shellybaxter]

I'm sorry you were disappointed in the price of your meal. I just went to look at the menus for Tutto Italia and it looks like they charged you the dinner price for the pasta and meatballs. Its listed as speghetti and meatballs for $24.00 - but its the closest to what you ordered. A lot of restaurants will do that with special requests; find a similar dish and charge that price. BTW - if your girlfriend had eaten her meal at dinner it would have been $24.00; the lunch price is $18.00. Do know if this helps; just thought I'd try to figure out why you were charged what you were.

 

[Belle5]

I know the feeling! Here is my review from December:

Tutto Italia--We can't remember ever being so disappointed. Roberto, our server, was the worst server we have ever had at any restaurant--period. He was very fortunate that in December he did not have to work for his tip. Wonder how he is handling that with the new DDP? I had to call the manager over to the table several times for silly things like asking for silverware that Roberto wouldn't bring when requested. No drink refills. The food is almost not even worth mentioning. Most of us ordered the steak--don't remember what it is called. I just can't begin to tell you how bad it was. Some of the pasta dishes that I see raved about on this board were ordered and were just so very, very underwhelming. I truly just don't get the raves. The mozzarella/ tomato salad that most of us ordered didn't even have a balsamic dressing to give flavor. I asked for some--but did I receive it? No... $14 for dessert? Hopes were resting on this--and found wanting. The restaurant is beautiful. I am not saying that you could not have a nice experience there. You probably will. My mom thought it was good when she went a few months earlier. Our bill was in the neighborhood of $560-$580. Folks...I think NOT! Enough said.

 

[jheigl]

I know the feeling! Here is my review from December:

Tutto Italia--We can't remember ever being so disappointed. Roberto, our server, was the worst server we have ever had at any restaurant--period. He was very fortunate that in December he did not have to work for his tip. Wonder how he is handling that with the new DDP? I had to call the manager over to the table several times for silly things like asking for silverware that Roberto wouldn't bring when requested. No drink refills. The food is almost not even worth mentioning. Most of us ordered the steak--don't remember what it is called. I just can't begin to tell you how bad it was. Some of the pasta dishes that I see raved about on this board were ordered and were just so very, very underwhelming. I truly just don't get the raves. The mozzarella/ tomato salad that most of us ordered didn't even have a balsamic dressing to give flavor. I asked for some--but did I receive it? No... $14 for dessert? Hopes were resting on this--and found wanting. The restaurant is beautiful. I am not saying that you could not have a nice experience there. You probably will. My mom thought it was good when she went a few months earlier. Our bill was in the neighborhood of $560-$580. Folks...I think NOT! Enough said.

Wow, I thought I had it bad. That's a bit much...hope it was on the DDP, but by the sound of the beginning, I don't think it was!

 

[Belle5]

Wow, I thought I had it bad. That's a bit much...hope it was on the DDP, but by the sound of the beginning, I don't think it was!

Oh, I was definitely on the DDP!!! That was last December when appies and tip were included. If I were paying out of pocket, there would have been NO TIP! We would not have ordered seven appies, but shared three. I would have complained much more determinedly to the manager about the food and expected the bill to be comped or reduced (never asked for anything like that in 22+ WDW vacations--it was just that bad!) But...we didn't . For the great price of the 2007 DDP, we just lived with it...(right or wrong)

 

[MickeyNicki]

We had a fantastic experience with Tutto this past April. Super attentive server and fantastic food...totally worth the price IMHO

 

[mom2aredhead]

We loved in in December, but they have changed the menu and we were completely underwhelmed when we were there a few weeks ago. We're not going back either.

 

[ntsammy5]

I'm not a big fan of Italian and we haven't eaten here since the change -- looks like we'll skip it based on these reviews.

 

[lborne]

I've learned that lesson a long time ago. I always ask the price of anything that is not listed on the menu - mainly chef specials and such, so I am never surprised. I'm also to the point where if I get a slow server, I very nicely mention that we are trying to make a show or something and if they could please make sure we are out by a certain time. If that does not work, my wife can usually give the waiter a look that makes him glad he's not married to her, and that will usually work. Sometimes, she even goes back to the kitchen to find him or her. If all else fails, you've just saved yourself some $ by leaving no tip.

 

[abk96]

We loved in in December, but they have changed the menu and we were completely underwhelmed when we were there a few weeks ago. We're not going back either.

What? They changed the menu. We ate here in Nov. and loved the food and our waiter. We have an ADR there at the end of June. I'm looking forward to it.

Sorry to the OP for not having such a great meal.

 

[SGMCO]

We will be eatting there in Sept. with FD so I can't complain about the Price.
I'm really looking forward to eating there but I don't typically order things
that I can make easily at Home like basic pasta dishes.
Tutto's Menu looks better than the New Le Cellier Menu.
I cancelled Le Celler for Tutto's and have no Regrets.
If we weren't on the DP I don't think that I would even be able to afford to
eat here. Love FD!!!!

 

[disnut8]

Unfortunately, the time for the OP to get anything done about this passed the minute he paid the bill.

The higher cost for the pasta and sauce should have been questioned when the bill was first examined. It could have been calmly explained that the meal he received was less than the one his girlfriend had but yet it cost $6 more. At that point, I'm sure a manager or someone would have realized that a dinner price was charged and could have made an adjustment.

Also, the OP could have ordered his pasta plain or with a different sauce if pasta sauce doesn't agree with his digestive system. That way, he could have had the meal he wanted and not have to waste his food or money. He also could have asked for the child's portion of spaghetti and meatballs which is listed as $9.50.

At Disney World, realize that their main goal is to make the guest happy. They don't know you aren't happy until you tell them.

 

[LisaInNc]

I vowed not to go there any more. It's very overpriced for mediocre food and a so so atmosphere, I do enjoy the waiters but I leave there feeling ripped off every time! I won't even go there with free dining!

 

[LSchrow]

Roberto, our server, was the worst server we have ever had at any restaurant--period. He was very fortunate that in December he did not have to work for his tip. .

ahhhh, yes, roberto
we had him while it was alfredo's, & he definately was the worst server. he was obviously bored with his job, & ignored our repeated requests for a missing fork, drink refills & grated cheese. we did request & get the items from a very hard-working busboy (who we tipped handsomely, directly in front of roberto ).
we had him again last oct, in tutto italia. he was very attentive, & elevated himself to a top server in our eyes. we assumed he had been retrained, however it appears his better service was simply the result of the many "suits" that were there the day we visited.
btw, we found the food well prepared, authentic, & delicious (asked for the manager directly to compliment on the improvement over alfredo's ).
hopefully, guests are also speaking to the management when their food is inadequate so they can address the concerns asap.

 

[RidingTheWave]

Yes we ended up skipping the restaurant because we thought it was way overpriced! We miss Alfredo's.

 

[Belle5]

ahhhh, yes, roberto
we had him while it was alfredo's, & he definately was the worst server. he was obviously bored with his job, & ignored our repeated requests for a missing fork, drink refills & grated cheese. we did request & get the items from a very hard-working busboy (who we tipped handsomely, directly in front of roberto ).

That was a great thing to do!!!

 

[mom2aredhead]

What? They changed the menu. We ate here in Nov. and loved the food and our waiter. We have an ADR there at the end of June. I'm looking forward to it.

Sorry to the OP for not having such a great meal.

Yup - completely different menu than what's here OR on allears. Our server said they changed it a few months ago.

Gone are the spicy mussels and the sweet and sour meatballs. And the pork shank. And (I think) at least one of the fish dishes. I had been raving about how the menu was "authentic" Italian rather than Amercanized Italian food that you find everywhere, but unfortunately it's completely different now. They have much fewer appetizers to choose from, probably because of DDP changes, some of which include fried calamari and mozzarella/tomato salad (you know, just like Tony's and Mama Melrose and my local pizzaria ) and the entree's have definitely been changed to include more boring things like "sacchetti" w/tomato sauce (which is basically tortellini in a different shape). It was one of our FAVORITE meals in December and we were really disappointed with the new menu.

 

[abk96]

Yup - completely different menu than what's here OR on allears. Our server said they changed it a few months ago.

Gone are the spicy mussels and the sweet and sour meatballs. And the pork shank. And (I think) at least one of the fish dishes. I had been raving about how the menu was "authentic" Italian rather than Amercanized Italian food that you find everywhere, but unfortunately it's completely different now. They have much fewer appetizers to choose from, probably because of DDP changes, some of which include fried calamari and mozzarella/tomato salad (you know, just like Tony's and Mama Melrose and my local pizzaria ) and the entree's have definitely been changed to include more boring things like "sacchetti" w/tomato sauce (which is basically tortellini in a different shape). It was one of our FAVORITE meals in December and we were really disappointed with the new menu.

Oh, this really bums me out. Thanks for letting me know and preparing me for the changes. I'll have to think about changing this one now.

 

[MainStMandy]

This is sad to hear and makes me miss Alfredo's that much more!!