La Plaia Restaurant

11/11/04

Good, but with reservations

by t_wms at Citysearch

Our first vist, we took a visiting family member. Mistake! While the place is nice, and the service was interesting if not good, the wine prices are outrageous! I expect a 100 per cent markup, not 2-300! Also, the rolls are horrid,and they unfortunately use them for the bruschetta as well, soggy and nasty(though the topping was great)! The salad is absolutely wonderful. The entrees we had were very good, indeed, though they tend to be a bit heavy-handed with the oil. Desserts, like the wine are ridiculously over-priced.

• Pros: Good entrees & salad, Nice staff, Lots of parking
• Cons: , Nasty bread, Bad bruschetta!

02/06/10

Great Traditional Italian

by nrestifo at Citysearch

The sauce was phenomenal. I had a lasagna that was to die for. The mixture of cheeses and meats reminded me of nana's.

I wish I could have tried their bracciole. The anitpasto was great with a mixture of sopresata, salami, bocaccini,tomato, peperincini, and olives. Just the right amount for 2.

The canoli was outstanding as well the filling was creamy and delicious with bits of chococate and covered with nuts and chocolate at either end dusted with powdered sugar

I highly recommend this restaurant. It is for real Italians

• Pros: The food and service were impecable
• Cons: none

02/14/09

Not as good as it used to be!

by mamalight at Citysearch

I've been going to this restaurant since 1994 and while it is still probably my favorite italian restaurant I am sad at the decline it's taken in the last few years. For as elegant a place that it is meant to be, the last 3 times I've been there they've served mine and my husband's pop from a can. I know typically you drink wine with italian dishes but just because we choose not to, don't serve me from a can, at least pour it in the kitchen and make me think it came from the fountain! I still love the specials and chicken marsala, gnocci, manicotti and GREAT salad!! I would recommend La Plaia to anyone who loves homemade italian food as though you were in the town painted on the wall in the dining room. I miss the old waiter who always made us laugh!!

• Pros: Intimate atmosphere, sauce, rolls, salad
• Cons: serving pop from a can, dessert

02/03/09

Simply the Best

by RFran at Citysearch

La Plaia is by far the best Italian food I have ever had. In fact, the three dinners I have had at La Plaia are some of the best meals I have ever had (not just Italian meals, but any meals). I always get the special which twice was a baked rigatoni and once was a lasagna. The red sauce in these dishes has separated La Plaia from other contenders and it has been something I have tried to duplicate in a recipe of my own for over two years with limited success. When I am finished with my food at La Plaia, I leave no sauce on the plate--it is just that good.

This great restaurant has distinguished itself from many other Italian restaurants and non-Italian restaurants alike. This review comes from a man from Cleveland who believes La Plaia to be twice as good as any Italian restaurant in Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood.

• Pros: Red sauce, salad dressing, great owner
• Cons: There is only one La Plaia and it is 2 hours from my home.

01/15/09

made to order true italian food

by kconticolumbus at Citysearch

i have worked at LaPlaia for 2 years and i am from an italian family . You can not get any closer to true italian in this country. This not the place to find ranch dressing ,it is the place to experience italian food without leaving the country. Try our Veal Marsala its my personal favorite!

• Pros: all
• Cons: none

05/04/08

Cute little restaurant, expensive, usually need reservations. Food only fair.

by apodder at Citysearch

We used to love this restaurant, but after the kids came, we stopped going. Too expensive and you usually need reservations, not quite the usual restaurant for kids, although they seem welcome and the owner seems to enjoy them. Now the kids are older and we went again recently and I was disappointed. The service was okay, the owner still comes around and jokes with the customers, but the food is absurdly overpriced and not what I remember. We had the cheese bread appetizer, which was chokingly salty. The salad was okay, but no choice of dressing and the vinegar and oil they use tastes odd. My cheese ravioli were decent, but I got 6 and they came out covered with that awful powdered Parmesan that you find in shakers in pizza places. So did my son's spaghetti, so he was unhappy, too. I wish they'd asked. The marinara is very thin, and the rolls are fair. Considering what we paid, I don't think we'll be back. I think I'd prefer Olive Garden!

• Pros: Antipasta, service, owner.
• Cons: Sauce, presentation, rolls, salad.

08/03/06

Such a Delight!

by merribuck at Citysearch

My son and I love to go to La Plaia. We are always treated as if we are the most important customers who have ever walked through the door. My son, who has being going with me to La Plaia since he was very young, is always treated with the utmost respect.

The food is incredible. I have yet to be disappointed.

• Pros: Elegant dining
• Cons: none

05/30/06

Worth every penny

by jse630 at Citysearch

This easily the best Italian food I have found in Columbus. Yes, it is pricier than a lot of those others, but so delicious. Family run and inviting atmosphere. Everyone talks to everyone. Go here! Try it! Finish with lemon sorbeto. It is all delicious. Reservations needed, as they prepare according to how many people they plan to serve.

• Pros: Amazing flavors, cozy, friendly owner

02/06/06

Best Itillian in the city

by msendel57 at Citysearch

I love this restaurant. The Veal Marsala is the best I have ever had. I think that this is the best Itillian food in the city.

• Pros: Great Food, Plenty of Parking, Friendly Staff

05/17/05

Boston's "North End" in Columbus

by bev51 at Citysearch

My daughter and I stumbled across this lovely little restaurant while on a recent visit/business trip to Columbus from our home in central Massachusetts. This charming place had the same ambience and wonderful food we have come to expect from just about any establishment in Boston's North End. While it was a little pricey for lunch by Columbus' standards, it was much less expensive than we would expect for Boston. I didn't know chicken breast could taste so great! We look forward to another visit to Columbus and another meal at LaPlaia.

• Pros: great food, good parking, friendly owners
• Cons: desserts not homemade, bread not homemade