I had the Italian Beef Pizza with Hot Giardenra and omg! this pizza blows Mickey Finns out of the water! it was so good, the beef was so thin and amazing, the giardenra was throughout the entire pizza so every bite you got that heat, the cheese was plentiful and light on the sauce, add some Parm. Cheese to that and its heaven! We sat in the bar area so I can't comment on the wait staff, but our bartender was attentive. I've been here before for just drinks and did take out once, I was not a fan of whatever I ordered a few years ago and stayed away. But I am so glad I ordered this pizza, while typing this I want to order another pizza!. This pizza is def. recommended!
(4)
Michael M.
My wife and I dined here tonight for the 1st time. On 1st entrance, the decor was great and the bathrooms were tidy. We started with the appetizer sampler and chose the Calamari, Bruschetta, and Buffalo Wings. The calamari and bruschetta were good but the wings were simply breaded chicken. They were slightly seasoned but were not as advertised. Our waitress asked if my wife wanted a side salad and she said yes. The salad arrived in a medium sized bowl, too much for my wife and we ended up splitting it. The house dressing was good but lacked something. I can't quite put my finger on it but it was okay nevertheless. We split a pan pizza with sausage, mushrooms and onions and it was delicious. The crust was the best part and I rate it one of Gurnee's best. I had ordered a craft beer and when the check arrived, it was reasonably priced at only $4 a pint...a steal!!!! However, the "side salad," was a bit much and was priced at $5.99....This is unacceptable to me and although our dining experience was pleasurable up until this point, it ruined our view as we felt as if we were being taken advantage of. The salad was indeed a healthy portion but come on, $5.99? We will probably never return and that's a shame. How could you charge that much for a side salad??
(3)
Jen W.
Have always loved coming here. However, today, i was disappointed. The server was very slow-- got to us about 20 minutes after we were seated just to ask us about our drinks. The salad was lacking ingredients-- one olive, one pepper... c'mon. Ordered gluten free pasta, and still received croutons on my salad... common sense? Food is always delightful, though. Just unenjoyable service. Waitress made a rude comment about how much I ate at the end...
(3)
dru s.
This places used to be one of our favorite place to go. Last visit the waiter had a long day and had problem waiting on customer. We told management and they did noting abt it. Today(7.2.2015) we went in and they over charged us and said they served us dinner menu. When we asked why.. And that there is a mistake the manager says if you wanted a lunch menu then next time say you want lunch menu. At 2p. Why would anyone come in for a dinner menu. A word of advice to management / owners this is a good way to loose customers. Caz we will never come here again
(1)
Pam S.
I had my son's rehearsal dinner here tonight and I was very happy with everything. The servers were friendly and attentive and the food was good! I would not think twice about having another event at Salutos!
(5)
Mad I.
4/4/14 I can't believe I almost missed this place from the bad reviews.... Awesome Alfredo!!!! Great food, pricing&ambiance! It was a really strange choice to come here after all of the negative reviews, but I just had to see for myself. This place has been in business for a while, so what gives??? Well, first of all the ambiance is nice! Dim lights, cute faux Italian villa decor is perfectly fine by me, lol Parking not a problem, no wait on a Friday night... What we had: * The salad, yup, it is really that good! *Buns-mmmmm, nice job *Alpine pizza-alfredo DOUSED with gooey mozz for DAYS! Yum, delivered exactly how it should've, fake crab and all! *Italian beef giardiniera pizza-YUM! Served hot and fresh, and hot, as in spicy hot. Really good, even better than Finns! Reasonably priced beer and soda. Will be back!! Pehaps the pasta isn't great? Well, it did look great...... hmmmmm P.s-one stumble, if I had to say something..... our server Kristin was 2 thumbs down.....
(5)
Alli R.
Very very good! Got the lemon picattia And my boy friend got the steak Saluto! Both very good even though we were very full when our entree came. We started off with calamari and the artichoke fondue! Both amazing we get them every time. Salad and rolls are so Delish! The dressing on the salad is homemade and irresistible. Love our waiter Jeannie she so nice did rush us at all! Definitely will be back!
(3)
Ron B.
I really really really want to love Salutos. They are not very well located but close to my house, they have a cool concept of homemade pasta and everything about them makes you feel that you are being served premium pasta. However, every time I visit and eat their food I leave dissatisfied. I have tried many different dishes now and unfortunately I have not found one that makes Salutos any better than an Olive Garden. I'm really sorry Salutos but I think something needs to change in the kitchen. I've visited Francescas on multiple occasions and enjoyed their food much more than yours. Your minestrone soup is good though!
(2)
Ed K.
Food is usually good but the service the last 2 times has been so bad I won't be going back other than to pick up some of their salad dressing.
(3)
Kevin N.
Imagine if Olive Garden had never became the staple of American suburban Italian restaurants, and you'd have something akin to Saluto's. Owned by the same people as my other favorite locally owned steakhouse, Backyard Steak Pit, this place has some great options for you if you love Olive Garden, but don't want chain food. Start out first with the amazing house salad, which is superior to the garden with a sweet, tangy homemade herb dressing. We enjoyed mostaccioli with pesto and the pasta seemed to have been made fresh on premises. It was fresh tasting, but it was heavy. The portions are huge. I had some good ribs with a tangy barbecue sauce. Not too smoked, very moist and the meat fell off the bone as if they had been boiled a while and then quickly finished in an oven. They have a decent draft beer list which includes a couple of options from the local Warrenville, Illinois Two Brothers brewery. The Cane and Ebel Rye beer is excellent. The best part about the place was our very friendly server, who was attentive, professional and left us wanting for nothing.
(3)
Janeen M.
About 5:30 pm, we were greeted by Linda, which we found out later was the manager. She asked if we wanted a booth or table. My daughters and I said nothing and when I noticed my husband did not hear the question, I answered booth. To our surprise she answered "Thanks for making a command decision". We were going to leave at that point, but decided to stay. We sat down and were greeted by the waitress, which did not know the specials, but was very polite. One of our selections was a salad, with dressing on the side. As she brought it to the table she dropped it. She then went to get another one and Linda walked by and asked sarcastically, who dropped the salad. The bust boy replies "Ashley tossed her salad". By this time we couldn't believe the lack of unprofessionalism in this restaurant. Upon our waitresses return, we were given a new salad with dressing ON the salad. She then took our order and we noticed that mozzarella cheese did not come on top of the three cheese manicotti and had to pay for an additional $1.25 per plate; we had two on our table. The food was brought to the table and the mozzarella cheese was burnt on both plates. We did see Linda throughout the time we were there, but she never said a word. She did greet everyone else in the restaurant, walked around and talked with them. She even asked other customers, if they needed anything and gave them their drinks. Before leaving we noticed the servers sitting texting on their phones in booths and a woman at the counter writing something. My husband asked for the manager and was told she and Linda were the managers. He told her what happened, and came up with an excuse for Linda saying, she was having a bad day. Upon leaving The other bust boy said to have a nice night, but by that time it was a mute point. It's ashame because my husband and I went their for New Years Eve and it was a great night, but tonight it was as though we went to a truck stop diner for dinner. Unfortunately for Saluto's, I think even the truck stop waitresses have more respect and manners, then Linda. My military family of four, will not be back. The atmosphere was very unprofessional, food was mediocre and prices were quite high. I do NOT recommend this restaurant to anyone. From now on we'll stick to Giordano's, Pizzeria UNOs or Friday's for dinner.
(1)
Jackie F.
I want to like this place, I really do! I've been here 4 times throughout the years. The salad, dressing, and rolls are really good, that's about it for me. Maybe I'm ordering the wrong thing? In my opinion, the food is really overpriced. I ordered manicotti, it didn't even really look good. There was a watery puddle under the food. I despise al dente pasta, and like my pasta soft. These manicotti noodles were beyond soft, they were really mushy and the ricotta cheese filling was pretty bland. I've had fresh homemade Italian food, and this is most definitely not. Perhaps it was homemade once upon a time, but my dish was frozen then reheated. I barely touched it. Luckily, I filled up on salad and rolls. Leftovers went in the trash. Actually, I know the food is not made fresh because the first time I ate here my friend got a fairly large piece of Saran Wrap served with his meal. They gave us a free dessert. I do have to say, my 2 other friends really enjoyed their meals. I'm pretty sure neither of them have had an authentic homemade Italian dinner before though :) Maybe being lucky enough to grow up in an Italian family with amazing cooks, I might be a little critical. For me, this place is a little below average. Their salad is their saving grace. I will only return if other people in with really want to eat here.
(2)
Amy L.
I have a love/hate feeling about this restaurant. The atmosphere is great. It is really cute and you can tell the owner wanted to really create a special environment for their guest. The service is always a coin flip. Either it is great or it is horrible. The food is about the same to me. They have a lot of sauces to choose from with pastas, which is nice. That said, there is a red sauce (not sure of the exact name), that has more RAW onions in it then tomatoes. It was horrid! I've gotten this in a few other dishes and it totally takes away from the actual food. Okay, I guess if you are a onion person this is totally up your alley, but I don't like huge chunks of raw onions in a sauce. They have a Portobello Mushroom dish that is amazing. And a Salutos Steak & Chicken that is really good - though this has a very strong sauce. Ask to try a sample of the sauce before ordering. It may not be up everyone's alley. They have an amazing house salad dressing, too! I have heard their pizza is really good - so I will be back to try it.
(3)
Lisa L.
Service was super slow. Calamari was good. Lasagna was over seasoned. Cannoli was really good.
(3)
Deon O.
Great house salad! Pizza is delicious...try the BLT pizza! I really love everything here.
(4)
Ron S.
Yummy food, great salad rolls. Desserts need work though. Great service and staff. It is what it is, a local Italian joint with few frills but a cozy homey type ambiance. I recommend it !! Definitely preferred over the chains.....you know which ones I'm talking about.
(4)
Christina S.
I try to keep my reviews in a positive tone, but this has to be said. Look, to the poster that said to other Yelpers, "don't bitch about the pasta", I say, "Whaaat???" It's an ITALIAN restaurant, period. The Yelpers that are commenting on the beyond lackluster pasta, are spot on. In my case, though this is my first review for Saluto's, I specifically asked the waitress prior to ordering, if the pasta was fresh and homemade on the premises, as claimed on the menu, to which she assured me it was. People, if this pasta is homemade there, they do it so poorly I found it unpalatable. Don't claim it's fresh and homemade if it's not gonna deliver in technique or flavor. I've got no problem with using dried pasta. So either use that, or, don't print it on the menu that it's fresh and homemade as some sort of claim to fame. It was awful. Just look at the picture I posted of the so-called fettuccine. Maybe it was fresh at some point, albeit still poorly made and seasoned, but it died a horrible icebox death long ago. The rest of the menu that I've experienced (half a dozen visits) is average with above average pricing-- as in expensive for what you get. But yeah, their salad is good, so, you know, there's that... Rant over. :-P Wow, how many times did I use the word, "homemade"?
(2)
Linda L.
Even though we've been in the area for the warmer months and holidays for several years, have never ventured to this well known family restaurant. Was pleasantly surprised by the 12 foot Christmas tree with thousands of lights and beautiful ornaments twinkling and shiny. Met friends for dinner and had heard how fabulous the salad is. I have to say I was a bit disappointed by the bland salad dressing that needed more of a punch for me. I had squash soup which was very sweet and had a nice texture. My personal pizza was under baked but overall tasty. Just needed 5 more minutes in oven. I would go here again and probably try the pasta next time. Overall I enjoyed the atmosphere and hope next time the food would be better.
(3)
Joe G.
Wait for food was long but it was good. Had the Alpine pizza. Still just as good as it was the last time I had it 10 years ago. Waitress was nice and attentive as you could be with a packed restaurant. Wife had veal picatta and she liked it and she is picky with food. Atmosphere has been the same as the first time I was here over 14 years ago with a big fake tree that actually lends some charm. Decent family restaurant.
(4)
jim s.
the house salad was awesome with their house dressing the service was quick and friendly the beer very cold the italian beef was huge and very tasty the fries were good and plentiful we got to support these family run joints or the world will have nothing but the chains!!
(5)
Amy P.
Great homemade pasta and salad dressing. Jeannie was fantastic! Thanks for the great service. We definitely will be back.
(5)
Adam Z.
I haven't been here for a very long time until just a few months ago. When I returned, I thought it was really good. Calamari was better than most places, and I had a personal pizza which hit the spot. We wanted to come back to Valentines Day so I made reservations. We showed up and couldn't park for quite a while. It was crowded! We went inside and it was a wreck. They were short handed obviously and the hostess was struggling to both greet and seat everyone waiting. She said even with reservations, it would be about 30 minutes. I was visibly and audibly angry, but common....what fools go out on Valentines Day? Everyone.....and you can't just tell people to leave because someone has reservations..... We wait about 15m and were seated, but the pregnant girl serving us had a full plate. She was very busy. We figured the food would make up for it......LMAO! It didn't. The salad was good, but the Rotolo was gross. I couldn't tell if it was undercooked and/or something in it was no good. I tried reheating it the next day but I struggled to eat it. For a $17 dish I was mortified, but being as busy as they were I refused to send it back. My girlfriends mostaccioli was pretty bad too. We boxed up our mediocre pasta dishes and ordered tiramisu. It was frozen. We DID send that back. Then we paid the bill (which didn't have the dessert on it) and left as fast as we could, never to return again. Unless I want Calamari. That was good last time.
(3)
Private I.
Saluto's was a good pick for a family meal. They have a building that looks nice from the outside and is pretty on the inside. We had a good meal with attentive service. The menu has a lot of the usual Italian favs, and we really liked the lunch options where you can build a meal around the sauce you want, pick the pasta, and add proteins or veggies. Price was decent too. Lots of parking.
(4)
Tommy E.
I did not enjoy my dinner here. When I first walked in I was impressed by the atmosphere of the restaurant and seating time but then my expectations were greatly disappointed by the menu selection and ignorance of the waitress on the food and ingredients (my wife has food allergies). When we ordered appetizers they took much longer then needed and were bland and undercooked. Our actual food took about 45 minutes to get to us so by the time it got to us we needed to ask for the check to go. I ordered pepperoni and spinach pizza which was dry VERY bland and overall not a good pick. My wife ordered some pasta dish which she ended up not even eating because the noodles were extremely under cooked. When we were given out check(20 mins after we asked) we waited another 15 minutes for her to bring back our credit cards! Terrible dinner overall. 0/10 would not bang.
(2)
Asjanik W.
The service at this restaurant was terrible. When my family and I arrived at the front desk, we were just stared at by 4 different servers. Our existence was not acknowledged until the fifth server who then alerted the hostess. Once we were seated our waitress was average. The food was surprisingly good though. I had the pollo salutos with red wine sauce and was pleasantly surprised. First impressions are big with me. The great food does not make up for the bad service. I will not be back to this restaurant.
(2)
Tammy F.
It was our first time dining there tonight. First of all the acoustics in the place suck. It was so loud. And to top it off we had screaming kids next to us. So the experience started out terrible. We ordered the artichoke/cheese appetizer - we were barely able to find any artichokes in it. When the salad came, it was literally all toppings (mostly onions) with a handful of lettuce at the bottom. We each had to scrape together a tiny salad for ourselves. I don't eat pasta anymore, so I ordered mixed vegetables with my Chicken Marsala. I had to wait for the vegetables because the server forgot to put the order in. When I got the veggies, it was mostly peppers with like literally three zucchini pieces thrown in. I'm allergic to peppers. I'm sorry - but a plate of peppers doesn't constitute mixed vegetables! When I talked to the manager about it (and keep in mind I wasn't looking for any compensation, I just wanted to make her aware of the experience), she kept putting the blame back on me for not complaining sooner, not saying anything about the salad, etc. Plus she kept making faces and rolling her eyes. I'm a culinary student. Our chef instructors are teaching us to deliver great entrees at great value, and that the restaurant is there to please the guest. That salad should have NEVER made it out of the kitchen looking like that. And as I say - a plate of grilled peppers does NOT constitute mixed vegetables. I think what I really take umbrage to is that the manager took this attitude of "Well I can't control EVERYTHING." and "You should've asked for more lettuce, you should've asked what vegetables were in the mixed vegetables." OMG really? And then the attitude at the end "Well what do you want me to do for you?" And that question of apparent appeasement was preceded by a deep sigh - like *I* was the one inconveniencing her! $61 later, and we will NOT be going back or recommending this place to anyone.
(1)
Jenifer W.
So we returned to this dump again because a friend wanted to give it a try, and I thought maybe I missed something the first time around... I didn't. Folks - bottom line this place needs to be avoided. They don't even merit my usual breakdown. The service was so poor at several points I thought about walking out. WHY does it take 5 minutes to come and greet the table, and another 7 minutes to bring back drinks? I'm stumped! The server was an order taker, barely spoke, simply looked at the next person like "are you gonna order, or what?" and waited. The food is a nightmare - even Gordon Ramsey couldn't save it. The pasta tasted like it was 10 years old, the sauce like it belonged in a nursing home, and forget the greasy, watered down, old-vegetables pizza.... Skip this place - I don't think in all my years reviewing that I've ever called a restaurant a dump - THIS place is a dump, and it's owners, even though multiple helpful reviews have cried out for change, don't care. AVOID.
(1)
Kim P.
When I moved to the area a lot people told me to check it out. I didn't feel like it was anything special. I was looking forward to a yummy Italian neighborhood restaurant, but this isn't it. The salad dressing was good, but that's the only thing I actually enjoyed.
(2)
Kirsten A.
It was my daughter's 14th birthday and she wanted to have Italian food. Salutos was recommended and we were in the area so we thought we would give it a try. The evening started out great. We were able to make a reservation and they accommodated separate checks. It was very cute and we thought our night would be great. We began with calamari, which was subpar at best, although the marinara was tasty! The salad, soup and bread came and we really thought our meals would be awesome as well. My husband ordered veal-parmigiana, the birthday girl ordered pasta with vodka sauce and I ordered a baked pasta dish that was supposed to resemble pizza. The veal was over-cooked and looked like mystery meat. My dish was not the same as described on the menu...in fact it was about 8 ravioli with sauce and baked with literally three slices of pepperoni. My daughter, the birthday girl, loves vodka sauce and was super excited they had it. When she got her meal we tasted it and it was like a mix of cheese whiz and Alfredo sauce. The comment was "well, our lunch was good". We were very unhappy but didn't have the heart to tell the waitress because she brought out a pretty tasty cookie with a candle and sang to my daughter. We ordered three entrees, 5 sodas, 1/2 order of calamari and two kids meals and our bill was $111.00 with tip and tax. This was very pricey for what we were given. We should have gone to our favorite chain Italian restaurant (rhymes with Barabbas), at least we would have known that the food would be exactly what it should have been. Save your money and make pasta at home... You will be happier in the end.
(2)
Vishal B.
I love this place!! I am addicted to the homemade salad dressing and the salad in general! I ordered portabella Parmesan and it was excellent! The salad comes with the entree as well as piping hot bread rolls. I ordered a glass of Chardonnay and it was perfectly chilled, only $5 a glass, very happy. My friends liked what they ordered as well - eggplant Parmesan and manicotti. They have cleaned up the rust of the divider walls in the men's bathroom, it grossed me out before. There is a sweet gal you greeted us and sat us. Our waitress was very sweet and accommodating. Even at 9pm on a Saturday (that's late for folks here in lake county) the dining area was half full. Everything was fresh, homemade and satisfying. We will most definitely return to Salutos, might even host an event there if they do parties. The food quality is top notch, service is great and prices are decent for that quality and level of service.
(5)
Thanh L.
3.5 stars Eggplant Parm with added chicken and calamari, which is not breaded, was delicious! I love their tomato sauce and their salad dressing! The bread was fresh and very good too...The only qualm I had was the side pasta (fettucine alfredo) was not so good. The pasta seemed freshly made, but it lacked deliciousness. So basically, everything but the side pasta was yummy and you should go get your grub on!
(4)
Carol W.
Rude, rude, rude. Wait staff, bartenders ....the rudest restaurant ever. We called ahead with a large party and instead of being happy we were there with lots of adults who were drinking , the staff seemed like we were a big imposition. I can't even critique the food because we never got around to eating.
(1)
Andreita C.
Our server michael, was very nice. Their salad was delish along with their minestrone. We also had yummy pizza. The restaurant was cozy. We are coming back to try their martins!!!
(5)
Carl F.
In my view, not worth the time and just assume cook my own spaghetti and make my own salad. We have been here several times and tried the various items on the menu and it's safe to say that each time we left with, "I've had better and not sure we'll come back." I suppose everyone has their taste, and in several other reviews I see that people like the house special salad dressing. In fact, I think it's the only dressing you can get here. When we first came the waitress raved over the dressing, so we got the family sized salad and I must say, upon the first bite I felt as if I was duped for the dressing was odd tasting and not something I cared to have again. We did wait for some time for the pizza to come, which to be honest, I'm okay in doing providing that the pizza is good. By atmosphere alone it is clear that this is a neighborhood establishment thus I was thinking they have great pizza. Which turned out to be an incorrect assumption and I've had better at a pizza hut. On another visit, we learned from our mistakes and this time didn't order the salad or the pizza. Instead went with pasta dishes. It turns out that the home made spaghetti is not that great and I found it a bit chewy. For me, the sauce was runny and bland. If I go back to this place, it would be to try out the bar for that did look like a fun place.
(2)
Brandon O.
This used to be one of my favorite local places to eat. In fact we had our wedding rehearsal dinner here way back in 1999! Pros: ~Love the unlimited salad & rolls, which taste great. Other favorites are the rotolo, and Steak Saluto. It should be mentioned that the Steak Soluto isn't appreciated by everyone! ~Large portions, we always have left-overs! ~Lots of memories! Cons: ~Service has become hit or miss! We actually stopped going for a long time because of the consistently terrible service! ~Prices are higher than they should be, considering the service and the available alternatives. Should have a better range of pricing for their meals. In the end we often go to the local Italian food chain(even though I don't like their food or salad as much) and skip out on Salutos. This is because they at least provide consistently good service with a good range and variety of pricing on their food. I still venture back from time to time hoping they'll work out these issues but it's been years and they remain unresolved.
(3)
LeGene H.
Salutos is a little on the pricey side, but enjoyable. I usually get the Parmesan Trio, they have the best veal I've ever had. The steak saluto is very good but It has a very unique taste. (the server will give you a sample of the sauce)
(4)
Jennifer J.
I've had not so great experiences in the past. Love the food, so tried it again. It was awesome!! Food, service, atmosphere, simply great.
(5)
Ann M.
We went to Salutos last night about 7:30 pm, not so great experience: 1. When we entered, no hostess. one of the servers walking by and said "I'll go get the hostess". 2. When the hostess arrived she carried a cup of coffee and complained about how busy it was, put her coffee down to show us the reservations she had that evening. (Strike 1) 3. We were seated in a booth near a large 60th birthday party--VERY LOUD, hard to hear each other over. The room was very dim, the candle wasn't lit at the table. The decor fake Tuscan outdoor cafe. 4. The menu print was VERY small and hard to read in the dim light (Strike 2). 5. The waitress was friendly, nice, and met all of my special requests accurately--she even checked to see if they had decaf tea (which they did!). She lit the candle at the table (didn't help with the lighting). She did everything right, nothing out of the ordinary but efficient AND she left us alone. We put a high price on being left alone while dining. 6. Food--average: -The minestrone was average, if a little overcooked noodles. My salad was good, chicken cooked perfectly, salad EXACTLY as I ordered. The dressing was AMAZING! I REALLY enjoyed the complexity of flavor. -My husband had chicken parmesean sandwich, an average sandwich could be picked up at any pizza joint, but the sauce was weak, flavor lacking flavor, there was a large portion. 7. When we left, the hostess was at the front huddled with others never acknowledging us on exit. (Strike 3). 8. Parking lot is small so if it's busy, you will have a hard time parking. Salutos: We will never going to dine in there again--will order carry out and MAKE sure to get the salad dressing, it's a little slice of heaven.
(2)
Genevieve S.
I have mixed feelings about Saluto's. I like the food for the most part. The Portabella Parmesan is tasty. The cheesecake is creamy and homemade (I think). The salad is delightful. But they fail at a few things; their pizza is not good, and their take out is rude. They charge the same price for take out as dine in, but there is no salad included. That is the best part of the meal! So, when deciding on dinner, Saluto's is an alright option, but not our first choice.
(3)
Jenna V.
The salad and rolls are amazing here! Beer selection is also great. I really wanted to give it 5 stars, but.... the pasta is just meh. Also the portions are enormous but if you want to split a dish, you get a split charge, and that is on top of the already pretty high prices.
(3)
Kim M.
I really like this restaurant. The staff are always friendly and the service is good. It has a cozy feel to it. One caution, though - it is a bit dim and the print on the menu is small, so be prepared with reading glasses unless you're less than 20 or have 20/20 vision in dim light. I love their salad and dressing. It's a great intro to a great meal. The bread is always warm and tasty. I could pig out on just the salad and bread and be happy, I think. ...but then I'd miss out on the great entrees. The pastas are great and perfectly cooked. The alfredo sauce is creamy and incredibly tasty. I highly recommend the Pollo Saluto and Rotolo combination. It's excellent. The Pollo Saluto is a chicken breast stuffed with cheese and prosciutto, and covered with a red sauce that's got a great smoky, peppery taste to it. If you're not sure about it, they'll bring you a sample of it. The Rotolo is like a wonderful Italian Ho-Ho, with multiple cheeses, spinach and ham rolled into a pasta and smothered in alfredo sauce. Heaven! The Pollo ala Alex is very good, too, if you're looking for a pasta entree that's not as heavy (less sauce, lighter sauce). I've been to Saluto's a number of times and never gotten a bad meal.
(5)
Anita S.
Friendly service, decent food, big portions, but nothing memorable. The big tree in the lobby made the place feel dusty. Strip mall, suburban atmosphere...all in all, not bad but not great either if you want good Italian food.
(2)
Ken M.
I have never had a good meal here. The only redeeming quality is the green pesto dressing. The food is bland, served Luke warm at best, not worth the expense and the service is inattentive and slow at best. Not a fan.
(1)
T G.
This is quick. Salad and rolls= 5 stars. All Entrees= 1 star. Pasta is just awful and their sauces are just disgusting with maybe the exception of their spicy Ameritricana. The Rotolo used to be good.... I don't know what happened as it now has shriveled on my plate to puny portions and tastes tough and rubbery. Getting back to the salad and rolls. Wow! Unique house dressing is awesome and the rolls are very addictive as well. Too bad they can not replicate the salad success with the other parts of their business.
(2)
Melissa O.
OK, so I need to write two reviews, one for the regular dining experience and one for our rehearsal dinner we had here. So, this is for the regular dining experience... The staff is very friendly and attentive and you are well taken care of here The ambiance is a little outdated, like other posters have said. It's dark, there is vinyl tablecloths and plastic cups for the drinks The food is ok. I don't see what the big fuss is about. It's kinda pricey too. I ordered the fettuccine alfredo and he sauce was very bland and watery and the pasta was mushy. All in all, it's an ok place, but not someplace I want to go to all the time. Now, we had our rehearsal dinner here and we had the 3 pasta package. We chose penne with vodka sauce, mostacholi with marinara sauce and fettuccine alfredo. The vodka sauce was really good, but the penne pasta was way too thick and had no flavor to it. I didn't try the other pastas, but they got mixed reviews from our guests. The service was great and the staff was attentive. We had the back room all to ourselves and had a very nice time. The cost was a bit pricey though, where if we wanted a meat dish (like chicken marsala for example, it would have been like $15 per person, as opposed to the $10 we paid for the 3 pasta options).
(2)
Mike U.
One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Stopped here with a couple other families after a trip to great america based on the reccomendation of someone who grew up in the area. Moderately crowded by they did a great job of seating 13 of us with about 1/2 notice. Great service. I asked our server what she'd suggest between the lasagna and the steak saluto and she said the steak, you can get lasagna anywhere. I like someone with an opinion who doesn't suggest everything is equally good. Went with the steak and it was absolutely out of this world. I live about an hour away from here but would consider the drive just to come back for this fantastic dish. I would have gone with 5 stars but a few people in our party weren't thrilled with the more traditional italian dishes they ordered, but i loved the steak saluto!
(4)
Mike Q.
I bid farewell to Salutos...last couple of times I have been here, the food quality has diminished and seems processed. Everything comes out with a lot of sauce, seeming to cover up other stuff. The portion size and prices are getting bigger and higher. They need a decor update and reduced portions with a price drop or a light side menu.
(2)
John K.
I have tried to eat at this establishment on 3 different occasions. The first time they said they were very busy and that there would be at least a 1 hour wait, but there was only two other small groups waiting ahead of us, so we left and decided to go back another day. The second time we went in, they told us that hey had a big party in the back and they were not sure how long the wait would be, so we left. The last time we went in we stood there for about 10 minutes without being greeted by any of the staff. There was wait staff that walked by and obviously saw us, but no one had the fortitude to greet us or even say, "hi, someone will be right with you". So my wife and I decided that Saluto's was not worth it, and left never to return.
(1)
FastButHealthy M.
Awesome setting and excellent service for a large, loud group of hungry hockey boys and their parents. On short notice they set our team up with all you can eat homemade pasta and healthy grilled chicken and veggies in a private loft area. Price was very reasonable but mostly the servers were so patient and pleasant going up and down those stairs all evening. Thank you Saluto's!
(5)
Kim M.
Everyone has their "staple" restaurants, those dining spots that have been consistent year after year. You know the menu, the staff and what to expect. Salutos used to be one of those trusted restaurants. Now, cue sled and large hill. And so began Salutos fast and steady trip down, down, down. First it started with service issues. Wait staff that just didn't seem to care coupled with managers that seemed to care even less. Then came the changes to the menu. Not only were some of my favorite entrees removed, but the quality of the food changed as well. I kept going back thinking things would improve. Sadly, they have not. Insert unhappy emoticon here.
(1)
Larry V.
Like most other reviewers, the rolls and salad dressing are worth the stop. I'm not a huge fan of tomato based sauces (except my own), but I love alfredo. There is a dish I've only found here at Salutos that is the best pasta I've ever had. I've been to this restaurant about 12 times, and I always order the Rotolo.... handmade pasta sheets layered with prosciutto and spinach, and cheeses, rolled, baked and topped with alfredo sauce. Never had a bad plate of rotolo!
(4)
Deron J.
Good but average. Their concept would really be well served to revamp their sauce (red)- it is bland and below average. I LOVE their house salad dressing- yummy! One can buy some to go if he desires. Service is average and prices reasonable. This is not my favorite, but ok... The salad dressing brings me back for the occasional lunch.
(2)
B L.
Holy crap! I can't believe this place does not have 5 stars. This place is really fantastic. The servers are ALWAYS nice. The salad dressing is what legends are made of. The garlic rolls are always fresh and hot and good. Steak Saluto? Don't mind if I do! I see a lot of the reviewers here are basing this on pasta? What? I mean seriously, why even get pasta if you're just gonna bitch about how much cheaper it would be to cook it at home? Everybody knows it's cheaper to cook it at home. Whatever dude. You know the definition of insanity is doing something over and over again that doesn't work, right? Ah well. Haters be hating, I guess. Try this place if you are up in the area and are craving a good Italian sit-down dinner. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Kevin L.
I'm all about skipping the restaurant chains to support local businesses. So when we have a craving for Italian food, Saluto's is the place to go for us. Honestly, I don't know why there are so many negative reviews. The pasta is made fresh, the food is really good overall, and the staff has treated us well, My wife and I have eaten lunches and dinners there, often stop by for pick-up orders, and we've even held a baptism reception there. Okay, so the ambiance isn't the best... it's really dark and the whole inside needs a makeover. However the food is what keeps us coming back. Try their fresh pasta with the vodka sauce or any over their sandwiches.
(4)
Adam F.
Decent place! The food is good, yet the prices are high. The atmosphere is good, yet the prices are high. If you have the money, and the patience for slow staff, than go for some great Italian food! But if not, I suggest you pass for the day... There are still better Italian places within the area
(4)
Meinhard G.
When going to Salutos with the family stay in the front dining room and enjoy the great pizza and pasta dishes, for lunch or dinner. Big plates, good prices and super friendly service, you can't go wrong. To have a bit more fun go to the back there is a large bar, very nicely decorated and a terrific bartender. They have a great on tab beer selection and many Martinis. Same dinners and pizzas are served in the bar, just a bit more fun. Chicken Parmesan as a plate or sandwich is never wrong, most dishes come with a salad and the home dressing - very good!
(3)
Kymberly J.
I was impressed only with the cheesecake. They claimed on the menu that it was home made and it definitely tasted as such which is not what the rest of the food was like. It was not home made, it had to be frozen or canned or made by the kid down the street. I ordered their minestrone soup and "famous"rolls and a grilled chicken salad. Campbells could have done a better job making this soup. The noodles were mushy and it didn't taste fresh. Where exactly are these rolls famous? Prison? they were hard cardboard balls of dough, ick. Chicken on my salad was not grilled, it was browned in a pan. I was so hyped up because my friend recommended Salutos....
(2)
Bob B.
Went to Salutos for the first time last night. Liked the atmosphere, but the food was average at best, and below average in a most cases. Had their sampler 1 for appetizers with toasted ravioli which was pretty good. The Spedeni wasn't as good, too much moisture in it, and not enough seasoning. The stuffed mushroom tasted like one you'd get in the freeze aisle at your local grocery. You had a choice of soup or salad, but if you get a salad your only dressing choice is their house Italian. The Minestrone was almost as good as the Progresso stuff from a can, which isn't saying much. For entrees we tried the Portabella Parmigiana which was over cooked and kind of greasy, indicating a less than great cheese choice on their part. The Steak Saluto was okay, the mushroom stuffing was pretty good. The heavy (waitress' description) wine sauce wasn't heavy tasting, it tasted burnt which pretty much wrecked the dish. Both entrees came with a side of pasta. The tomato pesto sauce lacked much flavor, and the garlic vodka was a little better, but still lacking punch. Overall not a great food experience, though the waitstaff was nice, and at 5:30 Friday we were surprised to get seated fairly quickly.
(2)
Mike L.
The pasta selection is excellent and very diverse. All the string pasta and filled pasta's are top-notch and very authentic. All the meat and seafood dishes are good. The rolls are some of the best I have had. Not a fan of their pizza, especially anything with sausage. Among the best authentic Italian food in the area.
(4)
Derek W.
Place is overpriced and the service I received on a take out for pizza was not a great experience. When we got home the pizza was not cut and toppings were all over. When you say the order will be ready in 25 minutes and I wait 40 minutes without an apology that ain't cool! The place was so much better 5 plus years ago.
(1)
Jasmine S.
It was the worst dining experience I have ever had... We did a girl's night out here, and it started out ok...but everything went down hill from there. The food itself was not bad, but the night we went they claimed they were having "kitchen"issues. Unfortunately, all I could smell was racial insecurity. The treatment we received was less than favorable. They did a great job of making sure that we never step a foot back into their establishment. Bathroom - Needs to be updated sub-par at best Servers - Need better training on how to handle confilct Atmosphere - Not a place you want to go to if you are a minority Food - This is the the thing...the food was not bad So sad that instead of seeing the color of our money, it was the color of our skin that led to the inequality of service, and ultimately led to a lousy dining experience. Avoid this place, there are other fantastic eateries that are better in service and quality of food. Never going back....Period.
(1)
Stella S.
The sauce was bland and their prices are a little on the higher side for what you're getting. I didn't care for the calamari as it didn't have enough breading. Also when I ordered a pound of it to go they only gave me a small teeny cup of marinara sauce. I don't think I'll come back. The food was decent but not worth the price tag.
(2)
Cass P.
Locally owned, which is always nice. The portions are huge, which is great because the price is also huge! Delicious food. The decor is a little old and the women's bathroom is even older. The first time we walked in, we saw a woman eating Mexican food.. so I got a little scared at first. Maybe she was a manager or something..? The food is good but pricey, you'd expect a nicer decor. The restaurant itself could use a remodel.
(4)
Kate S.
Although we had to wait a few minutes to be seated (the hostess was helping a private party) at least four different servers acknowledged us and said someone would be right with us. Thank you. Server knew the menu and actually bright out a sample of the dish I wanted to order to make sure I would like it. Try the Saluto sauce. Yum. The dish came out steaming hot. Also recommend the salad with homemade dressing. The pasta is also made fresh. I will most definitely be back!!!
(4)
Dan H.
I had salutos for the first time a couple weeks ago. I went with my girlfriend and we ordered the pizza. The pizza was really good, tasted like a high quality thin crust pizza. The ingredients were fresh and flavorful. The prices were fair and the service was great. We also ordered the garlic bread that came covered with garlic and olive oil. it was awesome. My only negative was it seemed extremely dark, sitting in my booth I had to use my cell phone to light up the menu so I could read it.
(4)
Tiffany L.
salad dressing. everything else is just ok.
(3)
Chad H.
One of my top 10 favorite restaurants in the world. I don't know why, because everyone I know only finds this place so-so. But for some reason, I just love it. From start to finish the food is delicious. They have amazing rolls (I'll eat like 4 during the meal) and a fantastic salad dressing. They bring the salad out in a big bowl for everyone at the table, and the dressing is so good it makes me actually go back for seconds on salad (which never happens). For my entree, I always order something with alfredo sauce. I'm kind of a freak, and I don't like tomato sauce, so I can't comment on that. However their alfredo sauce is delcious! It's super creamy and rich, just the way I like it. Their plain spaghetti covered in alfredo sauce is my favorite dish, but sometimes I'll get other things, like white pizza or stuffed ravioli. They used to have an amazing seafood lasagna (with alfredo sauce, shrimp, and crab) but last time I was there it was no longer on the menu. So, yes, I admit it, I love Saluto's, even if none of my friends do.
(5)
Ruben P.
I went here right after i left THAT PASTA PLACE(read my other review) and it didn't get much better. The food was very expensive and i got a steak dish with this read sauce that was so over barring that i couldn't taste any of the food. The waitresses could be a little nicer, it almost seemed forced. The pasta is to thick and bland. I've had better. Is the only place to get good food is the city?
(2)
Anna P.
Salutos used to be great, but recently the prices have gone up and the quality of food and service has gone down. The fresh pasta is WAY too thick and bland for me, the bread rolls are not homemade anymore, the pizza is sloppy and tastes just okay. The restaurant was remodeled a while back and each room gives you a different feel. The side room is really informal and old-looking, the main room is very dark and drab, the newer bar is bright and fun ... very weird layout!
(2)
Heather A.
This restaurant has been around since I was a kid (~18 years) and has always served up great food for a moderate price. (Check for coupons in those weekly envelopes or in the Clipper magazines to make it really worth your while!) The cuisine is predominantly Italian. They have some of the best pizza in Lake County (my second favorite only to Giordano's stuffed crust)!!! It's a perfectly spiced pizza with a buttery crisp crust. The pepperoni is thick nad really makes a statement on the thin crust pizza! And, their salad and rolls beat out even Olive Garden! The dressing is homemade (and resembles the color of grass) and is spectacular. Rolls always come out hot, buttery, garlicky, and soft soon after putting in your drink order. There is also a great selection of noodle/sauce dishes, including some with chicken and shrimp. The best appetizer, if you'll think you'll have room, is the Spinach & Artichoke dip with bread. Again, a perfect blend in the dip of cheese, spinach, artichoke, oils, and spices to make your mouth water! Nom nom!!! If you live in the area and haven't tried it out yet, give it a go and you're sure to go back!
(4)
ashley m.
Best salad EVER & pasta is fresh & delish! :)
(4)
Michelle M.
I have been going to this restaurant since I was a kid (15+years) and have always loved it. The bread and salad are the best I have had from any restaurant. I LOVE the chicken alfredo and I always ask them to add sauteed mushrooms to it-very yummy. Now with all that being said, the restaurant has changed over the years, and not for the better. The portions, although huge have gotten smaller and the price has gone up. Originally they were a little pricey but it was worth it given the amount of food you got. Now it's hard to justify the price when the portion is so much smaller. It makes me sad because we don't go there much anymore due to that. I hope they adjust that a bit so we can visit more often because they really do have good food!
(3)
Greg G.
Absolutely typical Lake County garbage. I moved up here from the city two years ago, as the housing up here is much more affordable, but the food is for the most part lousy. Went here once, and once is enough. Do not try the pizza, thats for sure.
(1)
Sarah L.
I was surprised by the low reviews of Saluto's! I have been coming here for years. I just came here on Saturday night with the fam and my soon to be hubs. We have been searching high and low for a place to have our rehearsal dinner in a couple of weeks. We finally decided on Saluto's. The staff was very friendly and they went over all the options for the rehearsal dinner. We have a private room off the the side of the restaurant. They truly do have awesome salad dressing. It's a pesto mix and it can't be too healthy for you! You can buy it there by the pint. Their pasta sauce is amaZING! It has great flavor and it has bits of black olives in it. I just can't get enough of it! I had the tortellini with marinara sauce. I was so full from the salad and appetizers I had 4 bites and had the rest wrapped. I will do an update after the rehearsal dinner. I can't believe some people compare this to the Olive Garden! Saluto's isn't a crappy chain, it's a small town family owned restaurant.
(4)
Matthew A.
Probably better than the Olive Garden. If you don't want to brave the wait at the Olive garden by Great America, consider driving a bit further down the street to Salutos. Several great dishes were had, with interesting flavor combinations that you don't see in the average Italian fare. Plus the salad dressing is like nothing I have ever had before, very good indeed. Roloto had a super thick Alfredo sauce. Mostacholi had a somewhat spicy marinara sauce. Service was a bit spotty at times, but not too bad. I would definitely come back instead of waiting for Olive Garden.
(4)
Greg L.
Doing the Six Flags thing and staying overnight so we could be at the park early, we looked and searched for a non-franchise place to have dinner. Stevens Restaurant was too formal and from the looks of things and the reviews here we decided this was worth a try. Things began really well and the Cheese/Artichoke Fondue appetizer was outstanding. Really, really good. The salad dressing is okay, but not something I would rave about. They have lots of it made and in containers for take home, but no one at our table felt it was good enough to warrant taking it home. We had a wide variety of dishes at the table and none of it was very good. The Veal Piccata was very mushy and floating in a very congealed sauce that looked like it came from a can seconds earlier. Flavor wise, it tasted like it came from a can. The thin crust pizza (just cheese and sausage--nothing exotic) was pretty bad. I could not recommend it at all, and would not eat it if it was free. The pan pizza did not fare much better. Not much flavor, cheese not melted all the way through and just blah. Waitress was a real pro and a pleasure to meet, and very attentive. She made an otherwise poor dining experience at least bearable. Doggy bag went right in the trash, and that made us feel even worse. Just couldn't think of reheating and re-eating it.
(2)
Blake Z.
So I decided to try this place out after reading the mixed reviews. Basically this place is great in some areas and not so great in others. So here is the breakdown of my visit. My wife and I arrived and went to the hostess podium to see about getting a table. The hostess was a complete space cadet. She was rambling on about some lady who was there and then left and she was finding her a table. She was confused about who to seat first. We had a nice laugh about it with the other couple waiting for a seat. So the hostess takes us to a booth that is right next to the doorway to the kitchen. Which means there is a ton of employee foot traffic and we can see right into the kitchen. The hostess says "Oh you two are young we can stick you here and you won't mind!" Which we really didn't mind, but was pretty ignorant for her to say that to us. So the tables have vinyl table cloths that look terrible and the silverware is wrapped in paper towels. We order our drinks and the waitress was great! My wifes ice tea and water come to the table in disposable looking plastic cups. My rum and coke was served in a glass and was mixed well, but a little watered down. We order our food and the salad and bread arrive. They give us nice plastic plates for our salad. As others have stated the dressing is to die for! The bread was so so. The food is great! The pasta is all homemade and everything was made wonderfully. The server was great and very tentative. My first impression when we walked in was not so good and had I walked out before eating the food I would have never gone back. This place is loud and the table setup is cheap, but the food is outstanding. I will be back, but will be better prepared. This isn't a good place for a date nor is it any sort of fine dining, but if you want great food this place is great.
(3)
Richie D.
Salutos was for sure one of my favorite childhood restaurants. Their Italian food existed before the Olive Garden, and their recipes haven't changed a bit to this day. Their salad dressing, as anyone would agree, is SUPERB (and somewhat healthy)! They even used to sell it in the grocery stores, although I'm not sure if you can still purchase anywhere other than at the restaurant. The keep-it-coming bread rolls are super soft and also unforgettable. All the dishes are delicious but their lasagna and ravioli stick out from the rest. Lastly, the interior is pleasant with fake trees and Christmas lights. It's always wonderful to see them busy since it's an independently owned, family business still going strong!
(4)
Kristin K.
My husband and I love this place!! We dine in and carry out dinner and lunch from Salutos on a regular basis. Their food is always amazing!
(4)
Rich A.
Good pizza and Italian.
(3)
Diane L.
Will not be going back anytime soon. My husband and I went for dinner and our meal consisted of 1 iced tea and 2 meatless pasta dishes and our bill was $35! Really?? $16 each for a cheese ravioli and pasta with olive oil and garlic??? Also, our service was terrible. We love the salad and rolls there but for the price the food wasn't that great.
(1)
Steve O.
I like the eggplant. Salad is top notch.
(3)
Lindsay D.
I loved this place from the moment I walked in. The service is fantastic, the food is great, and the prices are reasonable. Their homemade salad dressing beats Olive Garden's. The pasta is freshly made and is some of the best I have ever had. Even their pizza is good! I have gotten several different items off the menu and have never been disappointed. My recommendations are their lasagna, pizza, but definitely their house salad. If you are looking to not spend a ton of money and still get good food and great service then this is definitely the place to go.
(5)
Steve S.
Salutos is a family owned local Italian restaurant. Since I live close, I have been there a few times. My favorite is the classic lasagna...its a chunk the size of the plate! The best thing about this place is the salad dressing. Its a basil dressing that is green! The downside is the pasta sauce is very bland. Nice atmosphere, good place to go if your in the area. Still better than Olive Garden in my opinion. Olive Garden is microwaved Italian Food presented on a plate really nice....
(3)
M M.
Congratulations Saluto's. You hit for the bad restaurant cycle: god awful food, terrible service and non-existent atmosphere (you can add over priced for the quality of the food and experience). If the pasta is homemade, I really don't want to the see whose home it was made in. Waitress was totally clueless about the basics of taking care of tables. Needs to be re-trained (or trained in the first place) on the art of table touches. Disappearing for 10 minutes at a time, trouble refilling drinks in a timely manner and having no sense (or concern) that your table hasn't received their food. Food was virtually inedible. The kitchen even screwed up frozen mozzarella sticks (they arrived with the centers cold which was kind of ironic given it took forever to get our food - the cheese didn't spend enough time in the fryer.). When we asked for a manage to come to the table, they never showed. The family next to us actually walked out after waiting an hour for their food. When we finally paid our check (up front because there was not way we were going to wait any more time) we explained our disappointment with the meal and there solution was to offer us $10 off to comeback and be abused again. Anybody who rates this place above 1 star clearly has been eating prison food for the last 6 months (in fairness I could see how eliminating the possibility of getting shanked in the prison cafeteria could earn a place an extra star). I give this place 6 months before it collapses under the weight of their own incompetence, which is really sad because I actually remember when this place was good 10 years ago. We should have known it was going to be a bad experience when we walked in during prime time and there was no wait on a Saturday night.
(1)
El C.
The food I haven't had it enough to know if it is good or not. But if you like to feel like your money is important to them, it is not the place to go. Very poor customer service. My mistake was not checking my to go order after I picked it up. I drove all the way home only to realize my main dish was not included, even though it was paid for. I called them immediately. The woman was very confused and hard to understand over the phone...poorly educated? I asked her to refund my card for the dish not included. She placed me on hold. Needless to say she offered to put a credit in the book so I could come back another day and pick up my missing food. I decided to pick it up anyway. I work in customer service and I am well aware of the mistakes that are made. I was not upset until I went back to pick up my salad. First the women hostess talked to server and ignored my presence. Then the women/hostess who looked like she had been run over by a truck issued an apology and said "It wasn't me it was the owner". No compensation at all for their mistake. At that point it was near 9 o'clock at night, my daughter was sleepy and I was starving. Got home to eat a cold bag of fries and rolls and enjoyed the salad. Poor customer service. The owner who checked me out seemed honest and nice its to bad his staff is rude and does not know how to handle mistakes. I would have had the food delivered since my trip is 15 minutes. My patronage will no longer be to this establishment. First and last time.
(1)
Kelly F.
I've been to this restaurant several times in the past few years and I can't say that I've had a bad dish. My most recent visit was this past Sunday with my parents and my seven month old daughter. We went in the late afternoon, before the dinner rush. We were seated right away. There were several other families with small children, so I didn't need to worry as much about the noise level if the baby started wailing (which, she thankfully did not!) The server took our drink order right away and went over the specials with us. Once we placed our food order it was brought out pretty quickly. I had the Eggplant Parmigiana sandwich, and while it was not the best Eggplant Parmigiana I've ever had it was still quite good. The fries were fantastic, crinkle cut and dusted with rock salt. I could have eaten a whole plate of those! My dad had the Meatball sandwich, which he said was good. My mom had the Grilled Chicken sandwich, which she said was good as well. All in all, a good dining experience. I enjoy eating here, and will definitely be back!
(4)
Pamela L.
I've been going to Saluto's for many years and the food it always great. Their wait staff doesn't have a high turnover, so there's always a familar face. The food is excellent, I recommend the shrimp scampi... the salad is to die for! Great dinner rolls too. They also have carry out which is a really nice option. At Christmas, the restuarant is beautiful with a floor to ceiling Christmas tree in the center of the dining area. Definitely try it!
(4)
Jessica B.
I think Saultos' catering is the best feature of the restaurant. The food to go is always fresh and delicious and resonably priced. The salad is amazing.
(4)
Eileen H.
This place has mediocre Italian food, but their house salad is absolutely delicious! I think the dressing has crack in it or something, because it's so freakin' good.
(4)
M N.
I loved it! From the moment I walked in, I felt comfortable - this is hard to do when you travel a lot and are not familiar with the locals. Food was great! especially the salad dressing, fantastic. Service was good, too. I highly recommend it.
(5)
Vinny The Vacuum S.
This is your average italian restaurant - nothing special. Since I live very near, we go here when we don't feel like cooking. I always get the chicken parmasean b/c it's the most filling item on the menu. They have a substantial menu but everything is priced about the same (+/- $1) so you're better off going big and taking a doggie bag home. I've had better Italian food at Olive Garden and if this place was not walking distance from my house I would frequent Olive Garden more often.
(3)
M B.
Honestly, not a big fan. I lived really close to Salutos growing up and we went there often. I was never impressed. The salad dressing was always the best part of the meal, the pasta and other entrees are just not very good. It's typically bland and improperly cooked. I really WANT to like Salutos, but they haven't given me much reason to.
(2)
Pauline M.
I had to sit and really think about the rating. In my head I was thinking 4 stars, but in my heart I couldn't come up with a reason to subtract the one star. My boyfriend lives out this way (I live in Bowmanville in the city) so a good restaurant may seem hard to find, but it really isn't! He took me here on our first serious date, (romantic dinner, nice drive around chatting- basically all our time before and since involve our friends and copious amounts of BEER- in a totally awesome way) and we sat in the bar area in this loft type situation where they have a giant fake tree covered in Christmas lights. It was so nice! We have been back many times since and have brought our friends and family along with us, and they all love it. It's a nice big restaurant that seems to have started out smaller but has evolved into an overgrown Olive Garden type place (but it still feels family owned). So let's get to the list: The Good: PARKING. Oh suburbs, you know not the joy of never having to drive around for 45 minutes to find a parking spot, then wait another hour before you are seated to eat... Atmosphere. I've never been here when they are on a wait because they seem to have made the restaurant large enough to accommodate everyone. The decor is pretty cute. I think they were going for an "old world" type feel, but they sure did go heavy on the fake plants. But it works. The lighting is good, and the seating is always spacious and comfortable. I abhor sitting too close to strangers in a restaurant. Service. Our server Friday night was exceptional. Friendly, speedy, considerate of our privacy and yet still available. We always have good service here. I love the old hardened waitresses who are nice out of habit- no longer providing a service but just going through the motions like a robot. I like to make them smile. Anyhew! Food. Like Eileen said, the salad is phenom. You have to get it. The dressing is so good they sell it separately to take home. My boyfriend goes gah gah for the Chicken Parmesan and Shrimp Alfredo. I usually order a special. Any of their salmon dishes are fantastic. I should ask where they get their salmon, because it is so pretty pink, flavorful, flaky in all the right ways and never greasy or overcooked. They must have a great salmon chef or sumpin. For an app we get the Saluto Sampler #1, which has stuffed mushrooms (great), some kind of cheesy garlic bread and these fried balls of cheese. The salad, soup and appetizer are a meal in itself! We ALWAYS end up bringing more than half of our entrees home (they reheat well). The vegetables they serve on the side with the entrees are always deelish. Crispy, crunchy and fresh. Wow I guess I really like this place!!! The liquor is reasonably priced. It's my fault that I always order the least expensive pinot grigio. I gotta start spending my boy's money on wine (don't worry, it pays for itself in the end :) Desserts... well we only ever get the tiramisu- and that is AWESOME. The bad: Enh- it's far? If you are at Gurnee Mills and can't handle the crowd or the stench anymore head here for some goodness. There is a manager there that looks like your friend's mom that you never really liked. Like the one that would be like "oh, hello there so and so." then go back to smoking and bitching on the phone with her friend. She yelled at our server because I had to grab some silverware. I felt awful. She needs to chillax. They serve their drinks in like these plastic tumbler's that say "saluto's." Sigh... I'm torn. It seems like such a waste. Yeah you can take them home, but it's not very nice and rather wasteful. Ok so there you go. Highly recommended. I will tell you this- Saluto's IS a glorified Olive Garden, but in a good way.
(5)
Michelle A.
We ate at Salutos just last week while traveling on business. We come at least once every year. We love their unique and unusual salad dressing. Clear with minced green parsley it is a sweet refreshing and different choice to have and you can even purchase it bottled to take home. We had a sensational dish and one that was not. good at all. My husband had the House Specialty, Rotolo. The Menu describes it as "A Homemade sheet of pasta rolled around spinach, ham, ricotta, parmesan and mozzrella cheese, then baked and topped with our creamy alfredo sauce" In the first place the desciption doesn't begin to do it justice! It is not just an Alfredo Sauce, it is a fabulous multi-layered Sauce which is both rich smooth and creamy, one of the best we have had. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the ingredients in the stuffing correctly balanced. We will take the time to make this at home! Miy dish was a disappointment. I love Piccatta, and I am always open to new versions of the dish so I am not knocking it because it was different from what I am used to. My Husband aptly named it Chicken Foo Young with Capers and Yellow Sauce. The cutlets were dipped in egg and fried, if flour was used I couldn't tell. it was just plain eggy and it overpowered the chicken. The sauce was really awful. Thick and yellow with capers in it that stayed suspended as it cooled. I could not taste any lemon, or garlic and the capers were loney there were so few of them! Too much cornstarch was used and the sauce was not cooked long enough. The entire dish should be analized and remade for the menu. The remaining sauce on my plate lay there in thick wiggling globs. I will try it again if they change it. I always have Hope!
(4)
Sue S.
I have to say the food is just ok. My husband and I heard a few good reviews about Saluto's. We've had the pasta and the italian beef sandwiches at Saluto's. The beef to us is a bit dry both times we ordered (we tried a 2nd time around thinking well we did order the food late at night). We did ask for the beef to be dipped, but it still just seemed so dry and lacking in flavor. The pasta dishes, the sauce seems rather bland. The restaurant itself is casual and has plenty of seating. Staff is friendly too.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Vickie G.
I had the Italian Beef Pizza with Hot Giardenra and omg! this pizza blows Mickey Finns out of the water! it was so good, the beef was so thin and amazing, the giardenra was throughout the entire pizza so every bite you got that heat, the cheese was plentiful and light on the sauce, add some Parm. Cheese to that and its heaven! We sat in the bar area so I can't comment on the wait staff, but our bartender was attentive. I've been here before for just drinks and did take out once, I was not a fan of whatever I ordered a few years ago and stayed away. But I am so glad I ordered this pizza, while typing this I want to order another pizza!. This pizza is def. recommended!
(4)Michael M.
My wife and I dined here tonight for the 1st time. On 1st entrance, the decor was great and the bathrooms were tidy. We started with the appetizer sampler and chose the Calamari, Bruschetta, and Buffalo Wings. The calamari and bruschetta were good but the wings were simply breaded chicken. They were slightly seasoned but were not as advertised. Our waitress asked if my wife wanted a side salad and she said yes. The salad arrived in a medium sized bowl, too much for my wife and we ended up splitting it. The house dressing was good but lacked something. I can't quite put my finger on it but it was okay nevertheless. We split a pan pizza with sausage, mushrooms and onions and it was delicious. The crust was the best part and I rate it one of Gurnee's best. I had ordered a craft beer and when the check arrived, it was reasonably priced at only $4 a pint...a steal!!!! However, the "side salad," was a bit much and was priced at $5.99....This is unacceptable to me and although our dining experience was pleasurable up until this point, it ruined our view as we felt as if we were being taken advantage of. The salad was indeed a healthy portion but come on, $5.99? We will probably never return and that's a shame. How could you charge that much for a side salad??
(3)Jen W.
Have always loved coming here. However, today, i was disappointed. The server was very slow-- got to us about 20 minutes after we were seated just to ask us about our drinks. The salad was lacking ingredients-- one olive, one pepper... c'mon. Ordered gluten free pasta, and still received croutons on my salad... common sense? Food is always delightful, though. Just unenjoyable service. Waitress made a rude comment about how much I ate at the end...
(3)dru s.
This places used to be one of our favorite place to go. Last visit the waiter had a long day and had problem waiting on customer. We told management and they did noting abt it. Today(7.2.2015) we went in and they over charged us and said they served us dinner menu. When we asked why.. And that there is a mistake the manager says if you wanted a lunch menu then next time say you want lunch menu. At 2p. Why would anyone come in for a dinner menu. A word of advice to management / owners this is a good way to loose customers. Caz we will never come here again
(1)Pam S.
I had my son's rehearsal dinner here tonight and I was very happy with everything. The servers were friendly and attentive and the food was good! I would not think twice about having another event at Salutos!
(5)Mad I.
4/4/14 I can't believe I almost missed this place from the bad reviews.... Awesome Alfredo!!!! Great food, pricing&ambiance! It was a really strange choice to come here after all of the negative reviews, but I just had to see for myself. This place has been in business for a while, so what gives??? Well, first of all the ambiance is nice! Dim lights, cute faux Italian villa decor is perfectly fine by me, lol Parking not a problem, no wait on a Friday night... What we had: * The salad, yup, it is really that good! *Buns-mmmmm, nice job *Alpine pizza-alfredo DOUSED with gooey mozz for DAYS! Yum, delivered exactly how it should've, fake crab and all! *Italian beef giardiniera pizza-YUM! Served hot and fresh, and hot, as in spicy hot. Really good, even better than Finns! Reasonably priced beer and soda. Will be back!! Pehaps the pasta isn't great? Well, it did look great...... hmmmmm P.s-one stumble, if I had to say something..... our server Kristin was 2 thumbs down.....
(5)Alli R.
Very very good! Got the lemon picattia And my boy friend got the steak Saluto! Both very good even though we were very full when our entree came. We started off with calamari and the artichoke fondue! Both amazing we get them every time. Salad and rolls are so Delish! The dressing on the salad is homemade and irresistible. Love our waiter Jeannie she so nice did rush us at all! Definitely will be back!
(3)Ron B.
I really really really want to love Salutos. They are not very well located but close to my house, they have a cool concept of homemade pasta and everything about them makes you feel that you are being served premium pasta. However, every time I visit and eat their food I leave dissatisfied. I have tried many different dishes now and unfortunately I have not found one that makes Salutos any better than an Olive Garden. I'm really sorry Salutos but I think something needs to change in the kitchen. I've visited Francescas on multiple occasions and enjoyed their food much more than yours. Your minestrone soup is good though!
(2)Ed K.
Food is usually good but the service the last 2 times has been so bad I won't be going back other than to pick up some of their salad dressing.
(3)Kevin N.
Imagine if Olive Garden had never became the staple of American suburban Italian restaurants, and you'd have something akin to Saluto's. Owned by the same people as my other favorite locally owned steakhouse, Backyard Steak Pit, this place has some great options for you if you love Olive Garden, but don't want chain food. Start out first with the amazing house salad, which is superior to the garden with a sweet, tangy homemade herb dressing. We enjoyed mostaccioli with pesto and the pasta seemed to have been made fresh on premises. It was fresh tasting, but it was heavy. The portions are huge. I had some good ribs with a tangy barbecue sauce. Not too smoked, very moist and the meat fell off the bone as if they had been boiled a while and then quickly finished in an oven. They have a decent draft beer list which includes a couple of options from the local Warrenville, Illinois Two Brothers brewery. The Cane and Ebel Rye beer is excellent. The best part about the place was our very friendly server, who was attentive, professional and left us wanting for nothing.
(3)Janeen M.
About 5:30 pm, we were greeted by Linda, which we found out later was the manager. She asked if we wanted a booth or table. My daughters and I said nothing and when I noticed my husband did not hear the question, I answered booth. To our surprise she answered "Thanks for making a command decision". We were going to leave at that point, but decided to stay. We sat down and were greeted by the waitress, which did not know the specials, but was very polite. One of our selections was a salad, with dressing on the side. As she brought it to the table she dropped it. She then went to get another one and Linda walked by and asked sarcastically, who dropped the salad. The bust boy replies "Ashley tossed her salad". By this time we couldn't believe the lack of unprofessionalism in this restaurant. Upon our waitresses return, we were given a new salad with dressing ON the salad. She then took our order and we noticed that mozzarella cheese did not come on top of the three cheese manicotti and had to pay for an additional $1.25 per plate; we had two on our table. The food was brought to the table and the mozzarella cheese was burnt on both plates. We did see Linda throughout the time we were there, but she never said a word. She did greet everyone else in the restaurant, walked around and talked with them. She even asked other customers, if they needed anything and gave them their drinks. Before leaving we noticed the servers sitting texting on their phones in booths and a woman at the counter writing something. My husband asked for the manager and was told she and Linda were the managers. He told her what happened, and came up with an excuse for Linda saying, she was having a bad day. Upon leaving The other bust boy said to have a nice night, but by that time it was a mute point. It's ashame because my husband and I went their for New Years Eve and it was a great night, but tonight it was as though we went to a truck stop diner for dinner. Unfortunately for Saluto's, I think even the truck stop waitresses have more respect and manners, then Linda. My military family of four, will not be back. The atmosphere was very unprofessional, food was mediocre and prices were quite high. I do NOT recommend this restaurant to anyone. From now on we'll stick to Giordano's, Pizzeria UNOs or Friday's for dinner.
(1)Jackie F.
I want to like this place, I really do! I've been here 4 times throughout the years. The salad, dressing, and rolls are really good, that's about it for me. Maybe I'm ordering the wrong thing? In my opinion, the food is really overpriced. I ordered manicotti, it didn't even really look good. There was a watery puddle under the food. I despise al dente pasta, and like my pasta soft. These manicotti noodles were beyond soft, they were really mushy and the ricotta cheese filling was pretty bland. I've had fresh homemade Italian food, and this is most definitely not. Perhaps it was homemade once upon a time, but my dish was frozen then reheated. I barely touched it. Luckily, I filled up on salad and rolls. Leftovers went in the trash. Actually, I know the food is not made fresh because the first time I ate here my friend got a fairly large piece of Saran Wrap served with his meal. They gave us a free dessert. I do have to say, my 2 other friends really enjoyed their meals. I'm pretty sure neither of them have had an authentic homemade Italian dinner before though :) Maybe being lucky enough to grow up in an Italian family with amazing cooks, I might be a little critical. For me, this place is a little below average. Their salad is their saving grace. I will only return if other people in with really want to eat here.
(2)Amy L.
I have a love/hate feeling about this restaurant. The atmosphere is great. It is really cute and you can tell the owner wanted to really create a special environment for their guest. The service is always a coin flip. Either it is great or it is horrible. The food is about the same to me. They have a lot of sauces to choose from with pastas, which is nice. That said, there is a red sauce (not sure of the exact name), that has more RAW onions in it then tomatoes. It was horrid! I've gotten this in a few other dishes and it totally takes away from the actual food. Okay, I guess if you are a onion person this is totally up your alley, but I don't like huge chunks of raw onions in a sauce. They have a Portobello Mushroom dish that is amazing. And a Salutos Steak & Chicken that is really good - though this has a very strong sauce. Ask to try a sample of the sauce before ordering. It may not be up everyone's alley. They have an amazing house salad dressing, too! I have heard their pizza is really good - so I will be back to try it.
(3)Lisa L.
Service was super slow. Calamari was good. Lasagna was over seasoned. Cannoli was really good.
(3)Deon O.
Great house salad! Pizza is delicious...try the BLT pizza! I really love everything here.
(4)Ron S.
Yummy food, great salad rolls. Desserts need work though. Great service and staff. It is what it is, a local Italian joint with few frills but a cozy homey type ambiance. I recommend it !! Definitely preferred over the chains.....you know which ones I'm talking about.
(4)Christina S.
I try to keep my reviews in a positive tone, but this has to be said. Look, to the poster that said to other Yelpers, "don't bitch about the pasta", I say, "Whaaat???" It's an ITALIAN restaurant, period. The Yelpers that are commenting on the beyond lackluster pasta, are spot on. In my case, though this is my first review for Saluto's, I specifically asked the waitress prior to ordering, if the pasta was fresh and homemade on the premises, as claimed on the menu, to which she assured me it was. People, if this pasta is homemade there, they do it so poorly I found it unpalatable. Don't claim it's fresh and homemade if it's not gonna deliver in technique or flavor. I've got no problem with using dried pasta. So either use that, or, don't print it on the menu that it's fresh and homemade as some sort of claim to fame. It was awful. Just look at the picture I posted of the so-called fettuccine. Maybe it was fresh at some point, albeit still poorly made and seasoned, but it died a horrible icebox death long ago. The rest of the menu that I've experienced (half a dozen visits) is average with above average pricing-- as in expensive for what you get. But yeah, their salad is good, so, you know, there's that... Rant over. :-P Wow, how many times did I use the word, "homemade"?
(2)Linda L.
Even though we've been in the area for the warmer months and holidays for several years, have never ventured to this well known family restaurant. Was pleasantly surprised by the 12 foot Christmas tree with thousands of lights and beautiful ornaments twinkling and shiny. Met friends for dinner and had heard how fabulous the salad is. I have to say I was a bit disappointed by the bland salad dressing that needed more of a punch for me. I had squash soup which was very sweet and had a nice texture. My personal pizza was under baked but overall tasty. Just needed 5 more minutes in oven. I would go here again and probably try the pasta next time. Overall I enjoyed the atmosphere and hope next time the food would be better.
(3)Joe G.
Wait for food was long but it was good. Had the Alpine pizza. Still just as good as it was the last time I had it 10 years ago. Waitress was nice and attentive as you could be with a packed restaurant. Wife had veal picatta and she liked it and she is picky with food. Atmosphere has been the same as the first time I was here over 14 years ago with a big fake tree that actually lends some charm. Decent family restaurant.
(4)jim s.
the house salad was awesome with their house dressing the service was quick and friendly the beer very cold the italian beef was huge and very tasty the fries were good and plentiful we got to support these family run joints or the world will have nothing but the chains!!
(5)Amy P.
Great homemade pasta and salad dressing. Jeannie was fantastic! Thanks for the great service. We definitely will be back.
(5)Adam Z.
I haven't been here for a very long time until just a few months ago. When I returned, I thought it was really good. Calamari was better than most places, and I had a personal pizza which hit the spot. We wanted to come back to Valentines Day so I made reservations. We showed up and couldn't park for quite a while. It was crowded! We went inside and it was a wreck. They were short handed obviously and the hostess was struggling to both greet and seat everyone waiting. She said even with reservations, it would be about 30 minutes. I was visibly and audibly angry, but common....what fools go out on Valentines Day? Everyone.....and you can't just tell people to leave because someone has reservations..... We wait about 15m and were seated, but the pregnant girl serving us had a full plate. She was very busy. We figured the food would make up for it......LMAO! It didn't. The salad was good, but the Rotolo was gross. I couldn't tell if it was undercooked and/or something in it was no good. I tried reheating it the next day but I struggled to eat it. For a $17 dish I was mortified, but being as busy as they were I refused to send it back. My girlfriends mostaccioli was pretty bad too. We boxed up our mediocre pasta dishes and ordered tiramisu. It was frozen. We DID send that back. Then we paid the bill (which didn't have the dessert on it) and left as fast as we could, never to return again. Unless I want Calamari. That was good last time.
(3)Private I.
Saluto's was a good pick for a family meal. They have a building that looks nice from the outside and is pretty on the inside. We had a good meal with attentive service. The menu has a lot of the usual Italian favs, and we really liked the lunch options where you can build a meal around the sauce you want, pick the pasta, and add proteins or veggies. Price was decent too. Lots of parking.
(4)Tommy E.
I did not enjoy my dinner here. When I first walked in I was impressed by the atmosphere of the restaurant and seating time but then my expectations were greatly disappointed by the menu selection and ignorance of the waitress on the food and ingredients (my wife has food allergies). When we ordered appetizers they took much longer then needed and were bland and undercooked. Our actual food took about 45 minutes to get to us so by the time it got to us we needed to ask for the check to go. I ordered pepperoni and spinach pizza which was dry VERY bland and overall not a good pick. My wife ordered some pasta dish which she ended up not even eating because the noodles were extremely under cooked. When we were given out check(20 mins after we asked) we waited another 15 minutes for her to bring back our credit cards! Terrible dinner overall. 0/10 would not bang.
(2)Asjanik W.
The service at this restaurant was terrible. When my family and I arrived at the front desk, we were just stared at by 4 different servers. Our existence was not acknowledged until the fifth server who then alerted the hostess. Once we were seated our waitress was average. The food was surprisingly good though. I had the pollo salutos with red wine sauce and was pleasantly surprised. First impressions are big with me. The great food does not make up for the bad service. I will not be back to this restaurant.
(2)Tammy F.
It was our first time dining there tonight. First of all the acoustics in the place suck. It was so loud. And to top it off we had screaming kids next to us. So the experience started out terrible. We ordered the artichoke/cheese appetizer - we were barely able to find any artichokes in it. When the salad came, it was literally all toppings (mostly onions) with a handful of lettuce at the bottom. We each had to scrape together a tiny salad for ourselves. I don't eat pasta anymore, so I ordered mixed vegetables with my Chicken Marsala. I had to wait for the vegetables because the server forgot to put the order in. When I got the veggies, it was mostly peppers with like literally three zucchini pieces thrown in. I'm allergic to peppers. I'm sorry - but a plate of peppers doesn't constitute mixed vegetables! When I talked to the manager about it (and keep in mind I wasn't looking for any compensation, I just wanted to make her aware of the experience), she kept putting the blame back on me for not complaining sooner, not saying anything about the salad, etc. Plus she kept making faces and rolling her eyes. I'm a culinary student. Our chef instructors are teaching us to deliver great entrees at great value, and that the restaurant is there to please the guest. That salad should have NEVER made it out of the kitchen looking like that. And as I say - a plate of grilled peppers does NOT constitute mixed vegetables. I think what I really take umbrage to is that the manager took this attitude of "Well I can't control EVERYTHING." and "You should've asked for more lettuce, you should've asked what vegetables were in the mixed vegetables." OMG really? And then the attitude at the end "Well what do you want me to do for you?" And that question of apparent appeasement was preceded by a deep sigh - like *I* was the one inconveniencing her! $61 later, and we will NOT be going back or recommending this place to anyone.
(1)Jenifer W.
So we returned to this dump again because a friend wanted to give it a try, and I thought maybe I missed something the first time around... I didn't. Folks - bottom line this place needs to be avoided. They don't even merit my usual breakdown. The service was so poor at several points I thought about walking out. WHY does it take 5 minutes to come and greet the table, and another 7 minutes to bring back drinks? I'm stumped! The server was an order taker, barely spoke, simply looked at the next person like "are you gonna order, or what?" and waited. The food is a nightmare - even Gordon Ramsey couldn't save it. The pasta tasted like it was 10 years old, the sauce like it belonged in a nursing home, and forget the greasy, watered down, old-vegetables pizza.... Skip this place - I don't think in all my years reviewing that I've ever called a restaurant a dump - THIS place is a dump, and it's owners, even though multiple helpful reviews have cried out for change, don't care. AVOID.
(1)Kim P.
When I moved to the area a lot people told me to check it out. I didn't feel like it was anything special. I was looking forward to a yummy Italian neighborhood restaurant, but this isn't it. The salad dressing was good, but that's the only thing I actually enjoyed.
(2)Kirsten A.
It was my daughter's 14th birthday and she wanted to have Italian food. Salutos was recommended and we were in the area so we thought we would give it a try. The evening started out great. We were able to make a reservation and they accommodated separate checks. It was very cute and we thought our night would be great. We began with calamari, which was subpar at best, although the marinara was tasty! The salad, soup and bread came and we really thought our meals would be awesome as well. My husband ordered veal-parmigiana, the birthday girl ordered pasta with vodka sauce and I ordered a baked pasta dish that was supposed to resemble pizza. The veal was over-cooked and looked like mystery meat. My dish was not the same as described on the menu...in fact it was about 8 ravioli with sauce and baked with literally three slices of pepperoni. My daughter, the birthday girl, loves vodka sauce and was super excited they had it. When she got her meal we tasted it and it was like a mix of cheese whiz and Alfredo sauce. The comment was "well, our lunch was good". We were very unhappy but didn't have the heart to tell the waitress because she brought out a pretty tasty cookie with a candle and sang to my daughter. We ordered three entrees, 5 sodas, 1/2 order of calamari and two kids meals and our bill was $111.00 with tip and tax. This was very pricey for what we were given. We should have gone to our favorite chain Italian restaurant (rhymes with Barabbas), at least we would have known that the food would be exactly what it should have been. Save your money and make pasta at home... You will be happier in the end.
(2)Vishal B.
I love this place!! I am addicted to the homemade salad dressing and the salad in general! I ordered portabella Parmesan and it was excellent! The salad comes with the entree as well as piping hot bread rolls. I ordered a glass of Chardonnay and it was perfectly chilled, only $5 a glass, very happy. My friends liked what they ordered as well - eggplant Parmesan and manicotti. They have cleaned up the rust of the divider walls in the men's bathroom, it grossed me out before. There is a sweet gal you greeted us and sat us. Our waitress was very sweet and accommodating. Even at 9pm on a Saturday (that's late for folks here in lake county) the dining area was half full. Everything was fresh, homemade and satisfying. We will most definitely return to Salutos, might even host an event there if they do parties. The food quality is top notch, service is great and prices are decent for that quality and level of service.
(5)Thanh L.
3.5 stars Eggplant Parm with added chicken and calamari, which is not breaded, was delicious! I love their tomato sauce and their salad dressing! The bread was fresh and very good too...The only qualm I had was the side pasta (fettucine alfredo) was not so good. The pasta seemed freshly made, but it lacked deliciousness. So basically, everything but the side pasta was yummy and you should go get your grub on!
(4)Carol W.
Rude, rude, rude. Wait staff, bartenders ....the rudest restaurant ever. We called ahead with a large party and instead of being happy we were there with lots of adults who were drinking , the staff seemed like we were a big imposition. I can't even critique the food because we never got around to eating.
(1)Andreita C.
Our server michael, was very nice. Their salad was delish along with their minestrone. We also had yummy pizza. The restaurant was cozy. We are coming back to try their martins!!!
(5)Carl F.
In my view, not worth the time and just assume cook my own spaghetti and make my own salad. We have been here several times and tried the various items on the menu and it's safe to say that each time we left with, "I've had better and not sure we'll come back." I suppose everyone has their taste, and in several other reviews I see that people like the house special salad dressing. In fact, I think it's the only dressing you can get here. When we first came the waitress raved over the dressing, so we got the family sized salad and I must say, upon the first bite I felt as if I was duped for the dressing was odd tasting and not something I cared to have again. We did wait for some time for the pizza to come, which to be honest, I'm okay in doing providing that the pizza is good. By atmosphere alone it is clear that this is a neighborhood establishment thus I was thinking they have great pizza. Which turned out to be an incorrect assumption and I've had better at a pizza hut. On another visit, we learned from our mistakes and this time didn't order the salad or the pizza. Instead went with pasta dishes. It turns out that the home made spaghetti is not that great and I found it a bit chewy. For me, the sauce was runny and bland. If I go back to this place, it would be to try out the bar for that did look like a fun place.
(2)Brandon O.
This used to be one of my favorite local places to eat. In fact we had our wedding rehearsal dinner here way back in 1999! Pros: ~Love the unlimited salad & rolls, which taste great. Other favorites are the rotolo, and Steak Saluto. It should be mentioned that the Steak Soluto isn't appreciated by everyone! ~Large portions, we always have left-overs! ~Lots of memories! Cons: ~Service has become hit or miss! We actually stopped going for a long time because of the consistently terrible service! ~Prices are higher than they should be, considering the service and the available alternatives. Should have a better range of pricing for their meals. In the end we often go to the local Italian food chain(even though I don't like their food or salad as much) and skip out on Salutos. This is because they at least provide consistently good service with a good range and variety of pricing on their food. I still venture back from time to time hoping they'll work out these issues but it's been years and they remain unresolved.
(3)LeGene H.
Salutos is a little on the pricey side, but enjoyable. I usually get the Parmesan Trio, they have the best veal I've ever had. The steak saluto is very good but It has a very unique taste. (the server will give you a sample of the sauce)
(4)Jennifer J.
I've had not so great experiences in the past. Love the food, so tried it again. It was awesome!! Food, service, atmosphere, simply great.
(5)Ann M.
We went to Salutos last night about 7:30 pm, not so great experience: 1. When we entered, no hostess. one of the servers walking by and said "I'll go get the hostess". 2. When the hostess arrived she carried a cup of coffee and complained about how busy it was, put her coffee down to show us the reservations she had that evening. (Strike 1) 3. We were seated in a booth near a large 60th birthday party--VERY LOUD, hard to hear each other over. The room was very dim, the candle wasn't lit at the table. The decor fake Tuscan outdoor cafe. 4. The menu print was VERY small and hard to read in the dim light (Strike 2). 5. The waitress was friendly, nice, and met all of my special requests accurately--she even checked to see if they had decaf tea (which they did!). She lit the candle at the table (didn't help with the lighting). She did everything right, nothing out of the ordinary but efficient AND she left us alone. We put a high price on being left alone while dining. 6. Food--average: -The minestrone was average, if a little overcooked noodles. My salad was good, chicken cooked perfectly, salad EXACTLY as I ordered. The dressing was AMAZING! I REALLY enjoyed the complexity of flavor. -My husband had chicken parmesean sandwich, an average sandwich could be picked up at any pizza joint, but the sauce was weak, flavor lacking flavor, there was a large portion. 7. When we left, the hostess was at the front huddled with others never acknowledging us on exit. (Strike 3). 8. Parking lot is small so if it's busy, you will have a hard time parking. Salutos: We will never going to dine in there again--will order carry out and MAKE sure to get the salad dressing, it's a little slice of heaven.
(2)Genevieve S.
I have mixed feelings about Saluto's. I like the food for the most part. The Portabella Parmesan is tasty. The cheesecake is creamy and homemade (I think). The salad is delightful. But they fail at a few things; their pizza is not good, and their take out is rude. They charge the same price for take out as dine in, but there is no salad included. That is the best part of the meal! So, when deciding on dinner, Saluto's is an alright option, but not our first choice.
(3)Jenna V.
The salad and rolls are amazing here! Beer selection is also great. I really wanted to give it 5 stars, but.... the pasta is just meh. Also the portions are enormous but if you want to split a dish, you get a split charge, and that is on top of the already pretty high prices.
(3)Kim M.
I really like this restaurant. The staff are always friendly and the service is good. It has a cozy feel to it. One caution, though - it is a bit dim and the print on the menu is small, so be prepared with reading glasses unless you're less than 20 or have 20/20 vision in dim light. I love their salad and dressing. It's a great intro to a great meal. The bread is always warm and tasty. I could pig out on just the salad and bread and be happy, I think. ...but then I'd miss out on the great entrees. The pastas are great and perfectly cooked. The alfredo sauce is creamy and incredibly tasty. I highly recommend the Pollo Saluto and Rotolo combination. It's excellent. The Pollo Saluto is a chicken breast stuffed with cheese and prosciutto, and covered with a red sauce that's got a great smoky, peppery taste to it. If you're not sure about it, they'll bring you a sample of it. The Rotolo is like a wonderful Italian Ho-Ho, with multiple cheeses, spinach and ham rolled into a pasta and smothered in alfredo sauce. Heaven! The Pollo ala Alex is very good, too, if you're looking for a pasta entree that's not as heavy (less sauce, lighter sauce). I've been to Saluto's a number of times and never gotten a bad meal.
(5)Anita S.
Friendly service, decent food, big portions, but nothing memorable. The big tree in the lobby made the place feel dusty. Strip mall, suburban atmosphere...all in all, not bad but not great either if you want good Italian food.
(2)Ken M.
I have never had a good meal here. The only redeeming quality is the green pesto dressing. The food is bland, served Luke warm at best, not worth the expense and the service is inattentive and slow at best. Not a fan.
(1)T G.
This is quick. Salad and rolls= 5 stars. All Entrees= 1 star. Pasta is just awful and their sauces are just disgusting with maybe the exception of their spicy Ameritricana. The Rotolo used to be good.... I don't know what happened as it now has shriveled on my plate to puny portions and tastes tough and rubbery. Getting back to the salad and rolls. Wow! Unique house dressing is awesome and the rolls are very addictive as well. Too bad they can not replicate the salad success with the other parts of their business.
(2)Melissa O.
OK, so I need to write two reviews, one for the regular dining experience and one for our rehearsal dinner we had here. So, this is for the regular dining experience... The staff is very friendly and attentive and you are well taken care of here The ambiance is a little outdated, like other posters have said. It's dark, there is vinyl tablecloths and plastic cups for the drinks The food is ok. I don't see what the big fuss is about. It's kinda pricey too. I ordered the fettuccine alfredo and he sauce was very bland and watery and the pasta was mushy. All in all, it's an ok place, but not someplace I want to go to all the time. Now, we had our rehearsal dinner here and we had the 3 pasta package. We chose penne with vodka sauce, mostacholi with marinara sauce and fettuccine alfredo. The vodka sauce was really good, but the penne pasta was way too thick and had no flavor to it. I didn't try the other pastas, but they got mixed reviews from our guests. The service was great and the staff was attentive. We had the back room all to ourselves and had a very nice time. The cost was a bit pricey though, where if we wanted a meat dish (like chicken marsala for example, it would have been like $15 per person, as opposed to the $10 we paid for the 3 pasta options).
(2)Mike U.
One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Stopped here with a couple other families after a trip to great america based on the reccomendation of someone who grew up in the area. Moderately crowded by they did a great job of seating 13 of us with about 1/2 notice. Great service. I asked our server what she'd suggest between the lasagna and the steak saluto and she said the steak, you can get lasagna anywhere. I like someone with an opinion who doesn't suggest everything is equally good. Went with the steak and it was absolutely out of this world. I live about an hour away from here but would consider the drive just to come back for this fantastic dish. I would have gone with 5 stars but a few people in our party weren't thrilled with the more traditional italian dishes they ordered, but i loved the steak saluto!
(4)Mike Q.
I bid farewell to Salutos...last couple of times I have been here, the food quality has diminished and seems processed. Everything comes out with a lot of sauce, seeming to cover up other stuff. The portion size and prices are getting bigger and higher. They need a decor update and reduced portions with a price drop or a light side menu.
(2)John K.
I have tried to eat at this establishment on 3 different occasions. The first time they said they were very busy and that there would be at least a 1 hour wait, but there was only two other small groups waiting ahead of us, so we left and decided to go back another day. The second time we went in, they told us that hey had a big party in the back and they were not sure how long the wait would be, so we left. The last time we went in we stood there for about 10 minutes without being greeted by any of the staff. There was wait staff that walked by and obviously saw us, but no one had the fortitude to greet us or even say, "hi, someone will be right with you". So my wife and I decided that Saluto's was not worth it, and left never to return.
(1)FastButHealthy M.
Awesome setting and excellent service for a large, loud group of hungry hockey boys and their parents. On short notice they set our team up with all you can eat homemade pasta and healthy grilled chicken and veggies in a private loft area. Price was very reasonable but mostly the servers were so patient and pleasant going up and down those stairs all evening. Thank you Saluto's!
(5)Kim M.
Everyone has their "staple" restaurants, those dining spots that have been consistent year after year. You know the menu, the staff and what to expect. Salutos used to be one of those trusted restaurants. Now, cue sled and large hill. And so began Salutos fast and steady trip down, down, down. First it started with service issues. Wait staff that just didn't seem to care coupled with managers that seemed to care even less. Then came the changes to the menu. Not only were some of my favorite entrees removed, but the quality of the food changed as well. I kept going back thinking things would improve. Sadly, they have not. Insert unhappy emoticon here.
(1)Larry V.
Like most other reviewers, the rolls and salad dressing are worth the stop. I'm not a huge fan of tomato based sauces (except my own), but I love alfredo. There is a dish I've only found here at Salutos that is the best pasta I've ever had. I've been to this restaurant about 12 times, and I always order the Rotolo.... handmade pasta sheets layered with prosciutto and spinach, and cheeses, rolled, baked and topped with alfredo sauce. Never had a bad plate of rotolo!
(4)Deron J.
Good but average. Their concept would really be well served to revamp their sauce (red)- it is bland and below average. I LOVE their house salad dressing- yummy! One can buy some to go if he desires. Service is average and prices reasonable. This is not my favorite, but ok... The salad dressing brings me back for the occasional lunch.
(2)B L.
Holy crap! I can't believe this place does not have 5 stars. This place is really fantastic. The servers are ALWAYS nice. The salad dressing is what legends are made of. The garlic rolls are always fresh and hot and good. Steak Saluto? Don't mind if I do! I see a lot of the reviewers here are basing this on pasta? What? I mean seriously, why even get pasta if you're just gonna bitch about how much cheaper it would be to cook it at home? Everybody knows it's cheaper to cook it at home. Whatever dude. You know the definition of insanity is doing something over and over again that doesn't work, right? Ah well. Haters be hating, I guess. Try this place if you are up in the area and are craving a good Italian sit-down dinner. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Kevin L.
I'm all about skipping the restaurant chains to support local businesses. So when we have a craving for Italian food, Saluto's is the place to go for us. Honestly, I don't know why there are so many negative reviews. The pasta is made fresh, the food is really good overall, and the staff has treated us well, My wife and I have eaten lunches and dinners there, often stop by for pick-up orders, and we've even held a baptism reception there. Okay, so the ambiance isn't the best... it's really dark and the whole inside needs a makeover. However the food is what keeps us coming back. Try their fresh pasta with the vodka sauce or any over their sandwiches.
(4)Adam F.
Decent place! The food is good, yet the prices are high. The atmosphere is good, yet the prices are high. If you have the money, and the patience for slow staff, than go for some great Italian food! But if not, I suggest you pass for the day... There are still better Italian places within the area
(4)Meinhard G.
When going to Salutos with the family stay in the front dining room and enjoy the great pizza and pasta dishes, for lunch or dinner. Big plates, good prices and super friendly service, you can't go wrong. To have a bit more fun go to the back there is a large bar, very nicely decorated and a terrific bartender. They have a great on tab beer selection and many Martinis. Same dinners and pizzas are served in the bar, just a bit more fun. Chicken Parmesan as a plate or sandwich is never wrong, most dishes come with a salad and the home dressing - very good!
(3)Kymberly J.
I was impressed only with the cheesecake. They claimed on the menu that it was home made and it definitely tasted as such which is not what the rest of the food was like. It was not home made, it had to be frozen or canned or made by the kid down the street. I ordered their minestrone soup and "famous"rolls and a grilled chicken salad. Campbells could have done a better job making this soup. The noodles were mushy and it didn't taste fresh. Where exactly are these rolls famous? Prison? they were hard cardboard balls of dough, ick. Chicken on my salad was not grilled, it was browned in a pan. I was so hyped up because my friend recommended Salutos....
(2)Bob B.
Went to Salutos for the first time last night. Liked the atmosphere, but the food was average at best, and below average in a most cases. Had their sampler 1 for appetizers with toasted ravioli which was pretty good. The Spedeni wasn't as good, too much moisture in it, and not enough seasoning. The stuffed mushroom tasted like one you'd get in the freeze aisle at your local grocery. You had a choice of soup or salad, but if you get a salad your only dressing choice is their house Italian. The Minestrone was almost as good as the Progresso stuff from a can, which isn't saying much. For entrees we tried the Portabella Parmigiana which was over cooked and kind of greasy, indicating a less than great cheese choice on their part. The Steak Saluto was okay, the mushroom stuffing was pretty good. The heavy (waitress' description) wine sauce wasn't heavy tasting, it tasted burnt which pretty much wrecked the dish. Both entrees came with a side of pasta. The tomato pesto sauce lacked much flavor, and the garlic vodka was a little better, but still lacking punch. Overall not a great food experience, though the waitstaff was nice, and at 5:30 Friday we were surprised to get seated fairly quickly.
(2)Mike L.
The pasta selection is excellent and very diverse. All the string pasta and filled pasta's are top-notch and very authentic. All the meat and seafood dishes are good. The rolls are some of the best I have had. Not a fan of their pizza, especially anything with sausage. Among the best authentic Italian food in the area.
(4)Derek W.
Place is overpriced and the service I received on a take out for pizza was not a great experience. When we got home the pizza was not cut and toppings were all over. When you say the order will be ready in 25 minutes and I wait 40 minutes without an apology that ain't cool! The place was so much better 5 plus years ago.
(1)Jasmine S.
It was the worst dining experience I have ever had... We did a girl's night out here, and it started out ok...but everything went down hill from there. The food itself was not bad, but the night we went they claimed they were having "kitchen"issues. Unfortunately, all I could smell was racial insecurity. The treatment we received was less than favorable. They did a great job of making sure that we never step a foot back into their establishment. Bathroom - Needs to be updated sub-par at best Servers - Need better training on how to handle confilct Atmosphere - Not a place you want to go to if you are a minority Food - This is the the thing...the food was not bad So sad that instead of seeing the color of our money, it was the color of our skin that led to the inequality of service, and ultimately led to a lousy dining experience. Avoid this place, there are other fantastic eateries that are better in service and quality of food. Never going back....Period.
(1)Stella S.
The sauce was bland and their prices are a little on the higher side for what you're getting. I didn't care for the calamari as it didn't have enough breading. Also when I ordered a pound of it to go they only gave me a small teeny cup of marinara sauce. I don't think I'll come back. The food was decent but not worth the price tag.
(2)Cass P.
Locally owned, which is always nice. The portions are huge, which is great because the price is also huge! Delicious food. The decor is a little old and the women's bathroom is even older. The first time we walked in, we saw a woman eating Mexican food.. so I got a little scared at first. Maybe she was a manager or something..? The food is good but pricey, you'd expect a nicer decor. The restaurant itself could use a remodel.
(4)Kate S.
Although we had to wait a few minutes to be seated (the hostess was helping a private party) at least four different servers acknowledged us and said someone would be right with us. Thank you. Server knew the menu and actually bright out a sample of the dish I wanted to order to make sure I would like it. Try the Saluto sauce. Yum. The dish came out steaming hot. Also recommend the salad with homemade dressing. The pasta is also made fresh. I will most definitely be back!!!
(4)Dan H.
I had salutos for the first time a couple weeks ago. I went with my girlfriend and we ordered the pizza. The pizza was really good, tasted like a high quality thin crust pizza. The ingredients were fresh and flavorful. The prices were fair and the service was great. We also ordered the garlic bread that came covered with garlic and olive oil. it was awesome. My only negative was it seemed extremely dark, sitting in my booth I had to use my cell phone to light up the menu so I could read it.
(4)Tiffany L.
salad dressing. everything else is just ok.
(3)Chad H.
One of my top 10 favorite restaurants in the world. I don't know why, because everyone I know only finds this place so-so. But for some reason, I just love it. From start to finish the food is delicious. They have amazing rolls (I'll eat like 4 during the meal) and a fantastic salad dressing. They bring the salad out in a big bowl for everyone at the table, and the dressing is so good it makes me actually go back for seconds on salad (which never happens). For my entree, I always order something with alfredo sauce. I'm kind of a freak, and I don't like tomato sauce, so I can't comment on that. However their alfredo sauce is delcious! It's super creamy and rich, just the way I like it. Their plain spaghetti covered in alfredo sauce is my favorite dish, but sometimes I'll get other things, like white pizza or stuffed ravioli. They used to have an amazing seafood lasagna (with alfredo sauce, shrimp, and crab) but last time I was there it was no longer on the menu. So, yes, I admit it, I love Saluto's, even if none of my friends do.
(5)Ruben P.
I went here right after i left THAT PASTA PLACE(read my other review) and it didn't get much better. The food was very expensive and i got a steak dish with this read sauce that was so over barring that i couldn't taste any of the food. The waitresses could be a little nicer, it almost seemed forced. The pasta is to thick and bland. I've had better. Is the only place to get good food is the city?
(2)Anna P.
Salutos used to be great, but recently the prices have gone up and the quality of food and service has gone down. The fresh pasta is WAY too thick and bland for me, the bread rolls are not homemade anymore, the pizza is sloppy and tastes just okay. The restaurant was remodeled a while back and each room gives you a different feel. The side room is really informal and old-looking, the main room is very dark and drab, the newer bar is bright and fun ... very weird layout!
(2)Heather A.
This restaurant has been around since I was a kid (~18 years) and has always served up great food for a moderate price. (Check for coupons in those weekly envelopes or in the Clipper magazines to make it really worth your while!) The cuisine is predominantly Italian. They have some of the best pizza in Lake County (my second favorite only to Giordano's stuffed crust)!!! It's a perfectly spiced pizza with a buttery crisp crust. The pepperoni is thick nad really makes a statement on the thin crust pizza! And, their salad and rolls beat out even Olive Garden! The dressing is homemade (and resembles the color of grass) and is spectacular. Rolls always come out hot, buttery, garlicky, and soft soon after putting in your drink order. There is also a great selection of noodle/sauce dishes, including some with chicken and shrimp. The best appetizer, if you'll think you'll have room, is the Spinach & Artichoke dip with bread. Again, a perfect blend in the dip of cheese, spinach, artichoke, oils, and spices to make your mouth water! Nom nom!!! If you live in the area and haven't tried it out yet, give it a go and you're sure to go back!
(4)ashley m.
Best salad EVER & pasta is fresh & delish! :)
(4)Michelle M.
I have been going to this restaurant since I was a kid (15+years) and have always loved it. The bread and salad are the best I have had from any restaurant. I LOVE the chicken alfredo and I always ask them to add sauteed mushrooms to it-very yummy. Now with all that being said, the restaurant has changed over the years, and not for the better. The portions, although huge have gotten smaller and the price has gone up. Originally they were a little pricey but it was worth it given the amount of food you got. Now it's hard to justify the price when the portion is so much smaller. It makes me sad because we don't go there much anymore due to that. I hope they adjust that a bit so we can visit more often because they really do have good food!
(3)Greg G.
Absolutely typical Lake County garbage. I moved up here from the city two years ago, as the housing up here is much more affordable, but the food is for the most part lousy. Went here once, and once is enough. Do not try the pizza, thats for sure.
(1)Sarah L.
I was surprised by the low reviews of Saluto's! I have been coming here for years. I just came here on Saturday night with the fam and my soon to be hubs. We have been searching high and low for a place to have our rehearsal dinner in a couple of weeks. We finally decided on Saluto's. The staff was very friendly and they went over all the options for the rehearsal dinner. We have a private room off the the side of the restaurant. They truly do have awesome salad dressing. It's a pesto mix and it can't be too healthy for you! You can buy it there by the pint. Their pasta sauce is amaZING! It has great flavor and it has bits of black olives in it. I just can't get enough of it! I had the tortellini with marinara sauce. I was so full from the salad and appetizers I had 4 bites and had the rest wrapped. I will do an update after the rehearsal dinner. I can't believe some people compare this to the Olive Garden! Saluto's isn't a crappy chain, it's a small town family owned restaurant.
(4)Matthew A.
Probably better than the Olive Garden. If you don't want to brave the wait at the Olive garden by Great America, consider driving a bit further down the street to Salutos. Several great dishes were had, with interesting flavor combinations that you don't see in the average Italian fare. Plus the salad dressing is like nothing I have ever had before, very good indeed. Roloto had a super thick Alfredo sauce. Mostacholi had a somewhat spicy marinara sauce. Service was a bit spotty at times, but not too bad. I would definitely come back instead of waiting for Olive Garden.
(4)Greg L.
Doing the Six Flags thing and staying overnight so we could be at the park early, we looked and searched for a non-franchise place to have dinner. Stevens Restaurant was too formal and from the looks of things and the reviews here we decided this was worth a try. Things began really well and the Cheese/Artichoke Fondue appetizer was outstanding. Really, really good. The salad dressing is okay, but not something I would rave about. They have lots of it made and in containers for take home, but no one at our table felt it was good enough to warrant taking it home. We had a wide variety of dishes at the table and none of it was very good. The Veal Piccata was very mushy and floating in a very congealed sauce that looked like it came from a can seconds earlier. Flavor wise, it tasted like it came from a can. The thin crust pizza (just cheese and sausage--nothing exotic) was pretty bad. I could not recommend it at all, and would not eat it if it was free. The pan pizza did not fare much better. Not much flavor, cheese not melted all the way through and just blah. Waitress was a real pro and a pleasure to meet, and very attentive. She made an otherwise poor dining experience at least bearable. Doggy bag went right in the trash, and that made us feel even worse. Just couldn't think of reheating and re-eating it.
(2)Blake Z.
So I decided to try this place out after reading the mixed reviews. Basically this place is great in some areas and not so great in others. So here is the breakdown of my visit. My wife and I arrived and went to the hostess podium to see about getting a table. The hostess was a complete space cadet. She was rambling on about some lady who was there and then left and she was finding her a table. She was confused about who to seat first. We had a nice laugh about it with the other couple waiting for a seat. So the hostess takes us to a booth that is right next to the doorway to the kitchen. Which means there is a ton of employee foot traffic and we can see right into the kitchen. The hostess says "Oh you two are young we can stick you here and you won't mind!" Which we really didn't mind, but was pretty ignorant for her to say that to us. So the tables have vinyl table cloths that look terrible and the silverware is wrapped in paper towels. We order our drinks and the waitress was great! My wifes ice tea and water come to the table in disposable looking plastic cups. My rum and coke was served in a glass and was mixed well, but a little watered down. We order our food and the salad and bread arrive. They give us nice plastic plates for our salad. As others have stated the dressing is to die for! The bread was so so. The food is great! The pasta is all homemade and everything was made wonderfully. The server was great and very tentative. My first impression when we walked in was not so good and had I walked out before eating the food I would have never gone back. This place is loud and the table setup is cheap, but the food is outstanding. I will be back, but will be better prepared. This isn't a good place for a date nor is it any sort of fine dining, but if you want great food this place is great.
(3)Richie D.
Salutos was for sure one of my favorite childhood restaurants. Their Italian food existed before the Olive Garden, and their recipes haven't changed a bit to this day. Their salad dressing, as anyone would agree, is SUPERB (and somewhat healthy)! They even used to sell it in the grocery stores, although I'm not sure if you can still purchase anywhere other than at the restaurant. The keep-it-coming bread rolls are super soft and also unforgettable. All the dishes are delicious but their lasagna and ravioli stick out from the rest. Lastly, the interior is pleasant with fake trees and Christmas lights. It's always wonderful to see them busy since it's an independently owned, family business still going strong!
(4)Kristin K.
My husband and I love this place!! We dine in and carry out dinner and lunch from Salutos on a regular basis. Their food is always amazing!
(4)Rich A.
Good pizza and Italian.
(3)Diane L.
Will not be going back anytime soon. My husband and I went for dinner and our meal consisted of 1 iced tea and 2 meatless pasta dishes and our bill was $35! Really?? $16 each for a cheese ravioli and pasta with olive oil and garlic??? Also, our service was terrible. We love the salad and rolls there but for the price the food wasn't that great.
(1)Steve O.
I like the eggplant. Salad is top notch.
(3)Lindsay D.
I loved this place from the moment I walked in. The service is fantastic, the food is great, and the prices are reasonable. Their homemade salad dressing beats Olive Garden's. The pasta is freshly made and is some of the best I have ever had. Even their pizza is good! I have gotten several different items off the menu and have never been disappointed. My recommendations are their lasagna, pizza, but definitely their house salad. If you are looking to not spend a ton of money and still get good food and great service then this is definitely the place to go.
(5)Steve S.
Salutos is a family owned local Italian restaurant. Since I live close, I have been there a few times. My favorite is the classic lasagna...its a chunk the size of the plate! The best thing about this place is the salad dressing. Its a basil dressing that is green! The downside is the pasta sauce is very bland. Nice atmosphere, good place to go if your in the area. Still better than Olive Garden in my opinion. Olive Garden is microwaved Italian Food presented on a plate really nice....
(3)M M.
Congratulations Saluto's. You hit for the bad restaurant cycle: god awful food, terrible service and non-existent atmosphere (you can add over priced for the quality of the food and experience). If the pasta is homemade, I really don't want to the see whose home it was made in. Waitress was totally clueless about the basics of taking care of tables. Needs to be re-trained (or trained in the first place) on the art of table touches. Disappearing for 10 minutes at a time, trouble refilling drinks in a timely manner and having no sense (or concern) that your table hasn't received their food. Food was virtually inedible. The kitchen even screwed up frozen mozzarella sticks (they arrived with the centers cold which was kind of ironic given it took forever to get our food - the cheese didn't spend enough time in the fryer.). When we asked for a manage to come to the table, they never showed. The family next to us actually walked out after waiting an hour for their food. When we finally paid our check (up front because there was not way we were going to wait any more time) we explained our disappointment with the meal and there solution was to offer us $10 off to comeback and be abused again. Anybody who rates this place above 1 star clearly has been eating prison food for the last 6 months (in fairness I could see how eliminating the possibility of getting shanked in the prison cafeteria could earn a place an extra star). I give this place 6 months before it collapses under the weight of their own incompetence, which is really sad because I actually remember when this place was good 10 years ago. We should have known it was going to be a bad experience when we walked in during prime time and there was no wait on a Saturday night.
(1)El C.
The food I haven't had it enough to know if it is good or not. But if you like to feel like your money is important to them, it is not the place to go. Very poor customer service. My mistake was not checking my to go order after I picked it up. I drove all the way home only to realize my main dish was not included, even though it was paid for. I called them immediately. The woman was very confused and hard to understand over the phone...poorly educated? I asked her to refund my card for the dish not included. She placed me on hold. Needless to say she offered to put a credit in the book so I could come back another day and pick up my missing food. I decided to pick it up anyway. I work in customer service and I am well aware of the mistakes that are made. I was not upset until I went back to pick up my salad. First the women hostess talked to server and ignored my presence. Then the women/hostess who looked like she had been run over by a truck issued an apology and said "It wasn't me it was the owner". No compensation at all for their mistake. At that point it was near 9 o'clock at night, my daughter was sleepy and I was starving. Got home to eat a cold bag of fries and rolls and enjoyed the salad. Poor customer service. The owner who checked me out seemed honest and nice its to bad his staff is rude and does not know how to handle mistakes. I would have had the food delivered since my trip is 15 minutes. My patronage will no longer be to this establishment. First and last time.
(1)Kelly F.
I've been to this restaurant several times in the past few years and I can't say that I've had a bad dish. My most recent visit was this past Sunday with my parents and my seven month old daughter. We went in the late afternoon, before the dinner rush. We were seated right away. There were several other families with small children, so I didn't need to worry as much about the noise level if the baby started wailing (which, she thankfully did not!) The server took our drink order right away and went over the specials with us. Once we placed our food order it was brought out pretty quickly. I had the Eggplant Parmigiana sandwich, and while it was not the best Eggplant Parmigiana I've ever had it was still quite good. The fries were fantastic, crinkle cut and dusted with rock salt. I could have eaten a whole plate of those! My dad had the Meatball sandwich, which he said was good. My mom had the Grilled Chicken sandwich, which she said was good as well. All in all, a good dining experience. I enjoy eating here, and will definitely be back!
(4)Pamela L.
I've been going to Saluto's for many years and the food it always great. Their wait staff doesn't have a high turnover, so there's always a familar face. The food is excellent, I recommend the shrimp scampi... the salad is to die for! Great dinner rolls too. They also have carry out which is a really nice option. At Christmas, the restuarant is beautiful with a floor to ceiling Christmas tree in the center of the dining area. Definitely try it!
(4)Jessica B.
I think Saultos' catering is the best feature of the restaurant. The food to go is always fresh and delicious and resonably priced. The salad is amazing.
(4)Eileen H.
This place has mediocre Italian food, but their house salad is absolutely delicious! I think the dressing has crack in it or something, because it's so freakin' good.
(4)M N.
I loved it! From the moment I walked in, I felt comfortable - this is hard to do when you travel a lot and are not familiar with the locals. Food was great! especially the salad dressing, fantastic. Service was good, too. I highly recommend it.
(5)Vinny The Vacuum S.
This is your average italian restaurant - nothing special. Since I live very near, we go here when we don't feel like cooking. I always get the chicken parmasean b/c it's the most filling item on the menu. They have a substantial menu but everything is priced about the same (+/- $1) so you're better off going big and taking a doggie bag home. I've had better Italian food at Olive Garden and if this place was not walking distance from my house I would frequent Olive Garden more often.
(3)M B.
Honestly, not a big fan. I lived really close to Salutos growing up and we went there often. I was never impressed. The salad dressing was always the best part of the meal, the pasta and other entrees are just not very good. It's typically bland and improperly cooked. I really WANT to like Salutos, but they haven't given me much reason to.
(2)Pauline M.
I had to sit and really think about the rating. In my head I was thinking 4 stars, but in my heart I couldn't come up with a reason to subtract the one star. My boyfriend lives out this way (I live in Bowmanville in the city) so a good restaurant may seem hard to find, but it really isn't! He took me here on our first serious date, (romantic dinner, nice drive around chatting- basically all our time before and since involve our friends and copious amounts of BEER- in a totally awesome way) and we sat in the bar area in this loft type situation where they have a giant fake tree covered in Christmas lights. It was so nice! We have been back many times since and have brought our friends and family along with us, and they all love it. It's a nice big restaurant that seems to have started out smaller but has evolved into an overgrown Olive Garden type place (but it still feels family owned). So let's get to the list: The Good: PARKING. Oh suburbs, you know not the joy of never having to drive around for 45 minutes to find a parking spot, then wait another hour before you are seated to eat... Atmosphere. I've never been here when they are on a wait because they seem to have made the restaurant large enough to accommodate everyone. The decor is pretty cute. I think they were going for an "old world" type feel, but they sure did go heavy on the fake plants. But it works. The lighting is good, and the seating is always spacious and comfortable. I abhor sitting too close to strangers in a restaurant. Service. Our server Friday night was exceptional. Friendly, speedy, considerate of our privacy and yet still available. We always have good service here. I love the old hardened waitresses who are nice out of habit- no longer providing a service but just going through the motions like a robot. I like to make them smile. Anyhew! Food. Like Eileen said, the salad is phenom. You have to get it. The dressing is so good they sell it separately to take home. My boyfriend goes gah gah for the Chicken Parmesan and Shrimp Alfredo. I usually order a special. Any of their salmon dishes are fantastic. I should ask where they get their salmon, because it is so pretty pink, flavorful, flaky in all the right ways and never greasy or overcooked. They must have a great salmon chef or sumpin. For an app we get the Saluto Sampler #1, which has stuffed mushrooms (great), some kind of cheesy garlic bread and these fried balls of cheese. The salad, soup and appetizer are a meal in itself! We ALWAYS end up bringing more than half of our entrees home (they reheat well). The vegetables they serve on the side with the entrees are always deelish. Crispy, crunchy and fresh. Wow I guess I really like this place!!! The liquor is reasonably priced. It's my fault that I always order the least expensive pinot grigio. I gotta start spending my boy's money on wine (don't worry, it pays for itself in the end :) Desserts... well we only ever get the tiramisu- and that is AWESOME. The bad: Enh- it's far? If you are at Gurnee Mills and can't handle the crowd or the stench anymore head here for some goodness. There is a manager there that looks like your friend's mom that you never really liked. Like the one that would be like "oh, hello there so and so." then go back to smoking and bitching on the phone with her friend. She yelled at our server because I had to grab some silverware. I felt awful. She needs to chillax. They serve their drinks in like these plastic tumbler's that say "saluto's." Sigh... I'm torn. It seems like such a waste. Yeah you can take them home, but it's not very nice and rather wasteful. Ok so there you go. Highly recommended. I will tell you this- Saluto's IS a glorified Olive Garden, but in a good way.
(5)Michelle A.
We ate at Salutos just last week while traveling on business. We come at least once every year. We love their unique and unusual salad dressing. Clear with minced green parsley it is a sweet refreshing and different choice to have and you can even purchase it bottled to take home. We had a sensational dish and one that was not. good at all. My husband had the House Specialty, Rotolo. The Menu describes it as "A Homemade sheet of pasta rolled around spinach, ham, ricotta, parmesan and mozzrella cheese, then baked and topped with our creamy alfredo sauce" In the first place the desciption doesn't begin to do it justice! It is not just an Alfredo Sauce, it is a fabulous multi-layered Sauce which is both rich smooth and creamy, one of the best we have had. The pasta was perfectly al dente and the ingredients in the stuffing correctly balanced. We will take the time to make this at home! Miy dish was a disappointment. I love Piccatta, and I am always open to new versions of the dish so I am not knocking it because it was different from what I am used to. My Husband aptly named it Chicken Foo Young with Capers and Yellow Sauce. The cutlets were dipped in egg and fried, if flour was used I couldn't tell. it was just plain eggy and it overpowered the chicken. The sauce was really awful. Thick and yellow with capers in it that stayed suspended as it cooled. I could not taste any lemon, or garlic and the capers were loney there were so few of them! Too much cornstarch was used and the sauce was not cooked long enough. The entire dish should be analized and remade for the menu. The remaining sauce on my plate lay there in thick wiggling globs. I will try it again if they change it. I always have Hope!
(4)Sue S.
I have to say the food is just ok. My husband and I heard a few good reviews about Saluto's. We've had the pasta and the italian beef sandwiches at Saluto's. The beef to us is a bit dry both times we ordered (we tried a 2nd time around thinking well we did order the food late at night). We did ask for the beef to be dipped, but it still just seemed so dry and lacking in flavor. The pasta dishes, the sauce seems rather bland. The restaurant itself is casual and has plenty of seating. Staff is friendly too.
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