Yum. We had a great meal, slow but it's a Friday at 6:30. Pizza was crisp, mussels were fantastic, Kid's pasta was like an adult size. We'll be back!
(4)
Kristyn H.
I don't know if it was because we went on the later side of a Thursday night... But even then the food should have been better. I don't think a single thing that landed on our table was seasoned. My boyfriend and I walked out of there with a $90 bill. The chicken cacciatore was the greasiest plate of food I've ever attempted to eat... I had to move it to my bread plate to attempt to eat because it was spilling over the gigantic bowl onto the table. My boyfriends dish was a $22 bowl of water and butter.
(2)
Umm Hashim M.
Grilled veggie grinder fell apart as soon as I picked it up . I was given a refund without hesitation and received a free slice of pizza. Excellent customer service
(4)
Christina G.
We ordered the marguerite pizza. Very fresh and light. If recommend it! The decor inside was quaint, I wouldn't have expected this place to be so cute from the looks on the outside.
(4)
Donna S.
I got the margherita pizza and chicken Caesar salad and I was very disappointed in my $20+ meal. This was the most soggy pizza I've ever had, and it literally had one piece of basil per slice. Also, the chicken in the Caesar salad was burnt in some areas or it had old char from the grill or whatever they were using to cook the chicken , so it was not very appetizing.. I will give them 2 stars because the delivery time was 30min faster than expected.
This place has exceptional food & great service. It's hard to find good Italian food in this area. My wife and I had the chicken Parmesan, Penne à la vodka, and fettuccine Alfredo and they were amazing. The portions are huge! Dinner comes with amazing garlic bread & salad. The quality is superb and we would def go back for more. If you ate looking for Italian food then do yourself a favor and check this place out.
(5)
Anthony S.
Ordered the same thing from this place 3 times, a cheesesteak wrap, all 3 times my order was wrong!!! However, their paninis are awesome! I also love their fried calamari, penne alla vodka, and meatballs parmiggiano. Haven't tried their pizza yet, that's next. Go with the chicken broccoli rabe and provolone panini for lunch! Last but not least, this is the only place in town where I can find a traditional dish of southern Italia, pasta Puttanesca!!!!!! That means a lot to me.
(4)
James H.
Stopped here a few Friday's ago on the way into Ambler to visit family. We've been here several times, but this trip was really, really bad. I ordered the Shrimp Pizza, which I remember loving. I could be wrong, but I believe they've changed recipes, as the shrimp were absolutely tiny, clearly out of a can, and tasted VERY fishy. Not what I was expecting. I didn't finish my food, and I've only done that about three times in my entire life. My wife ordered the calamari salad, and the waitress said it was her favorite salad on the menu. It was supposed to come with oil and seasoning, but it did not. The calamari portion was a bit smaller than expected. She had asked the waitress about what came on the salad, and she either didn't know, or lied, because she said she could get kalamata olives on there for her. They weren't on the plate. When my wife asked the waitress about the dish after receiving it (essentially complaining), the waitress never returned. She avoided us like the plague. Why exactly does this Italian place not serve bread with dinner? First and only Italian restaurant I've been to that hasn't served bread. Strange. We left spending about $35 for a pizza that I didn't eat, a bed of spring mix with unseasoned calamari, and a mediocre cup of coffee. Next time we'll go to Arpeggio's.
(2)
Beeg R.
This place is rated Best of Takeout locally. Plus with all these great reviews in Yelp, I was excited to try it out. I ordered a chicken cheesesteak for lunch one day. The bread was excellent, and they used real chicken breast, but the sandwich overall is a bit dry. Last night we took out pasta with meat sauce and a prosciutto sandwich. The meat sauce was good yet salty, and definitely not good enough to cost $20! The sandwich was a much better value at $9, but lack something that I can't nail. Perhaps it lacks seasoning. (Maybe I'm spoiled with great Italian sandwiches in Philly.) The fries were excellent. The garlic bread that came as a side was amazing, though, kind of made up for the overprice meat sauce. We are not ruling out dining there one night to ck out the seafood entries.
(3)
Murphy W.
Some of the best pizza and italian around... BYOB is a nice too!
(4)
Doug R.
Elite must be competing with them because that review is obviously not the concensus. Great place. Nice people. Our waiter could not have been more accomodating. Pizza and sandwiches are very good. Best pizza steak ever. Entrees are what we usually go for and yes salad or soup comes w/ every entree.
(4)
John R.
Thia is my Grandfather's favorite restaurant. He took me here this week and I now know why he comes here all the time. The staff and owner are extremely friendly. He walks the restaurant and makes sure everyone is happy. Now onto the food. The pizza is excellent! I love that brick oven flavor! My grandfather had the Veal Saltembocca and it was great. full of flavor. Give this place a shot. They know what they are doing.
(4)
paula c.
I've been coming to Il Giardino for years and recommend it to strangers on the street! When we lived in the neighborhood, we went for lunch or dinner every two or three weeks. Now that I'm farther away, it is probably only once every 4-6 weeks. The pizzas are consistently delicious. My favorites are the white pizza and Tomaso (fillet of tomatoes, spinach, garlic, tomato sauce and mozzarella) but my husband and nephews love the sausage and pepperoni pies. The Marsala is delightful with plenty of mushrooms. I've never had a seafood dish that was not delicious and full of seafood. The Bolognese sauce is the siren song that lures my husband so strongly that the 20 minute drive is meaningless. The portions are generous, allowing for a yummy dinner and a great lunch in a day or two. The garlic bread is not only delicious but the reason my dad used to call Il Giardino a "vampire no fly zone." The garlic is never burned or acrid, always rich, aromatic and heart-healthy. :-) My only disappointment is the chicken soup appetizer (the chicken is dry, despite being in soup). In fairness, I'm a darn good cook but cannot make French Toast to save my life. Who knows! Everything else is wonderful! Let the cook who has never flopped a dish cast the first spatula!
(5)
Josh S.
This is by far my favorite place to eat. They have some of the best Italian food I've ever had, plus its BYOB. The Farfalle al Salmone is my favorite dish (bow-tie pasta with chunks of Atlantic Salmone in a pink sauce). Every dinner comes with homemade soup or salad which adds tremendous value. This place is great for hosting parties, they hosted my grandmother's 80th birthday a few months ago and it was a great time. The owners are all very nice, especially Peter and Rob. The wait service is top notch. I drive 45 minutes just to eat here.
(5)
Lauren K.
Don't let the outside appearance fool you, when you step inside and through the double panel doors you will be delighted with a small, intimate atmosphere perfect for a date, family outing, or girls night out. Please note, it is a BYOB so they do not serve any alcohol. The prices are a little on the high side but it is absolutely worth it. Great portions, freshly made-to-order meals, and very attentive staff. The owners are great and truly want to get to know their customers. They do take reservations and I highly recommend making one if you plan on coming in on a Friday or Saturday night as it gets packed very quickly. I personally prefer to go during the week typically on a Monday or Tuesday when I know it won't be as busy and I can be seated right away. Overall, I highly recommend you try this place, it is a hidden gem!!
(5)
Sarah K.
What an amazing place! A tiny restaurant on Bethlehem Pike in a mini strip mall. My family has been going here for a while now. This restaurant has the best pizza around! So many gourmet choices for toppings! Also, it's BYOB and they give you the best free garlic bread, slathered with garlic and olive oil. Although I've only eaten pizzas here, I bet everything is good. If you're going on Friday or Saturday night, call for reservations because there's only about 20 tables in the place.
(5)
Jodi W.
Yelp does it AGAIN! We were looking for casual but delicious red sauce Italian, close to home to visit on a whim on a Sunday. Took a chance on a highly rated Yelp suggestion and were NOT disappointed! First off, don't follow GPS to this address, its actually quite easy to find on Bethlehem Pike. Through the double doors is a charming dine in area which is BYOB. Super friendly service, and everything we ordered was delicious....and HUGE! Crab stuffed mushrooms were fresh, simple and delicious. House balsamic dressing perfectly tangy with a touch of creamy. Complimentary garlic bread, dripping with fresh garlic and herbs was sinful. The bowl of capellini bolognese was ENORMOUS. I'm talking took home at least 2 extra portions after filling my belly! He had seafood pasta which was also fresh, plentiful and tasty. I really wanted to try to "dream bomb" for dessert, but just couldn't....this time! A great casual neighborhood Italian joint, we'll be back!!
(4)
Lan H.
What a fantabulous date night with my favorite hometown chica at Il Giardino :-) I was stoked about trying out this Italian restaurant for a while now because I had not yet been completely satisfied with my meal at any of the other Italian restaurants (chain or not) I've been to...and Il Giardino seemed like the hidden gem of Springhouse as it is tucked away in one of many shopping centers on that side of Bethlehem Pike. Like Bacco, Il Giardino specializes in pizza (actually, I have yet to try Bacco's pizza, so stay tuned!), so it was time for the ultimate test: how does its white pizza play out? Was I setting myself up for utter disappointment, or was I going to be enlightened? White pizza is not exactly the most complicated-looking pizza around, but I only know of one other place that makes a few versions of it spectacularly (Top Tomato in Philly!!!). As serendipity would have it, I received two pizzas on this date night: one which I had ordered (prochuitto gourmet pizza) and the other that was free (Il Giardino white gourmet pizza) because the free one was apparently sent to my table by accident -- yay!!! It was a wonderful surprise, because the pizza was fantastic. The white pizza that eventually came out for me was also very delicious and is definitely in my top 3. The atmosphere, I must add, feels intimate not just because it was small (I would say that it's 1/10 the size of The Olive Garden) but because on this Thursday date night, there were people who were enjoying themselves around their respective dinner tables like families, even if they really weren't in the same family.
(4)
Heather S.
We have the pizza and mussels weekly! I was a loyal mussels marinara eater until I tried Il Giardino's white garlic mussels...now we have to get both! Great place, great food!
(5)
Nick C.
As a recommendation from friends we went here on Thursday night for a couples dinner. The exterior of the strip mall is deceiving of what tasty foods lie within. The waiter was very helpful and attentive. I had the special of the day which was the Chicken Saltimbocca. It was very tasty with a plate filled with sauteed chicken and prosciutto. It was accompanied by a side of pasta with red gravy. The red gravy was a little sweet for my liking, but was not bad. Everyone at our table thoroughly enjoyed their food, plus two people ordered the cannoli's- they were fresh, made on premise, and big. I will say that I thought the food was a little expensive ($15 for spaghetti and meatballs) as they do not include salads. Since it is a BYOB the prices are kept lower, however expect to pay $50 per couple.
(3)
J M.
Excellent food in good portions. I order Chicken Marsala frequently and always have enough leftover for another meal. Definitely has sauces with unique flavors.
(5)
Jen R.
We stumbled upon Il Giardino while running some errands in the area. Its truly a neighborhood gem. We had the grilled Calamari as an appetizer. We'd always had fried calamari so this was different but still very good. It came with a salad underneath with a vinegerette dressing which was very tasteful. I had the artichoke pizza. Steve had the proscuitto pizza. Both were excellent. I would definitely stop by here again when we're in the area.
(4)
E F.
I absolutely love this place and is my first place to go on a date or when I want some high quality food. The staff couldn't be more helpful and the owners are young and friendly as well as open to any recommendations you may have. I recommend this restaurant to everybody.
(5)
sherri s.
Great local restaurant although we really only do take out. Gave a 5 star because they make the best chicken cheese steak in the area! But I have a new favorite... the chicken panini! I crave it! They do a great job on their paninis...nice crispy crusted bread they flatten to make the perfect panini! Just wish the fries were a little better. My husband always orders the pepper and sausage sandwich. Once in a while he switches to their steak sandwich which is also excellent (...for a suburban steak sandwich!) Everyone is always friendly and willing to please. Great big sandwiches for the money. We are always pleased when we get our take out here! One time we ordered pasta for take out and with the huge amount they gave we enjoyed it for 3 days! That too was delicious!
(5)
Stephanie D.
I'm not sure. We frequent guiseppes in Ambler but decided we wanted to try something different for pizza, for different sakes. I yelped Il Giardino and liked the reviews. Our experience was not out of the ball park, it didn't totally suck either. We walked into the atrium, and no one was there to greet us but the ordering kitchen. I said, you have seating here right? that's when they told us through double doors. Once through, there is nowhere to stand while waiting for table. and no hosting booth to direct us. Fine. But we walked in with another couple at practically the same time. A waiter approached us immediately and asked how many etc. There were 4 open 4 top tables on the floor. We waited for what felt like forever, could have been 5 minutes to 10 minutes after the initial greet. Finally, waiter asks, who arrived first? I am confused there are many open tables why does this matter? We got seated in the last booth available and the other couple is told to wait until another table opens up, ten minutes at least. My assumption is they were low on wait staff or perhaps low on a chef, because they had three empty tables in the middle of the room, so why do two additional people have to wait. (If it were my restaurant I would have seated them at the first table temporarily and offered them complementary bread or soda, or wine glasses for their wine while they waited). Our waitress was awesome. she projected her voice well, and smiled a lot and was overall very friendly and attentive. And our food was good. caesar salad YUM! and we ordered the margharita pizza and it was great. thin crispy bottomed crust, top still had a good chew. we devoured it. It's a mom and pop shop kind of feel. The decor in the restaurant is a bit lack-luster. Place would look bigger without the booths, and being sat at a center table would seem less like a downgrading experience. In our particular case the one waiter knew the booth in front of us, and spent the majority of his time talking with them. It was actually distracting, because he hovered there above the booth and despite him keeping his voice relatively low, it came in right over the top of the booth. I felt like to have a conversation with my boyfriend I had to keep fighting against this other voice. It made me annoyed. Was that table his only table, couldn't he find some work to do? It wasn't a fantastic experience, but I can tell the food was good. Not a lot of the people eating in the dinning room seemed to be smiling or overabundantly happy. For a saturday night it was an older crowd. 3 stars because it was our first time, I intend to go back to try an italian dish. I am hoping our experience is a bit better.
(3)
Twin's Daddy V.
Very good food here overall. Their sandwiches and panini's are always great. The pizza good but not great. The entrees are excellent and they do a nice job catering too. The people working the phones and at the takeout desk are very nice. My one constructive criticism is for takeout orders which sit out at room temperature after prepared. It would be nice if they'd keep hot food warm/hot until you pick it up. Solution: get there earlier than when they tell you your takeout order will be ready. :)
(4)
RB B.
Service has gone downhill. The last couple of times, we've sat for over an hour before our entrees arrived. Had to keep remiding our waiter to bring things to our table.
(2)
Esther N.
Went to Il Giardino for first time Sat night with a Groupon. The place was packed and noise level was deafening. We waited about 20 minutes and were seated but it took another 20 minutes before a server came over and even gave us water. They have crammed in 3 rows of tables in a space that should have two and do not seem able to handle the volume. The food was delicious and portions were good for the price. Calamari salad had 3 tubes of very tough calamari but the dressing was delicious. Pizza and strombolis had delicious crust. The red dipping sauce is too sweet for my taste. The food would bring us back but the crowded slow service is a deterrent.
(4)
Greg L.
I don't give 5 stars out liberally, so I will give this a 4 star, because I haven't tried the pizza; only the chicken parm. The sandwich was heavy, weight-wise, which is a good thing. The weight of the sandwich is a great indicator of your dining experience, as soon as you pick it up in your hands after it is made. The weight will tell you how much or how little of the main ingredient is on your sandwich. Again, this was overflowing with chicken. I also get roasted red peppers and tomatoes on my chicken parm. This was one of the better chicken parms I've had, excellent. Tasty, abundant chicken... red peppers were zesty as well... will definitely be back, highly recommended!
(4)
Tim K.
Enjoyable - nice atmosphere, delicious pizza, great service
(4)
Debra L.
BYOB. This is one of our favorite restaurants. Prices are reasonable and the food is excellent. Pasta dishes and thin crust pizzas. Try it. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Eric S.
With an abundance of Italian restaurants in this area, it could be easy to overlook this particular unassuming grille in a nondescript row of shops. But the food is prepared with a distinct hand, offering savory bolognese, ravioli dishes, pizza and paninis. Food is as good eat-in as it is for take-out and, considering the portions, you'll find yourself taking out on more occasions than not. The wait staff has always been friendly and the interior has enough homey atmosphere to make for a comfortable and enjoyable dining experience.
(5)
Don G.
Lived in the area quite a while before trying this place. Boy am I glad I finally did! Everything I have ever eaten here is FANTASTIC! We order a pizza every week for takeout and eat here at least once a month. The service is very slow (and extremely friendly and polite) but they tell you upfront on the menu that great food takes time to make. Only gave 4 stars because the prices are kinda high and keep getting higher but it will take some doing to get them high enough to go elsewwhere to eat Italian food.
(4)
Samantha M.
Restaurant is now under new management but serving same menu. I found this out after making comment that food is not quite what it used to be & wondering why. Some of my favorite dishes aren't quite the same- sauces seem to be a bit less robust. Overall still decent but I find us going there less often now. Looking for other venues for our weekly comfort food.
(3)
Amanda F.
Probably my favorite place to go out to dinner when visiting my parents. It's a surprisingly pleasant interior considering it's shoved into a nondescript strip mall, and though it can get crowded and a little noisy, it's not too bad. It's good to make a reservation on a Friday night if you want to get seated right away. The fresh garlic bread is fantastic: fresh crushed garlic, parsley, and oil, usually piping hot. My family always enjoys what they order; I wouldn't know because I always get the same thing: the quatro formaggio pizza. It is a really delicious white pizza with the piquancy of gorgonzola and some sharpness cutting through all the creamy cheese. Leftovers are just as good cold the next day. My only complaint is that it is slow. Very, very slow, especially if it's crowded. This is nice if you're not in a hurry, but can also be extremely frustrating if you want to get out quickly. Waiters are always nice, though, so can't complain about that.
(4)
Annie A.
It took me three people telling me how great this restaurant was before I finally gave it a try. It is located in a small row of shops along Bethlehem Pike, and at first glance it just looks like a cheap pizza shop. Boy was I wrong! It is very cute inside, and the food was AMAZING. Loved their white clams casino pizza! One of my new faves for italian food! If only they had a better location with outdoor seating:(
(4)
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Address :907 N Bethlehem Pike
Spring House, PA, 19477
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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Pizza
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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.
Kathleen K.
Yum. We had a great meal, slow but it's a Friday at 6:30. Pizza was crisp, mussels were fantastic, Kid's pasta was like an adult size. We'll be back!
(4)Kristyn H.
I don't know if it was because we went on the later side of a Thursday night... But even then the food should have been better. I don't think a single thing that landed on our table was seasoned. My boyfriend and I walked out of there with a $90 bill. The chicken cacciatore was the greasiest plate of food I've ever attempted to eat... I had to move it to my bread plate to attempt to eat because it was spilling over the gigantic bowl onto the table. My boyfriends dish was a $22 bowl of water and butter.
(2)Umm Hashim M.
Grilled veggie grinder fell apart as soon as I picked it up . I was given a refund without hesitation and received a free slice of pizza. Excellent customer service
(4)Christina G.
We ordered the marguerite pizza. Very fresh and light. If recommend it! The decor inside was quaint, I wouldn't have expected this place to be so cute from the looks on the outside.
(4)Donna S.
I got the margherita pizza and chicken Caesar salad and I was very disappointed in my $20+ meal. This was the most soggy pizza I've ever had, and it literally had one piece of basil per slice. Also, the chicken in the Caesar salad was burnt in some areas or it had old char from the grill or whatever they were using to cook the chicken , so it was not very appetizing.. I will give them 2 stars because the delivery time was 30min faster than expected.
(2)Ashley B.
Large extra cheese pizza= foldable, gooey, cheesy deliciousness that is sure to make you close your eyes in pizza ecstasy! The fiancé and I have tried their pizza and salads twice now and fallen in love with it. The people on the phone for orders are so nice and the delivery guys have been super friendly! Good service, good food and good people will keep our business.
(5)Edward P.
This place has exceptional food & great service. It's hard to find good Italian food in this area. My wife and I had the chicken Parmesan, Penne à la vodka, and fettuccine Alfredo and they were amazing. The portions are huge! Dinner comes with amazing garlic bread & salad. The quality is superb and we would def go back for more. If you ate looking for Italian food then do yourself a favor and check this place out.
(5)Anthony S.
Ordered the same thing from this place 3 times, a cheesesteak wrap, all 3 times my order was wrong!!! However, their paninis are awesome! I also love their fried calamari, penne alla vodka, and meatballs parmiggiano. Haven't tried their pizza yet, that's next. Go with the chicken broccoli rabe and provolone panini for lunch! Last but not least, this is the only place in town where I can find a traditional dish of southern Italia, pasta Puttanesca!!!!!! That means a lot to me.
(4)James H.
Stopped here a few Friday's ago on the way into Ambler to visit family. We've been here several times, but this trip was really, really bad. I ordered the Shrimp Pizza, which I remember loving. I could be wrong, but I believe they've changed recipes, as the shrimp were absolutely tiny, clearly out of a can, and tasted VERY fishy. Not what I was expecting. I didn't finish my food, and I've only done that about three times in my entire life. My wife ordered the calamari salad, and the waitress said it was her favorite salad on the menu. It was supposed to come with oil and seasoning, but it did not. The calamari portion was a bit smaller than expected. She had asked the waitress about what came on the salad, and she either didn't know, or lied, because she said she could get kalamata olives on there for her. They weren't on the plate. When my wife asked the waitress about the dish after receiving it (essentially complaining), the waitress never returned. She avoided us like the plague. Why exactly does this Italian place not serve bread with dinner? First and only Italian restaurant I've been to that hasn't served bread. Strange. We left spending about $35 for a pizza that I didn't eat, a bed of spring mix with unseasoned calamari, and a mediocre cup of coffee. Next time we'll go to Arpeggio's.
(2)Beeg R.
This place is rated Best of Takeout locally. Plus with all these great reviews in Yelp, I was excited to try it out. I ordered a chicken cheesesteak for lunch one day. The bread was excellent, and they used real chicken breast, but the sandwich overall is a bit dry. Last night we took out pasta with meat sauce and a prosciutto sandwich. The meat sauce was good yet salty, and definitely not good enough to cost $20! The sandwich was a much better value at $9, but lack something that I can't nail. Perhaps it lacks seasoning. (Maybe I'm spoiled with great Italian sandwiches in Philly.) The fries were excellent. The garlic bread that came as a side was amazing, though, kind of made up for the overprice meat sauce. We are not ruling out dining there one night to ck out the seafood entries.
(3)Murphy W.
Some of the best pizza and italian around... BYOB is a nice too!
(4)Doug R.
Elite must be competing with them because that review is obviously not the concensus. Great place. Nice people. Our waiter could not have been more accomodating. Pizza and sandwiches are very good. Best pizza steak ever. Entrees are what we usually go for and yes salad or soup comes w/ every entree.
(4)John R.
Thia is my Grandfather's favorite restaurant. He took me here this week and I now know why he comes here all the time. The staff and owner are extremely friendly. He walks the restaurant and makes sure everyone is happy. Now onto the food. The pizza is excellent! I love that brick oven flavor! My grandfather had the Veal Saltembocca and it was great. full of flavor. Give this place a shot. They know what they are doing.
(4)paula c.
I've been coming to Il Giardino for years and recommend it to strangers on the street! When we lived in the neighborhood, we went for lunch or dinner every two or three weeks. Now that I'm farther away, it is probably only once every 4-6 weeks. The pizzas are consistently delicious. My favorites are the white pizza and Tomaso (fillet of tomatoes, spinach, garlic, tomato sauce and mozzarella) but my husband and nephews love the sausage and pepperoni pies. The Marsala is delightful with plenty of mushrooms. I've never had a seafood dish that was not delicious and full of seafood. The Bolognese sauce is the siren song that lures my husband so strongly that the 20 minute drive is meaningless. The portions are generous, allowing for a yummy dinner and a great lunch in a day or two. The garlic bread is not only delicious but the reason my dad used to call Il Giardino a "vampire no fly zone." The garlic is never burned or acrid, always rich, aromatic and heart-healthy. :-) My only disappointment is the chicken soup appetizer (the chicken is dry, despite being in soup). In fairness, I'm a darn good cook but cannot make French Toast to save my life. Who knows! Everything else is wonderful! Let the cook who has never flopped a dish cast the first spatula!
(5)Josh S.
This is by far my favorite place to eat. They have some of the best Italian food I've ever had, plus its BYOB. The Farfalle al Salmone is my favorite dish (bow-tie pasta with chunks of Atlantic Salmone in a pink sauce). Every dinner comes with homemade soup or salad which adds tremendous value. This place is great for hosting parties, they hosted my grandmother's 80th birthday a few months ago and it was a great time. The owners are all very nice, especially Peter and Rob. The wait service is top notch. I drive 45 minutes just to eat here.
(5)Lauren K.
Don't let the outside appearance fool you, when you step inside and through the double panel doors you will be delighted with a small, intimate atmosphere perfect for a date, family outing, or girls night out. Please note, it is a BYOB so they do not serve any alcohol. The prices are a little on the high side but it is absolutely worth it. Great portions, freshly made-to-order meals, and very attentive staff. The owners are great and truly want to get to know their customers. They do take reservations and I highly recommend making one if you plan on coming in on a Friday or Saturday night as it gets packed very quickly. I personally prefer to go during the week typically on a Monday or Tuesday when I know it won't be as busy and I can be seated right away. Overall, I highly recommend you try this place, it is a hidden gem!!
(5)Sarah K.
What an amazing place! A tiny restaurant on Bethlehem Pike in a mini strip mall. My family has been going here for a while now. This restaurant has the best pizza around! So many gourmet choices for toppings! Also, it's BYOB and they give you the best free garlic bread, slathered with garlic and olive oil. Although I've only eaten pizzas here, I bet everything is good. If you're going on Friday or Saturday night, call for reservations because there's only about 20 tables in the place.
(5)Jodi W.
Yelp does it AGAIN! We were looking for casual but delicious red sauce Italian, close to home to visit on a whim on a Sunday. Took a chance on a highly rated Yelp suggestion and were NOT disappointed! First off, don't follow GPS to this address, its actually quite easy to find on Bethlehem Pike. Through the double doors is a charming dine in area which is BYOB. Super friendly service, and everything we ordered was delicious....and HUGE! Crab stuffed mushrooms were fresh, simple and delicious. House balsamic dressing perfectly tangy with a touch of creamy. Complimentary garlic bread, dripping with fresh garlic and herbs was sinful. The bowl of capellini bolognese was ENORMOUS. I'm talking took home at least 2 extra portions after filling my belly! He had seafood pasta which was also fresh, plentiful and tasty. I really wanted to try to "dream bomb" for dessert, but just couldn't....this time! A great casual neighborhood Italian joint, we'll be back!!
(4)Lan H.
What a fantabulous date night with my favorite hometown chica at Il Giardino :-) I was stoked about trying out this Italian restaurant for a while now because I had not yet been completely satisfied with my meal at any of the other Italian restaurants (chain or not) I've been to...and Il Giardino seemed like the hidden gem of Springhouse as it is tucked away in one of many shopping centers on that side of Bethlehem Pike. Like Bacco, Il Giardino specializes in pizza (actually, I have yet to try Bacco's pizza, so stay tuned!), so it was time for the ultimate test: how does its white pizza play out? Was I setting myself up for utter disappointment, or was I going to be enlightened? White pizza is not exactly the most complicated-looking pizza around, but I only know of one other place that makes a few versions of it spectacularly (Top Tomato in Philly!!!). As serendipity would have it, I received two pizzas on this date night: one which I had ordered (prochuitto gourmet pizza) and the other that was free (Il Giardino white gourmet pizza) because the free one was apparently sent to my table by accident -- yay!!! It was a wonderful surprise, because the pizza was fantastic. The white pizza that eventually came out for me was also very delicious and is definitely in my top 3. The atmosphere, I must add, feels intimate not just because it was small (I would say that it's 1/10 the size of The Olive Garden) but because on this Thursday date night, there were people who were enjoying themselves around their respective dinner tables like families, even if they really weren't in the same family.
(4)Heather S.
We have the pizza and mussels weekly! I was a loyal mussels marinara eater until I tried Il Giardino's white garlic mussels...now we have to get both! Great place, great food!
(5)Nick C.
As a recommendation from friends we went here on Thursday night for a couples dinner. The exterior of the strip mall is deceiving of what tasty foods lie within. The waiter was very helpful and attentive. I had the special of the day which was the Chicken Saltimbocca. It was very tasty with a plate filled with sauteed chicken and prosciutto. It was accompanied by a side of pasta with red gravy. The red gravy was a little sweet for my liking, but was not bad. Everyone at our table thoroughly enjoyed their food, plus two people ordered the cannoli's- they were fresh, made on premise, and big. I will say that I thought the food was a little expensive ($15 for spaghetti and meatballs) as they do not include salads. Since it is a BYOB the prices are kept lower, however expect to pay $50 per couple.
(3)J M.
Excellent food in good portions. I order Chicken Marsala frequently and always have enough leftover for another meal. Definitely has sauces with unique flavors.
(5)Jen R.
We stumbled upon Il Giardino while running some errands in the area. Its truly a neighborhood gem. We had the grilled Calamari as an appetizer. We'd always had fried calamari so this was different but still very good. It came with a salad underneath with a vinegerette dressing which was very tasteful. I had the artichoke pizza. Steve had the proscuitto pizza. Both were excellent. I would definitely stop by here again when we're in the area.
(4)E F.
I absolutely love this place and is my first place to go on a date or when I want some high quality food. The staff couldn't be more helpful and the owners are young and friendly as well as open to any recommendations you may have. I recommend this restaurant to everybody.
(5)sherri s.
Great local restaurant although we really only do take out. Gave a 5 star because they make the best chicken cheese steak in the area! But I have a new favorite... the chicken panini! I crave it! They do a great job on their paninis...nice crispy crusted bread they flatten to make the perfect panini! Just wish the fries were a little better. My husband always orders the pepper and sausage sandwich. Once in a while he switches to their steak sandwich which is also excellent (...for a suburban steak sandwich!) Everyone is always friendly and willing to please. Great big sandwiches for the money. We are always pleased when we get our take out here! One time we ordered pasta for take out and with the huge amount they gave we enjoyed it for 3 days! That too was delicious!
(5)Stephanie D.
I'm not sure. We frequent guiseppes in Ambler but decided we wanted to try something different for pizza, for different sakes. I yelped Il Giardino and liked the reviews. Our experience was not out of the ball park, it didn't totally suck either. We walked into the atrium, and no one was there to greet us but the ordering kitchen. I said, you have seating here right? that's when they told us through double doors. Once through, there is nowhere to stand while waiting for table. and no hosting booth to direct us. Fine. But we walked in with another couple at practically the same time. A waiter approached us immediately and asked how many etc. There were 4 open 4 top tables on the floor. We waited for what felt like forever, could have been 5 minutes to 10 minutes after the initial greet. Finally, waiter asks, who arrived first? I am confused there are many open tables why does this matter? We got seated in the last booth available and the other couple is told to wait until another table opens up, ten minutes at least. My assumption is they were low on wait staff or perhaps low on a chef, because they had three empty tables in the middle of the room, so why do two additional people have to wait. (If it were my restaurant I would have seated them at the first table temporarily and offered them complementary bread or soda, or wine glasses for their wine while they waited). Our waitress was awesome. she projected her voice well, and smiled a lot and was overall very friendly and attentive. And our food was good. caesar salad YUM! and we ordered the margharita pizza and it was great. thin crispy bottomed crust, top still had a good chew. we devoured it. It's a mom and pop shop kind of feel. The decor in the restaurant is a bit lack-luster. Place would look bigger without the booths, and being sat at a center table would seem less like a downgrading experience. In our particular case the one waiter knew the booth in front of us, and spent the majority of his time talking with them. It was actually distracting, because he hovered there above the booth and despite him keeping his voice relatively low, it came in right over the top of the booth. I felt like to have a conversation with my boyfriend I had to keep fighting against this other voice. It made me annoyed. Was that table his only table, couldn't he find some work to do? It wasn't a fantastic experience, but I can tell the food was good. Not a lot of the people eating in the dinning room seemed to be smiling or overabundantly happy. For a saturday night it was an older crowd. 3 stars because it was our first time, I intend to go back to try an italian dish. I am hoping our experience is a bit better.
(3)Twin's Daddy V.
Very good food here overall. Their sandwiches and panini's are always great. The pizza good but not great. The entrees are excellent and they do a nice job catering too. The people working the phones and at the takeout desk are very nice. My one constructive criticism is for takeout orders which sit out at room temperature after prepared. It would be nice if they'd keep hot food warm/hot until you pick it up. Solution: get there earlier than when they tell you your takeout order will be ready. :)
(4)RB B.
Service has gone downhill. The last couple of times, we've sat for over an hour before our entrees arrived. Had to keep remiding our waiter to bring things to our table.
(2)Esther N.
Went to Il Giardino for first time Sat night with a Groupon. The place was packed and noise level was deafening. We waited about 20 minutes and were seated but it took another 20 minutes before a server came over and even gave us water. They have crammed in 3 rows of tables in a space that should have two and do not seem able to handle the volume. The food was delicious and portions were good for the price. Calamari salad had 3 tubes of very tough calamari but the dressing was delicious. Pizza and strombolis had delicious crust. The red dipping sauce is too sweet for my taste. The food would bring us back but the crowded slow service is a deterrent.
(4)Greg L.
I don't give 5 stars out liberally, so I will give this a 4 star, because I haven't tried the pizza; only the chicken parm. The sandwich was heavy, weight-wise, which is a good thing. The weight of the sandwich is a great indicator of your dining experience, as soon as you pick it up in your hands after it is made. The weight will tell you how much or how little of the main ingredient is on your sandwich. Again, this was overflowing with chicken. I also get roasted red peppers and tomatoes on my chicken parm. This was one of the better chicken parms I've had, excellent. Tasty, abundant chicken... red peppers were zesty as well... will definitely be back, highly recommended!
(4)Tim K.
Enjoyable - nice atmosphere, delicious pizza, great service
(4)Debra L.
BYOB. This is one of our favorite restaurants. Prices are reasonable and the food is excellent. Pasta dishes and thin crust pizzas. Try it. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Eric S.
With an abundance of Italian restaurants in this area, it could be easy to overlook this particular unassuming grille in a nondescript row of shops. But the food is prepared with a distinct hand, offering savory bolognese, ravioli dishes, pizza and paninis. Food is as good eat-in as it is for take-out and, considering the portions, you'll find yourself taking out on more occasions than not. The wait staff has always been friendly and the interior has enough homey atmosphere to make for a comfortable and enjoyable dining experience.
(5)Don G.
Lived in the area quite a while before trying this place. Boy am I glad I finally did! Everything I have ever eaten here is FANTASTIC! We order a pizza every week for takeout and eat here at least once a month. The service is very slow (and extremely friendly and polite) but they tell you upfront on the menu that great food takes time to make. Only gave 4 stars because the prices are kinda high and keep getting higher but it will take some doing to get them high enough to go elsewwhere to eat Italian food.
(4)Samantha M.
Restaurant is now under new management but serving same menu. I found this out after making comment that food is not quite what it used to be & wondering why. Some of my favorite dishes aren't quite the same- sauces seem to be a bit less robust. Overall still decent but I find us going there less often now. Looking for other venues for our weekly comfort food.
(3)Amanda F.
Probably my favorite place to go out to dinner when visiting my parents. It's a surprisingly pleasant interior considering it's shoved into a nondescript strip mall, and though it can get crowded and a little noisy, it's not too bad. It's good to make a reservation on a Friday night if you want to get seated right away. The fresh garlic bread is fantastic: fresh crushed garlic, parsley, and oil, usually piping hot. My family always enjoys what they order; I wouldn't know because I always get the same thing: the quatro formaggio pizza. It is a really delicious white pizza with the piquancy of gorgonzola and some sharpness cutting through all the creamy cheese. Leftovers are just as good cold the next day. My only complaint is that it is slow. Very, very slow, especially if it's crowded. This is nice if you're not in a hurry, but can also be extremely frustrating if you want to get out quickly. Waiters are always nice, though, so can't complain about that.
(4)Annie A.
It took me three people telling me how great this restaurant was before I finally gave it a try. It is located in a small row of shops along Bethlehem Pike, and at first glance it just looks like a cheap pizza shop. Boy was I wrong! It is very cute inside, and the food was AMAZING. Loved their white clams casino pizza! One of my new faves for italian food! If only they had a better location with outdoor seating:(
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