troysmith Anonymous

Food: 3/5  Vibe: 4/5  Service: 4/5  Value: 3/5  Overall: 3/5

My wife and I dine out quite frequently, and being new to the Grapevine area, we decided to give Tuscany a try after driving by it many times. The decor is amazing, great floor tiles, paintings, and an almost authentic Italian feel. Having said that, we all know that first impressions are everything. We were greeted by a young girl who without doubt is still in high school. Chewing gumb and greeting us with "how yall doing tonight"? Not a good start. We were seated in the so-called main dining room which is quite small by other standards. It was loud and dimly lit. We could barely read the menus, which easlily weighed a few pounds each. The menus themselves were overbearingly huge. I couldn't wait to decide my dinner so I could set it on the floor and actually see the table. The server was attentive, knowledgeable, and prompt. We ordered seared crabcakes to start ($17 for TWO!), the tomato mozzarella salad for our 2nd course and a filet, the stuffed chicken, and sides of asparagus and red potatoes for our main dishes. Although our waiter told us everythng was a la cart, one would think it would be easier to put a few potatoes and a few asparagus spears on each plate. No matter. Soon enough our table for two looked like a table for four. A manager (looked like a glorified hostess) stopped by to ask us how our evening was going. Paying over $50 per person for dinner, I would expect the manager to be not only a little older and experienced, but one who dresses like a manager. We also saw another manager talking to tables. My wife later saw him talking on his cell phone while on the way to the rest room. Could that be any more unprofessional? Over all, we had a nice time and will probably return. Hopefully the a la cart will go away as will the high school hostess staff. And maybe the management will realize it's not just the walls that need the decorating.

4 weeks, 1 day ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

johnnychimpo Anonymous

Food: 3/5  Vibe: 3/5  Service: 3/5  Value: 3/5  Overall: 3/5

It seems odd to me that after a bad review of this particular restaurant, a slightly vengeful and offended response follows. This appears to be very unnatural for a customer to take offense in such a personal manner where he/ she should have no type of emotional attachment to the restaurant itself (regarding no indication in the review relating to their management or employment at Tuscany.)

I'll raise the question of who wrote rebuttals to the original poor reviews. They seem to be attacking, and looking at sentence structure, appear to be written by the same person. Perhaps someone associated with the restaurant is involved (owner, manager, etc.) The responses seem to contain too much detail in a managerial point of view of operation and lack any con to their experience, which seems unbalanced and bias. As far as, "It's great to have a non-corporate restaurant in this town where you can talk directly to the owner/chef", there are many restaurants in Grapevine which are not corporate. Also, the owner of Tuscany happens to be looking to franchise this restaurant soon.

As far as tiny portions, yes, they are tiny. A few things could also be added to garnish and prepare the dishes a bit more presentable for the price. Higher end ingredients could also be used, however rumors have developed that the original chef quit because of all the shady business and poor management. The other side is that you are an obese Texan who needs to settle down on eating, and quit complaining that a pile of food to feed a starving family is not shoveled down your disgusting, lard infested throat. The food at the restaurant is fine.

I would suggest the banquet dining hall have some sort of plant arrangement or portable veneered walling, to break up the weird open space that makes customers feel exposed and uncomfortable.

I'm sure the service could be improved with some sort of formal, structured training program.

The menu is unique, it is fine. Not my particular style, but not a problem.

Beef carpaccio is good, as well as assorted cheeses and meats upstairs in the lounge.

Frozen T.V. dinner for a description of this food seems like a ridiculous gesture and frankly uneducated.

The tomato sauce could be improved, but is fresh.

The creme brulee is boring.

Truffle oil should be changed for fresh truffles. Oil is an easy way out, but still tasty I suppose.

$8 for a side is fine. This restaurant is specifically placed in Grapevine, not South Compton. If it is not prepared correctly, send it back and don't pay for it. If you do not have $8, go somewhere else.

Upstairs is unique. I liked it. Silly drink menu, though. The bar manager seemed inadequate and crackish. Change him out and you'll have yourself a nice place.

I would bet the people who complained did not have enough money, or were expecting some crazy ridiculous ass-kiss service slave style. JTaylor is probably a middle class customer who thinks he is loaded, and tips poorly because of his stingy attitude.

I would go and form your own opinion.

2 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

duece04 Anonymous

Food: 5/5  Vibe: 5/5  Service: 5/5  Value: 5/5  Overall: 5/5

I wouldn't listen to jtaylor556 if I were you because evidently he is used to a big corporation style restaurant with their big family-portioned entrees (enough to feed 6) like we have on restaurant road (William D Tate and Hwy 114). When I think of the word Tuscany, I'm not thinking of the word "hip" before I walk through the front door, which happens to be a big, beautiful wooden door setting the mood for the experience. What "tuscany" means to me is culture, soft music, intense and wonderful flavors of food and having a glass, or sometimes a bottle of wine, while having conversation with your closest friends and family. Now that's asking much to recreate in the horrid heat of summer in Grapevine, Texas. However, the environment and ambiance that was created in their main downstairs dining room is wonderful and beautiful and at times I did forget that I was still in Texas. My family and I had dinner there last Thursday evening and was greeted by complimentary valet parking and a pleasant hostess. We had a server named Jordan who took great care of us that night. First, he greeted me by name and helped me choose a wonderful wine for dinner, not because I need the help for pairing, but because they have a wine list with probably 65 different Italian wine labels and many more from around the world. That's what "tuscany" means - wine. We ordered a red from Montalcino, Italy, which went well with our food. We started out with crabcakes which were fried and was mostly crabmeat, not breading where you find in other places. We also ordered salads. I can't remember the name, but the salad had some spicy walnuts and sliced pears with a spring mix and balsamic dressing - tasty. Then Jordan recommended a signature dish called chateaubriand (hopefully the spelling is correct) to us and it was one of the best steaks that I have ever had. It was ever so tender and thick and perfectly cooked. Praises to the service though. Jordan changed out our used silverware between every course, knew the menu as if he were the chef preparing the food for us, wiped down our table with a towel to rid us of crumbs (mostly my wife's) and took the time to give us a tour of the restaurant. I am amazed at the size of the restaurant, some of which you might miss like their beautiful banquet room with a built in bar, private dining rooms and their wine room upstairs. We liked upstairs so much that we stayed and finished with creme brulee with an aged balsamic vinager, which again, Jordan helped us out with by suggestion and service, on one of their big lounge couches. We lost our track of time there and had a wonderful time doing it. How do you put a price on that? The experience was great and we will be back again and again. It's great to have a non-corporate restaurant in this town where you can talk directly to the owner/chef. Anyways, maybe jtaylor556 should stay on restaurant road and shovel cheap crud into their mouth and be happy.

3 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

jtaylor556 Anonymous

Food: 2/5  Vibe: 1/5  Service: 2/5  Value: 1/5  Overall: 1/5

Pretentious, Overpriced and Tiny Portions.

Food and service were just okay, but the portions were the tiniest side items I have ever seen. I even took pictures of the food so that I could show friends and co-workers the actual size of an $8.00 side item. Nobody would believe me without those photos.

An inexpensive way to validate the portion size is to visit the Sky Bar (the bar upstairs from the restaurant) where they will serve you complimentary peanuts in a cup that is about the size of a 2 Liter Coke bottle cap. That's when you realize that this restaurant is too much into style rather than substance.

Actually, I can't even say that Tuscany is into "style" either. The background music seems to be geared to people over the age of 60. It didn't seem to be a very hip place.

3 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

emilyg87 Anonymous

Food: 5/5  Vibe: 5/5  Service: 5/5  Value: 4/5  Overall: 5/5

Trayc7-- I'm not sure where you went, but it appears we dined in completely different restaurants. It is worth noting that I've been a few times (once was near when they opened in late June/early July) and then again this weekend (07/19) and it's only improved since the first visit. It's worth noting that they were a new restaurant, locally owned (not a chain!), and that were still trying to work out the kinks the first time I visited, I think. The time I went this weekend it seemed like everything was down to a fine science.

I'll review the most recent time we went, as it seems more relevant... For an appetizer we had the crabcakes, which were crispy, flavorful, had plenty of actual meat and not too much breading. The best part about them was the au gratin sauce they were served on. It was SO good. I seriously could eat that stuff on just about anything. The umbrian (sp?) salad was delicious... it had poached pears with a really tasty vinaigrette dressing and is definitely worth a try. We also split some linguine with fresh tomato garlic sauce was simple and tasty with perfectly cooked pasta (just exactly al dente.) I had the crab stuffed lobster (I don't remember the name they had or it) and it was probably the best seafood dish I've had while living inland for the last two years (and I've eaten at a lot of different places!) The lobster was grilled beautifully and the crab was succulent and full of flavor. Again, simple and delicious. My boyfriend had the filet rossini (filet medallions layered with cheese and ham) ordered medium rare... it had cream sauce and truffle oil... it was melt in your mouth delicious. We split two sides-- asparagus and eggplant Parmesan and they both were good. The eggplant Parmesan was particularly interesting-- it came out as a slice of layered breaded eggplant topped with marinara sauce and melted cheese. The best way I can think to describe it is "soul satisfying." Dessert was creme brulee, which, was like sex in a ramekin dish (what else can I say?) The chocolate souffle and bananas foster also came highly recommended but we'll have to save them for next time. And there will many next times!

Regarding service-- our waiter (I believe his name was Matt) was friendly and attentive. He did pronounce everything correctly, but I can imagine this kind of expertise would vary from waiter to waiter. He suggested a nice wine (I wish I could remember what it was now!) that paired well with our dinner. The selection of wine was really impressive-- specifically the selection of Italian wines they offer. I don't think I've seen anything else similar in the area.

Another thing really worth mentioning is that the restaurant is flawlessly GORGEOUS. Men, if you're looking for the perfect date restaurant this hits the nail on the head!!! It is romantic and beautiful without being pretentious. We also had drinks upstairs in their bar and they were tasty, if not a little pricey. They had really great pineapple infused tequila that I could drink just about everyday. The vibe both upstairs and downstairs was very chill and great for a nice night out. The previous reviewer was correct in that it is a bit expensive (if we're comparing to macaroni grill here-- which has no where NEAR the food, service, or overall experience that Tuscany provides) but it is well worth our money. I will gladly pay for the experience, someone looking for cheap generic Italian food might be better off at Olive Garden, but I think I'll take my freshly prepared pasta over microwaved bologna alfredo. :)

4 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

trayc7 Anonymous

Food: 1/5  Vibe: 2/5  Service: 1/5  Value: 1/5  Overall: 1/5

One of the worst dining experiences ever! The food is overpriced, poorly prepared, bland, and in some cases just awful. The service was terrible. We began our dinner with a completely clueless server who didn't stop coming by our table to mention things that she had forgotten. We didn't encounter anyone who managed to pronounce the dishes properly. Then there is the menu: huge, cumbersome, and hideous. We ordered: beef carpaccio (bland and had the consistency of pudding), calamari (greasy and rubbery), a seafood pasta dish (overcooked scallops and under-seasoned), and veal saltimbocca (tough and COLD). We also ordered two side dishes, which came out (once we reminded our server) a full 15 minutes after our mains. The sides we ordered were the haricot verts (the only thing worth eating) and linguini with tomato sauce (the pasta was sort of gummy and the tomato sauce tasted like it came from a jar). We didn’t receive a single apology for the poorly timed delivery of our food. Then we got the bill…for the price we paid, we expected top-rate service and food. Though it hasn’t been open very long, I don’t think their flaws are the type that will be easily fixed as time goes on. A new restaurant has to have good food and this one charges top dollar for stuff that is reminiscent of frozen TV dinners.

4 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )