Review Verdi Restaurant & Pizzeria - Columbus

Food is phenomenal, and portion sizes are fair but don't expect to take home any leftovers. They use a stone oven to bake, giving their pizza a nice crust. Which are pretty good and fairly priced for the size. They are known for all of their piccata dishes (veal, seafood, and chicken) and I can see why because they are amazing. Only negative thing is that the owner takes some warming up to. He can easily be construed as rude. All in all, pizza earns a 4/5, service 3/5, pasta 6/5. Great restaurant that needs more exposure to do it justice. A bit of warning is that they do sometimes run out of seafood and veal between deliveries, which I think they said is on Thursdays for them. If you want something specific, it's best to call before you go in.

On our first visit, we ordered Chicken Parmesan and Shrimp Scampi----and both were absolutely wonderful. After a brief wait while our dishes were cooked from scratch, we thoroughly enjoyed our dishes. Both were well prepared and servings were generous---and the pasta was absolutely the greatest! To me, this is the tastiest pasta sauce ever! We will return many times to this restaurant for their excellent food. The brief wait is certainly worthwhile!

My husband and I stopped by for lunch the other day. I was going to order the seafood dish that says on the menu it is what they are famous for because it was so delicious the last time we were here. But when the owner said the lasagna had just come out of the oven, I ordered it. I would have to say it was the best lasagna I have ever had in a restaurant! The sauce was so delicious and homemade.The pasta layers were perfectly cooked. My husband had the prosciutto ravioli which was very good,too. One doesn't come here for the atmosphere. You come for the wonderful homemade Italian food!

The owner and chef was enthusiastic about his business and quality of food he served. The location seems central to an upscale neighborhood that will discover Verdi as a great take home carryout. An evening meal prepared by a dedicated chef is a value you can't beat. I recommend you order his Italian cuisine and dine out at home. Comfort food that is prepared with authenticity as his goal. Of course you can get a great pizza pie too for the grandchildren.

I would say Soup Nazi is a pretty good description, but he does warm up if you talk to him. I just consider it part of the "character and ambiance" of the restaurant. The Lobster Ravioli is fantastic, and the Tiramisu also. Also, he came back to our table several times to make sure the food was to our liking. So, just put on your "good humor" hat, grin and bear the personality and enjoy the great food.

Everything is always made 100% fresh and from scratch. Definitely my favorite Italian restaurant in columbus. Great authentic flavors. And while all the negative reviews relate to the owner/server being rude. That was my first impression too, but after watching him hand make my chicken parmigiano from scratch, and having a conversation with him, he has been warm and welcoming everything I have come back. Everything I have had has been wonderfull. A total diamond in the rough.

New York pizza at its finest. I have been searching for a local place near us that serves a great tasting pizza with authentic flavors, not an average chain with the same flavors that do nothing for my palate. Thanks for our Sat night taste of New York Veri Restaurant & Pizzeria!

I am posting this for my mother who enjoyed the food so much that she asked me to post this. This is one of those small venues that you would love to see expand. Thanks for impressing my mother, she is a tough critic!

Fast and friendly service, a good selection of menu items, and very good food. Also a good selection of beer and wine. We love this neighborhood treasure!

Great food and service. Catering works well for parties too. Everything is made from scratch and you can't beat the value.

Really excellent food, tried stromboli, Italian sub and a meat pizza with meatballs on it out of this world delicious.

We get pizza here on Saturdays and there's something really addicting about it. Very simple and true Italian in style.

One person cooking and serving weds lunch. Sign says Italian buffet 11-3 daily we were there at 11:45, no buffet although it came out in pieces while we were there which the only other customer in the place seemed to be enjoying as we left. Two guys sat down and were completely ignored for a god 10 minutes before leaving. Food was so so and I had the chicken Marsala which I usually love and which is stated on their menu as one of their specialties. It tasted okay but the sauce was gelatinous. On the up side my mom had the Stromboli and really liked it. Also we had a gift certificate from restaurants.com that clearly stated $10 off $20, he refused to take it saying it really should say $10 off minimum $25. We spent $22.

I hate this place and I never even got to eat there... This guy was rude! I don't write reviews for anything, but I was so angry when I got off of the phone to try to order a stomboli, that I have to vent.<br/><br/>I simply asked how many people a stromboli feeds and he said "well that depends how hungry you are, could be one, could be 6" and "its your money, your food" and just kept stating the numerous variables that go into how many people could eat a stromboli. Ironic how the catering menu has serving suggestions, and the owner can't guess.<br/><br/>Then I ask if i can substitute the ham for something else. ... he in turn asked me "how did you hear about my restaurant?" Then "Have you ever been to my restaurant before? Do you know what restaurant you are calling, who are you calling?" <br/><br/>After his pop quiz he said "I'm just making sure you have the right place" i said "I'm starting to wonder"<br/><br/>He got back to my order, I confirmed the no ham part, he said "yeah i got it, thanks" and i hung up.<br/><br/>I called right back and told him to cancel the order, and he just said "ok! Thank you! <br/><br/>I wanted to drive down the road and hit him. I have never been so angry trying to order food. I am posting this on every review site I can find.<br/><br/>"OK, THANK YOU!"

Pizza and service review. The pizza crust was thin and bready at the same time. Tasted more like a Pillsbury box dough. Toppings adequate, but by the time we ate the first two slices, the dough was soggy. The service person, possibly the owner, was very curt and would not accept the Prestige Dining Card, even though it was valid on the pizza. Not worth going back to this one, ever again!

The food is absolutely delicious and the prices so cheap, such a surprise for a little pizzeria all scratch made & amazing.

I love this place! Don't be fooled by the quaint size of this place, the food is so good, always! I eat here as often as I can. The prices are very good and the portions are perfect. I'm still working my way through the menu and so far I recommend everything. They have daily specials and a lunch buffet. They are also licensed to sell you carryout wine (woot!). If you are lucky you might even show up when they are serving free samples of things they are trying out with new recipes / menu items. If you haven't tried this place, you should... If you have been here before, you know you need to come back in for some of that wonderful lasagne and to catch up with the charming owner :)

Food was great. Service was pretty good. I heartily recommend the Chicken Parmesan, which was well seasoned and used fresh mozzarella, and is enough for 2 meals. Garlic bread was really good, and my wife really liked the house lite Italian. Very casual atmosphere. We will definitely be back.

This place has very good food and prices are quite reasonable. My wife had spaghetti & meatballs and I had veal Marsala. Both were very good and just the right amount. The owners sauces are very good. We will be back. I want to try the chicken or veal piccata the next time.

Real Italian at its best.. Every dish made just for your family. New specials usually. I ve been in the food business for 40+ years and have recommended Verdi to many business contacts but I most enjoy bring kids and grand kids here. <br/>Today's special ... Home made Ravioli made with there signature Veal and Truffles. You will go many miles before you could top this dish in Ohio.

Fantastic place for Italian food in Columbus. Have been going there for years, but had to recently start getting take out because of the new baby. <br/>The portions are very large, the flavor is always perfect and the owner couldn't be nicer. <br/>We've recommended this place too many of our friends, and every one of them have been blown away by how delicious it is. <br/>Definitely prefer this over all of the other Italian restaurants.

I really like the place. The food is really good. My daughter loves the pizza. Indy fav is the lobster ravioli. I spoke with the owner tonight and he was very nice. Everything is homemade. Prices are reasonable.<br/><br/>Troy

Good food every time.. Been here quite a few times, and never gotten a bad dish. They have high quality pizza here that tastes great, better than most places in Columbus and I'm surprised more people don't know that. I mean we're talking like better than Late Night Slice, Flying Pizza, Pie's and Pints, Adriaticos, or Dante's for those pizza connoisseurs in Columbus. All of there other dishes are pretty good too, but I would not recommend the ravioli because the portion is too small. <br/><br/>Coupons and deals are there but hard to find, but they are good ones. Prices aren't too bad to start with.

The best chicken Marsala in Columbus!

Lunch Buffet. Great taste. Great Price. Real value.

Fantastic Italian Fare. My husband & I grew up in a small town with great pizza & pasta. Since moving to Columbus, we have not been able to find anything that compares......until now. We could literally eat here weekly! In fact, we've been here twice this week and we always get the same thing......Spaghetti & Meatballs & Eggplant Parmigiana. <br/>It's a casual establishment in the Hills Market Plaza that we highly recommend.

Absolute best food in town. This is our favorite family restaurant. Their eggplant parm, chicken Marsala and spaghetti and meatballs are the best in town. It has a warm and inviting atmosphere.On two occasions there were power outages due to weather. The owner and staff still cooked with gas and did their best to accommodate clients in candlelight. We have been to all the major Italian restaurants in Columbus and this is by far the best.

Great. Ate buffet at lunch. The pasta and sauce was some of the best I've had. I also liked that they had pepperoni pizza on the buffet unlike some Italian buffets where your stuck with only strange combinations. Will be back again. I like supporting local businesses since I'm self employed.

GREAT food, Small space. My family had been on the road, eating out, for a week when we stumbled upon this little place. It looked big on the outside, which wasn't really what we were looking for. We wanted a small, reasonable mom & pop style restaurant. Understand this: after a week of limp, over-salted food from various chain restaurants, and small but excellent fare worth half the price we paid, this was Great! The food was remarkable, the salads were standard but the service excellent and each dish, from meatballs to lobster bisque soup, were hand-made and excellent.

Unbelievably Good. I've never taken the time to write a review for a restaurant (let alone any other entity). I feel compelled - in this instance. Verdi's won't stand out because of its decor or its service; however, it will become your destination restaurant, if you enjoy excellently prepared italian food. I've been enjoying Verdi's for several years now and wouldn't hesitate to take even my friends with more (in their mind's eyes) sophisticated palates. My favorite dish is their lasagna, but so many of their other dishes compete well with my go-to favorite. I hope everyone who reads this review will take my advice and not get worked up about the service and instead sit back and enjoy the unbelievably good food.

Owner should leave the business. Food/Drinks: Chicken Piccata - Good, not overwhelming. Chicken a little over cooked. Drink was a soda can that you retrieve yourself.<br/>Atmosphere: That of a pizza carry out joint. Small room with basic tables/décor. Cold temp.<br/>Service: No communication. You do not feel welcome there to say the least. Makes you feel you are there for him and he is not there for you. <br/>Impression: Upset with myself that I gave my money to the owner. I feel cheated.<br/>Comments: The owner (horrible personality) would be better suited as a cook behind the scene instead of owning a business. You are not welcomed into the place. It is a one man show and lucky to get 2 words out of him. Not a word said, he just stands there like what are you doing here. Give him your order at the counter. Then he disappears. He comes back 20 min. later, throws your silverware on the table, literally. Comes back with your food and plops it down, not a word, then disappears. One table was done eating and waiting for the check. He pointed at them then pointed to the register. Indicating get up and come over here if you want to check out. Another table came in to eat pizza. They said they want to dine in. The owner seemed perplexed by the comment. The customers commented amongst each other that they were very confused what is going on and why the owner is acting strange to their comment to eat in. When I went to check out, the owner didn't want to run my credit card b/c he was on the phone so he asked if I had cash. Whatever, I just wanted out. It depressed me that, that is how I treated myself out for lunch.

Dan. Verdi's is not fancy, but the food is excellent. The owner/chef takes pride in the quality of his offerings. We find the shrimp scampi and the marinara sauce are especially good, as good or better than far more expensive restaurants. We have been to Verdi's many times; we enjoy supporting a small business rather than a chain; we have a very pleasant evening every time we go.

Small with a surprise. I bought some coupons for this restaurant online looking for someplace new to try. 4 of us went for an early dinner. From the outside you would think that the place was much larger. Inside it reminds you of a pizza shop with carry out only. There are about 8 tables inside and the décor is appealing (some nice paintings on the walls and a nice flooring. The menu is actually very big for such a small restaurant. The owner was very friendly and very helpful with ideas and options from the menu. They offer beer and wine which they have a good selection of both.<br/><br/>On to the food. We were all disappointed with the salads. The Italian salad was lettuce with tomato; nothing fancy. The Greek salad had more to it but was not cut like you would expect; seemed to have been rushed together. The deep fried ravioli with red dipping sauce was very good. The crab cakes were browned and flavorful. All entrees were good size portions and were surprisingly good. We had lasagna, cheese ravioli, penne with meat sauce and the seafood combination dish (I forget the name). I asked for the penne sauce to be spicy and it was just that. The meat sauce was not just ground meat; there actually were chunks of flavorful meat. The seafood dish was big with a variety of seafood like tilapia, muscles and shrimp that were all good quality and prepared well.<br/><br/>Let me sum up our experience at Verdi. They need to improve their salads. Their entrees are amazing. The Chianti that was recommended was good and the Italian beer was also a hit. We finished with tiramisu which was gone before I was able to have a second bite. . .not because of the size of the portion. We did not try their pizza or sandwiches. Their pizza is New York style and looked like what I remember from New York. I will be back and I look forward to it.

Epic Fail on Customer Service!. EPIC FAIL on customer service!<br/><br/>My husband had been here once in the past, and was really excited about taking me. However, it wasn't clear based on their web site whether they had a separate lunch menu or one menu for the entire day, so my husband called to clarify. The owner, on the phone, explained to him that he could make anything off the menu. Really excited, and looking forward to a nice order of chicken marsala, we headed to the restaurant, 20 miles to the north.<br/><br/>We arrived at about 12:20 to a totally empty restaurant, save for a pathetic little buffet off to one side of the register. When we got there, my husband explained that he had called earlier. The owner asked if we had a coupon. We stated that we had a Prestige Card, and the owner said we couldn't use it on the lunch buffet. So we said, "that's ok, we're not getting the buffet", so he basically said that "well, that's all there is right now". Huh? What about our conversation with you about a half hour ago, where you said that you'd cook anything on the menu? His response, "well I thought you were someone special". We were absolutely flabbergasted. This guy was refusing to cook for us, even if we weren't using the card?<br/><br/>I'm in absolute disbelief that in this economy, especially standing in the middle of an empty restaurant during lunch hour, that any restaurant owner who is sane would not only turn away a paying customer, but would be so rude to them that it would virtually guarantee that said prospective customer would never return. We said as much, and left immediately in disgust. Mind you, all this transpired before he even approached us to seat us.<br/><br/>If it were possible to rate a restaurant with zero stars, Verdi would deserve that distinction. In all of my years of eating out, I have never been treated so poorly. Steer clear at all costs, unless you like a serving of abuse with your meal.