For those unfamiliar with my reviews I use a star based system with one star being “Just Plain Bad “ and five being “Not To Be Missed”. Today we are reviewing Ragazzi’s Italian Restaurant in Charlottesville.

Have you ever seen the old Edie Murphy movie Coming to America? Do you remember the scene where the restaurant manager of McDowell’s, a McDonald’s clone, is explaining how they are actually two different chains? “McDonald’s has the Golden Arches, we have the Golden M. They have the Big Mac, We have the Big Mic.”

You see, I mention this because I am reminded of it every time I go to Ragazzi’s. If you have ever been to an Olive Garden, you can skip this review and just go off your own impressions!

This is not to say that this is a bad restaurant, simply that it is an Olive Garden Franchise in all but name. The Menu, wine selection, portions, and the taste and quality of the food are all so close that if you did not know it you would not think you were in a different restaurant!

Ragazzi’s even starts off every meal with breadsticks and a giant family bowl of salad that is shared communally. Just like Olive Garden.

My apologies if I seem a bit hung up on the sameness of it all. In all fairness C-ville does not have an Olive Garden, so I will attempt to treat Ragazzi’s as an Independent family owned restaurant and not like a chain.  However if you are dining there and get a feeling of déjà vu, it is not just you!

Anywho, onto the review! The building itself sets in the parking lot of a medium sized strip mall. Parking can be a bit tight during lunch as it share some parking with a McDonalds and a popular Chinese buffet.

Upon entering you will be greeted by one of several pleasant hosts or hostesses. They do have a dedicated smoking section, which will be a pleasant change for some who are use to being hustled off to the bar. 

There seems to be more booths than tables, but this suits me just fine.  The tables and seating are large and comfortable, and while showing some age manage to have a homey feel as opposed to looking cheap, as they are constructed of quality hardwood that has gained character with age.

Your meal will be served with a large salad and your choice of dressing as well as baskets of warm breadsticks. I recommend requesting some Alfredo for a dipping sauce, as the breadsticks are a bit bland.

The menu has all of the American favorites with nothing out of the ordinary or very ethnic. The wine list is short and bottom rung. If you must partake you might as well go with the house wine, as it is comparable to the name brands offered. I would love to see the list augmented with a nice sweet Riesling or a very dry Sicilian red.

For value and diversity I recommend one of the combination meals that consist of a meat dish, a pasta and red sauce, and lasagna, manicotti, or some other specialty. There are also some pleasant veal and seafood dishes.

The portions of pasta are quit large and the entrée sizes are adequate.  In my opinion the desert menu leaves much to be desired. The food itself is pleasant but forgettable. It is also quite heavy, but those on a diet do not normally go in for Italian fair.

The service like the food itself is adequate and pleasant but nothing spectacular. I do not remember a single server or employee from the many times I have dinned there and that is quite unusual for me.

All in all Ragazzi’s is a pleasant enough little restaurant with average food, prices, and service. It is the four passenger family sedan of Italian restaurants. It does everything well, does not crave or command attention, and offends none with its ethnic flair, flavor, or decor.

***
Three Stars.