text: I would really like to like this place more than I do Central Phoenix noticeably lacks Italian restaurants if you are not counting Oreganos and pizza places and Harleys Italian Bistro is in a great gentrifying stretch of th Ave Melrose on th to really impress as a neighborhood Italian joint but it falls a bit shortnnI made my second venture here the other night for dinner It was a last minute sort of thing so we lucked out that we were able to get a table anywhere on a Friday night I had a hunch that Harleys might be somewhat busy but not terribly busy to the point of long waits nnWe strolled up to find about of or so tables occupied But even if it was too busy it would not have been awkward since we could have passed the time at the homey and spacious bar in the back Lot of different types of diners reflective of the area Mostly older married couples and tables of gay singles and a young family or two with kids nnThe food was OK We ordered the fried calamari with marinara to start and it was uneventful and uneven some of it too chewy I ordered the salcicce al penne and my friend ordered the spaghetti with meatballs oh yes He only got two meatballs btw My dish was alright I felt the sauce could have been a bit more flavorful and spicy My first visit was with a large party of and I ordered the crusted chicken romano sandwich very good but a tad on the greasy side nnThe server was OK Very friendly but he felt new and seemed awkward at times He forgot the parmesan cheese when he brought out our entrees and was diffcult to flag down to ask for the cheese So we sat there and stared at our food before we were able to dig in nnIll go back But if another Italian restaurant opens nearby Harleys will have a run for their moneynnFYI It is been open for about two years now and was known as The Roman Table for many years before that