Q: positive

A: We use this restaurant mostly for take out but we really enjoy the food. Our favorites are the Baked Ravioli with chicken and the Mediterranean Salad. Both are real good. We absolutely love the spring mix lettuce in the salad. Some people complain that the place is not full, we find that a plus. We are older and like the quite. Too often you get in restaurants that are so noisy you can't talk or hear yourself think. Even when the restaurant was mostly full, we haven't noticed that it is too loud like some places.

Q: positive

A: Starters: - Grilled artichoke: Not a favorite for the table, but a definite favorite of mine. Very beefy and full of flavor - Grilled calamari: Wow. Silky smooth with a hint of the grill and the white bean ragu, which I was skeptical of, blended perfectly - Steamed mussels: If not for being in public, I would have picked up the bowl and drank the broth directly. The mussels were good too. - Braised meatballs: Very nice red sauce. Might have been a tad too tender and I might have missed it, but I like a little bit of pork in my meatballs. Main (I only have what I tasted to go on, but the rest of my party looked very happy): - At the suggestion of the server, I had the scallops. I wish I hadn't. Although the description looked wonderful, it felt like the mushroom risotto, scallops, and shallots didn't mix well. The shallots blocked out the risotto, which blocked out the scallops and the scallops, while tender enough, had little flavor. That being said, the risotto by itself was very good. Desserts: -Salted caramel budino: I'd drive the 25 miles back here just for the dessert. Just amazing. The creaminess of the creme freche topping with the salt and caramel was perfect. Again, if I wasn't in public, I would have licked the small cup clean. Very good wait staff and nicely timed for a large group. Next time, I'll try the gluten free pasta instead of one of the meats and see how that goes. Can't wait for more budino!

Q: negative

A: I could go on and on and on, but let's just cut to the chase: this place is horrible. I don't think you could pay me to imagine a less-enjoyable dining experience. Even though half the tables were empty, we were asked to wait at the bar. Not a bad idea, who minds a drink before dinner? Well, when you think "bar," think the breakfast bar at you grandma's condo. Maybe one or two extra tacky, awkward-backed bar stools. I couldn't count 10 bottles of liquor, and I think they went into the kitchen to get my beer (eventually). Service? It didn't exist. We literally had to grab them (physically) when it was time to take our order (ok, time had come and gone, but we grabbed them eventually). Forget about water, more bread, etc. I think my favorite part of the meal was the all-out yelling match the owner got into with a customer. I believe he used the "F-" word when conveying his disappointment with the fact that they'd been waiting over an hour for their food. OK, so you leave that language outside, but everyone in the restaurant was feeling his pain. And I never think it's okay to argue with a customer, but this woman was more than arguing - she was making a point for the entire dining room to hear. The food? Overpriced and way underwhelming. I paid about $17 for what was essentially a plate of spaghetti, butter, and some zucchini. No flavor, no pizzaz. I was entertained enough by overloading it with the pepper I found on the table, pretending it was a garnish. So the meal sucked, the service sucked, the ambiance missed the opening of this place. The good news is the owner gave us a business card, wrote 20% off on it, and said she was sorry for yelling and we should come back. I'm an honest person, but I took this opportunity to lie and tell her we would.

Q: positive

A:
Ono! This is the real thing - fast food Hawaiian Style. When we were in Kona last December we had lunch at an L&L --- because we wanted local food and they were the busiest place we saw. Well, the menu is exactly the same at the north Phoenix location (they also have one in Mesa). It may not be the healthiest food, but it sure is good! L&L is in the Happy Valley Town Center shopping center (at Happy Valley Rd and I-17), across the parking lot from Lowe's. Note that the Aloha Kitchen in Mesa, Arizona is more of a Hawaiian style mom and pop corner restaurant than is L&L - if you prefer that.