Q: positive

A: My husband and I had a nice dining experience at Sushi Kokoro. We weren't going to have a fancy dinner experience, but really just wanted to get a quick bite before the movies. The place is small but cozy and the staff was really nice. We both had the seafood noodle soup (can't remember the exact name) but it was really, really tasty! The price point was reasonable and we were in and out in a good amount of time. I think is a great addition to Arizona Center and downtown Phoenix and will go back again.

Q: negative

A: Customer service is left to be desired to top a less than average bakery. We have now been there a few times, always wanting to give them another chance, but after they decline to honor a coupon that allegedly expired 11 hrs prior (rather than 13 hrs later, who puts a time on their coupons BTW) and offered no apology of any kind, we definitely just won't be back, not worth it.

Q: negative

A: I work downtown, and as a result I'm always happy when new restaurants open. I was excited to try Il Pizzaiolo, which brings a classy storefront to Market Square. Maybe this is the burgher in me talking, but it always seems like the people dining there look like they walked right off the set of Entourage. I'm intimidated by glamour! I prefer to sit outside on their sidewalk patio, as the dining room can get very noisy. Service is variable. The hostesses always seem stressed and while I don't mind waiting, our times have always been at least 15 minutes over the estimate. I've seen a few reviews turn sour regarding the outdoor seating and where diners are permitted to eat/wait. This is actually not their fault. Police have been cracking down on panhandlers and crime in the area. Consequently, one MUST sit in the dining area for the corresponding restaurant. Now onto the food. The wine list is extensive but only includes Italian selections. Most of the servers are knowledgeable and can recommend pairings. The appetizers are decent but are not worth the ~$10-$15 cost. I've sampled both the pastas and the pizzas. The pastas are underwhelming in terms of originality, taste, and size. Entrees come with bread and oil for dipping, but the bread is too salty for my enjoyment. I will never understand why carb-loaded restaurants serve bread with their offerings. It seems redundant. Pizzas are the restaurant's specialty (at a place called Il Pizzaiolo? No way!). The wood-fired pies are good, and vary from the standard Margherita to the more loaded Santa Lucia. But to be honest, all of these pizzas lack imagination. I understand that Pizzaiolo is going for more "classic" recipes but for the prices why not throw in some innovation?

Q: negative

A:
Eight of us went to Manuel's today for lunch, and I can say that the service was the WORST I have ever seen in any restaurant. Six of us got our meals at the same time, while the other two (who ordered the daily special) got theirs EIGHT MINUTES AFTER the rest of us. We didn't see the server again until he brought our bill. We had asked him for separate tickets...and only got one. We never got a single refill on the iced teas that four of us paid $2.50 each for...ten bucks would buy a LOT of tea bags. An 84-year-old woman in our party asked for her water in a styrofoam cup with a straw, which the server said he would bring her but he never did. The food was unimpressive...greasy and fried. I would go to Taco Bell before I went back to Manuel's, which is overpriced. I wouldn't have minded the mediocre food, but the service sucks like an Electrolux.