Restaurant Review : Bertucci's Italian Restaurant in Alexandria, VA

One evening, we went to Bertucci's Italian Restaurant for dinner and afterwards stopped at Le Pain Quotidien on the same block for organic coffee. This associated content article is my review of Bertucci's Italian Restaurant. Prices are fair and we have been to Bertucci's Restaurants many times and have enjoyed the dining experience. This time we choose the Bertucci's located in Alexandria, VA. Metered parking and parking lots are within walking distance. We found a spot close to the restaurant.

It was early Monday night and the restaurant wasn't crowded. The waitress quickly came to serve us when all members of our party had arrived. Conveniently, the menu is posted online which enabled me to pick out my order ahead of time.

Bertucci's Italian Restaurant Review: Ordering

I ordered two of their "Summer Distinctive Deals" a Wheat Pizza Giardino, a whole wheat pizza, and as a special request, a non-alcoholic Blood Orange Margarita (just blood orange juice), which the staff agreed to make. Their beer selection wasn't large but the two beer drinking members of our party found something they liked and another ordered a Sangria.

The waitress wrote down everything our party of four ordered and double checked to be sure it was right. Drinks and fresh made bread were brought to the table with olive oil and herbs for dipping. As with many restaurants, plates weren't pristine which may be due to hard water in the area. The food arrived shortly after we had finished the bread.

Bertucci's Italian Restaurant Review: The Food

Another member of our party had also requested an individual pizza. It looked as if both his Margherita Pizza and my whole Wheat Pizza Giardino had been made with the same regular dough, instead of whole wheat as stated in the menu description. Also, one member of our party had asked for a half sized salad to go with her main course but the salad looked full size. The food was good and I was nearly full after finishing three out of four pizza slices.

Bertucci's Italian Restaurant Review: The Staff

The staff was friendly and attentive. Extra paper napkins were provided on request. An empty glass was quickly noticed and replaced with a new drink. In addition to our waitress, two people came to clear away plates from our party of four. The wait staff may have been extra attentive because the restaurant wasn't very full. However, the waitress had to be reminded that no one had brought the check yet.

Bertucci's Italian Restaurant Review: The Check

When the check came, it was confirmed that mistakes had been made with the order. The Wheat Pizza Giardino that was supposed to be the new advertised special, one of the "Summer Distinctive Deals" as seen online and in the restaurant's own window with whole wheat dough was made with regular dough. The salad that was supposed to be half sized was full size, and about twice the cost.

Bertucci's Italian Restaurant Review: The Bertucci's Free Dinner / Lunch Card

Two members of our party had brought a Bertucci's card with them. They had picked the cards up at another Bertucci's location. Four visits earn a free dinner or lunch with the Bertucci's card. The cards were handed to the waitress to stamp. The waitress didn't bring them back, spent a number of minutes trying to find them, and eventually brought them back, still unstamped. The waitress seemed unfamiliar with the program but got the manager to stamp the cards.

After dinner I went to wash my hands in the bathroom. It was well stocked with soap and a covered toilet paper dispenser. In one of the single person bathrooms, I couldn't get the motion sensor paper towel dispenser to work. Another member of our party was able to get his to work in a different bathroom.

Bertucci's Italian Restaurant Review: Cons

I had been looking forward to a whole wheat dough pizza, but there were order mistakes. The waitress seemed unfamiliar with the Bertucci's card fifth dinner free / fifth lunch free program. I couldn't get one of the motion sensor paper towel dispensers to work.

Bertucci's Italian Restaurant Review: Pros

The bathrooms were clean and well stocked. The food was good. The staff was friendly and attentive and able to do a special request for a non-alcoholic drink. The restaurant did honor the Bertucci's card by stamping it.

The waitress did have an accent (possibly Indian?) different from the members of our party which may have factored into the order mistakes. Or perhaps key words like 'white dough' or 'wheat dough' or the size of the salad may have been missed. Maybe the waitress was new and unfamiliar with all items on the menu. Or maybe there was a miscommunication between waitress and chef.

A Bertucci's card can earn free dinners or lunches and even if not all restaurant workers are familiar with the program, they may still honor it on request. As food is good and prices are reasonable, the members of my party do plan to visit Bertucci's Italian Restaurant again in the future. They will likely choose a different location for their next visit.

Source:
Personal Experience