Luigi's Restaurant

Darkness covered the land until a glowing neon moustache emerged from the foggy avenue. I shook off the coat my ex wife gave me (it's seen better days) and asked for a booth. I ordered fourteen pizzas. One for everyone on that hockey team she cheated on me with. Thank god there's not a lot of hockey in Ohio. I guess you could say I was feeling sorry for myself. Maybe this marked the beginning of a new life. Luigi and me. I bumped into a girl named Silvia at the ATM (it's cash only) and I made a joke about wishing I'd been named Benjamin so that when people sing that song it's all about the Benjamins I could say something like "hey that's me you're talking about!" or something like that. I think she thought I was pretty funny though she didn't laugh.

Tucked away just outside the main downtown area of Akron, Luigi's is the epitome of a dive Italian restaurant. You walk in the door to a cozy bar with the register. They are cash only so walk to the back for the ad hoc ATM. The machine has a simple (if non standard) instruction sheet. All in all it took about 30 seconds to read the sheet and make a withdraw. The vibe is somewhere between Olive Garden's classy Italian themed decor and a local Italian Social Club. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable while keeping up a low key banter that feels absolutely on brand for an Italian diner. The food arrives hot and delicious. The Pizza is on an understated fluffy Italian bed like crust. The fresh mozzarella is melty with a hint of smoky. The Sauce is a lovely Italian spices blend with rich tomato texture. Surprise! The Parmesan in the shakers is real shredded Parmesan not a powder! The Spaghetti has a distinctly different spice blend than the pizza sauce. Meaty without overpowering the marinara. I love the cute little pasta bake dish it's served in. For the price point, I'm hard pressed to think of a better Italian meal with this much authenticity! I feel like I walked into a New York Italian neighborhood diner in the 50's and 60's. Finally, absolutely recommend the welcoming accepting atmosphere!

Have heard great things about this place VERY disappointed Not sure where exactly they win awards for their pizza - but we weren't impressed Salad was good Service was ok Ambiance is busy and crowded - people seem to love this place One and done for us

Terrible service. I don't think I've ever had such a rude encounter on the phone. I was just trying to place a pickup order and the lady was sighing and using a really unprofessional tone. Like it was bad enough that I straight up cancelled the order. I leave a lot of reviews in a lot of places and very few 1 star ones so I don't take this lightly. I wouldn't eat here if I was in the area and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else either.

After a cold night of watching the last home game of the Zips, we were cold and hungry. Opened Yelp to find a good lace open late that had comfort food along with possible vegan options and Luigi's popped up and I am very happy we decided to check this place out! There is plenty of parking all around. The place reminds me of of a strip store walk up diner with the neon lights in the window and the handing lights. Upon entering the bar along the walk way confirmed that it was a traditional mom and pop stop. We were greeted with kindness and support for the vegan in the family. Our server was amazing. Sorry can't recall her name. She provided us with plenty of opportunities to order and guided up to her favorites. She checked on us and said to take our time. Even though it was late in her shift she kept a friendly smile.Once we placed our food we noticed the jukebox. There was several tables of some older folks so we didn't want to disturb them so we asked if it was loud. Our server said it was the perfect volume and if you play it there is a few show, just look above the door. The curtain will open and a bunch of Barbie's and JI Joes will preform for you. This was awesome! We put a buck in and played 3 songs and for a show. The decor in this place is pretty sweet.Lastly, the reason for being in this neat place - the food! When they say they for cheese, well they for cheese! I order my side salad with no cheese but my daughter for all the cheese on hers. It was a lot. I recommend ordering it on the side if you don't like a ton of cheese on your salad. My husband got a veggie sandwich which was not on the menu but he asked if they could do something vegan and they oblige. The zucchini planks are a decent size for an appetizer. I ordered the baked pasta, ravioli and omg it was so freakin good! I ordered the small and couldn't eat it all so I have leftovers for tomorrow. The prices are very reasonable. This is a must if you are in Akron.

If you are thinking about going to Luigi's and have never gone.... Quit reading and just go. Its an old school italian restaurant and an Akron landmark. Its fun. Its good. You will not be disappointed. If you havent been to Luigi's in a long time and are just checking in to see what ppl are saying... its the surrounding area is a bit nicer. The block has a nice updated nighttime vibe. When we were there, a band played in the patio next to the nearby hotel... there is more parking and it's all well lit. Feels safe. The restaurant...exactly the same. Still three rooms with the beautiful murals and gorgeous ceiling. Staff still fun and helpful. Prices perfect. Food excellent. There is a reason this place has loyal customers that have been coming here for generations! The food is great. The pizza... it fills the entire take away box. Its topped generously and the cheese they use.... Mwah- chef's kiss. And they never skimp. Their pasta dishes have the right amount of sauce and are always hot and delicious. If you like salad -its none of that shredded lettuce taco like lettuce. Nope. The lettuce is bite sized but not tiny so it holds their delicious dressing and they top it with so much fresh cheese. Its like a mountain! (You can ask for it on the side if you are counting calories others at the table will gladly like to use what you don't want. Oh- you will love Luigi's. Get in the car and just drive there now.

Inexpensive and delicious, it was a short wait when I arrived on Sunday evening at 5:00 pm but when I left at 6:30, the queue was halfway down the block. And for sure, I know why these folks were waiting!I got the salad to start, yes topped with cheese. Tasty and filling, the small salad is more than enough for one. For main, I chose the half rigatoni and half ravioli which is covered and cheese, served like baked ziti. A nice rich sauce, be sure you're wearing the right clothes for this as it does get drippy. A bit of red pepper flakes brought out the flavor and it was delicious.Have some patience - everything is made fresh. My salad too 15 minutes and the main course took another 25. I wasn't rushed by my waitress at all but they definitely want to turn the tables over.[Review 1355 of 2024 - 274 in Ohio - 22378 overall]

Wonderful server and friendly staffCute old school American Italian restaurant. Lots of fun pictures on the wall plus beautiful murals. Food is pretty good. Salad was fresh, bread was delicious (served with butter rather than oil and vinegar), spaghetti sauce (gravy) was pretty basic, I spiced it up with red peppers. Homemade sausage was good, had a softer juicier texture than I expected. Very reasonable prices. Wine was in a small old school glass, but nicely filled to the brim. I much prefer oversized crystal glasses. Overall a good place, I'd visit again

This is a really cute spot with a charming decor and a great atmosphere. The parking around the area is convenient, but it fills up quickly due to the apartments nearby. I ordered takeout shortly after they opened one evening, and the food was overall good. The sauce was a bit too tomato-y for my taste, but I really enjoyed the baked cheese on top. The meatball wasn't my favorite, so I'd probably try something different next time. I'd love to come back and dine in to fully experience the ambiance. The service was good, and the staff was friendly. Worth giving another try!

Great service. Very reasonable price. Was visiting from out of town and had baked spaghetti for lunch, pizza at night, and breakfast in the morning. All were great.