Marcellino Ristorante

I've lived in Scottsdale for 6 years and finally was able to try this restaurant! I would recommend making a reservation, even their bar seating is reserved. We went on a Saturday night and it was extremely busy. There was a live band with a saxophone playing in the background.The service was incredible- our waiter made recommendations based on what we liked and walked us through the menu section by section. Their wine line had an in depth selection of different wines from all over Italy. The food was phenomenal- fresh ingredients and had great flavors. We started with the mussels - we were going to have them in the red sauce but our waiter recommended the garlic wine sauce and it did not disappoint. We ordered two of their special pastas for our entrees. We had one with crumbles of sausage and truffle, the other was a seafood pasta. Both pastas were handmade and light. For dessert, we had the pistachio gelato and it was one of the best gelatos I've had. Highly recommend for a date night, dinner with friends or family meal.

Where do I even begin with the abysmal excuse for a server I encountered at Marcelino's. Let's start with their complete and utter disregard for basic customer service principles. From the moment they begrudgingly approached our table, it was clear that they viewed us as nothing more than an inconvenience standing between them and their next smoke break.Their demeanor was as cold as the soup they sloppily poured into a bowl before unceremoniously plonking it down in front of me. Not a single word of greeting, not a flicker of acknowledgment that we were paying customers deserving of even the most rudimentary level of respect.But perhaps the most egregious offense was their sheer laziness. It was abundantly clear that they couldn't be bothered to lift a finger to ensure that our dining experience was even remotely satisfactory. Refills were nonexistent, dirty dishes piled up on our table like a monument to their apathy, and any attempt to flag them down for assistance was met with a dismissive wave of the hand.In conclusion, if you have the misfortune of being seated in, do yourself a favor and walk right out the door. Save yourself the frustration, the disappointment, and the inevitable heartburn that comes from dealing with such an inept and indifferent excuse for a server.

Ha. Not "World Class". Not even close. But okay.My husband is Italian and we love going to eat in Italy where food is seasonal. There are good restaurants and bad restaurants there, as well, and we want to point this out because so many Americans probably over-glamorize Italian food that is served in the USA. The food at Marcellino ranges from very good to just okay. This was our second visit on a period of about three years. So we have had other dishes here. .What you are paying for at this restaurant is LOCATION. Basically, the high prices are due to their overhead, because nothing at this restaurant is terribly special other than the fresh pasta, but pasta is cheap to make, and the ingredients (such as imported ham or truffle) are used sparingly in their dishes. We really loved our cacio pepe pasta, but were dismayed that we cannot get fresh pasta as a first course that is simple (like, actual cacio e pepe sauce). But what they brought was truly amazing, just overpriced. The zuppa de pesche was not that great. Too tomato-ey, presentation not great, certainly not enough bread, but otherwise a good dish. Drinks and wine were good. And now here is the part about the service, which makes this place NOT a fine dining experience (especially considering what you are going to pay here): One server, Jen, was a very good server, but another server (young, blonde in either high school or college age?) was super sweet, but unprofessional and chatty. Told us what her favorite dish is and we don't want to know that. Food expeditors abruptly plopped down food and walked away. The owner (wife) walked by and glanced over (we waved her down) and we asked for more bread. She was obviously drunk on something. She waved her hand up in the air, and said that she'd send someone over with more. CRINGE. We did get our bread, but the wait staff as a whole was like something you'd get at Applebees, and when we pay these prices we would just prefer sober, discreet service. And how did we know it was the owner? Her photos are everywhere. It was strange to go into the ladies' room, which is too dark to see (and I was afraid my long hair was going to catch on fire due to all the candles) and see the restaurant's business card everywhere with the owners' photos, of course. And then there is the issue with where we sat. We had an early reservation (4:45pm) but we were put in the brick-walled room in the corner. My husband sat facing the wall, and there was a screen flashing vacation photos of the couple. Tacky to look at, when all we really wanted was a nice table with air-flow. This place is average, and WAY overhyped. We spent way too much ($325) on this experience (we spent a similar amount in Lyon, France at a Michelin star restaurant that was exceptional: 8 courses of food, five courses of wine -- and Marcellino's doesn't hold a candle to that experience!) So, we think Scottsdale is just gauging restaurants on their rent. There are better places to spend your money if you are looking for a good dining experience.Takeaway for the owners:Chill on your hyped-up reputationYou aren't the only game in townFocus on the holistic experience for the guests. SERVICE and ambiance are just as important as delicious food.TLDR:Not bad, but not great. Not a good value. Won't go back.Staff hit or miss (not all of them professional) and drunken owner (the wife). We spent $325 (including tax and tip) on:2 Campari cocktails (1 each)1 bottle of red wine (nothing special)1 (shared) pasta dish, cacio e pepe, as a first course2 salads (1 each)2 zuppa de pesche (1 each)1 serving, extra bread (you only get a small amount, and pay for extra)

The food was quite the experience, I've never had the opportunity to experience real authentic Italian and I was transported with the service and the ambiance of this beautiful location. The staff welcomed us like family and the menu was magical but even more magical was the off the menu chef crafted pastas! Wow will not only recommend but will be a regular visit for family and friends.

Great food and service ! Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is the seafood was over cooked and the ambience was like 1990s. The ambience is very dated. Another 2 things that were bothersome were, it was my wife's bday and I brought a cake that they wouldn't allow us to eat . I'm from NYC and have been to some really nice restaurants . I have never heard of this . Lastly my wife and daughter shared a dish that I was charged an extra $2 to split it . Kind of on the fence about returning.

Great food with genuine service. Upscale restaurant that you can feel. Live music weekly that doesn't overpower the atmosphere . The only reasoning giving it 4 stars is because of the high prices.

By far, the best Italian cuisine we have had in AZ. This was our 1st of what will be many visits. Our server, Angel, was also wonderful.

We had dinner and wine last night. Our entire experience was amazing. The bartenders were personable, informative and attentive. The food was fabulous. Authentic Italian! The atmosphere is sophisticated down to the candlelit bathrooms. The best veal chop and ravioli I have ever had! The barbaresco wine was delicious! The chef/owner spoke to us at the bar. He is very nice and humble. His wife sang with the band and she is so good.... kind of jazz like... perfect for the setting! I have been all over the world and enjoyed many meals at some of the finest restaurants. Marcellino is an awesome experience!I have a hard time believing some of these very negative and angry reviews. Maybe it's you... Stick with Olive Garden!

Food was great both nights we went there. The place was clean and the staff was awesome! Not really a fan of the live music as it's hard to hear any conversation going on

I could not get reservations but was able to have a drink at the bar. Their espresso martini was excellent! Perhaps the best I have had. Excellent service from the bartenders as well.