Solo Maria Ristorante Ltd

Fantastic food with the worst service I've ever had. Sat down, waited 30 minutes for the waiter to take our drink order, another 20 for drinks, another 20 for appetizer, and after the meal when we waived down a waiter and asked for the bill, it took another 45 minutes for it to arrive. I've been to busy restaurants and have no problem with slow food, but the waiter was a ghost. After finishing my drink before the appetizer, I was never offered another. We started with prosciutto and melon, then I had the veal piccata, my date had pasta. I had a martini, and my date one glass of wine. The other waiter had graciously told us that my martini would be on the house because of the wait. The bill came, and had 2 martinis, 2 glasses of red, and 2 glasses of white on it, overcharging us by over $25. I took the bill to the cash to straighten things out, and they only took one glass of wine off. The food was probably the best Italian I've ever had, but because of the service, I don't think I'd go back.

Solo Maria has the best food I've ever tasted. The first time we went, Maria was waiting tables and cooking the foo!. It is always a delightful and entertaining experience.

Horrible experience, would never go back...1st...

Horrible experience, would never go back...1st and last time there!!! too many things to explain, waited 10 mins to be seated(there were only 2 tables in the whole place) after being told to sit where ever we wanted, we were then told to "move" cause that table was reserved...then couldn't get the drink order right (jack & coke was really hard) then all you could hear from the kitchen was Mama Maria yelling, very loud...then as we were about to order the waitress walks about without saying anything to seat people at the door and didn't come back for about 10 mins...that's where we just asked for the bill and Mama Maria came by to see what was wrong and tried explaining that she requested a waitress from an agency and "this is what they sent"...talk about throwing her under the bus!! overall, bad experience...I own a restaurant and know what customer service is all about...I have no idea where a restaurant like that got any of those awards that were on the wall!!

In this rest.opened less than a year ago,(in Oct...

In this rest.opened less than a year ago,(in Oct 06) Maria, the owner-chef,will eventually come out to greet you (and sometimes serve you too) in her stylish-way, so be prepared for some "verbal" hospitallity,Italian sytle!She provided us with appetizers of Bruschetta, and pickled asparagus, both gratis, maybe because we were first timers at her place - she didn't say. They just arrived at our table without any fanfare,"on the house." Her foods are based upon what she prepared in her previous rest.situated on Avenue Road in Toronto,for the last 20 years.Between Mama Maria and her assistant in the kitchen, they can cook up some really great-tasting authentic Italian grub. I had baby calf liver,done the way I like it, not over cooked and not leathery.Of course, food is a matter of taste,so some people won't like liver no matter how it is cooked.Also she told me their pasta is fresh-made on the premises.Solo Maria's is located in a large strip mall, so there is lots of parking. It is air-conditioned (a bit too cool that night) and no need for reservations yet unless you have a large party of course. The general Italian ambience was just okay for me, however if mama Maria stops by your table, things get real authentic, real fast!At times service gets a bit slow especially if there is a large table to serve,and Maria has to cook,serve and "greet".She does have help though, both in and out of the kitchen. Would return again for the food and to say hello to Mama Maria.