Dazzo's Has Lost Its' Dazzle - Archive Review

"Dazzo's Has Lost Its' Dazzle"
Dazzo's Italian Castle
710 S. Gay StreetKnoxville, TN 37902
(865)525-2105
Hours:Mon. - Thurs.: 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Friday: 11:30 a.m. - midnight
Saturday: noon - midnight
Sunday: 3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
No reservations or call ahead seating
Beer, BYO Wine
No website

Dazzo’s Review

OK….this is going to be a strange review because I really like the pizza at Dazzo’s and DO NOT want the place to close up….however, I must be honest about my experiences.
I have been to Dazzo’s three times.
During the Italian festival, my wife, daughter, and I decided to pass up the street vendors and go to Dazzo’s. We took a look at the menu and had our hearts set on two salads, an antipasto, and one featuring green beans. We also decided to order several slices. We were told the salads we wanted were no longer available and were going to be taken off the menu. OK – so we settled on the slices of pizza. Grandma’s pizza was the hit of the table. It was cheesy, tomato flavor evident, and the crust was to die for. The other traditional slices were good, not gooey, too cheesy, or oily. Also the beer was really cold.
My wife and I decided to go and have lunch on a Saturday the last week in May. The salads we had hoped for weeks ago were still on the menu and still not available. We decided upon the Italian salad which when presented was enough for four people. It was of mediocre quality and swimming in a sea of balsamic dressing…not good. Once again the pizza was spectacular!!!!!! Hum…..is there a trend here?
After singing the praises of Dazzo’s pizza, a friend of mine decided to invite three couples to go and celebrate her husband’s 30th birthday…..ah yes, for me that was over 25 years ago…..but I can still remember food!
It was decided we would meet at 6:30 and bring wine – which is allowed at Dazzo’s. Well this is where it falls apart…….. Dazzo’s doesn’t take reservations and we thought that 6:30 would be a good time to arrive. Wrong! The restaurant is set up so almost half of it is taken up by the kitchen. This leaves booth seating on one side for two people and on the other side for four. That leaves the middle tables to be available for larger parties….however, if there is a table of eight….. every other large party is out of luck.
THERE IS NO WHERE TO WAIT COMFORTABLY! How awkward for six adults to just stand by the door and stare at the people who are sitting at the table you want. Solution…. How about some seats outside and offering glasses and corking for the wine you bring, or offering a beer, soda, water, etc. Something needs to be done about this issue….or don’t offer things other than pizza…..there is more stay with me.
Once we were seated, things didn’t get better….Waters were ordered for the table and two people were omitted…..Oh yeah….the salads we had wanted to try on the first visit that were not available were still on the menu. Annoying! Restaurant Management 101.
Also, it was hot as hell in the restaurant! The sun was beating in the windows and with the ovens going in the restaurant area, it was very uncomfortable.
We asked for wine glasses and were told it would take a while because they “wanted to wash them before they were brought to the table”. Good Tip. However, does it take 25 minutes to wash the glasses? Shouldn’t they be washed and ready to go???? Restaurant Management 101.
Next , three of us wanted to order a slice of Grandma’s pizza and we were told that they were out of it. We could order a whole pie…….So why didn’t they make a whole pie at 6:30 and sell slices throughout the rest of the night?????? So everyone passed and picked a slice of pizza they didn’t want. Restaurant Management 101.
Salads were ordered, two Caesar’s and one House. All three salads were super heavy on the dressing, and served at room temperature….I’m sorry, but a salad, except for a tomato and mozzarella salad, should be chilled! Restaurant Management 101.
Now to the dinners. While some settled with salad and slices, four of us ordered dinners, some even in addition to slices…….we all like to eat. Choices were two lasagnas, one manicotti, and the evening special of clams and mussels in a tomato sauce. This is when I started to wonder what was going on….Why isn’t bread offered when you order a dinner??????
The lasagna was OK, the manicotti was OK, but the sauce was not a favorite. However, my wife’s order of their special of clams and mussels was a TRUE LET DOWN. There was no pasta underneath, and instead of the dish having a thinned light tomato sauce, the shellfish was drowning in a sea of spaghetti, pasta sauce! OH…when my wife asked for a spoon, she was told THEY WERE OUT OF SPOONS! It was then followed up by the comment to see if someone at our table had a spoon they weren’t using. YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!
So here is the synopsis – In my opinion, Dazzo’s has a good pizza but it is no Hard Knox. My advice to Dazzo’s is stick to pizza.
My advice to customers looking for more that pizza….bring your own wine glass, cork screw, and spoon.