Rastrelli’s

Nice setting. Our waitress was excellent. The olive oil was a little lower quality for dipping bread. Wine list was good although beer choices were limited. The salad bar was not as good as advertised but still sufficient. I ordered the Saporito Pizza and it was excellent. I would return for pizza.

This place is a fantastic classic mid-​west Italian eatery. Service is great, staff is friendly and the food is really yummy. Are there more refined Italian joints? Well yes, but this place has charm and a mid-​west authenticity that is adorable. I had the pizza and loved it, one of the best crusts I’ve had. My wife had the spaghetti and meat sauce and veggie soup. We both loved the food. The interior atmosphere was weird and the décor could use some updating, but don’t let that stop you eating their lip smacking food.

My family and I came here for dinner one evening. To sum up the whole experience, we were underwhelmed. The atmosphere is… old. I can see how some would find it charming, but I found it to be somewhat tacky and outdated. The best part of the evening was the service.
But beyond the food was not very good. They have a big menu ranging from all different kinds of pasta to burgers. If you are an Italian place, just be an Italian place. You don’t need to try to be everything. I had the alfredo sauce with bowtie pasta. It was not very good at all. My dad got the «special» sauce, which we agreed was not very special. I think I have had better sauces out of a jar. We also stopped at their «famous» salad bar. Half of the containers were empty, it didn’t look fresh, and none of the dressings were labeled so you had no idea what one to choose.
Overall, not very appetizing. I wouldn’t rush back.

Large servings of mediocre, plainly prepared processed entrees are consumed by well nourished locals. Chef Boyardee tastes more Italian than their gluten free pasta. The salad bar was possibly transported directly from a local high school cafeteria. At least the bargain prices don’t insult and the service is nothing less than Midwestern sweet.

This place has been here for a long time. The food is excellent at a fair price. My wife usually gets the sampler and I order some sort of pasta dish, all the food is very good along with a very good salad bar and the bread is good too, with fair prices this is a great place to enjoy an excellent meal. Many steps above your average pizza joint

I rarely take the time to write reviews but after my last visit of several in the past couple months I have to say this place is my favorite restaurant in Clinton. Most likely out of the greater northern IL, eastern IA area.
I’ve traveled all over the midwest and different parts of the country. I cover a large area for work and have tried every kind of restaurant, bar, buffet, fast food chain, pizza place, etc. under the sun. I believe Rastrelli’s is under-​estimated for what they are and like a best kept secret that I don’t want to get out. I actually don’t want more people to find out about it because I don’t want to wait 45 min to get in like some other places in town.

A friend and I agree that while the salad bar is small, it is truly one of the best salad bars in a 100 mile radius. I haven’t tried the whole menu but the salmon and spaghetti is always excellent. Their Sunday brunch is amazing. Another under appreciated, (most likely to be over-​looked) aspect that I was thrilled with last visit was actually the fountain pop. Fountain pop is more often than not screwed up by restaurants and chains. Often watered down or odd tasting. What I had last visit to Rastrellis was the best Pepsi I think I’ve ever tasted. Why? I don’t know, but somebody there knows how to set the machine right and I loved it. I’m also happy with the wine selection offered.
Pricing is a bit high once you start including drinks but I’m one that usually opts for quality and will pay if it’s worth it. Not everyone will share the same philosophy. I think you’d have to be a difficult person in general to find a reason to complain about this place. I don’t know what set the bar for the complainers but I wish they would share with me the fantastic restaurants that are better.

Just you Rastrelli’s fans wait until you have a problem with your order… Then you’ll see why I cringe to even give them one star!
When my appetizer and dessert wasn’t delivered with my pizza, they had to make a second delivery (no biggie). But once the appetizer was delivered with no sauce, I thought I’d give them a call. The response was that they would make a third delivery with a side of sauce (while the rest got cold and nasty). No thanks.
The kicker was when I wanted to make a substitution on one of their pizzas, I was abruptly told, «No!» When I discussed this with management, their response was that they had come up with this perfect combination and any subtractions, additions, or substitutions would destroy «the end product». As if these pizza makers in Clinton, Iowa have an elite, sophisticated palate unknown to mankind!
Arrogance and snobbery is never attractive! Unlike most successful restaurants around the country… At Rastrelli’s, the customer is NEVER right! It will be a cold day, you know where, before I go back!

I’ve heard about Rastrelli’s pizza growing up and finally got to try it for myself! It did not disappoint! What a great experience to enjoy this landmark restaurant. There is a reason this family owned business is still going strong 3 generations later. Also try the calamari. Food and service were outstanding!

I was in town on business and stopped in for lunch. I guess this place is somewhat of a landmark in town so I thought I’d check it out.
For starters the décor is very cliché. Tacky Italian themed murals on the walls, pergolas over the booths, fake ivy climbing wrot iron room dividers etc etc. One could argue that’s part of it’s charm. That sort of thing doesn’t matter to me as long as they can deliver on the food.
I had one of the lunch specials which was a personal pizza with 3 toppings and salad bar. The salad bar is small and ordinary. Not unlike what you would find at a Pizza Hut. It’s just kinda meh. The real disappointment however was the pizza itself. I’m not kidding when I say it was barely a step above a Jack’s frozen pizza you get at the grocery store. Thin crust, very greasy, and completely lacking flavor. I’m writing this review 20 minutes after having eaten it and I can’t even remember what was on it, it was that forgettable.
I know I only tried one item on the menu and I’m sure there’s a lot more to this place but I’m just not interested. Perhaps I’m being too cynical. I will say that the waitress was friendly and the service was good.

Decent local Italian place. They have free pizzas during happy hour in the bar. Their calamari was crispy and done well. Although the salad bar was small, they have a very good variety of fresh veggies available. Their wine was a bit on the high side compared to the rest of the local places. Wine was about $ 11 a glass.

the customer service is great but the food is amazing i will be coming back here next time i visit the area. if your looking for good food and a good people this is your place!

Here on business and several people recommended this place.
Four of my coworkers and I had dinner. The pizza was great. The pasta dishes were mediocre. The Alfredo sauce was very starchy.
The wait staff took for ever toget us anything. Do not expect to get your water filled.
However the pink squirrels were good.
So I’d go for a pizza to go and a pink squirrel while I waited for it

Only tried the Pizza/​Pasta/​Salad Bar/​Fried Chicken Buffet. Probably not the greatest choice to truly review a restaurant. Only going 3 stars because never went off the menu. The place is very popular so I am assuming I missed out. However, buffet was solid with pizza being very good (thin crust). Would definitely try it again.

I enjoy the salad bar always and they have some good raviolis for Dinner. I didn’t care for their pizza (something to do with the seasoning) but they have a fantastic brunch on Sunday until 1pm. I believe its 15 $ a person. Variety of fruits, biscuits and gravy, ham, fish, French toast, eggs. Pretty good!!!

I grew up in Clinton and to this day I believe this is some of the best food I have ever had in my life. I have since moved from Clinton but no matter where I visit, the food and the service is simply unmatched. Rastrelli’s is a family owned business and treats their customers as well as the community as members of the family. They are deeply committed to the greater good and development of the community and pride themselves on fantastic quality of food and customer service. This is an incredible place and if you are looking for incredible food that will leave you always craving more than Rastrelli’s is the place for you! Amazing family and an amazing restaurant.

If you like friendly service – like you expect in a family restaurant in a small, midwest town – then Rastrelli’s is the place for you. If you like great pizza and a fresh salad bar, try Rastrelli’s. I don’t know how «authentic» it is because I’ve never been to Italy, but I know GOOD food and Rastrelli’s is GOOD! Stop in for lunch and you will not be disappointed.

We went in and were immediately greeted… and that was the extent of the positive experience. We asked about adding a side salad to our sons kids meal and was told it was $ 5 to add a side salad to the meal. We then asked why it was more to add a side salad to a kids meal than an adult meal and was told that it was out of her control. When we asked for the manager, the manager Diane came over extremely hostile and wasn’t even willing to offer to drop the price down to the same as the adult add on. Instead she decided she would rather lose a $ 50 check and rudely and forcefully asked us to leave. Awesome service (not!!!). I also especially love the way that a restaurant owned by a retired teacher and her husband wants to discourage parents from feeding their kids vegetables.

When visiting from Chicago, I like to go to this place. It is a family owned Italian restaurant and the food is very decent. They also have healthy options on and off their salad bar. I also enjoyed their garden vegetable soup. When in Clinton, you should visit this little gem.

Landmark restaurant in Clinton, IA for generations. I’ve probably eaten everything on the menu over the years and never had a bad meal. My favorite is the seafood pasta. If you have the opportunity to eat here do it — you’ll experience what is quickly becoming a lost American tradition in the family owned restaurant. Be sure to politely tour around the restaurant — it’s much much bigger than just the front dining room.

Fantastic flavors, home-​made dishes, and a salad bar that has great choices including FRESH veggies, potato salad, pasta salad, pickled herring (not my thing, but others like it) and fabulous bread pudding. The meat sauce is phenomenal and easy to pick up a pint or quart to go. And a loaf of bread, your own noodles and you have an awesome take-​out, yet home-​made, low-​cost dinner that your family will beg for!
Appreciate the heart-​healthy choices, too. Delicious with no lose of flavor to the lighter fare.
Suggestions: better to go containers, and more efficient check-​out.
Friendly service and clean bathrooms round out a great experience.