Tre Cugini

We came here one evening to sit outside and listen to the big band music playing at Rosa Parks Circle. Sadly, the evening was spoiled by the obnoxious owner walking around and being quite rude to several of the patrons (not just us). When we asked the waitstaff about him, they apologized & said it was his typical behavior. The last straw was that he brought a drink over to our table, and we didn’t order it. We had already paid our bill and we’re leaving… When we told the waitress we didn’t order it and sent it back, he became confrontational and even more rude. I wouldn’t return here if they paid me to.

My wife and I decided to try The Cugini for date night. We were seated promptly and given bread/​water right away. The décor is nice and modern. We were there on a Thursday night, the restaurant itself was about half full. My wife ordered some wine which also came quickly. It was a while before the server came back for our order so we had decided and ordered right away.
Then we waited and waited. My wife got her salad after about 20 minutes and we got both our entrees after 30 – 35 minutes. Kind of a long wait and we were both hungry. She had the featured risotto with sausage and I had the spaghetti. Presentation was good and taste was good.
I guess that sums up the evening it was just good. However for the prices they charge (entrees $ 22 to $ 45 and up, the add on salad was $ 11, more then the wine!) we expected a bit more. I feel there are other Italian restaurants in GR with more flavor/​better prices. It was fine, but probably won’t go out of our way to visit again.

I waffled between a 3-​star and 4-​star review on Tre Cugini after having dinner here while in town for the night. I love Italian food and this restaurant was a quick walk from our hotel. 4 stars won out because there were many things about Tre Cugini that were worth 4 stars: My husband’s entrée (linguine with clams — I don’t like clams and I thought it was great), the overall atmosphere, the service, and the Caprese salad. But then there was my entrée, a four cheese ravioli in white wine cream sauce which was not something I would recommend given all the other menu options. It was just all right. The sauce was thicker than I like and I was definitely experiencing entrée envy. All the other food I saw people eating looked delicious. The salted caramel gelato we had for dessert was amazing, so dinner ended on a good note. I would definitely go back but would order something different.

Once a favorite this restaurant is a shadow of its former self. Limited menu, beef tenderloin sliced maybe ½ inch thick making it impossible to get a nice char and cook to medium rare temp.
Asked for additional bread and staff brought a bag to the table and dumped the contents into the bread basket.
For the money go to Cygnus (where you will find excellent former Tre staff), or 616 or Grove, or Trattoria Stagione. Had much better more creative better presented and well prepared meal night before at The Heritage GRCC culinary school.
Humming taps as I say goodbye to my former favorite.

Exceptional filet medallions. Professional server with knowledge of wine pairings. Pleasant atmosphere. Great location for strolling during Artprize. Made the Grand Rapids experience memorable!

We found this restaurant again while walking the streets of Art Prize In Grand Rapids. It is still a four star! I had the Crab Sandwich and it was very good — full of crab and just grilled perfectly. My wife had the soup and a beet salad and loved it. All in all a perfect lunch.

We had high hopes when we happened upon his seemingly charming restaurant. Although it wasn’t busy, it took more than 5 minutes to set up a table for 4. The lunch prices were quite high — more like a dinner menu. The service was terrible. Our waitress was unfriendly, not at all helpful, and pretty much absent. It took FOREVER to get our food. At least 25 minutes. Again, the place was not very busy. I ordered the salmon sandwich. When the food FINALLY came, the salmon on the sandwich was cold — are you kidding!!! And the fries were SO unbelievably salty that they were inedible. And I actually am quite fond of salt. I would NEVER go back here, and would definitely NOT recommend this establishment.

Location location location. Party of six, server was helpful and gracious but entrees were cold enough that the tiny mussels were sent back and returned after a longer wait than you’d expect but without the grilled bread. Soup arrived without a spoon that took a while to find. Pretty pricey but flavorful gnocchi, ravioli, and the salads were tasty.

Food was very good however it was not good enough to have such bad service. We went at 8pm on a Tuesday to have a few small plates, drinks and maybe a dessert. Which makes for a pretty easy table. After being told we had to wait to sit outside (there was at least 5 open tables, but none of them clean) another girl came to seat us. We ordered Prosciutto and berata. We didn’t get bread until asking for it twice, the waitress said it was in the oven. It came cold. The tables in the front outside were never cleared the whole time we were there. Unfortunately it is clear there is no manager supervising work to be done.

Pleasant atmosphere, attentive service, good but not outstanding food.

Great food and bread with the meal. This place never lets us down.

Horrible experience, I will not go back! The owner (I assume) would not honor a Groupon I purchased. He was yelling at me, very unprofessional. He called the police on me because I refused to pay the full bill. Then he called Groupon, the rep told him over the phone that he should honor it! He did not… In the end I conceded and paid the bill in pennies.

We were in town for a conference for work. It took ten minutes before we even were spoken to by a sitter and that was after asking for a server. The food is extremely more expensive then what is listed on the menu here. You would think for 20 to 30 dollars a plate it would be better food. All of the food came out barely warm. My food tastes good but not for the price.

My calamari was undercooked, bland, and rubbery. My husband’s fettucine alla bolognese was equally under seasoned and gummy. If your taste in Italian food runs to Chef Boyardee, then this could be the place for you. Otherwise, there are plenty of other good restaurants on Monroe Center St NW.

I had the Cavatelli and sausage. Wife had the crab cakes. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. Wine list was extensive, but hardly value priced. By bottle or glass, it was pricey. I ended up having an import draft. The sidewalk dining was very comfortable this June evening. It is probably not going to be at the top of my places to visit again, but I could be dragged there.

We found ourselves in GR last week and thoroughly enjoyed our trip. One day, we decided to eat at Tre Cugini for lunch and we’re glad that we did… although our wallet felt the pinch.
Anyway, we ate outside as the weather was beautiful. The service was very good… it was evident that our waiter had been trained well. There was a slight glitch and the waiter was more than apologetic about it.
The food was good too… well-​cooked and well-​presented.
If we ever go back to GR, we’ll certainly look forward to another visit.

Food was great, service was outstanding & the ambiance was very nice. We had the Gnocchi Gorgonzola & Spinach Mushroom Risotto & would highly recommend it. The only drawback were the small portion sizes.

Much improved from last year. I will note that the online menu does not reflect the current menu (It still states «Dinner Menu Summer 2014»)
The service has improved back to where it should be.
The menu has been re-​worked and some old favorites have returned while some very good new items have appeared!
I got the Beef Wellington appetizer. Amazing little nibble of heaven there.
My wife and I shared a plate of beef and pork ravioli. Al-​dente pasta filled with tender meats with a mildly spicy red sauce. I was kind of sad I let my wife have 50% of this…
For my entrée, I got the Steak Tournedos with gogonzola, rapini and roasted potatoes. The steaks were cooked just right and everything was very flavorful.
I am very happy that this place has restored the food and service quality that made me a fan many years ago. I would urge anyone who at there in 2014 to consider giving it another try now.

For the cost you’d assume you were eating at a very high end (for GR prices) Italian place. You’d be wrong. Food is bland and the menu uninviting. Even the cannoli, which is such a basic staple, was without flavour and meh. There are so many other good places in the area. Skip this one.

Good food, street-​side venue with a nice ambience and décor. The service wasn’t superb, and we were told that it was because of a 40 top wedding party in the back. If you knew that was going to happen, a little extra staff on the main floor might have been advisable.