A treasured neighborhood spot in downtown Downers Grove just north of the Main Street train station, Scarletti's scratch kitchen offers delicious Italian dishes with a contemporary flair, endless pasta combinations, raved about pizza and fabulous special menu items each week. All of our pasta sauces are gluten free and can be paired with our rice-based gluten free pasta.
Opened in late 2010, this husband and wife owned restaurant has a warm and inviting atmosphere that has helped make Scarletti's Italian Kitchen the perfect place to go for a get-together with friends and family, a couples night out or before a show at the Tivoli Theatre just down the street. Scarletti's has a full service bar and outdoor seating for those warm weather days.
"Food was fine, but I have never had a less engaged waitress in a restaurant. For a restaurant attempting to compete with others in Downers Grove service needs to improve.
The service was the worst we have received in years. What was intended as an enjoyable celebration of Mother's Day, ended up being a miserable experience. Making patrons feel wanted, enjoy their meals and leave with a positive feeling is the restaurant's goal I am sure. The waitress accomplished exactly the opposite. If we went to McDonalds I could accept someone with attitude that was having a bad day. Actually, I have never had service this bad at a McDonalds. The Sangria was a pitcher of ice with a few piece of fruit and dilute wine, buy a bottle of wine instead."
Dined on 5/11/2013
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"Unfortunately, they were out of one of their "specials" which sounded delicious. I had the Chicken Parmesan, which was okay. I will return to this restaurant to try another dinner selection on their menu."
Dined on 5/02/2013
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"Nice small neighborhood place, with great food. Service was a little slow on replenishing drinks and checking back. Place got very noisy as more people arrived, but there were several large groups the night I dined. All and All a nice neighborhood place."
Dined on 5/02/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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"The food was good. We enjoyed our meal. I had the short ribs and my husband had pasta. Very good meat sauce. The restaurant does get noisy when busy. Good location near the Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove."
Dined on 5/02/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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"My husband and I wanted try a local spot in downtown Downers Grove for an overdue "date night" and decided to try Scarletti's. We are so glad that we did! The food was amazing, the service was great and the value was unbelievable! Such a great dining experience, we will definitely go back! We shared the scrumptious Stuffed Mushrooms as our appetizer and we loved the bread basket served with warm marinara-such a delicious and special treat. I had the Tilapia Milanese which was wonderful. My husband had the Linguine with Shrimp Tapenade and said it was fantastic, spicy but not overly so. We tried the cannoli chip & dip for dessert which was delicious and a very unique idea. The perfect size for a little something sweet with our coffees."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, scenic view
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"We had reservations for 7:00. We ordered our food around 7:15. We were not served our food for about one hour. We did not have an appetizer, soup , or salad. The restaurant was busy and very loud. The food was mediocre."
Dined on 04/19/2013
2005
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"I thought Scarlettis was a wonderful restaurant. It is right in down town Downer's Grove - near the Tivoli Theatre so it is a great dinner and a movie destination. We also thought the food was wonderful and very reasonably priced. A true neighborhood gem."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem
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"Fantastic as always. We have now been here over half a dozen times and the food is always fantastic and service & ambiance are tough to beat. I highly recommend."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, special occasion, scenic view, great for lunch
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"We always enjoy our meal here. The specials are creative, presentation is wonderful and portions are just right. Service from the staff and owners who are always there is friendly and efficient."
Dined on 04/09/2013
2004
Special Features: good for groups, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, great for lunch
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"I highly recommend that braised short rib with the potatoes. The dish served as it is on the menu was probably one of the best braised ribs I have had. They do offer gluten free pasta for those interested."
Dined on 04/05/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, hot spot
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"I've been here 3 times in the last 6 weeks and I live 15 miles away! I like the ambience , the windows looking out onto downtown DG. The wait staff is extremely well informed. Friendly but not intrusive. Beautifully presented , excellent flavor on the entrees and desserts. The mushroom appetizer fabulous"
Dined on 03/22/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, late-night find, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, scenic view, great for lunch
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"This was our first visit and we were impressed. Our waitress, Tina, was very knowledgeable, checked on us frequently and made our experience very positive. Looking forward to a return visit soon!"
Dined on 03/09/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"The food portions were just right and the price was fair. Most Italian restauarants give you enough food for 3 people. I've always wondered why restaurants don't charge less and cut down on the portions. Scarletti's does that."
Dined on 03/01/2013
2011
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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"Beef Tenderloin over cream spinach was excellent. The red sauce with bread serving was different but great idea it was very good. My girlfriend had Chicken Parm. was ok. Presentation was poor just 2 patties laid in red sauce. Overall nice average place service was very good. I would go back and try again."
Dined on 02/23/2013
2011
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"My issue with Sarletti's boils down to one issue. Ordered a pizza with easy on the cheese. It did not come back as easy on the cheese. Mentioned to the server - she basically said it was not her fault. She told the manager/owner. He proceeded to tell us it was easy on the cheese. - Wrong Answer!!!!
My wife and I dine quite frequently - we do know what easy on the cheese means and get it from other restaurants. Two acceptable answers were 1) you blew it - sorry. 2) we do not know how to do easy on the cheese to your liking.
I would have gone back if they had not insulted me. Good food overall and nice atmosphere. Need to learn how to handle customers - telling them they do not know what they asked for - is not the way."
Dined on 02/23/2013
2012
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"We have been here twice and both times found the food to be delicious and creative! Our group of 4 tried different dinners, all were to our liking! Nice assortment of drinks, wines and beers. LOVE the decor with lovely artwork and table settings. Our waitress was terrific! She knows the menu and decribed the specials perfectly! We also enjoyed our table by the window. People watching made for fun conversation. We all plan to return, especially since parking is so convenient on the street or side parking lot."
Dined on 02/23/2013
2009
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, neighborhood gem, special occasion, scenic view
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"A wonderful gem of a restaurant! It's supposed to have great pizza but can't seem to make it past the specials; maybe next time! We had the shrimp with pasta special & was wonderful. This has become our groups' new favorite restaurant!"
Dined on 02/22/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, notable wine list
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"The pasta dishes were excellent. Atmosphere was friendly. Our server could have been a bit more attentive but I will definitely be bringing the family back to the restaurant."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2011
Special Features: kid-friendly, neighborhood gem
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"We enjoyed a very pleasant dining experience. Both of the meals, scallops and tilapia, were excellent as was the service. The bar was busy and almost all the tables were filled while we were there but it was still easy to hear and hold a conversation. We'll definitely be back."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"Our food and drinks were great. Our waitress was a gorgeous woman who always is our waitress and I'm sorry I don't know her name. I tipped her 25% because she is always that good. We love her! The beet salad was wonderful, with the best balsamic I've ever had. I got the scallops with mushroom risotto and it was perfect! It was such a big portion I brought the rest of it home and had the rest for another meal."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2009
Special Features: good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, late-night find, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch, hot spot
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"It was great. My wife and I went on Valentine's Day and everything was excellent. The food, the service, and the acoustic guitarist was a great touch. Not too loud so we could enjoy conversation. Also, every guest on Valentine's Day received chocolate covered strawberries on the house for desert. We will definitely be back!"
Dined on 02/14/2013
2010
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, romantic
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"We enjoyed a nice dinner before a concert at the Tivoli Theater. Great food, and a delicious complimentary limoncello treat when the waitress found out it was my birthday."
Dined on 02/12/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"Ordered Tilapia and Pork chop specials, as well as a pizza for our table. Both specials were okay, nothing too tasty, nothing to order again. This is the first pizza that we did not eat the leftovers we brought home. We have questions about the cheese.....is it really 100% dairy and good quality? Waitstaff and hostess were great, loved that it wasn't too noisy as we were there with older adults that can have difficulty hearing. Quite costly for food that we would not order again. We may be spoiled having lived in Chicago with excellent Italian restaurants. Overall good experience."
Dined on 02/08/2013
2013
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"Food was good, service good. Noise level was terrible. An app on our phone showed the noise level at 87 decibels. There were several tables that were extremely loud. Is there a way you can ask your patrons to be quieter. We were several tables away and the noise was that loud. It was the third time we have been here recently having found your restaurant after a movie. I am not certain I would come as often. I was disappointed as we had brought another couple with us and they were bothered by the noise. We mentioned this to the host, however, she just said, well they must be having a good time."
Dined on 02/01/2013
2011
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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"This was the first time visiting this restaurant. We met for lunch and were pleasantly surprised how the staff was so friendly and inviting. We were warmly welcomed and shown to our table. Our waiter was very nice and explained the specials as well as a few choice items on the menu. The food was wonderful and so was dessert. I know we will go back again....maybe for dinner next time."
Dined on 02/07/2013
2005
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, great for lunch
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"Delicious sausage and flatbread, rigatoni, penne with short ribs and tilapia. Server carefully made us some excellent custom cocktails and was very friendly. The two flatscreens that beamed out from the bar out into the entire restaurant completely ruined the otherwise nice interior design."
Dined on 01/31/2013
2008
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