Garibaldi's Italiano - Carson City

We began our meal with a Caesar salad and their fantastic garlic bread, both of which were perfect. However, when our main course arrived, we ordered the enormous meatball with pasta to share. Sadly, both the pasta and the meatball were excessively salty, making our dinner nearly inedible. At first, I wondered if it was just my taste buds, but even my partner, a fan of salt, could barely eat a few bites. I noticed a young woman at the table behind us who had ordered the same dish and was also struggling, so I leaned over to ask her if it was too salty. Her expression said it all. We were both relieved to find out we weren’t alone in our salty nightmare. To describe the meatball as dense as Tahoe's snow fog would be an affront to snow fog itself. Even with a knife, cutting through it felt like trying to saw through a thick branch. By that point, we knew there was nothing left to do but ask for a doggy bag and the check. We typically don’t complain about our food; we just choose not to return. We were simply looking for spaghetti and an enormous meatball, but it became clear that the pre-made sauce and the hand-formed meatball were all equally salty. I gave the experience two stars mainly because the waitstaff were incredibly sweet and our server was exceptional—she truly deserved a five-star rating. As for the food, I would rate it a minus three. In the end, it all balanced out since our two dogs didn’t mind the saltiness and treated it like their special night out. We even stopped for ice cream on the way home—just not the salted caramel!

This place is so strange. It has incredible food, but it's gatekept by incredibly rude service. The bartender woman is a really ornery woman who is curt and impatient. I don't understand why she has such an attitude. I really love the food here but you have to put up with an incredibly rude and nasty bartender woman.

After placing our dinner orders, I requested bread for the table, only to find out later that we were charged $5 for it! This is an Italian restaurant, and I’ve come to expect complimentary bread served with olive oil and vinegar. Our meals arrived promptly and were visually appealing. I ordered a Chicken Marsala dish, but the flavor seemed off, and the sauce ended up mixing with the vegetables and pasta, creating a mess on the plate. For our party of four, the bill came to $145, and considering only one person ordered a cocktail, I’d say the food was just average, not exceptional. It will be a while before we return, especially since we've had such great meals at La Familia in Reno. Additionally, the restaurant has a bar near the entrance, and the noise from last night's crowd was quite disruptive. Several times, we found ourselves turning our heads because the bar noise was louder than our conversation. When we left, not a single employee was there to wish us a good evening—most of the staff seemed occupied chatting at the bar.

Do not rely on the reservations voicemail! On February 6, 2024, I called and made a dinner reservation for our very first visit to Garabaldi's at 5:00 PM on February 14, 2024—yes, Valentine’s Day. I even have proof of the call in my cellphone log. We arrived on time that day, only to find out there was no reservation for us. The host and another staff member acted as if I was fabricating the story, but I’ve attached the call log as proof. They offered to seat us at the bar, but really, it was Valentine’s Day! We were hoping for a special experience, and that was not it. We ended up going somewhere else. I can’t comment on Garabaldi's food or atmosphere, but my first impression was certainly not positive. If you want to eat there, make sure to call when they’re open and book a table with a real person. Don’t trust the voicemail system!

Because there is no ZERO. Must be a lot of FAKE reviews. Definitely not the place to go for a special occasion, which they would not dream of acknowledging. Sometimes a great server can sort of make-up for a terrible meal. Not here. Owner's daughter takes it as a personal insult just because you did not like your meal, nor did you eat it. She thinks it is all about her. Way over-priced. Much better choices for Italian food in Carson City. Better food, service, ambiance, prices, and hospitality is readily available. You have been warned.