Russo's New York Pizzeria Inc

Doesn't Recommend

LuisaC

Joined 2 years ago

Awful Experience!. Russo's on 290 near 1960 used to be our favorite pizza place...USED to be. We've been going to that location for a couple years and had always had a good experience, excellent food, and enjoyed the atmosphere and service. But, after our awful dining experience there last week, I can no longer say that.

First, our pizzas were burnt (literally burnt black, cracker-thin centers, undersides and edges...and we'd ordered hand-tossed, not thin crust) and very skimpily-topped. Our very personable waiter was apologetic and brought us replacement pizzas. The second ones were still overdone but not totally burnt, yet still skimpy-topped and dry. At the time, we thought our only problem was the poorly made pizza, so our waiter was nice enough to discount them.

To add insult to injury, later that evening we discovered an even worse problem...all four of us had food poisoning! The only food we all ate was the spinach-artichoke dip. Obviously, something in it was "OFF"! We all got really sick. What a horrible experience!

Understandably, I decided I had to call and complain about our experience. We were told the owner of the location was out of town, so I left a voice mail (there was no option on the phone menu to get a human being) with Russo's corporate office on Post Oak. I've yet to receive the courtesy of a return call. I gave up waiting on them and eventually reached a very nice manager at the Russo's location. She was very apologetic on behalf of herself and the owner and promised to call me back, after she spoke with him.

I took the time to call Russo's not only to complain but to warn them that one of their food items caused us to get sick...as courtesy to them and their future patrons. I assure you that I called with absolutely no intention of asking for any compensation whatsoever...but when the manager called me back (with further apologies and promises of making sure the kitchen was more careful in future)...she volunteered to give us a 25% discount on our meal, if we came back.

I was completely flabbergasted. I told her we didn't plan on returning to their establishment...but what I also really wanted to tell her but didn't was that their offer was an INSULT. FOUR of us became PHYSICALLY ILL after eating their tainted food and they had the nerve to offer us a 25% discount?! Seriously?! Not even a week of free meals would make up for what we went through...but would YOU be enticed (and foolish enough) to go back to a place that made you sick...for 25% off?! I THINK NOT!

Restaurants aren't perfect, people make mistakes, it happens...but if the customer service also falls short, there's just no excuse for it.

(I would've rather given them a "negative star" rating, if it had been available)

Doesn't Recommend

sandmal4321

Joined 3 years ago

Marginal At Best. I have been there 3 times. They are consistently average.

Recommends

joehroch

Joined 5 years ago

Fantastic Experience. My wife, myself and our three kids went there on our anniversary. We were hesitant to go out with three little ones, but the Russo's staff made it easy. The food came out quick, they did not mind our noisy boys and when our little one spilled all over their floor, they were quick to clean it up. The food is fantastic. My kids are spoiled and think pizza is only suppose to be the way Russo's makes it. Bravo Russo's and thanks again for a great anniversary experience.

Doesn't Recommend

only1suzeq

Joined 8 years ago

Don't bother!!. For the moderate price the food isn't even as good as Beef-a-roni. Save the money open a can. Pizza was a burnt cracker crust we couldn't even eat it.

All the entree's were served as the kitchen finished them. As a family we all wanted to eat together. Poor presentation of all the food. Salad was just a salad not spectacular. Meatballs were tough not at all flavorful. This is our 3 trip and guess we got burned for the last tme.

Recommends

rwbaker

Joined 10 years ago

Great Pizza in Houston!. The Pizza is great.

My wife and I tried this after reading about them from Ken Hoffman in the Chronicle

It has a great atmosphere and a pretty fast turn around for tables. The weekends are getting busy now since more people are hearing about Russo's. It is still worth the short wait.

I have been 5-6 times and have only tried the pizza. My wife has tried the other dishes and loves them all.

Recommends

Jenny Wang

Joined 5 years ago

Editorial Review by Jenny Wang. Anthony Russo brings the first coal-fired pizza oven to Houston at this pizzeria on the Northwest side turning out New York-style pizza that can compete with the best of them.