Pinocchio Restaurant & Monte

07/28/09

Solid Quick Cheap Italian

by CantRememberLogin at Citysearch

I probably visit this restaurant at least twice a month. Food is good and dependable. Atmosphere is casual and fun. Good place for a quick lunch or dinner. Cheap prices, big portions. I could elaborate, but just read the other positive reviews and you get the idea.

Several reviews have commented on poor service. I have always found the servers behind the counter to be fast, friendly, and accommodating of requests. The staff does have a laid-back attitude and is often joking amongst themselves while dishing orders. None of that has ever bothered me, but I suppose if you are uptight, demanding, or impatient, the attitude of the staff could rub you the wrong way.

Give it a try, hope you like it.

• Pros: Lots of tables. Fast. Cheap. Tasty.

07/06/08

Ignore The Rubes And Eat The Pasta

by photowriter333 at Citysearch

The food here is good, not the best, but the prices are a plus. However, if you are looking for courteous and decent service, you've picked the wrong place. The bus boys and serving staff are arrogant and ignorant. I've even seen the staff talk down to customers? even the owner is a schmuck!? but, they have learned to respect me because I give it right back to them, and in front of everyone! ?No, I don?t like burnt garlic bread. Why don?t you eat it for me, Jose??All that said? if you are looking for Southern Italian, fast-food at a value, Pinocchio?s is the place! The pastas, meat dishes and salads are already prepared and ready to go. It's the basics, spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, pizza, assorted salads, even submarine sandwiches. The food is edible, but not great. It's cafeteria style. And although some of the food looks like it's been sitting there all day, for under $10, with a soda, find something fresh to eat. Be forewarned, lettuce that has been marinating in dressing all day is not fresh! This cafeteria-style restaurant offers great value - big portions -and the food is at least hot. There is a choice of three dining rooms as well as outdoor patio, nothing fancy, but Sinatra's music plays in the background! I usually opt for the middle dining room because there is less noise, no service to speak of, so you can steal more cheese from the unoccupied tables virtually undetected. However, if you decide to take a photo for memories sake, a surely, Hispanic ?bus boy?? in his late twenties or early thirties? will run up and accost you. Ignore him. I've been going to Pinocchio?s for twenty years or more, and I?ve been successfully ignoring all of the rude, minimum wage ?Rubes? that have passed through there. And they still don?t get it.

• Pros: It's in Burbank-- safe, parking, cheap eats.
• Cons: Who are these guys working here-- misfits from Army Cooking School?

04/05/08

Decent Food, horrible service

by ChelseaFC at Citysearch

The food here is good (not the best) and prices are a plus. However, if you are looking for courteous or even decent service (I've seen toddlers with better social skills than the people who work here), you've picked the wrong place. My first trip to Pinocchio's was on a crowded night and I happened to find an empty table that needed to be cleared. I asked a bus boy (if you go there I'm sure you will know who I'm referring too), if he can clear it and he waved me off and kept walking as if I was asking him to perform a miracle.

I've seen the way they talk down to customers, like they are so superior to them, and are bothered to take orders or fix an order they screwed up. You better know the rules of ordering and keep the line moving or else they will belittle you. Be warmed when you go there...you need to have your guard up and ready to be talked down to.

• Pros: parking
• Cons: Service, the people working there

03/06/08

Great Value, Casual Atmosphere

by Zeegy at Citysearch

Looking for good Italian fast-food at a Great Value? Pinocchios is the place! The pastas, meat dishes and salads are already prepared and ready to go. The place is always busy so the prepared food goes fast and replaced immediately with freshly made food. If you?re ?germ phobic? and hate buffets, not to worry because the prepared food is behind glass and served by the restaurant staff. The pizza is fantastic, thin crust and crispy. There?s lots of topping choices and it?s freshly prepared once you order. Wine is served by the glass, or a bottle may be purchased in their adjoining Italian Market. Dessert is no problem; there?s an excellent Gelato bar with great flavor selections, and a good assortment of pastries and cakes in the adjoining Italian Bakery. The atmosphere is casual and kid friendly. It's a great place to stop on your way home from work for to-go orders. The servings are large, and enough for two "lite - eaters" to share.

• Pros: Great Value, Great Italian Fast Food
• Cons: None

11/20/07

Good cheap Italian

by famousblueraincoat at Citysearch

i've been coming to this place for years. it's not fancy italian at all -- certainly no pesto sauce here! it's like an old fashioned chicago joint. there's a menu on the wall, but mostly people just line up and point at what they want. it's the basics, spaghetti, meatballs, parmesagnas, lasagna, etc. there are some healthier salads. they have submarine sandwiches too, but i never seem to order them. old school little shop attached too for basic wines, breads, salamis. they serve gelato now too

• Pros: great value, parking not a problem, good salads
• Cons: not a whole lot of variety, lines can be long

11/08/07

Great place! Great food!

by steveola at Citysearch

What a great place. The food is incredible.. from the lasagne to the pasta salad. From the hand tossed ceasar salad to the large selection of spumoni. And the deli is one of the best italian deli's in the area. Eat there or take it home.. mmmmm.

• Pros: Food. Price. Convienience.

10/07/07

Consistent, but beware of the guy behind the counter...

by burbanklg at Citysearch

The food is not great. Edible, yes. But very not great. They have some kind of machine that makes the entire corner smell like yummy Italian food, but once you get in there it's straight cafeteria/jail style. The food looks and tastes likes it's been sitting there all day. They mask the grossness with the aroma and the amount of food you can get for $10, but if you've ever been to Italy (yes, I have) or eaten really good Italian food (mmm...ditto there), then you know that this place is horrible. I mean, lettuce that has been marinating in dressing all day should not be considered a salad! The only saving grace is the deli section. They must use different hiring managers for each section of the building too, because for some reason the deli guys are cool, but the cafeteria guys aren't. I shouldn't take it out on the ENTIRE cafeteria staff. Actually, there's one guy in particular in the cafeteria that makes this place horrible. I think he was an old lady who used to work the elementary cafeteria lunch line in his former life (who was was severely abused, hasn't realized that he has a problem and has yet to break the cycle). In short, he is a total ($%*^&($&%. He's the one with the goatee and red hat. He never gets our order correct and then makes threatening faces, gestures and comments when he has to correct them. It happens 100% of the time. I live so close by, but I never want to go there because of that one guy! Back to the food...the cookies are good, the deli selection is good and overall it's edible. But I really, really hate that one guy!

• Pros: A lot of food for the $ you spend
• Cons: That one guy

02/03/07

Wonderful place, Great Costumer Service, Oustanding cheap food!

by bryanlamb at Citysearch

This is a hidden gem in Burbank! All of the food is outstanding, the people who work there are friendly and always willing to accomodate. My gf is vegan and many of their standard dishes have to be changed to accomodate that, and the people who work there are always more than happy to help. This place is awesome! Easy parking, cheap prices, big and tasty portions, and always a smile and people willing to work behind the counter.

Dine in and get a sandwich with 2 sides - this deal cannot be beat! For under $10 you'll get a gigantic deli sandwich, and two delicious side dishes. It's wonderful. The food is fresh, and with the plate you'll get - you would have spent a lot more elsewhere.

I eat there every Thursday and have for the past few years and have never once had a single bad experience. I highly recommend this place. If you haven't gone, GO NOW! You won't regret it.

• Pros: Great Prices, Great Food, Great Costumer Service, Fresh Food, Good Deserts
• Cons: Can get crowded at different times

12/13/06

Don't Waste Your Time

by boltz at Citysearch

You basically get what you pay for at Pinocchio's. Prices may be low, but the quality reflects the lower prices. Service at this place is non-existent and you better tip more than $1 at both the entree and gelato lines or else the staff will let you know about it.

• Pros: Prices
• Cons: Service

11/19/06

Awesome gelatto!

by dmenkes at Citysearch

A combination of gelatto shop, deli, and restaurant than anything else, Pinnochio's is an old-fashioned multi-faced establishment that conjures up images of the 1930s. I came here to try the gelatto, which to me was their specialty. They have a 5-flavor sampler cone which was delectable and fully satisfying if not a trifle overpowering. I would like to come back for their restaurant but from what I hear, it's not as good as other eateries in the immediate area. I'll update this review once I try it.