Rillo’s Restaurant

We were here for valentines day 2016. I ordered a «build your own pasta» dish. You pick your pasta, your sauce, and a topping. I picked the freshly made ravioli, the signature marinara, and the grilled mushrooms as my topping. I was excited to have fresh pasta and I aimed the signature marinara would be amazing. The disappointment was the mushrooms. I think they opened a small can of mushrooms and dumped it on top of the dish. The mushrooms weren’t grilled — they weren’t even hot. They day on top, not encorporated into the sauce. Why would you ruin a fresh pasta and fresh sauce with canned mushrooms? When I complained, the manager had the kitchen grill fresh mushrooms, which he brought out within 5 minutes. So they had them, but chose to use canned mushrooms instead. Again, why?
The décor is too shabby for the food to be that bad. My boyfriend was ok with his food but he’ll eat anything you put in front of him.

We were at Rillo’s on New Years Eve every body had outstanding meals and as always we over did the appetizers!
From a Hand Crafted Pizza, Crab al Forno & Brushetta Mozzarella al Forno all excellent and plenty to share. My meal was Capellini Mediterranean
jumbo shrimp | scallops | kalamata olives roasted peppers |roasted garlic | leeks shallots | sun dried tomatoes
garlic a’olio | capellini | feta was delicious and well proportioned others in our party had Daddy’s Combo
chicken parmesan | classic lasagna fettuccini broccoli alfredo they all agreed everything was delicious with the exception of the Lasgna which they just said it wasn’t what they expected! And there was one Chicken Parmasaen with Spaghetti and and marinara which that person enjoyed!
Our waitress and her staff did a very good job attending to our needs and insuring our experience was wonderful! Lauren and her waitstaff did a Commendable job! I am sure we’ll be returning to Rillo’s again! We returned for Dinner had Chicken Parmasaen it was deliciously made we had their CHUNKY Marinara sauce with it no sting of acidity to it which in my book is Italian as it gets! The place is holding up to the reputation of its heritage! Antonio our server did an excellent job tonight! 2÷27÷16

I have been going to Rillos since the 60’s when it was 1 small dining room, red and white plastic table clothes. My mother worked there and my father would take me in once a week.
They have gone through many changes but each time I find the food as good as the last time. My friend and I had dinner there last evening and it was really good. I had the linguine A la Nick and my friend had their Veal Parm. Both generous portions.
We started with appetizers of fried cheese and Crab Al Forno, the fried cheese was great and the Crab Al Forna was OK, not up to par like previous visits. It was to have Tuscany toast points and it appeared to be just a slice of toast cut into points. And their garlic bread is definitely not the same as many years ago. It’s now thin sliced and kind of crispy. It use to be thicker and soft.
Our waitress was very good and on top of things.
I will definitely go back.

I want to start off by saying this was the worse experience my family has ever had at a restaurant and it was not our first time at Rillo’s. We have been coming to this restaurant for years. I personally made reservations for us a month ago since it was a special holiday (Valentines), and we were celebrating 3 birthdays in the family. When we arrived, they couldn’t find our reservation at first, then they came up with it but it wasn’t the correct number of people. So they proceeded to sit us at a half booth table, that was in very poor condition, and we were cramped in like sardines! Well, it only gets worse, After waiting over 90 minutes for our food it was NOT good, the pasta was cold and being served without some of the seafood ingredients. tough steaks, the flavor was lacking and just smothered with olive oil. We actually left the restaurant hungry because our salads and the soup (crab bisque) were the only things edible. A lot of food was sent back, wasted!!! The service from our waiter was very poor too, we could not get drinks refilled. When we finally confronted another waiter he just said they were «UNDERSTAFFED»! For Valentines??? I am quite sure our family will NOT be coming back to this restaurant again and my sister is waiting to get a phone call from the owner as per we spent $ 400.00 and were not even offered any compensation for all the neglect and disappointment on our celebration night.

It has been 17 years since I have been to Rillos. I should have waited 17 more. Not good at all. Food was sub par and wish I could get my money back. Don’t waist your time or $$$.

Fabulous seafood bisque, fresh crispy salads and amazing Classic Italian fare. It’s like stepping back in time — charming and wonderful!

This is a hard review for me to write but I need to write it up. Rillo’s used to be my all time favorite restaurant. I grew up going here and I am now 29 years old. It would be a weekend favorite with the exception of going throughout the week as well. Let alone a weekly visit straight down to take out for lunch and dinner. When I was very little, I was allowed to go back into the kitchen to pick out my own ice cream for dessert. It was truly a family owned business with the atmosphere to match it. The busy weekends, parties, birthday celebrations, and times when we had to rent out part of the restaurant for funeral receptions after a sad day. My history goes way back with this restaurant which is why it’s hard for me to review it as it is now. Up until a few years ago, this would have been a 5 star review. Because of my history with this restaurant, I know the difference between what used to be and what it is now.
I have not visited the restaurant in almost a year. We stopped going September 2014. What did it for me was the grated cheese that is on the tables. I use this cheese literally on everything. I use to take quarts and pints of this home with me. However, something changed horribly with this cheese. I noticed it when we first got to the restaurant the one night. Yellow, grated more finely, and it tasted worst than Kraft Parmesan cheese. I asked for new cheese and they pull some from a different table. It tasted the same. Asked for some from the back. Still tasted the same. Even the Caesar salad tasted differently because of this. Our visit to the restaurant after this, same situation. I figured I would give it another chance. I even asked why the cheese was different. They insisted it was the same. The difference is that the original grated cheese was white, fluffy and tasted fresh. It had a unique taste to it and the kind they had out on the two visits we did last Fall did not taste like the original. Since I use this on everything I order, it kind of ruined the entire experience and meal for me. Because it happened for a second time, I did not want to try for a third.
The last few visits my husband complained of the chicken parmesan being overcooked. We also learned why the sauce looked very dark and it is because it is not made fresh daily anymore. They reuse sauce that could be a week old. Now whether or not this is true, I don’t know. But it would make sense since the it never tastes fresh anymore. I even noticed it with my take home meatballs. The food never seems fresh and well prepared anymore. It doesn’t have that special touch that it used to. And yes I know the restaurant was sold a few years back but the past two years it just hasn’t been the same.
I’ve also noticed the lack of management walking around. Within the last year of our last visit, the owner never seemed to be around inside the restaurant. Managers never seemed to walk around like they used to and this may sound stereotypical but there were high school age teens behind the front desk that did not seem to have any clue as to what to do. This restaurant has severely gone down hill. I miss what it used to be with amazing food, amazing atmosphere and the overall experience. The restaurant is for sale from what I read in the newspaper. I just hope whoever buys it will restore it to what it used to be. straight down to the grated cheese that is on the tables.

I have been here three times. The first, because it comes highly recommended by many locals and I was new to the area. The second, because I wanted to give it a second chance because my first time there was such a flop. The third, was not my decision but I was along for the ride. All three times reinforced that I will not be coming back. Why? Staff is friendly but lacks proper fine dining training, which contradicts the ambiance of the restaurant. The food is consistently prepared under or over cooked. The garlic bread is basically white bread with a little olive oil and barely any garlic. The meat quality is lackluster, and the pasta dishes are served with a sparse amount of sauce, while the salads are served with too much dressing. Even the dark chocolate cake for dessert was dry.

Rillo’s is a large Italian restaurant that must have quite a history. Still, when it comes to pasta I am a fussy individual and my meal here didn’t stand out among other contenders. The soup was very good and the pasta was OK too, however I don’t feel it was worth the price tag.
The nicest thing about Rillo’s is the décor. It has that «I bet the mafia eats here» feel to it: with those rounded booths and elaborate table settings. It makes for a nice romantic setting what with the dim lighting and all, however if you are looking to be wowed on the culinary creations I have to warn you that it didn’t happen for me.
Service was good, meal was filling, but I don’t see myself returning.

This was my first visit here in about 20 years. The reviews I read made it a somewhat complicated decision as to return or not. My friend and I decided to give it a chance.
After being seated our server was quite helpful answering all our questions about the menu and the specials for the night.
I ordered the seafood bisque which was quite tasty. For my entrée I ordered the lobster and shrimp d’ablo over fettuccine. Again, quite tasty. The dish was hot and the fettuccine was not overcooked much to my delight. I’m a real stickler when it comes to pasta. I hate overcooked pasta and very rarely ever order it out for that very reason.
The dessert special was red velvet cake. Unfortunately I had no room for dessert.
Overall a nice dining experience. My only issue was the poor lighting. At my age a little more light helps reading the menu a little easier.
Will I return here again? Probably.

Dingy… boring…lacking in every way.

Best Italian food in Carlisle hands down. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful inside and provides a nice setting for dinner. Perfect for celebrations and a nice dinner. The menu is extensive and everything is terrific there. Definitely worth it.

Decent but wholly unremarkable family Italian. Pricey for what it is and an 80s décor that’s nearly wince-​worthy. Chicken parm, salad, spaghetti and cocktails all ok but nothing to run for.

This is a family run business with no family members present and is unfortunately on auto pilot.
Rillo’s used to be the place to go. I have not been in years due to poor reputation but went with a large group mid week. The place was dead. The original room was as it was 20 years ago, the bottles of wine around the walls are awful, the music is awful and too loud. There is no atmosphere. I think this has always been dingy but it never bothered me before as the food was so good.
The service was good and cheerful. With only a dozen customers it should be. The garlic toast was plentiful but cold before it reached the tabale. The red wine was served in a white wine glass. The Rillo’s house oil and vinegar dressing used to be the best, no more what they have now is not a patch on how it used to be. The salad portion was larger but with out their dressing I did not finish mine. The calamari was bland, the peppers were few and far between, compare this with Left Bank in York calamari with hot banana peppers. My old favorite Chicken Venitiziana was good although they have cut way back on the prosciutto.
No manager or owner came to the table. Unfortunatlely I remeembr the days when the owner (Nick I think) or someone from the family would bring you something extra to the table and say «hey try this».
I would have been OK with the prices if the quality had been better. They have a pasta mania night on Tuesday for $ 9.95, a very good price. I need to try that with some meatballs and red gravy. Also a steak night on Wednesday night. Thursday is a prix fix for $ ²⁵⁄₃ courses.

This place has really went down hill in last couple of years. If you happen to have a problem and ask to speak to a manager; a server will lie to you and tell you to hold on and another server will come talk to you. This was the most unprofessional response I have ever encountered in my life. When I asked why she sent a another server up to my table she replied, «we don’t have a manager.» The owner just lets the servers run the restaurant. The food quality is sub-​par and this was once one of my favorite places to dine in Carlisle.

If there is one thing Pennsylvanians don’t know, it’s how to cook seafood correctly. Seafood eateries in the midstate slaughter the prep and the finish of most seafood dishes.
Scallop entrée at Rillos? Cooked PERFECTLY. For the price I would expect nothing less, and yet I was still impressed.
Entrees were very unique. I’ve never had a marsala dish topped with provolone cheese, and it was very good.
Why not four stars? Price was high side Central Pa (would be lowish for NYC). The décor was nice, but the «mood music» cd on repeat on volume level 8 (of 11) was a bit loud, and the carpets were a tad worn and could use a good cleaning to get rid of the faint but noticeable ‘dankness.‘
Staff? Holy crap. When did fine dining establishments start hiring people under 20? Dammit, why does my hip hurt… why can’t I hear the music anymore? Why is it so dark in here? …where are my teeth???

Came highly recommended by family from that area. Place had a good old Italian vibe to it. Nothing on the menu or the plate really blew me away. I sampled various dishes off of many plates so I was able to get a good variety of meals. While mine (Salmon) was the worst of the lot, none of the others made me really salivate. Atmosphere and company made up for lackluster food.

Went here a few weeks ago, very good appetizers, such as the prosciutto on crusted bread.
I liked it, felt more elegant and fancy inside.

I went here for a rehearsal dinner. They had a small room set aside for parties. It was cozy with 4 round tables, but the space was ample for a family gathering.
I asked for a black napkin, no problem! No white lint on my black dress.
The service was exceptional. We had several waitresses who kept track of orders, drinks, salads, and appetizers. We had a nice selection for entrees; pasta, lasagna, steak, chicken, & fish. The dishes were nicely sized and tasty.
The dessert selection was brought in on a tray. The actual dessert was twice the size and delicious. I ate it all!
Overall it was a lovely evening.

I have been to this restaurant a few times hoping for some improvement. Generic and unimaginative Italian food in a dated atmosphere with unenthusiastic staff. Just nothing special here but one of a handful of restaurants in this nice town. Plenty of parking. keep your expectations low and you wont be disappointed.
I don’t understand why Carlisle doesn’t have better quality restaurants.