Salerno's Pizzeria & R. Bar

Love Salernos pizza but the experience we had last night was terrible. They were not that crowded but must have been understaffed. We sat at the bar thinking it might be quicker as we had theater tickets. Took almost 10 minutes for bartender to take our order. Did not order pizza as we know it takes longer. Ordered a sandwich and a pasta dish. We were just about ready to cancel our food order after waiting almost 45 minutes when my husband's sandwich arrived and it was not the sandwich he ordered. Was told my pasta would be right out. We requested the check at this time as well. My pasta came 5 minutes later, still no check. I had a couple bites of my dinner, got the check and we had to leave to get to the theater. Still arrived late to the theater, did not have time for more than two/three bites of food. Other couple at the bar and a man at a table behind also canceled food orders because the wait was so long. Very disappointing to spend money on a dinner I didn't get to eat and still missed the beginning of the theater performance.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 1

Terrible. Came in with a party of 10. If you are short staffed it’s common courtesy to let people know.hey if you want to spend two hours waiting for dinner you can but just a heads up everyone called into their shifts today. It’s been over an hour just got our appetizers that are terrible. Finally got our drinks. Still waiting for a pizza. Checked the kitchen to see if anyone was even working. Do not recommend.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

We arrived on a Saturday night and only 4 tables with people. Hostess said we just missed the crowd....haha. Sat at a booth and our wood table had a finish that the menus stuck to the table ugh. Ordered a glass of Merlot...oops. No Merlot. Ordered a chopped salad without black olives. Salad came with about half jar of sliced black olives. Waitress says I told them about that in the kitchen, but she served it anyway. Baked clams were so dry and tasteless...inedible. Deep dish pizza was awful. Probably used pre made pizza dough. Red sauce on the pizza was tasteless. Signage in restaurant said half off appetizers on Saturday with purchase of an entre. We had to ask for the discount. I've been to many Salernos restaurants since the 1960s, and this was the absolute worst. Sad to be so absolutely disappointed. I should have known when I walked in the door when the place was so empty.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Terrible. Online information is incorrect. Phone information is incorrect as well.

Service: 1

Absolute best pizza experience ever!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE! Worst experience I've ever had at a Salerno's. The front door had a handle that was a cabinet pull. You could barely open the door. Then the A/C was broken and nobody said anything about it. It was over 80 degrees inside.

The entire wait staff were all about 20 years old.

I ordered a margarita and 2 kiddie cocktails from the 20 year old bartender and he clearly didn't know what Shirley Temples or Kiddie Cocktails were so he ignored me.

I then reminded him a second time about the Kiddie cocktails and was ignored a second time.

After reminding him a 3rd time, a waitress had to tell the bartender how to make them.

Then we ordered the calamari dish that was absolutely disgusting 🫣. It was covered a the lowest grade balsamic vinegar that you can imagine and not a drop of olive oil. I could not even force myself to eat it.

The pizza that I ordered was the most bland and gross pizza I've ever had. I asked for a pizza with mushrooms, onions and tomatoes. The mushrooms were the size of a pinhead. The sauce was so bland and flavorless. So disappointing.

And that waitress said she was sorry about the experience and didn't offer a credit or a dessert. Just said sorry and walked away when we explained the experience. She was more focused on the conversation with the other 20 year old staff members at the bar.

I can't say I've ever had a worst experience at any restaurant in my lifetime of 58 years.

After going to the original Salerno's restaurant on Grand and Racine and always having a wonderful experience, this experience at the Western Springs location was shocking to say the least.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

If they can put a -5 that's what I would put! Food was disgusting! 1.Pizza wasn't even cooked underneath
2. Chicken vesuvio had a thick gravy on it and was salty! ( sauce on this dish is white wine) not turkey gravy!

3. Calamari was hard as a rock! (Frozen product)
4. Salad was even terrible! How do you ruin a salad?!
5. Pasta was hard as a rock not even cooked!
Waitress was so embarrassed felt really bad for her! Never gonna go again! Dont bother going, young kids working just hanging out...read all the comments everyone!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 3

Calamari well over cooked and hard. Pizza not fully cooked crust doughy, ravioli well over cooked and very mushy, like mashed potato, chicken Parama noodles hard, cold. Veal Marcella uneatable taste like brown chicken gravey.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 1

Service: 3

We waited over an hour for 3 football pizzas they never notified us that it was ready so we waited over an hour for it no one welcomed us when we came in won't be going back there!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 1

Haven’t been here for a while, ordered a large pizza, well done, it came out not very hot, dough was gummy, had to send it back, and this is NOT the salernos of old, the sauce was pasty , had no flavor, they changed something, not good, won’t b back,

Please avoid on really hot days. Their air conditioner never seems to be working.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 5

Service: 1

can’t understand how this place is only 4 stars—Liz and Ramon made our first experience here absolutely top-notch. We had an appetizer, a custom pizza, and a few rounds of drinks, and everything was delicious. Not a single note. They accommodated all of our (very specific!) pizza customizations with a smile, and the service felt genuinely welcoming. This spot deserves more love—can’t wait to come back!

Disappointing pizza tonight! Asked for extra sauce and they gave us almost no sauce. Toppings were very skimpy.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 3

Bad traffic so I stopped for a beer until it cleared. NO ONE in this place, NO ONE & even though the bartender took care of me, never once asked if I wanted a menu/food, or another beer after I finished my first one. I might have stayed longer, or at least felt like they appreciated my patronage, but she just kept her nose in a laptop & basically ignoring me! Next time I'll go to the place across the tracks! I gave her $2 but she didn't deserve it!!

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 2

Very nice people nice atmospheregreat place to to business with

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5