The Old Spaghetti Factory

Recommends

alisonkramer

Joined 7 years ago

An Institution. I;ve been coming here for longer than I can remember, and its always the same story. Huge portions of predictable pasta served by eager servers in a bustling dining space. The food isn't fantastic, but its certainly affordable, a definite family favorite.

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dmanjam

Joined 7 years ago

Good value. If you are near the waterfront and don't want to spend a fortune, the Spaghetti Factory is the place to go. You may have to wait awhile because the Factory is always crowded. Most times the wait is about 30 minutes, it looks like it will be longer but they move a lot of people through there. The food and service are good, the price is excellent. A nice touch is the complimentary dessert ice cream. I like the spumoni.

Doesn't Recommend

honeysuck

Joined 7 years ago

Cafeteria Italian food. Good ambiance, awesome location, awkward servers, gross food. Ick. To start, the lettuce in my salad was chewy & rubbery. Why would a restaurant knowingly serve OLD lettuce? They served us big hearty portions of lasagne and chicken marsala, but sadly it tasted like cafeteria food. Chef-boi-R-D, watch out! The one thing I did like was the set meal... Drink, salad, and icecream are included with the meal. That was the only redeeming thing. I was very disappointed and will not be going back.

Doesn't Recommend

mixedmutt408

Joined 10 years ago

Horrible. I agree with the other review-how this place stays in business I have no idea.

Service and Managers are horrible, and the food is bland. Why bother coming here when you can make your own spaghetti at home.

HORRIBLE SERVICE HORRIBLE Managers. I politly complained to the manager and he ROLLED HIS EYES at me.

I had to laugh this manager, and simply left, I will never understand why so many people love this place.

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magnoliavillage

Joined 7 years ago

Taking Mediocrity to New Heights. I can't figure how this chain manages to stay in business. While it's true the food is a few notches above Chef Boyardee, that's not saying much, is it?

I have a couple friends who love OSF, resulting in annual, birthday-dinner visits. One thing this place has going for it, is its location. It attracts an overabundance of tourists in the summer; curiously, it's equally busy with locals in the winter. The teeming masses, packed like lemmings into the large waiting area, ALWAYS results in lengthy waiting times. Their reward? Over-cooked pasta, smothered under bland, luke-warm sauces.

Perhaps the appeal is the overall atmosphere, which can be festive if you're with a big group or the reasonable prices. It's probably not as bad as I make it out to be, but it's certainly not a place I go to willingly. Go, if you must, but don't say you weren't warned...

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ryujisuzuki

Joined 8 years ago

Al Dente is not their way.... If your not worried if your pasta is re-cooked (precooked pasta dumped in boiling water for a minute before serving) then your going to be a happy camper. Why is the pasta hard? Because its been sitting in a plastic cup for awhile. Why is my pasta watery? Because they didnt thoroughly shake the plastic container after pulling from the boiling water.

Doesn't Recommend

cutiegirl11

Joined 8 years ago

Just Yuck. I've gotten better pasta from a can. The sauce was wattery, just yuck. The value was good, but for gross food who really cares.

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eastlight

Joined 8 years ago

really great so-so. Seattle is over the top with really great food, and much of it can be found right around the corner in Belltown. So why would anybody want to eat at this just so-so joint? Well, it could be that they do so-so really great! The out of towners with a fear of being force fed West Coast "exotic" food flock The Old Spaghetti Factory where they can count on same-o so-so fare. I like to snag a comfort food meal there sometimes myself - and I get the added comfort of knowing that my view of Elliott Bay is preserved as long as the Spaghetti Factory keeps slinging cheap pasta plates in a low rise building across the street from my condo! Ya just gotta try it. Really. Save my view!

Doesn't Recommend

kellykellykellygirl

Joined 8 years ago

Blah. Very crowded restaurant with a longer than average seat time... the salad looked like it came straight from the bag at a grocery store.. the spaghetti wasn't all that great.. definately not what I expected from "The Old Spaghetti Factory". The atmosphere seemed like a 3ring circus with loud and obnoxious children as the main attraction. The wait staff was less than caring or attentive. I will not be going back to this establishment or be reccomending it to my friends or family

Recommends

bigjerfour

Joined 10 years ago

A Good Experience. Very much family-oriented with young, enthusiastic and friendly service for devotees of honest Italian food with generous portions------large crowds rewarded with exceptional value. Hey critics----you get the most authentic ethnic Italian in NYC.