Last Party of 2025: My Honest A Touch of Italy Review 🎉
Happy New Year, dear Partiers — hello, 2026! I’m predicting a year filled with great company, festive vibes, and plenty of mocktails. To kick things off, before we rang in the new year, a visit to the newly renovated A Touch of Italy—and wow, does it look different than I remember.
If you’re unfamiliar with the backstory, A Touch of Italy suffered a significant fire in April 2023 and officially reopened in early December. The transformation is impressive. The space now feels clean, modern, and refreshed, with a stunning floor-to-ceiling wine wall dividing the bar from the dining room. Add in thoughtfully placed holiday décor, and the whole place gives off a polished, sophisticated vibe without losing its warmth.
This family-owned restaurant has been serving Italian cuisine to the community for over 40 years, proudly stating that every dish is made to order using carefully selected ingredients. So yes—expectations were high.
Drinks First (Always 🍹)
Once seated, my husband Joe and I scanned the menu and noticed there was no mocktail section. Cue mild panic. Thankfully, our server quickly reassured us that mocktails were absolutely available. Huzzah! Feeling adventurous, we told her to surprise us.
The Mocktails:
Out came two bubbly mock mojitos. These were bold—very mint-forward with a tart, fizzy finish. Strong flavors, refreshing, and surprisingly satisfying. Each sip packed a punch, and honestly? A great way to start the meal.
On to the Food 🍝
Our server was kind and patient while we debated the menu. It’s smaller than it used to be, but the classics are still there—chicken parm, seafood favorites, and familiar Italian comfort dishes. The chicken marsala called my name, so we placed our orders and happily tore into the warm bread brought to the table.
Baked Clams Oreganata
Not quite what we expected. These weren’t clams casino-style; instead, they arrived still attached to the shell with garlic, oregano, and breadcrumbs. The flavor was good, but the execution was messy. Picture stabbing, spinning, and breadcrumbs flying everywhere. The clam itself was a bit too chewy for my taste. Joe, however, would happily order them again. I’d personally opt for steamers next time.
Chicken Marsala over Spaghetti
I’m an angel hair girly, the thinner the pasta, the better, but A Touch of Italy sticks with thicker noodles. No complaints though. The spaghetti soaked up the marsala sauce beautifully, which was rich and perfectly balanced. The mushrooms were fresh and plentiful, and the chicken was tender and flavorful. I did bite into something hard (possibly a tendon), but overall, it was a solid and enjoyable dish.
Zuppa di Pesci
Joe went all in with linguini topped with mussels, clams, shrimp, and calamari. The plate was piled high with seafood, so high that Joe was briefly startled by tiny calamari tentacles making an appearance. Once the shock wore off, he was thrilled. Everything tasted great, and the buttery white sauce was a standout.
Final Thoughts
Dessert options were offered verbally since there wasn’t a dessert menu, but we decided to skip and ask for the check. While the food didn’t completely wow us, we’d definitely return to try their pizza and gelato.
And the real win? Strong, satisfying mocktails. That alone earns major points in my book.
Until next time,
The Sober Party Girl ✨
Sober Party Girl Score: 7 out of 10
✅ Pros
🍹 Mocktails available (and strong!) — huge win for sober partiers
✨ Beautiful renovation with a clean, modern look
🍷 Stunning wine wall separating the bar and dining room
👨🍳 Family-owned for 40+ years with made-to-order dishes
🍝 Classic Italian staples still on the menu
🍞 Warm bread service (always a yes)
🙋♀️ Friendly, attentive service
❌ Cons
📋 No mocktail menu listed (you have to ask)
🍽️ Smaller menu than in the past
🐚 Baked clams were messy and a bit chewy
🍝 Limited pasta variety (no thin noodles like angel hair)
🍗 Minor texture issue in the chicken marsala
🍰 No printed dessert menu
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