8330 N Thornydale Rd
Tucson, AZ 85741
*Disclaimer: We were not paid for this review. All opinions are our own and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Dominick's Real Italian is a hidden gem tucked away in a basic strip mall in Tucson. The food here is anything but basic - it's quite delicious in fact. While Dominick's is not one of the more popular, highly touted Italian restaurants in Tucson, it is one of the best in terms of high quality food, affordable prices, and great service. If you are visiting Tucson and craving some authentic Italian, you might want to give Dominick's a try! I have never had a bad meal or dining experience here after many visits. It is my top recommended casual Italian dining choice in the metro.
Dominick's serves real traditional Italian cuisine in a cozy, casual setting. Prices are affordable and the food is terrific - what else could you ask for in a great Italian restaurant?
To start off the meal, you will be brought out a complimentary basket of the most delicious buttery garlic knots, of which are so good, you will probably order another round. As soon as I tasted one of these, I just knew that the rest of the meal would be terrific too. We also tried the toasted ravioli which was just as amazing. Other app choices include: fried zucchini, chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, steamed clams, baked meatballs, and fried mushrooms.
Entree choices are pretty extensive. A sampling of a few selections include: Fettuccine Alfredo, meat and veggie Lasagna, Chicken and gulf Shrimp Scampi, Shrimp Parmesan, Shrimp Risotto, Chicken Marsala, Mushroom Risotto, and Baked Eggplant Parmesan. For our entrees, we tested out the spaghetti with homemade marinara and a cheese pizza. The NY style pizza here is so good, definitely the best we have tried yet in the Tucson area. The servings here are quite generous, and you will also receive a salad or cup of soup with your meal, so come hungry.
Other options on the menu include all your standard Italian fare like calzones, ravioli and lasagna, chicken and eggplant Parmesan, shrimp scampi, and so on. For desert, try the house made Tiramisu to cap off a great meal.
Update: I recently tried the Primavera Con Pesto, an amazing dish featuring a medley of veggies in a creamy pesto sauce. This is a wonderful filling vegetarian choice.
Service was excellent and our waitress was very friendly. The food did not take long at all and our waitress was efficient in refilling drinks and clearing plates.
The vibe at Dominick's is simple: classy and old-fashioned without the stuffy vibe you find at most Tucson Italian restaurants. The place is small and cozy yet still nicely decorated. The ambiance is nice enough for a date, yet casual enough for a family dinner.
Dominick's is one of your best bets for quality Italian food in Tucson. For those looking to avoid a stuffy overpriced Italian restaurant (with a focus more on being cool than offering great food), I recommend giving the locally, family-owned Dominick's a chance. The garlic knots, pizza, and pesto pasta are all awesome. I love that they offer so many vegetarian options like lasagna, various pasta dishes, and even apps. I've been to many Italian restaurants around the country where they offer next to no options, so definitely bonus points for thinking of vegetarian guests!
