Valentino’s Restaurant

Food can range all over the place.
THE FOOD
The panzerotti’s were pretty decent. The house salad is very very good.
THE ATMOSPHERE
Cheery and well appointed.
THE SERVICE
Very friendly and courteous.

Nice pizza and desserts. The gelato and cannoli are delicious.

If i could rate 3.5 i would, it was an alright place, nothing too fancy. Our waiter was friendly, ambience was great, the food was mediocre. I got the Lasagna, it wasnt bad but it wasnt necessarily the greatest, i have had better, but i have also had worse. Overall I would rate 3.5

Worst meal I have ever had. There was HAIR in my gelato. Bread was COLD. The food was disgusting and the customer service made me cringe. The waitress was SOO rude. My friends and I are never ever coming here again. Never ever go here. You’re better off eating fast food.

I have only tried a few things on Valentino’s menu, so this might not be the most balanced review. However, if the stuff I have tried reflects the rest of the menu, this is a 5 star joint!
The panzarotti is the best. It’s tough to single out what makes it so great, probably a combination of everything. I think a lot of restaurants are able to nail the filling (stuff it with sauce, cheese and toppings… not too tough), but many can’t get the crust right. Valentino’s nails it. The outside is dense and slightly crispy, the inside is soft and porous. Sometimes I’ll ask for a small side of sauce for dipping… what a treat!
Valentino’s also does a great job with their coffee and pastries. They have tried to separate the space into a restaurant and a café, but rarely do I think of Valentino’s as a destination for coffee. That needs to change. They serve real thick Italian espresso, fantastic pastries, and Hamilton’s best gelato.
Cin cin!

They recently changed menus and don’t serve large pizzas anymore only personal size.
The server claimed this change occurred a year ago, however we were there in the last three months and had a large pizza.
We went in with three small kids and they wouldn’t accommodate. The server said you can get take out if you want, not the best way to win over customers.

Valentino’s — you’re delicious! Always a nice treat. We drive in from Burlington to come and see you. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid actually.
A must try is the pizza folks. Great sauce.
The food outweighs the service (which is hit or miss). I have no idea why management has one server for 10+ tables. The issue could be corrected easily by putting one more person on. That being said — don’t come if you’re in a huge rush.
They have gelato and baked goods if you still have room after your meals.

Valentinos has a few locations in Hamilton. And this is the one near McMaster University.
Valentinos is just a great spot for all sorts of Italian food — but for me — it’s the Panzerotti I keep coming back for. I don’t know what it is, whether it’s the dough, the sauce, how they bake it or whatever,.but however they do it, it’s clear proof that God is Italian. Their ‘Panzerotti is food from the Gods. They make the best Panzerotti I’ve ever had — hands down.
That said, there is very little there that isn’t just as good as the Panzerotti. For example, they have the best bruschetta around. And any pasta I’ve had has been just as great as well. I’ve had their lasagna, manicotti, cannelloni, penne carbonara as well as chicken parmigiana and chicken marsala. All consistently good.
Ditto for the desserts — tiramisu, cannoli, cheesecake — and my fav — zabaglione ice cream with biscotti… hmmm.
However, the service at times can be hit and miss. The wait staff sometimes can take some time to get to you and once they do, the attentiveness going forward is a crap shoot as well. And, depending how busy they are, the time it takes to get your food may stretch on a bit longer than you might like. But again, I’d say this is more the exception than the rule. Add along with less than ideal parking available, it only goes to show that Valentinos isn’t perfect, but they’re close enough in my books.
A sure bet for great Italian food IMO.