Review of La Cucina Italian Restaurant

The most embarrassing, disgusting, and shocking dining/food experience of my life (pre and post Celiac diagnosis). I had researched this restaurant on the app before we arrived for our stay in Havre de Grace and was excited to have such a promising option. I was even more encouraged to see a sign in the establishments window that said “best gluten free meal in town”… We went for my Birthday, made reservations (which seemed to confuse them). I asked our waitress about their gluten free menu and their preparation and I felt safe ordering based on her responses. The dishes were dirty and we had to ask for more. Our appetizer Mozzarella Caprese was bland but ok. They were out of the pasta needed to make the manicotti item I wanted, they offered to adapt it by using some croquettes that are on their app menu. That’s not what I wanted but struggled to find another item I wanted on the menu so I agreed. My boyfriend ordered the gf baked ziti. His meal came out and we both sampled it but he didn’t want to eat without me. 15 minutes later my food came. It looked so unappetizing. The shrimp was cold, the croquettes steaming but visually appeared overcooked. The baked ziti was bland and greasy. We were extremely disappointed in the food and the timing of our meals and asked for the check without eating. $72 for what we ordered we were in SHOCK! (No prices on the menu) Almost $40 for the menu item they didn’t even have to make as ordered. If the food had been stellar or the place fancy the price wouldn’t have bothered me but this is a glorified mom and pop pizza parlor and when I likened the food to Fazolis my bf said not to insult Fazolis. On my birthday and dressed up we then drove 30 minutes to the next town to go to Red Robin. Save your money and your dignity and skip this place unless you are possibly looking for pizza (of which I have no knowledge of the safety or taste).

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Not very

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Separate gluten-free menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Not Much

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Poor