Aiello's East Coast Italian Restaurant $25 gift certificate

Local restaurant critics and bloggers love AIELLO’S FINE ITALIAN RESTAURANT, an upscale neighborhood Italian place.  Here’s what they have to say....

• House-made focaccia, served with herbed butter, is one stellar example of what this place can do


• The spaghetti and meatballs is another. Native New Yorker Joe Aiello uses his mother's recipe for his miraculous meatballs — tender, giant-size orbs made with pork and veal — which just may be the best in town.


• The Tre Colore salad, lightly dressed with extra virgin olive oil and lemon


• Breaded and fried artichokes, stuffed with mascarpone and finished in light cream sauce


• Grilled cheese sandwich fans won't want to miss the Italian version, called Mozzarella en Carozza (mozzarella in a carriage), served with a lemon-wine sauce, salty with anchovies and capers.


• As for desserts, there's a light, creamy ricotta cheesecake, dreamy zabaglione with strawberries and a fine chocolate torte.

Owner Joe Aiello and his wife moved to Phoenix from New York, where they also owned a restaurant.  Joe is friendly and engaging, chatting up his customers and making sure that everyone’s happy.

Aiello's is located in central Phoenix at 5202 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix, between Missouri & Camelback at Colter

Dinner Friday and Saturday/Lunch Monday-Friday

Shhhh.....Aiello’s is now also cooking New York pizza but only to go and out the back door, and only 50 pies a night!