Simply the Worst written by pollyhannah
Last visited this restaurant on July 31, 2008

Many years ago this place was great...what a shame it has turned into the worst Italian Restaurants in Lansing. We went at 6 on a Thursday night, the service was non-existent as the waitress assigned to our area was busy talking with the old men at the next table.. eventually someone gave us some water and eventually a manager stopped and told us the sad tale of woe the waitress was experiencing at the next table(the least he could have done is bring us water and a free appetizer for our inconvenience)...NOT OUR PROBLEM! Eventually a surly waitress was assigned to us and we finally got some water! After a time we got the worst excuse for Italian Bread I've ever had...I could have bought better stuff in a day old bakery! Apparently the kitchen chefs have no idea how to cook Chicken Picatta...it is suppose to have a VERY LIGHT breading (if any) and a wonderful lemon sauce on it. I could not see the chicken for the heavy breading and could hardly pick out the lemon flavor...the salad was ordinary and the meals were WAY OVER priced. Looking for a good Italian restaurant in Lansing...DO NOT go here, head to DeLuca's on Willow

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My Very Favorite Place to Eat! written by anonymous
Last visited this restaurant on December 29, 2006

I love Emil's. My boyfriend and I go regularly and my dad always requests that we go when my parents come to town. It's the best little mom & pop place. AMAZING food, the best I've ever had. It's a small place and get's busy on the evenings and weekends. They treat everyone like a regular and I never leave hungry or dissapointed.

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I can't believe these reviews! written by michelemybell55
Last visited this restaurant on July 09, 2006

There is only one Emil's in Lansing, correct? Because the awesome food I keep seeing described is not what we received. My steak tasted like it was injected with water and my canned green beans were luke warm. My boyfriend had krab meat alfredo. Why was this meal $15? It wasn't even real crab! I could've made the exact same thing at home for $5. We were completely cramped and our server was slow. The only thing this place has going for it is the pizza, and they're too far away to deliver. We won't go back.

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Good cheap food written by aaspartan
Last visited this restaurant on November 17, 2005

Ok, so I have been going to this place for 20 years or so and it has been one of the most consistent restaurants in town. The menu really hasn’t changed that much in 20 years. This is a very good comfort food place, lots of carbohydrates and a full bar, no exotic Italian food here. If Lansing had a local mafia this is where they would eat. What Emil’s is not is an exciting place to go to don’t go there on your first date, the service can be pretty spotty at times. One day you will be treated like family and the next time you will be treated like an annoyance. Don’t risk it with a first date you won’t like it. All that said I think this is a great “Italian American” restaurant.

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ok food, bad service written by conkli12
Last visited this restaurant on August 17, 2005

Some of the food here is really great (e.g. the artichoke hearts with horseradish sauce, the bread), but most is just a little better than okay. Also, service varies incredibly. Sometimes, it's perfectly adequate, but other times it's incredibly amateur ("hon, if you could just hand me that plate I might be able to make room for that bread basket," etc.). If you want diner service in a unique setting for restaurant prices, go to Emil's. If you want better pizza and pasta in a better ambience with better service, go to Spagnuolo's instead.

Oh, yes, they also food poisoned me the last time I was there.

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Awesome for carryout written by anonymous
Last visited this restaurant on July 22, 2005

Emil's has the best eggplant primavera anywhere. I've gotten it for ages, and it's consistently amazing. Their minestrone is excellent as well. The entrees cost less at lunchtime and are great for takeout if you work downtown--just be sure to call ahead so you're not kept waiting. I don't know much about their other entrees because I love the eggplant primavera so much. The one thing that irritates me about the place is the salads, which are made with iceberg lettuce and are just mediocre.

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price and quality written by hank
Last visited this restaurant on June 18, 2005

On the classic theory of advertising, price and quality determine consumption choice. Hard to beat Emil's here. We have good big chains in town (Olive Garden, Carraba's, and Cuchina Bravo) but nothing so cookie cutter can create the sort of checkered tablecloth ambience and down home feeling as an old eating establishment like Emil's; one that has been well maintained and improved over many years. Great deals: the daily special or the vegtarian sub. Order grilled Italian peppers on the side as a nice compliment to many dishes. Lemon Ice is wonderful here--we get frozen strawberries on it. Appetizer menu has expanded--and I like the variety of olives in the olive sampler. The mussels aren't worth it (try Claddaugh's for a deal on steamed mussels--though they've started counting, too). If you've got a meat eater who likes Italian food try the sausage and peppers. If you've got a meat eater who doesn't accompany you for Italian food try the terrific ribs: We've long thought them to be the best in town.

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One of Lansing's best written by anonymous
Last visited this restaurant on May 23, 2005

The food here is great; plus, on Mondays and Tuesday you can get all you can eat spaghetti for less that $6.00. The service can be a little slow, but the food is well worth the wait. It's a great place to take your family or go on a date.

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Slow service written by Sparty
Last visited this restaurant on May 12, 2005

Nice place.
Food is ok.
Service is slow.
I have not been to this place for over a year and am not planning on going back anytime soon.

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Food is Great, WAY TO CRAMPED written by kladd27
Last visited this restaurant on May 07, 2005

I love Emil's, the food is so great, but, it is an old restaurant, and I cannot believe they don't exceed the fire code in that place. You are so cramped at a booth for four that you cannot move your arms! And the booth across the "aisle" is about 4 inches from your booth! But the food will keep me coming back for more. Wait staff could be friendler, she had a bit of an attitude.

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