Bugsy's Italian Cuisine Bar & Grill

Gab here, we went to Bugsy's 

The hills and dales location:  7936 Hills and Dales Road, Massillon, OH 44646

When I try a new italian joint, my go to is either Chicken Parmesan or some kind of pasta and meat sauce. Being a hungry family of four we had to get an appetizer. The menu lists fried mozzarella as: 

Mozzarella Fritto⭐⭐⭐

Breaded fried mozzarella sticks served with marinara. 

To me that sounded like something they breaded in house so we ordered it. We were very disappointed it came directly from the freezer, however the portion was huge and the marinara was to die for. 

INSALATA DELLA CASA⭐

Mixed greens topped with tomato, cucumber, parmesan cheese and croutons with Bugsy’s House Italian

We got some side or house salads before the meal too and yes it was fancy the way they cut the lettuce and tomatoes but overall just hard for the kids to eat (unusual that my girls like salads so I accept kids are not in mind on the design of the dish) I wouldn't order it again. 

ROMA CHICKEN PARMESAN ⭐⭐⭐

Hand-breaded chicken breast topped with fresh mozzarella cheese and house marinara.

Served with a side of linguini and marinara

The linguini with my chicken parm was chewy in a goopy way. I didn't love it and again the amount that they gave me was a mountain's worth. Just because you give a lot doesn't make it good or justify the price. I feel local restaurants would do better to lessen portion sizes and cheapen prices, hard to believe its possible but it is. Consistency in the kitchen saves on costs for everyone. The chicken was tender but again was likely from the freezer. 

Andrew got the 

PORK CHOP ⭐⭐⭐⭐

12oz pork chop marinated pork in our homemade sweet Bugsy's glaze served with

Crispy red skin potatoes and roasted veggies

Beautiful presentation! I don't care for porkchops so I wouldn't give the honor of trying it. I do believe the girls did try though and they all enjoyed it. 

Service ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Our waitress seemed very experienced. Not the most cheerful but we were post dinner rush but not too late maybe 7pm-8pm arrival. I do love taking my kids out to eat because I enjoy seeing how different we get treated because we have kids. If the wait staff doesn't discriminate they get a better tip.  Logically, they should expect a decent tip because of the larger amount that we order. I know kids make a mess I've worked in a restaurant before and I didn't make a decision to treat people worse than a couple on a date. On the other hand, Bugy's had paper covered tables with markers and we doodled all over that paper and that was really fun. Don't get me wrong, I don't feel like we were discriminated against as a family at Bugsy's I'm just making a point of saying bring your kids along and go again without them and see if you're treated differently at any restaurant.

Menu ⭐⭐⭐

Prices - Yikes STEEP PRICES but HUGE portions. I would recommend they consult professionals to overhaul the menu and cut costs without losing quality, get a better accountant that helps restaurants specifically. Upcharges, upcharges everywhere! Shame on you, give it or don't. If you cut down on size just include everything in one price you'll do better. 

(Lunch menu) All Pastas 7.99 Served with Bread Does Not Include Salad

Ok if your menu has to say "does not include" there is your hint to include it. Figure out a new price and add it on, that is easier than dissappointing your customer. Yay it's $7.99 oh I don't get a salad but I can add one for $5. Ok why not serve a lunch for $12.99 and add on the disappointing salad? 

House Pastas

Add House or Ceasar Salad for $1.99

Mista or Wedge Salad for $2.00, Caprese $3.50

You mean my pasta doesn't automatically come with a salad and on some dishes you're charging more than the chains? 

OK. Why not make the house or caesar salad come automatically as a side and give people the option to upgrade to a wedge or caprese for the same upgrade price? Why the different upcharges? 

On both pasta meals and the sandwiches, why not just charge an average price instead of having such a variety of close prices. 7.99 10.99 9.99 12.49. Ok SAMMICH + FRY post covid price $11.99 across the board. Its easier for staff to remember and the client is happy to take the half sandwich and fry home to enjoy at another meal later. With the pasta meals we again have a rainbow of prices just flat rate $17.49 $17.99 across toss in the salad and its a deal. 

So the salad upgrades, the pasta dish prices and the sandwich and fry price could all be solved with taking an average of all the prices and making that whole section(s) of the menu one flat price. You're not really gaining or losing anything because it will even out. Sanity is one thing you would also gain. 

Kids meals, great choices, prices suck. Kids are so unpredictable on if they're going to eat or not so I would be upset at everyone if its a "I'm not eating night" and I just spent an extra $20+tip that I didn't have to. If there is anything they could do to get it back in the range of $5-6 it would be perfect. The overall feel of the place told me this is not where you bring your 3 year old and 7 year old. #1 half is a bar and none of the people drinking want kids here. #2. The atmosphere is classy and the locals sitting nearby were of higher class than us. Yet the tables have paper and markers so someone working there is knowledgeable mom. 

Overall your menu is extensive and its a lot for your staff to manage. Kudos to them. I hope your POS is tracking what sells well and what doesn't, I think Bugsy's could be way more than it is right now just by trimming the fat, revising and rising above the challenges of a post-covid society. 

Atmosphere ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Seating was weird, the place was packed but there were open tables in the center. We were surrounded by other diners and did not have much room to scoot our chair if someone needed the restroom. Seats are worth a certain amount of money per year but good god getting rid of one table would make everyone in the room feel a lot better. 

I would compare Bugsy's against the old Papa Bear's when it was in belden (I am excited for the new one by the way)

Would we go back? Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gab: Not likely, yes even on 4 stars overall. We have other restaurants to try and review and I can't justify spending so much. If Andrew wanted to treat us to a date night, I'd go and try another dish. 

 Andrew: Yes.   We both agree we wouldn't bring the kids, (so ages 10 and younger no, teens yes)