Bei Tempi

This is some of worst pizza and Italian food I’ve ever had. The pizza toppings have no flavor. The only thing that I could taste when I had the pasta was the super heavy sauce. The funny thing is the best thing I’ve had here is the burgers. They are incredible.

Didn’t eat… wanted to. Walked in and stood there eagerly. Watched 3 employees (2 right in front of me as if in line) talking… but after a couple minutes of being ignored as totally unimportant, I walked next door to Subway. ???
Edit– decided to go and try again the next day. We went to the bar in the back and SAT there and SAT there and SAT there until finally someone came and took our order. Then, when we were done eating (food was decent) we were waiting on our check. I put the credit card in the cup and then proceeded to sit there and sit there and sit there and sit there and sit there and sit there and sit there and sit there and sit there and sit there and sit there and sit there and sit there. the bartender disappeared for quite some time.
I would never go back due to RIDICULOUS service. I mean, bordering on candid camera level.

Came here on a Friday night and it was surprisedly empty. We ordered the spaghetti with meatball and a small calzone. Both were good and more than enough for 2 people. The service was extremely slow. Don’t come here if you are in a rush.

Decent. Not great.

This was such a disappointment — first, because it was nothing like we expected; secondly, because the food was mediocre at best, and thirdly, the atmosphere was like a bowling alley food area. Just all around weird. We had made reservations, thinking that this was a nice Italian restaurant — but no reservations were necessary in the setting.
When I asked if there was any Gluten Free food items that I could eat, I was told that could adjust anything on the menu and also substitute GF pasta. After I had ordered, and we had waited a while, I was informed that the waiter was wrong, that they did not have any GF pasta. I was offered to change my order or have it over vegetables. I opted for the vegetables, but the whole dish was ughhh — very strong-​tasting seafood in very acidic tomato sauce over mushy, once frozen, vegetables. I ordered a Lemon Drop Martini (before I realized that I was eating in a glorified pizza parlor) and it was just chilled vodka in a glass. My husband’s food was fine, and since he was only drinking bottled beer — his drink was fine too. This was a horribly disappointing meal for our last night in NO!
Our server was very nice, and knowledgeable about NO when we asked questions.
All in all, if the restaurant was advertised a strip-​mall average restaurant that serves some Italian food in a ultra-​casual atmosphere, we would not have ventured in to have the experience that we did.

Good food that is within walking distance of the convention center. I ordered the side of meatballs ($ 6). I have no idea how this was a side because out of the kitchen came three gigantic meatballs that were the size of a tennis ball. There was a pile of melted cheese on the side, all sunken into a pool of marinara sauce. This is how I imagine my Italian meals to be.
The garlic rolls are buttery and delicious. There’s butter that pools at the bottom, just the way I like it.

Absolutely amazing food. Horrible service! !!!
I sat at the bar and owner and his wife were busy talking to my bartender while I waited and had to BEG for service.

Great place to eat with a group of family or friends. Great service comfortable atmosphere. Portions were not only just big but delicious. Everything tasted like your Italian grandma’s cookin’. Some of our favorites were the Garlic rolls, pizza, gnocchi, pasta with vodka sauce. We didn’t have room for cheese cake but I’ll definitely go back to try it.

I may have high standards as an Italian from NY but this place was not great. Their red sauce was actually very tasty. Garlic bread was soft and gross, chicken parm decent, mozzarella sticks are very good. I would say pass. They still get 3 stars because some items were decent but I may be biased.

Everything was great. The minestrone soup was the best I have had. Great pasta and awesome cheesecake and the device was spectacular. Thanks joe.

The food was pretty good but the service was a little slow and my martini came ¾ full so that kinda sucked.

Pizza here is okay. New York-​ish. We ordered it a few times over the past 2 weeks while working in the convention center
But during my visit to the actual restaurant, well, one of the worst customer experiences ever.
I ordered two things: a cheese slice and garlic wings. I received my slice, had it taken back as it was apparently not for me, then it was returned since it turned out to be my slice after all. No big deal. While eating and waiting for my wings I watched food being openly handled without gloves by the cashier. Also not shocking for a pizzeria I suppose. That same incoherent cashier who handled cash, credit cards and everyone’s food then proceeded to eat a slice and jump right back to the register upon arrival of the next customer; literally licking fingers and wiping her mouth.
My wings came out as tenders. I explained that time had run out, I had to return to work and requested a refund. She was not able to process this request and offered cash back instead of refunding my credit card. However, she offered less money than the actual taxed cost. Cheat? Scam? I don’t know. After unsuccessfully attempting to do the math she just handed me a 10 dollar bill which was actually a little bit too much.
Shameful. Truly.

After two visits here, once for dinner last winter and once recently for lunch, I’d say that Bei Tempi is a fairly decent restaurant. Granted, there aren’t a ton of dining options around the conference center area, for which they’re probably eternally grateful, but they basically hold their own.
During my first visit, I came in strictly for the pizza since I was carb-​loading for a half marathon. The small bar was full but I did get a table near the window to ponder my options. Naturally, I went with their meat lovers pie, which I would put somewhere in the middle of my rating scale. Good, but not great, especially for the $ 18.95 price tag.
For my lunchtime visit, I changed it up and ordered their Original Flatbread lunch special, which had chicken, tomatoes and onions and came with a drink. Once again, it was good, but nothing to get excited about.
If there is an area where they can improve, it’s with the service. Not that it was bad, but it was so scattered on their employees’ designated responsibilities. The bartender left the bar to play hostess and show people to their tables and the actual hostess was playing part-​time server. I’m not sure if it was simply an understaffing issue during my visit, but when I finally had to grab the bartender, who was out of the floor for about ten minutes at a time, just to ask him if I could finally place my lunch order, something just ain’t right.
One last minor thing I found amusing: they are self-​described as a «sports bar?» If that simply means three TV screens above the small bar tuned to ESPN, then the traditional definition I’m accustomed to has definitely been modified here. Umm, not quite.

Why I’m a Bei Tempi Fan:
1) A cheerfully accommodated large party of 7 adults and 2 toddlers.
2) A large table in our own area cordoned off by a line of chairs.
3) A couple baskets of buttery, garlicky squishy rolls.
4) A cup of minestrone soup containing carrots, green beans and corn that were fished out for the hungry baby girls.
5) A basic pizza topped with chicken, and fed to pizza crazy kiddos by letting them chomp down on the end of a slice as big as their heads.
6) A solid rendition of crispy, saucy Chicken Parmigiana that I inhaled along with a side of brightly colored but slightly overcooked veggies. (broccoli, carrots, zucchini).
7) A beautiful aquarium near the bar.

Were we ever surprise when we found this Gem. it looks pretty casual and the backend has rows of booths that is probably for the lunch crowd.
The restaurant was not full so we were a little hesitant. That would’ve been a serious mistake! A young man named Q, and that is his name, spotted us and invited us in. He had a big smile, was happy and an excellent server.
We had eggplant Parmesan which I was told was the best Warren had ever eaten. You got to realize he is retired… That means he’s had lots of opportunities to have the best ever and this is it!
I had a shrimp pasta and a fresh salad that was wonderful. This is a very rare occasion… I did not use salt or pepper. I don’t think anyone in my family would believe this.
But what rang my chimes was the over-​the-​top, out of this world hot, light as a feather garlic rolls. I have never, ever, had such a delightful garlic roll in my whole life. I could’ve eaten a half dozen well… maybe it dozen!
Hope you have the same experience. Put it on your bucket list!

This place was in walking distance from my hotel. Suggested by one of the staff. The claim to fame for this place is the 7 day happy hour from 4pm — 7pm. It’s 2 for 1 on any alcoholic beverage. If you buy a bottle of wine you will get one for free and the same goes for any mixed or straight drinks. The wait staff was excellent with Randi and Dennis. Both were really hospitable and very cool. Also this place has about 5 TVs throughout and not a bad seat in the house. I ordered the appetizers fried calamari which was excellent, the fried eggplant which was excellent as well. The mozzerella sticks were decent. Not good and not bad but in between. If you like to drink this is an excellent spot. Would definitely recommend for drinks and appetizers! I endorse this spot

We had a pretty bad experience here while on vacation. Sure, it was walking distance from our hotel. But once inside (we were the only ones!) everything just seemed very awkward.
We were greeted, sat, got drinks, all normal. When we ordered a pizza, our waitress came back and said they were out of pepperoni. What?! How is that even possible. So… sausage. Fine. It didn’t taste great, but we’re Chicagoans, should’ve known. We were eating, talking, all was good until out of nowhere the pizza slid off its stand and onto the floor! This was nobody’s fault but it just put the icing on our entire experience. Time to go! We paid the bill and left. So weird.
I think this place is more for lunch and for business people. The bar seemed cool but I would never go back if in NOLA again. Way better options elsewhere.

While in NOLA for the NAR Conference, we took a break for lunch and were handed a menu for this place as we were leaving, so since it’s right across the street from the convention center. So needless to say, since a lot of people got menus, this place was extremely packed. However, they were extremely fast in seating us, so that was a plus.
They gave us some garlic knots, which were fresh and tasty, but I only ate one because they were humongous and I did not want to be in a carb coma for the rest of the day while listening to people speak at the conference!
I got the grilled chicken salad for my meal and it, too, was huge! Overall, it was pretty good … about what you would expect from a grilled chicken salad and extremely filling.
The food did take a while to come out, again, they were slammed with a LOT of Realtors, but I think they handled it well!

After having landed in New Orleans for a few hours, I decided to walk over to this restaurant and bar for dinner. I’m glad that I did.
The chicken marsala was yummy. The plate looked huge, but I managed to pol plush it off. The place is far from being skimpy on mushrooms, which I absolutely love. The chicken was tender and all chicken breast. You could definitely taste the wine in the dish.
I love tiramisu. Sadly, the place was out of it, which my full stomach was relieved. Free pop refill worked wonders. There was a lot of cheese bread that I couldn’t polish off in top of the homemade, minestrone soup that came with my meal.
The most unexpected part of waiting for my main meal was a takedown outside. Police and the Louisiana state trooper had their guns drawn and arrested a man in a grey car. They cuffed him on the spot. The server was kind to see if everyone was okay. She was also friendly and promptly got all my food out to me.

Originally I wasn’t planning on eating at this restaurant. But the chef graciously came outside and told me that it was the best thing going in the area that I was that. He was definitely right! While in New Orleans I try not to eat something that I could have at home. Clearly the pizza that I ordered today was something unlike I had ever ate before.
I ordered a vegetarian pizza and added pepperoni while I was greeted with a smile. All of your additional condiments were placed in a section away from your ordering area. I like the fact that they were already made in a togo manner so if you were leaving you were properly packed with everything you need. My pizza was fresh and delicious! Beyond the bell pepper and the cheese were all fresh. They all had a very authentic Italian taste. The dough itself was thin and crispy. I enjoyed the conversation with the chef the staff was very friendly and I definitely will go again there was a reason why this place had almost the 5-​star rating. The food was amazing!