We visited Bamonte's for a friend's early birthday dinner, and unfortunately, the experience fell far below our expectations. I came to New York to celebrate her, so this dinner was supposed to be a special part of that trip.
The atmosphere is very cozy and intimate, and initially, everything seemed promising. We were seated near the front, which wasn't our preferred location, but we didn't have a reservation, so that wasn't my main concern. I also appreciated that the bar was showing the Eagles game, and my friends really enjoyed the mussels and the drinks were good!
The biggest disappointment was the service and THE FOOD WAS EVEN MORE. We had three servers throughout our visit, and the first two stopped assisting us without a clear handoff or explanation. They seemed irritated by our questions as we tried to understand the menu, including options we had seen online but not in person. We weren't familiar with everything being offered and would have appreciated some patience and guidance. Instead, I felt uncomfortable even trying to choose a meal. And I understand it's like a family based restaurant you know- so I expected the warm feeling of an Italian kitchen. Well NO.
Our third server was much more patient and helpful, and I truly appreciated his effort. He orchestrated singing to my friend for her birthday(which they do for all birthdays ) and took a picture of our group, giving us some sweet memories from the evening. Unfortunately, by the time he took over, much of the damage to the experience had already been done.
As for the food, I sent back the pasta e fagioli because it contained prosciutto. That could be my bad. Later, after discussing options with our third server, I received a pasta dish in chicken broth that was essentially a soup. It may be a traditional preparation I'm unfamiliar with, but it wasn't what I understood I was ordering or wanted for dinner. I ended up without a satisfying meal, although I did have a French 75. But like I've never seen this dish and like idk. I also asked for chicken scampi, but also was informed that scampi's only for seafood and they refused to make it because culturally not appropriate and I respect that as well but putting that out there as well. So then to get this from going from wanting an authentic pasta dish it just blew my mind. I do appreciate the third server trying to accommodate but like seriously what was this?
One friend ordered the lasagna, which I would personally rate around a 6 out of 10. Another settled on spaghetti and meatballs after becoming frustrated with the ordering process. My friend who ordered shrimp scampi hadn't understood that it came with two sides rather than pasta. She ordered pasta separately, but felt it didn't complement the dish well. Not to mention that she asked for spaghetti noodles and they brought penne. I believe . I'm just confused like we didn't feel like we were being heard . Clearer explanations could have helped us make choices we would actually enjoy. It's just crazy because I really expected this to go perfectly and there's such great reviews and it's like what happened here.?
If you're considering visiting, I recommend reviewing the menu beforehand to make sure it suits your needs. Be aware that some items we saw online weren't on the menu in person, and there were additional offerings we hadn't seen online. It may also help to call ahead and ask about the current menu and daily specials, although I can't speak to how readily they answer the phone.
Our bill came to approximately $400, mostin our group left feeling hungry and dissatisfied. Spending that much on a birthday dinner and leaving so disappointed was incredibly frustrating. Three of us honestly wanted to send our dishes back, but in the spirit of our friends birthday, decided to just eat it up and try to enjoy the night to the best of our ability. I on the other hand on any other night might have caused more of a fuss.
I can't speak to why the first two servers treated us that way, and I won't speculate about their intentions. I can only speak to how the service felt: unwelcoming, impatient, and uncomfortable. The space itself was cozy, but the energy of those interactions made it difficult to enjoy being there.
I'm grateful to our final server for his patience, the birthday song, and our group photo. Those moments mattered, especially because we were there to celebrate someone special. But even with those bright spots, the overall experience was a 0 out of 10 for me. This reflects our personal visit, and based on that experience, I would not return. read more