I'm going to start with the good…read more
When I called to place an advance order, the guy on the phone was friendly. When I picked up the food, the kid at the counter was friendly and helped bring my order to the car.
Now, I have to lay out the facts. This was the first time I've ordered food from A&S.
I called to place my order based on the catering menu posted on their website. I wanted to order two stuffed breads, a panzanella salad and chicken scarp. Note that the website indicates, "Pricing of all of our items is subject to change [due] to constant fluctuations in costs..."
The guy who took my order informed me that they no longer do stuffed breads. "Okay," I said and ordered a vegetable crudite platter on the fly since I wasn't anticipating that. "Oh yeah," the guy said, it is also $45 (not $30 that it says on the website). Begrudgingly, I said that's fine, as it was for a family Sunday afternoon dinner.
Next, I ordered the panzanella salad. "We don't make that anymore." The guy informed me. I sighed and said, "Alright, how about a [small bowl] Caesar salad?" The menu listed it as $25 on the website.
Lastly, I ordered the main event, the Chicken Scarpariello. Thankfully, they still made this and the half tray was still $60, like the website said.
Fast forward to me picking up the food on Sunday.
The kid at the counter shows me all of the items, Caesar salad w/ Caesar dressing, vegetable crudite with blue cheese dip and chicken scarp. "That'll be $148.60," he said. "Would you like a receipt?" YES.
It didn't sit right with me how much everything cost (for 6 adults, mind you). I asked my wife to read me the receipt when I drove off. Included was a $4.73 'non-cash adj.' which I assume was me using my credit card (on a $140 ORDER).
When I opened the food up, I really got angry. My $30 Caesar salad had zero croutons. It was solely lettuce and parmigiano cheese. Essentially, it was likely a 3-head bag of lettuce with cheese and dressing, for $30. Something I could have done myself for about $7 tops.
Next, my $45 vegetable crudite platter had broccoli, red & yellow peppers, celery and cucumber with blue cheese. There was no spinach/artichoke dip as indicated on the website. Neatly presented, but it was $45 for veggies (and one, not two dips).
Last, the menu indicates the chicken scarp is served over rice. When I opened the tray; SURPRISE, no rice.
The food was tasty (specifically the chicken). But for what I paid (for mostly vegetables), I am so disgusted. Not only with A&S, but myself for agreeing to purchase the food in the first place. I have such disdain for this experience, I'm likely not going back.
The guy taking the order admitted the website needed to be updated. But again, mostly I'm pissed at myself because I paid a lot for what I got in kind.
The cherry on top was the line item on my receipt for using a credit card. I get that credit card companies charge fees, but it's 2023 and if you're going to nickel and dime someone for using a credit card, do it if it's under $10, not on a $140 order.
Lesson learned. The problem with running a business this way, is you only can pull that ruse once, otherwise it's shame on me.
