This is a small town restaurant masquerading as fine dining. It may be according to Howell standards, but nowhere else. Who has ever gone to a high-class food establishment and eaten off the menu that serves as a placemat too? Our water carafe was a milk bottle.
We were promptly seated without reservations. The hostess said out waitress would be with us shortly. Some time later she showed up and was friendly and polite. We told her it was out first time to visit. She explained all the pasta was made "in house" and pointed to the window where the pasta was made. The pasta maker was not working that night. She explained that they served food "family style" and that the larger portions would serve two people and we would get two plates.
After some time, she returned and took our order for the large portions of Carbonara and caesar salad. We waited a considerable length of time until the hostess delivered our salads on two small plates. I said, "Is this the large salad"? She explained that it was. They had just placed it on two plates. Very small portions. No croutons, just sprinkled with bread crumbs. The dressing was good.
After waiting another considerable length of time, the hostess brought a platter of carbonara. This, again, was ordered as the larger portion for two people. It was very small and looked like a one-person portion. She said, "Oh, I need to get you some plates". She left and we began another wait for the plates. Meanwhile we stirred in the two egg yolks sitting on top of the pasta. There were 6 tiny cubes of pancetta and a few peas mixed in with the pasta. The waitress arrived with two dinner plates. She offered parmesan cheese and left to get some. It never came.
I got up and went to the serving station and explained that we needed cheese. Many apologies ensued. My dining companion began eating her portion without cheese. I waited, and waited. Finally, the cheese arrived, but my pasta dish was cold! The cheese was in a gem-sized plastic cup. The waitress left after I complained and the hostess showed up. She apologized and offered to re-prepare my dish or provide something else. I said I wasn't willing to wait another exhausting length of time to get a replacement dinner. I asked her to microwave my plate. She said the health code did not allow her to reheat the dish. She offered dessert. I explained I did not want dessert, I came for dinner. She said she would not charge us for the dinner and that we could leave whenever we were ready. With a sarcastic tone, she said, "Have a nice evening".
I stopped at the greeting podium on out way out to be sure we had heard her right and that we would not have to pay. The hostess came up and said, "Get out of my restaurant". I attempted to explain all that had happened. She didn't want to hear it. Again, she said, "Get out of my restaurant". I replied, "FUCK YOU".
It appeared to me that our server must have been inexperienced. Why else does a hostess get involved in delivering food.
$34 for a small platter of pasta? $10 for garlic bread that is normally served with a meal at any other Italian restaurant? Overpriced. Update your menu prices on your website to reflect current prices. read more