Frankly I'm depressed and ashamed. I went here tonight with my wife expecting a meal that was at the very least decent, instead I got treated to a lukewarm bowl of animal feces. Firstly, they did not honor any reservations or reservation times (didn't even check us in for OpenTable). We waiting in a line at the door. Tables were sat on a first come, first serve basis despite some of us having reservations. Never the less, the wait for a table wasn't bad and my wife and I were intrigued by the menu and the reputation this place has in the area. We sat down and perused a menu that was a fraction of what was represented by the menu online. My wife, who does not eat meat or shellfish, asked the waiter for some vegetarian options and he brushed her off, giving her an attitude for a simple question. The only options he gave were to order one of the pastas on the menu without meat. I ended up ordering a chicken parm (on special) and she ordered the broccoli rabe ricotta gnocchi without meat. We also shared a burrata appetizer.
The burrata arrived about 30 minutes or so after we ordered served with a mixed greens salad and 3 slices of the most unripe tomatoes I've had since Moses wore short pants. The salad was nicely dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette, but the tomatoes were gross and not ripe at all. The burrata itself was of good quality but was clearly left sitting in the fridge way too long and was way too cold to be served.
We continued to wait for our food for another 45 or so minutes (honestly we really didn't mind since the place was packed). When the food was brought to us I got my chicken parm and it was a large portion and tasted pretty good. My wife was brought an entirely different pasta dish, with meat. Apparently explicitly telling the waiter her dietary restrictions and order had no impact on the food she actually got. Another waiter who appeared to have taken over some of our waiter's tables came by and we amicably explained the situation and gave him her order again - broccoli rabe ricotta gnocchi, NO MEAT -- he repeated the order and apologized for the mix up, assuring us her food would be out in no time.
After ~15 another waiter aggressively dropped my wife's food at the table and ran away from the table so fast you'd think someone was chasing him with a machete. Needless to say, there was meat in her food - yet another misstep, and now no meal for my wife. I called over the manager or head waiter (he was visibly bossing around the rest of the staff) and explained the situation. Was he sympathetic? No. Did he offer to remedy the situation? Absolutely not. What did he do, you might be asking yourself? He proceeded to list several vegetarian options (all off menu by the way) and then blamed my wife for not ordering any of them (despite the fact they weren't on the menu or offered to us when my wife specifically asked for vegetarian options). I told him to pack my chicken parm so I could get the hell out of there and get some food for my wife.
After a few minutes they brought the check, I gave my card and waited ~15 minutes for them to rob me for the chicken parm ($38) and the crap burrata ($18). Thankfully they did not charge for the lack of food they brought my wife.
As background, I've had the privilege to dine at places high and low, ranging from McDonalds Rest Stops to 3 star Michelin fine dining establishments throughout the US, Europe, and Asia, and have, for the most part, found something endearing or enjoyable from each and every one of those experiences until now.
I wouldn't wish this place on my worst enemy. If I had the choice between eating my dog's crap or going through this experience again, it wouldn't even be close. Just give me some Tabasco and I'd eat that dog crap 10 times out of 10.
This place is a disgrace to restaurants. As an Italian, I can say it's a disgrace to the thoughtfulness, skill, and love that goes into our cooking. And finally, as a human being, I can say that I would never want my fellow (wo)man to be treated the way I was treated here.
For those of us who live in the area, we have an abundance of options when it comes to restaurants in general, and Italian food specifically. Don't make the same mistake I did. Go literally any place else.
Salute! read more