FRI-YAY FIELD REPORT:…read more
Alright you beautiful chaos goblins, it's Friday night and I found myself back at Randi's. You know the place, strip mall chic, nothing fancy, the kind of spot where you show up in whatever you wore to Target and nobody blinks. I've been here before, and honestly the experience has always been a bit of a roulette wheel: sometimes great, sometimes just ....meh.
Tonight? Buckle up
First, the service. I'm not asking for Broadway jazz hands and a standing ovation when I walk in, but a hint of pleasantness would be nice. My server looked like smiling might actually cause structural damage to her face. Honey, that scowl was so deep it came with its own zip code. Those cause wrinkles, sweetie. Just saying.
While I waited (and waited... and waited...) I was treated to a lovely soundtrack of staff conversations about doom, gloom, and existential dread. Babe... I'm just trying to order carbs, not prepare for the apocalypse It was not exactly the light Friday night vibe I was going for while trying to order a drink. BTW It took a solid stretch of time just to get that drink and put in an order. I kept checking my watch like I was waiting for a delayed flight.
Eventually, we got the drink and the order placed.
The food shows up and let's give the kitchen the applause it deserves because the food crew clearly came to work tonight.
Actually good. Not "call the Vatican we've witnessed a miracle" good, but solid. The antipasto salad was fresh and yes they included peppers, which I appreciate because some places act like peppers are a controlled substance. And the calzone? The bread was homemade. And listen... when you bite into bread that clearly came from a real human effort and not a Sysco freezer tomb, you notice. It was warm, chewy, and legitimately good.
So now I'm emotionally conflicted.
The kitchen is back there doing honest Italian-food work while the front of house is acting like they're being forced to serve pasta at emotional gunpoint.
The Breakdown:
Calzone bread: Homemade, heroic, deserves a medal
Antipasto: Fresh, crunchy, pepper-inclusive (we love representation)
Food overall: Solidly good
Service: If enthusiasm were calories this would be a diet plate
Randi's, my chaotic carb dealer, I will probably return because that bread had my attention. But next time maybe let the staff know it's okay to experience joy.