Neighborhood spot I've been to countless times over the years, known for its seasonal menu and…read moreauthentic cuisine. I returned yesterday after more than a year and am not sure if there's been a change in management, staff, food, or ownership, but the experience was drastically different--and what happened at the end was honestly shocking.
We ordered a bottle of water for the table, and after 20 minutes, we still hadn't seen our waiter again. The staff appeared completely different from previous visits. The new hostess was kind enough to bring the water and take our order while also managing the host stand.
The food was also noticeably different. The cheese in my salad was so hard that when I bit into it, I initially thought it was a piece of plastic. I showed it to the runner, who said he would let the chef know. Overall, the food was just okay--the pasta sauce didn't seem fresh, and the Milanese was not prepared the way I remembered it.
While waiting to check out, we overheard another table wrapping up. When asked how everything was, the woman very politely said everything was good except her steak, which she described as grey, rotten, and having an unusual smell. She explained that she ate around it because she didn't want to send it back, had dined there countless times, and, as someone in the service industry, could tell something was off. She even ended by complimenting everything else, including the pasta.
Our waiter responded, "But you did eat it, correct?" She calmly reiterated that she ate around it but believed something was wrong with the steak.
What happened next was shocking. The owner confronted her, saying he was "highly offended," that no one else had complained about the steak, that he personally buys the groceries and ensures their freshness, and accused her of being extremely rude for suggesting otherwise. For context, this customer was exceptionally polite and respectful throughout--more than I would have been. She simply stated that she was only describing her experience.
The owner then escalated the exchange into a screaming match, creating an extremely uncomfortable scene for everyone around them. I do not know this woman and had never seen her before, but witnessing how she was treated for respectfully providing feedback was enough for me.
DOC is unfortunately no longer the neighborhood spot I remember, and it's a shame. Based on both our experience and what we witnessed, I would avoid it at all costs.