My girlfriend and I recently visited Albivi Brick Oven in Millstone for the first time, and…read moreunfortunately, it will also be our last.
We typically enjoy an early Saturday dinner so we can spend a quiet evening together. When we arrived, the restaurant was nearly empty, so we were looking forward to a relaxing meal. Unfortunately, our experience started on the wrong foot. Our waiter greeted us without a smile and seemed unfriendly throughout the evening.
We ordered appetizers, but no appetizer plates were provided. We had to ask for them because it appeared we were expected to use the small bread plates. After finishing our appetizers, the dirty dishes remained on our table for quite a while, even though the restaurant was empty. We ended up drinking our wine while looking at dirty plates waiting to be cleared.
The biggest disappointment came later. A couple arrived with two young children, and despite the restaurant having plenty of empty tables, they were seated directly behind my girlfriend. One child was running around on the floor while the other repeatedly banged on the booths and walls. We have children ourselves and truly enjoy being around families, so this is not a complaint about kids. The issue was that there were many other seating options available, including another dining room with other families, yet they were seated immediately next to us in an otherwise quiet dining area.
When the noise continued to escalate, I politely spoke with our waiter and explained the situation. His response was simply, "What do you want me to do?" I then asked to speak with the owner, but the owner never came out to address our concerns.
By that point, we had eaten only about half of our meals. We asked for the check, and only then did the waiter offer to move us. Unfortunately, by then the evening had already been ruined. We paid our bill, left the rest of our dinners behind, and left the restaurant.
This wasn't the children's fault. Children will be children. The disappointment was in how the situation was handled. When customers are spending well over $100 for dinner in a restaurant that is nearly empty, they expect a pleasant dining experience and attentive customer service. A simple decision to seat the family elsewhere or a willingness to address our concern promptly could have completely changed the outcome.
It's unfortunate because the restaurant itself is attractive, and the food was good. However, good food alone cannot overcome poor service and a lack of consideration for the overall dining experience. Sadly, we will not be returning.
