Long story short: I really wanted to like this place, but after two visits, I've noticed a…read moredisappointing pattern with the service. I can't even comment on their actual dinner because after 30+ minutes, we still hadn't met our server. Meanwhile, a man who sat at the bar a little over 20 minutes after us was acknowledged and served immediately. We left and enjoyed dinner elsewhere.
The long story: During my first visit for lunch, I was the only customer until an older couple sat a seat over from me. I had been struggling to get the staff's attention, yet they immediately welcomed the couple, explained both the lunch and dinner menus, and brought them complimentary samples of a dinner entrée and focaccia while encouraging them to return. I didn't expect special treatment, but as another first time customer, the difference in basic hospitality was night and day.
Despite that experience, I decided to give them another chance and met a friend here for dinner last night. My friend initially tried taking two seats at the bar, but an employee insisted the seats were "reserved" for her friend. This was especially confusing given the restaurant's own website states, "We accept reservations for parties of six or more, all else is walk in, first come first seated."
We took a table instead, where multiple staff members walked by and looked directly at us without acknowledging us. Two of them even bumped into our table! A little over 20 minutes later, a man sat at the bar and was immediately greeted by multiple employees and served while we still hadn't been able to order a drink or appetizer. It felt like a repeat of my first visit.
After waiting over 30 minutes, we decided to leave and had an amazing dinner elsewhere. Not once did anyone come over and say , "Thanks for your patience, I'll be right with you." We didn't even know who our server was, and frankly, I'm not sure they did either!
As we walked out, several staff members simply watched us leave without asking if anything was wrong.
I've worked in the restaurant industry for over a decade, so I'm very understanding of busy nights and slower service. But this wasn't simply slow or disorganized service. On both visits, I watched other customers receive attentive hospitality while I struggled to get basic acknowledgment.
It's a shame, too, because my friends and I tend to spend a pretty penny when we go out, and when we find a place we enjoy, we often become regulars and introduce the place to others. Apparently, this restaurant is perfectly fine watching money walk out the door without even attempting to serve the people spending it.
Rhode Island has way too many amazing, family owned restaurants with excellent food and hospitality to settle for feeling so unwelcome. Unfortunately, after giving this place a second chance, I can't recommend it.