My wife I stopped by this place for lunch today and write to share our poor experience. Though I…read moremight lack the sensitivity of a gourmand, as a former New Yorker, I do know something about Italian food.
First, the good-- the bread was much better than what one finds in most low/mid-range Parisian restaurants. The complementary olives were a lovely touch. And the outdoor seating was comfortable--we weren't jammed together with other diners. This led us to await the main course with high hopes; however, we were to be seriously disappointed.
I ordered lasagna bolognese. It was a fairly large portion but tasted dull, certainly no better than what might be found in a good frozen food department. Worse was my wife's orichetti au pesto with mozzarellaand sun dried tomatoes.
This dish read well and could have been fine. However, the pesto was barely there (though microscopic shreds of basil were tossed on the pasta, the pasta was not even a bit green); the mozzarella was likewise almost not there, just tiny strings of melted cheese stuck to the bottom of the plate; there were just two small pieces of tomato. Technically, everything promised was there but the stinginess of everythig except the pasta led to a dish that was a nullity, a bland and boring deception.
I wish my wife had immediately turned it back. Foolishly, she ate a few bites. When the server came to pick up the plates, she asked if her food was OK. My normal response, especially in France (as my French is decent but by no means adequate in conflictual situations), is "Yes, very good" even if the food was not.
This time, though, we were so disappointed that I explained there was very, very little pesto, mozzarella or tomato. I expected no consideration on the bill, but a kind word would have smoothed ruffled feathers. Nothing but a fake smile was offered. "Water off a duck's back" is the phrase for it. The server appeared to care not at all.
Somewhere there may be a kindly, generous Italian nonna cooking food with pride as she did for her famiglia. But at "Nonna Anna's" she's either absent, never existed, or is one of the few nonnas who really can't cook and seems not to give a thought about the poor customers who are eating it.
Jamais plus.
