Well, I have to take back all the nice things I said. We've been coming here weekly. We're…read moreregulars. We always are served by the same server. We always make a reservation for our next visit. While the quality of the service has been slipping for a while, it's generally been OK or better.
Until last night.
We showed up at our reservation time, for our usual table, and we were told by a member of the staff ("hostess"?) that we did not have a reservation. Our usual waitress was standing nearby, and I asked, "Do you remember that we made a reservation on our last visit?" She said that she did. But the hostess insisted we did not have one now. And that no tables were available.
Now, mind you, every table in the joint was empty. There was not another diner in the place except a couple behind us who asked, "Do you have a reservation for Esteban?" (my name.) I was shocked when the hostess said, "Yes, we have a reservation for Esteban." I insisted there was a misunderstanding, as we had made our reservation last week, in that name, and our waitress agreed. The other guy claimed that he'd called a few hours before. I insisted, "that's our reservation, as it's at the top of the list. If you only called a few hours ago your name would not be at the top."
Eventually the chef (owner) came out and acted as if it was a huge inconvenience, but after some offensive accusations, he offered to squeeze us into a cramped, hot table, inside, next to the kitchen.
Nope. Thanks, but no thanks. Not when every table in the house is empty and your staff agrees that I had made the reservation. Not when we've been regular and faithful customers for the entire season.
Everyone makes mistakes. But what matters to me is how one recovers from them. And the staff at El Gigio did not recover. They continued to insist that we were the ones who had made a mistake, and we were the ones who were wrong.
They've done a commendable job of turning enthusiastic fans into critics who will never trouble them again with a lost reservation.
There are other Italian restaurants in La Peñita. Do yourself a favor and go to them, and be treated civilly.
========
This is The Place for pizza and calzones in La Peñita. My wife and I have visited a couple of times and never been disappointed in the food.
The pizzas are topped well (but not overloaded!) and the crust is just right: thin, chewy, and savory.
Last night we tried the Calzones (which are touted as "the speciality of the house") and they were phenomenal. Really tasty, stuffed perfectly, with plenty of blended cheeses. (4.5 stars. Would'a been 5 stars on the calzones with a side of Marinara sauce for dipping!)
We also love the salads. In Rivera Nayarit salads can be hit-or-miss. But an El Gigio they're always clean and crispy with just the right mix of ingredients. Our favorite is the Mediterranean.
Usually there's a selection of "Daily" specials, but they're pretty much always Lasagna, Pasta in vodka sauce, or pasta Bolognese. (To be honest, we haven't tried them because in Mexico there's a tendency to cook pasta to death and beyond, and we prefer it al dente, so we usually stick to pasta at home only.) People we know and trust say they're tasty.
During Snowbird season (December - March) reservations are almost mandatory. If you time it right they might squeeze you in, but it's not a sure thing. Call ahead and reserve a spot. You'll agree: It was worth it!
