I should've known how this experience would go before I even walked in the door. As my sister, two nieces, and I approached the entrance of Zero Otte in the Bronx, (Arthur Ave) one of the waiters -- a tall man, easily over 6'4" -- was heading inside. Rather than holding the door or even acknowledging us, he slipped through while my family held the door open for me, looking visibly annoyed. That small moment set the tone for what would turn out to be a disappointing experience in terms of service and attitude.
We were a group of seven celebrating a family birthday -- a lively, happy occasion and a decent tab for any restaurant. Unfortunately, the staff didn't treat it that way. The service from start to finish was cold, unwelcoming, and frankly rude. There was no introduction, no warmth, and absolutely no sense of hospitality. And with a table of ex-hostesses,waitress and bartenders we know what customer service looks like and especially how it should feel.
When the tall waiter came to our table to hand out drinks, he made no effort to do so professionally -- leaning awkwardly across the table without a word or proper attention shoving the drink across. His demeanor stayed sour and dismissive throughout.
What made it even more disappointing was that our table wasn't demanding or difficult -- no special requests, no substitutions, nothing complicated. Yet the energy and attitude from the staff made it feel like we were an inconvenience. The same tall waiter and others repeatedly looked toward our table, whispered, and turned away quickly when caught. It felt uncomfortable and unprofessional. Our new waiter, Dutch, (who changed without notice from the tall guys after the awkward water incident) and Dutch wasn't much better -- short in tone and equally disengaged.
Ironically, the only time the staff seemed genuinely cheerful was when we were getting ready to leave. Suddenly there were smiles and lighthearted tones -- a complete contrast from the rest of our visit, and honestly, it spoke volumes.
The food was decent -- a fair 7/10. The flavors were decent, portions fair, and presentation fine. The atmosphere, though, carried the entire experience. The interior of the building was simple, and beautiful: the rustic brick with mix of plaster walls gave a charming touch, reminiscent of medieval or historic Italy and the layout had real potential. Most important flaw is that The lighting was poor and on the dim side, and many bulbs -- at least fifteen -- clearly needed replacing, which dulled what could have been an even warmer and more welcoming vibe.
It's a shame that such a visually appealing restaurant with decent food was overshadowed by poor service and attitude. Zero Otte needs to work on its customer service being more warm and welcome with more professionalism and having workers that look like they want to be there. A restaurant's atmosphere and menu can only carry it so far -- the experience truly depends on how guests are treated, and in this case, that part fell flat.
Overall Rating: 2.5/10
Food: 7/10
Price for Quality: 6/10
Atmosphere: 9.5/10
Service: 1/10 read more