Gino B.
Yelp
Same old, same old " Boccone Pronto "
A quick change of name on this review page doesn't improve the long history of good food yet very bad service and ambiance at this Terminal 1, post security airport location situated by the D gates area. Previous long standing 2 star average reviews are under the business name "Boccone Pronto" here on Yelp.
The only reason it gets two stars today is because the actual Italian omelette was very good indeed, not photo worthy but very good. Here it goes! Let's briefly go back in time to pre-COVID...
Yes, I can't believe It's been a good two years since I last visited Boccone by Gate D42 and just like that, very fast, it was déjà vu all over again... like it was the day before. Seating, tvs, everything is the same; as are the staff and atmosphere. Expecting the menu from always, I had the " eggs Massimo " in mind - and reason for my visit's intent to start with; named after the restaurant's branded chef association, " Eggs Massimo " is an Italian style shakshuka, sunny side fried eggs and crispy bacon (or other offered choice of meat) in a skillet of sizzling tangy and chunky tomatoe sauce. It's 6am, ice cold open air dining rom, sitting on the same communal table by the bar, smell of grease exhaust from their fryers everywhere and poof ...it all came back,...everything was like the previous times I had here years ago! As I sat myself down, here I was waiting....waiting ....and waiting... hello? I raised my hand trying to get the staff's attention; 4 of them are visible and it's a quiet 7am.... Hello, hello?
Finally, The blonde haired waitress didn't want to be annoyed by another customer, her other co-worker displayed the same style indifference to another table they were attending to... and at last, hallelujah, I get the paper, one page menu. Anticipating the eggs Massimo, I always knew that item was great regardless of my memories of this place; that plate was so good it smashed those memories to make room for my appetite hehe and all of a sudden, BAM! Big blow to that anticipation! Im told " due to COVID, we only have a few items on the menu "; since I had been sitting for so long, I reluctantly remained and ordered one of the only overpriced 4 breakfast items on the menu. Now, the government has lifted all COVID restrictions long ago - and if you are true to the statement she made " due to COVID " - than QR code paperless menus, hand sanitizer and other COVID protocols should have been part of the program! I see it as They are just being lazy and adding one layer to the bad of the same old same old pre-COVID memories I have of this place. Perhaps a little patience and courtesy, would have gone a long way versus the robotic - " you order we serve " curt atmosphere that is created by default, just like old times!
Anyhow, I ordered the Italian omelette, and when asked what makes it Italian, the waitress states that it's the ham. Well, I found that to be pure bs and arguably, when the plate landed on my table, I would say that what made it kind of Italian and worthy of my lineage was a decent amount of melted fresh mozzarella, which was terrific, so there you have it. Is it any different when you throw feta cheese on anything and call it greek just for the namesake; oh yes!
Aside from the omelette, the carb loaded platter came with diced fried potatoes that appeared like the ones from a grocery bought freezer bag and thick proper Texas style toasted bread slices - bread was terrific as well!
So, the omelette by itself was excellent hence the two stars; but - while wolfing it down, I was reminded why I disliked this restaurant for all the years it has been here by Gate D42; my experiences with the food have always been good to terrific but terrible with the service and ambiance as a whole.
A coffee cup, Italian omelette platter and $28 later; I was reminded at every step why I disliked the service and atmosphere of this restaurant over the pre-pandemic years hehehhe I couldn't wait to leave and run along to my gate; Adios Boccone!