L M.
Yelp
ABSOLUTELY RUINED WHAT SHOULD'VE BEEN ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE NIGHTS OF OUR LIVES -- and charged us $300 (for 2 people, without wine) for the privilege.
NOTHING romantic at all about this restaurant. Mediocre food, shockingly clueless service -- in a room that's like a coffee shop.
Before Covid, my husband and I visited Chapel Hill and stayed at The Siena, which is a lovely hotel. It was my birthday and he made reservations outside at Il Palio and had a lovely flower arrangement delivered to our table. Food was excellent. Don't know what happened -- this is not even a shadow of the former Il Palio.
Restaurant was expensive (even compared with S. Francisco, which we then our home) but we agreed it was some of the best Italian food we've ever had in the US (husband a native of Manhattan and we've visited Italy a number of time -- and were actually married there.
My husband lost his wedding ring. I decided to buy a new one -- then thought that I would take him to the most romantic restaurant I could find, get down on one knee, pull out the special-ordered presentation ring box -- and ask him to marry me.
Our dinner was also celebrating the acceptance of his latest book by his publisher, our successful move across the country to Durham, and the purchase of our new home.
I had only eaten outside at Il Palio --and knew they had a crummy bar -- almost like a portable bar you'd find in someone's house. But I carefully checked reviews for "romantic restaurants" in the Triangle and Il Palio seemed to get high marks.
Having never been in the dining room -- and given the EXTREMELY high prices for their food -- I assumed that the room would be dimly lit, beautiful, elegant, romantic. I imagined getting down on one knee and people around us clapping or at least being touched, etc. Husband tearing up (he's quite emotional), etc.
I called the restaurant -- they called back. I explained what I was planning to do and they seemed very excited and "on board."
Went to the bar as husband was parking. Asked what champagne they were pouring. No champagne (whaaat?) Only had Prosecco. Three on the menu -- they only had 1.
The bartendress was dressed, spoke and behaved as though she was working in a not-to-popular sports bar in Philly (not the accent, but the lack of polish).
Ok - so, that wasn't great.
Hostess lead us into the restaurant and find NO tablecloths. NO flowers on the tables, No soft "mood lighting." There was a little candle -- like one of those 2" tall, 2" wide clear glass rings with a candle in it -- you now, like you buy a dozen for $2.99 at the Dollar Store (probably half that, wholesale?)
NOTHING at all special or nice or even interesting, trendy. Everything about it had the ambience of a mid -range coffee shop in maybe 2000.
The waitress arrived and put an FTD type clear glass ugly vase on the table with dk red roses in it -- but the cheap kind that you buy at the grocery store 4 days after they were delivered to it. I later learned my husband called, explained we'd dined there our 1st time in Chapel Hill, what we were celebrating and asked if they could do something special -- that as it.
Our waiter was "Massimo." Massimo had the bearing, voice and charm of a longshoreman.
It had Foie gras on the menu. It was $30 PER PERSON as an appetizer but husband loves it, so we ordered it. It was NOT foie gras. It was like a thin smear of liver pate on slices of plain old bought-at-Harris-Teeter small baguette. AND there were just two tiny slices for each of us. $60!
The rest was about the same. And most things came -- as the foie gras had -- weirdly garnished with something like a chive that's 4" long but as fine as -- literally -- a horsehair. It was like trying to pull a green hair out of your mouth. AWFUL.
I was hoping that miraculously, the desserts might be great. Nothing interesting -- tiramisu, etc. Most flourless cakes are like fudge, so I asked if it was heavy. Massimo said "no" so I ordered it. It was like a glue-y chocolate brick.
I don't knoOur server looked to be a college student of maybe 20. She was clearly had no training or previous experience as a server in a fine-dining restaurant. That was made starkly apparent when she bought the cutlery -- which she practically tossed on the bare table and BACKWARDS. She literally did not know which side of the plate a fork goes on!
When I imagine the meal we could've had in Manhattan or San Francisco -- even Paris -- for $300?! (By the way, we were smart and brought our own bottle of wine -- a special gift from friends. Corkage fee was $35 -- otherwise, our bill would've been MUCH higher than $300).
I am 60 and have traveled widely, as has my husband. this was, HANDS DOWN the most disappointing dining experience of our lives. I had ONE chance to "propose" to my husband and they ruined it. It finally happened at 11 pm under the oaks on the Washington Duke Club terrace.
