E J.
Yelp
I recently dined at Narbona in Coconut Grove, Miami, with a party of five. Unfortunately, the overall experience did not meet expectations, particularly due to poor service.
The food arrived quickly, which was appreciated, but the service throughout the meal was rushed and uncomfortable. The staff was overly eager to clear our plates, often attempting to remove them before we had finished eating. At one point, my friend had to ask them kindly to please wait until we signaled that we were done. This constant interruption detracted from our experience, as we felt pressured to eat quickly. We were there for less than an hour and a half.
The waiter had difficulty understanding us, possibly due to language barriers, but his attitude came across as unwelcoming and sarcastic at times. When working in hospitality, customer service should be a top priority (I work in hospitality, so I understand firsthand) and this was not the case here. One waitress even took away our appetizer plates without asking, and when we said we weren't done, she sternly insisted that we were. Shortly after, our dinner plates were brought out. This rushed approach continued throughout the meal, with the staff trying to clear plates without asking for permission, which felt invasive. Bless the redhead lady serving water, she was kind and polite.
We ordered the following dishes:
Ragu
Oysters
Artichokes (Fried Fiori di Zucca stuffed with mozzarella cheese and anchovies)
Papardelle
Tagliatelle Ragout
Shrimp & Crab Ravioli
Asado Toto (short rib)
Grilled Salmon
While the papardelle was flavorful and the tagliatelle ragout had simple, good flavors, some dishes missed the mark. The fried Fiori di Zucca was mostly cheese with little to no anchovy flavor, and the short rib or asado toto was good, but the aligot was cold and too heavy for our taste (though others may enjoy it). The grilled salmon was okay, but nothing memorable. Overseasoned.
I was seated near the kitchen walkway, and I was bumped into multiple times by waiters rushing through. While I am usually understanding, the combination of poor service and the rushed feel of the restaurant made the experience less enjoyable.
Though the food wasn't terrible, it was not memorable either. The overall experience, particularly the service, left much to be desired.