B Cubed
Google
Rare Italian used to be one of my favorite restaurants, but the quality of food and service has significantly declined over the past few years. I first noticed the slip in 2022, and my disappointment grew when I celebrated my birthday there on June 12, 2023, with three family members.
During that visit, the waiter was rude and brought us the wrong bottle of wine, which turned out to be more expensive but not impressive. I typically order the filet mignon, but the waiter convinced our table to try pasta dishes and the 32 oz. Dry-Aged Bistecca Alla Fiorentina to share. Unfortunately, the steak was tough, fatty, and had very little usable meat—hardly worth the price.
Despite these experiences, my husband and I decided to give Rare Italian another chance last night. Sadly, it was another letdown. The waitress was inattentive, and I had to flag her down twice. I ordered a glass of the house Rosso, and to my surprise, it was full of bubbles (see the photo).
We started with two appetizers, the crispy Brussels sprouts and fried calamari, which were the only highlights of the meal—they were both well-prepared. For our main courses, my husband had the chicken, and I ordered the filet mignon with a side of sautéed spinach. The filet mignon was mediocre at best, lacking the flavor and quality it used to have, and it came sliced in two, which was unusual and unappealing. The sautéed spinach was overly salty to the point that I couldn’t finish it.
Adding to the disappointment, the waitress didn’t offer us bread but served it to other tables nearby. We were also seated at a community table, even though other tables were available, which was particularly frustrating as I’m disabled and find high chairs uncomfortable. The entire meal took about two hours, which felt excessively long given the slow and inattentive service.
For the price, Rare Italian no longer offers the quality or experience it once did. This visit was deeply disappointing, and I won’t be returning.