Tyler V.
Yelp
UPDATE: If you are reading this review, please make sure to read the owner's response below. It all makes sense. To answer his question, YES, there were multiple tables open during our dine-in experience, and after reviewing the email exchange that we had with the owner's staff, they were the ones that said they could squeeze us in. Seems very different from the story he detailed in his non-apologetic response. I will finish with, some of what I shared is what individuals in his OWN community shared. How could I have known he has turnover and that he leaves for extended vacations?? His own community thinks negatively of how his business is running...
From what I've been told about our experience, it must have been an off night, or there was new staff needing to be trained better, but regardless I would never come here again or recommend it. I know they have a lot of five-star reviews, and everyone in the area raves about it, but anyone that works here and reads this review should know that our fifth anniversary was horrible. Please feel free to pat yourself on the back for that. If you're looking for a memorable night out, please go to Tina's instead. They are professional and provide a dining experience that is top-notch.
My wife and I showed up early to check in for our reservation and upon entering the restaurant, were asked by a host or server (not sure what his position was) if we had a reservation. We told this individual what our reservation time was, and he began to say to us that since we were 18 minutes early, we should come back at our reservation time. He didn't say to wait by the side or sit outside but to come back... We get what he was trying to say, but the manner in which he did it was just awkward. We decided to walk around the neighborhood and shake off the uncomfortable experience, and immediately after taking a step outside looked at each other like, "WTF just happened." When we told this situation to friends who have worked in restaurants, they were confused about why showing up early for a reservation would be treated with such hostility.
After returning at our designated reservation time (we made sure, we didn't want to be scolded again), we were sat at easily the worst table. It was right next to the serving station outside, where you could hear the servers gossiping, and everybody that needed to walk by came right next to your table. We noticed how every table gets bread and oil, but this was never brought over. Our server didn't even come to our table until 15 minutes after sitting down. At this point, they were already two strikes in for me, and I was trying to stay calm with it being our anniversary. When you have a bad table location you make sure to take mental note of the surrounding tables and which ones get filled. It was pretty shocking how long tables stay open between reservations and how people were seated... It was a choice by someone that we needed this awful table...
The experience did not end there as about 50 minutes into our dining experience, one of the food runners came up and asked if we wanted to see the dessert menu. He looked at us weirdly when we told him we still needed to get our main course. After 50 minutes, we had only had an appetizer... crazy huh...
For food, we ordered some bruschetta that was toast and cherry tomatoes... not anything to write home about. I will give them credit for the fresh pasta. It was tasty, but I would never return from our experience.
So after finishing our main course, we did order a dessert. I was hesitant to give them any more of our money, but it was supposed to be a memorable dining experience. We split a tiramisu that we didn't finish. Then came the icing on the cake... After we had paid, the server said, "It's your anniversary, right? Well, happy anniversary". SOOOO he knew it was a special dinner for us, didn't put any effort into making it memorable, and once the check was paid, it was "happy anniversary."
From what locals told us, the staff gets turned over quite a bit, and if that's the case, it's poor management. Poor training and poor etiquette by several members of their staff. We had to email about a reservation about a week prior because they were full on Open Table. If they aren't going to provide a professional service, don't take the reservation. People will easily go to a more professional establishment.
Thanks again for the memorable night!