Jacob B.
Yelp
My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary and wanted a good Italian place to eat at because it is one of our favorite cuisines. This restaurant came HIGHLY recommended and so we came.
The positive:
The staff was super friendly, both on the phone making the reservation and when seating us at our table. They even accommodated us arriving 20 min early for our reservation. This was a big plus for us at the onset.
The negatives:
1) The Atmosphere: To start, the interior of the place seemed to need a bit of TLC. The ceiling was sagging in spots and curtains were everywhere sectioning off little alcoves for people to sit. The arrangement doesn't feel private but rather cramped. This seating adds to the exclusiveness you anticipate and the necessity of reservations.
2) The service: We were promptly greeted by a hostess/server and taken to our seats. Menus were distributed and we were given complimentary waters to drink and an encouragement to look over the menu. This person left and the next server came to our side and began talking through the menu with us answering our questions. I was immediately drawn to the fact that she wasn't dressed like the other server (black slacks & white button down). She was in a pair of short black shorts and a short sleeve black T-shirt. I still don't know if there is any significance, but it immediately took away from her professionalism in my eyes. I will say, at this point, she was helpful. That is where the helpfulness stopped. Shortly after placing our order we received our salads (not included with meal fyi), a couple got up from the table adjacent to us, the table was bussed, and a new pair sat down receiving the similar treatment we had been given. In roughly 5-7 minutes, their food came out from the kitchen and they began to eat. By this time, we were ready for our meals, another 3-5 minutes passed and our server exits the kitchen and immediately realizes we don't have our food. She looks puzzled and then heads back into the kitchen. 4-5 more minutes pass and our food is brought to the table. She tops off my drink and then heads off. I do not see her again for another 15+ minutes. When I was almost done with my meal, she comes by to "check on us" asking if we need anything. I request more water and she removes my water glass from the table and takes it to the kitchen for a refill. She didn't bring out a pitcher as the other servers did. I was puzzled but said nothing. After seeing we were done with our food, she took our plates and asked if we wanted desserts to which we declined. She brought the check and then left again. 2-3 more minutes pass before she returns. We could not wait to get out.
3) The Value: Due to the reservations, limited seating, and packed out house, we anticipated great food. What we got was bland, subpar Italianish food that did nothing for us. My wife ordered baked ziti (her favorite) $13.99 and I ordered their "special" seafood Alfredo. She did not like hers at all and it was covered in marinara seeming to mask the lack of flavors. She was severely disappointed. The Alfredo portion in the picture is what I received. The totality of the food on the bowl didn't cover the bottom of the bowl. I don't know how else to describe that. The portion size was abysmal. From the picture, you will be able to count no more than 6 total pieces of seafood in the entire dish. What's truly mind-blowing is that this dish was a whopping $29.99. It was listed as a special on the board coming in with no price associated. (This should have been my red flag) You find out when your ticket arrives just how much it is. Back to the food. The Alfredo tasted mediocre and the seafood was cold and without any flavor. It was crab, shrimp and something else and nothing had any real flavor. The sauce was underwhelming and the singular piece of shrimp was over cooked and rubbery. I anticipated about $15-18 and it was poor quality for that price. When I saw the $29.99, I felt like I had been fleeced and taken advantage of. I was so appalled, I didn't even want to bother complaining. I just wanted to leave. For reference, the total bill, pre tip, was $62.94. We ordered 2 entrees, 2 side salads, 2 pieces of garlic bread. We didn't buy appetizers nor desserts. No alcohol was purchased either. That is an absurd amount for what we received!
Overall:
This place lacks any of the things I want in a off the beaten path restaurant. The prices are grossly off based for the quality of food you receive. This experience won't be repeated by my wife and I because we won't be returning. What stinks is that we had been hyped up about how good it was going to be by so many people who have lived here for long periods of time. Truth be told, I wish I could give it a .5 or .75 star.