Kevin C.
Yelp
I was looking for a good steak for lunch near my home and a neighbor recommended Villa Barolo. Walked in after the lunch rush, there were only 2 other tables going, and I was put at a small table that butted up against the bar. It was pleasant enough, however there was a paper napkin (with lunch entrees in the high-teens, and I was a out to order a $30 steak), so first impressions had a knock. Waiter was friendly enough, ran through their specials, but I was set on the steak so I ordered the 12oz. NY Steak.
Waiter brought a small roll and butter, but this time approached me from the bar and passed it over to me (instead of delivering it table side as he had taken my order). Not a huge deal, but it spoke to this being more convenient for him, so another slight knock. Became a bigger knock when he passed me the check in the same manner, instead of coming table side, he slid it across the bar to me so I had to reach over to get it. Not a good look.
Steak was the correct temperature (medium rare) and was good - but not $30 good. The cut of meat had some gristle and to be honest was not unlike a NY I pick up at GIANT for my BBQ, at a fraction of the cost. I think I had expected a melt-in-your-mouth experience, which didn't happen. The string beans sauteed with onions were marvelous - best item on the plate. The garlic mashed potatoes were a complete miss - dry and flaky, if there was a gravy or something that could moisten them up it might have been saved, as a result, I left them pretty much untouched on the plate. I informed the waiter as to the dryness of the potatoes, he did apologize, but that's as far as it went.
Glad I went alone instead of finding all this out after taking my wife and another couple and dropping $200 in food and drinks, this way I got out with only laying out just under $40.
Villa Barolo may get me back some time if I want to give some of their pasta dishes a try, but given how I was told this was a go-to place for steak, you can imagine how disappointed I was.