"We tried three appetizers: the rolled stuffed eggplant and stuffed Melrose peppers were both flavorful and delightful. Unfortunately, the stuffed artichoke was not as enjoyable. In the midst of our meal, the busboy kept approaching us every minute to ask if he could remove our half-eaten dishes. Despite our polite requests to leave the plates where they were because we were still eating and taking our time, he persisted. After he stepped away, another busboy and our server continued the same requests. While efficiency is appreciated, constant interruptions can be quite bothersome.
As for the main course, it was disappointing—bland fettuccine in brandy cream with slices of beef tenderloin. We informed the server about our dissatisfaction, but she merely mumbled a response and walked away. We ended up taking the dish home, eating only the beef and discarding the fettuccine.
The closing time was 9:00 PM, but around 8:00, our server mentioned she was leaving and handed us the check. When we inquired about their closing time, she reiterated 9:00 but stated she was going home. We felt pressured to settle our bill quickly as she continuously returned to take the check presenter even though we hadn't finished preparing our payment. Once we paid, we were still enjoying our wine while busboys cleaned around us, mopped the floors, and stacked chairs, clearly indicating they were eager for us to leave. We ended up departing by 8:40.
We had heard nothing but fantastic reviews from friends who had dined at Ciao Baby, so we were excited to try it. Unfortunately, this experience fell short of our expectations."
