"While we were browsing the menu, a gentleman approached our table in a rather rude manner. He claimed to be the one who took my reservation and insisted he had only mentioned offering cake slices and candles, not a whole cake. Although he said he wasn't looking for an argument, I reassured him that I might have misunderstood. My daughter and her husband found his attitude unpleasant—no one was arguing, but I decided to let it go since I had another cake waiting for her at home.
The hostess returned to apologize, and I reiterated that there had been a misunderstanding, mentioning that it was our first visit and we were celebrating my daughter's birthday. After we ordered, my son-in-law remarked on how rude the chef had been. I could sense the unfriendliness but didn't want it to ruin our evening. As the night progressed, the hostess checked in with us again. I shared my feelings about the rudeness, expressing that I wasn’t looking for an argument, but he seemed confrontational. She clarified that he was indeed the chef and owner.
To the chef/owner: First, yes, I asked about a cake. Second, please be more cordial both on the phone and in person; after all, I could have been a food critic. Third, I wasn’t being combative—you were. However, I do want to highlight that our waiter and the hostess were both excellent.
I also found it strange that the hostess wasn’t wearing a mask when we arrived but put one on halfway through our meal. As for the food, we ordered several appetizers: ricotta and rolls, octopus, and shrimp. For the main course, we had filet mignon, salmon, prime rib, and cod. Overall, the food was decent; the octopus and shrimp were outstanding, and my husband enjoyed the filet mignon. My son-in-law thought the cod was amazing, while my daughter liked the salmon, although it was slightly mushy. I ordered the prime rib well-done, but it was burnt.
The total bill came to $351 for four people. After dinner, our waiter asked if we wanted dessert, but my daughter declined due to her earlier experience with the chef. He did bring out four cannolis, which I believe were complimentary, but by then, I was ready to leave.
To the chef/owner, please try to be more gracious with your patrons; they are essential to your restaurant's success, and there are many dining options available. Would I return? Probably not. I work hard for my money, just as you do, and I don’t appreciate receiving rude service from an owner. Overall, we managed to have a good evening despite the unpleasantness, which I didn’t want to spoil for my daughter. On any other night, I might have walked out. I can easily spend my hard-earned money elsewhere."