"As an Italian, I can confidently say that nothing about this place felt authentically Italian to me, aside from a slideshow on the television and the appealing decor. A true Italian restaurant welcomes guests with warmth and hospitality. Initially, the busboy informed me that he needed to check with his manager about seating me. After some time, she approached me and seated me, and the busboy promptly ensured I had water. However, things went downhill very quickly from there.
The service was atrocious, with the staff being either curt or outright rude. The only exception was the busboy in the mask, who was genuinely sweet and considerate. I have allergies to alcohol and vinegar, and when I asked several questions, the manager, who was also my waitress, confidently assured me that the artichokes were fresh and grilled. She insisted that I had nothing to worry about regarding my allergies. Sadly, this turned out to be a complete lie. The artichokes were definitely not fresh; they tasted canned or jarred, and the claim that they were grilled was simply untrue. The moment I took a bite, I could tell there was vinegar in it, causing an itchy and burning sensation on the roof of my mouth.
When I got up to find the waitress and express my concerns, I was met with defensiveness. The worst part was when she admitted she couldn’t comment on the artichokes because she didn’t eat them herself, and she couldn’t get clear answers from the cooks, only that they were imported. I felt extremely uncomfortable with her dismissive attitude and lack of knowledge. Ultimately, she offered to remove the dish from my bill but insisted that these were special imported artichokes. To me, this felt like being gaslit.
I continued to stress the seriousness of my allergies after just one bite of the dish. I asked her why she would serve me an artichoke if she wasn’t sure about its marinade and why my questions weren’t being answered by the kitchen staff. I was left feeling frustrated and more than tempted to leave, but out of respect for my main dish order, I decided to stay, expecting my meal to arrive soon.
I ordered chicken piccata and specifically requested that no wine be used due to my severe alcohol allergy. The waitress informed me that the cook wanted me to know it wouldn’t taste the same, which was fine with me. I saw other patrons who came in after me receiving their steaks and pastas, while I sat waiting for nearly an hour. Eventually, I asked a male waiter for an update on my dish, only to be told that it needed to cook. As if I didn’t already know that.
When my chicken piccata finally arrived, I was starving. I wanted to scream! I had mentioned my hunger when I arrived, yet it seemed like they either didn’t serve bread or didn’t care to offer any. I had to get up to ask for Parmesan cheese since no one bothered to offer it to me like they did for the other tables. No one ever checked on how my meal was going; I had to approach the counter to pay. As I looked around, I couldn’t believe how generously everyone else was treated, while I felt completely ignored.
As I write this review, I’m dealing with a painful stomach ache, rehashing the experience in my mind. I can't understand why I wasn't asked if I needed an appetizer or dessert, or if my allergies were worsening. Nothing! To add insult to injury, my waitress apologized for the long wait after bringing my chicken, claiming it was due to accommodating a larger party. I honestly can’t believe I left a tip. I’ve never been so relieved to leave a restaurant.
I will never return to this place, and I recommend that you don’t either.
UPDATE THE NEXT DAY: I confirmed there was indeed alcohol and/or vinegar in my food. An hour after writing my review, I was doubled over the toilet all night. This quickly escalated into dehydration and a severe migraine. My throat and nose started closing up, and I nearly had to use my EpiPen. With allergies, reactions can be immediate or delayed, and mine come on slowly but then escalate quickly. I am absolutely miserable today and had to call off work. I am changing my rating from two stars to one star."
Shrimp
