"My grandmother wanted to sit in a more private back room for our celebration, but he interrupted her before she could finish speaking and insisted that all guests needed to be seated in the main dining area. When she suggested we sit at another table for more comfort, he brushed her off again and wouldn't let her express her request. Our server, Silvana, wasn’t much better. Both she and the manager appeared distracted and unfriendly, as if they were having a bad day with their regular customers.
Contrastingly, other patrons who entered received warm welcomes, such as “Hi! How are you? Welcome back!” This inconsistency in hospitality and service was disappointing. My family had previously dined there several times without issue, often allowed to make substitutions, and even had a special meal prepared on request. However, this time, when my grandmother asked for a side of pasta instead of mashed potatoes, our server immediately cut her off, firmly stating “no substitutions.” She was prepared to pay for the pasta, but it was still a firm refusal.
The only positive aspect of our lunch was the Alfredo dish itself—everything else was underwhelming. When my grandmother requested to speak with the manager, he came over but only offered excuses instead of addressing our concerns. I attempted to explain why our experience was disappointing, pointing out that even though he wouldn’t let us sit in the back, other diners were seated there celebrating, as we saw another server bringing a cake. His response was that those diners shouldn’t have been there at all. So, when he told us we couldn’t sit there, was he unaware of others already enjoying their meals? This wasn’t a private event, as there were only two of us.
Overall, it was a terrible experience. I had been looking forward to my birthday dinner here, especially after hearing good things about the food. Unfortunately, due to the poor service, I was unable to enjoy the occasion with my grandmother. I won’t be returning and certainly won’t recommend this restaurant to friends, family, colleagues, or customers."
Ossobuco Alla Milanese
