"Unfortunately, everything that could go wrong did go wrong during our visit tonight. It might have been a one-off, since other reviews are very positive, but our experience was disappointing and odd. The service was almost non-existent—we went 20 minutes without any interaction. Two of the items we ordered never arrived, and we were overcharged. After paying via the Toast tablet, the server took our cards to split the check but never returned with our receipt, instead selecting the “no receipt” option, which felt strange. He simply disappeared after charging us. We still left a 20% tip at the time because we were unsure what was happening, but in hindsight, I regret tipping at all.
The neighboring table was also having issues, loudly complaining about the same server. A couple of tables away, guests barely touched their lasagna and carbonara—the same dishes my partner and I ordered—and they looked equally unappetizing. The antipasti that did arrive was disappointing as well; the meatballs were extremely fatty and tough, almost like low-quality hamburger meat, though the sauce was decent. We hesitated to complain, thinking this must be a mistake, since no authentic Italian restaurant would serve meatballs like that. But the main courses added to our confusion. Both pasta dishes tasted undercooked and far from homemade as the server claimed. As an Italian and frequent pasta lover, I feel uncomfortable making this claim, but our pasta lacked freshness and quality.
I plan to contact the restaurant for my receipt since the server disappeared when we asked for it. Given the missing items and unusual taste, we were likely charged incorrectly. I can’t recommend Via Della Pace based on this experience. I don’t say this lightly, but it’s the truth.
Meal type: Dinner
Price per person: $100
Food: 1
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 2"
