Via Veneto

12/15/09

I really wanted to love you

by alohakate at Citysearch

I had dined here years ago, loved it, and had yet to return. It was easy to make a reservation, even at 8 PM on a Saturday night, which was fine with me. The lobster ravioli was our appetizer, and it was good. I ordered portabello ravioli and my date ordered the seafood pasta. All dishes were above average, but nothing mind-blowing. Here's the thing -- they literally didn't allow my date to have parmesan cheese on his meal! The waiter explained that the chef claims it would deny the flavor of the seafood, etc. etc. It didn't matter. My date wanted cheese and could they please bring it on the side? No was the answer again, and the waiter, a gregarious, heavy-accented fellow, now flustered, explained that other waiters have been fired for not adhering to that rule. My date and I found this amusing...the pasta was still good without the cheese, but still, he wanted cheese! Ah well, choose your battles.

Dessert -- good not great -- once again. They were nice enough to bring a second dessert when I realized that the creamy flan-like dessert was probably not pasteurized...and I am pregnant. So we got to taste the chocolate tart too. Then the bill came. They charged us for a bottle of water (we drank tap) and an extra glass of wine. Hmmm. They easily readjusted the bill while we waited. Then my date could not find his scarf. They sort of helped find it, and when they realized he wasn't leaving without it, they decided to give the hunt a little more effort. Someone had taken it to the back.

All in all, my date and I had a nice evening and an indulgent meal. And although the atmosphere and society are charming enough, we concluded that the evening was strange at best, and next time, we will try elsewhere for date night. Axe, anyone?

• Pros: atmosphere
• Cons: strange experience

07/05/09

overpriced with arrogance

by taste1234 at Citysearch

I am all for paying for a good meal. The wine started at $72. a bottle and went beyond $2000. That would be okay except the $100 bottle of wine is really $20 and not worth that kind of mark up.

There are a lot of specials that you have to try to understand as they rattle them off quickly in a heavy Italian accent that leaves you kinda stumped (I over heard the other table say the same thing we did: why don't they write them down).

Don't even think of asking for any kind of changes to the plates. I asked for a side of pasta with my fish. It was like I created a new item on the menu they gave me such a look. Then told me that's not going to happen. Seriously?

The apps are an average of $20. We left with 1 app and 2 entrees to a sum of $110. Fine, if the food was good. The warm seafood salad was fine and light. The Dover sole was over breaded and spongy, the risotto was undercooked and over salted.

not worth the attitude and prices to me.

• Pros: fresh
• Cons: overinflated prices and attitudes

06/17/09

bad experience before even walking in.

by Alex1067 at Citysearch

No one know the rules except the manager that comes in at 5pm. Only one beer and wine only. No wine list to view on line. $40 corkage fee for the one bottle.

• Pros: none
• Cons: one bottle for corkage per table