Campanile

11/15/09

Great Ambiance. Great Food. Great Service. A++

by juddweiss at Citysearch

I want to write this review while the experience is fresh.

I just discovered Campanile and I think I'm now a regular. I love details. The team here, they are detailed. The Ambiance. The Food. The Service. All exceptional.

The Ambiance:

Walking into Campanile I felt as if I stepped into the outdoor courtyard of a Roman Villa. It is indoors, but the ceilings are so high you forget they exist. The fountain and the tile suggest it was walked on by early Greek scholars in robes. The ambiance is elegant yet comfortable. Reminding me somewhat of the Getty Villa.

The Food:

I had the Lamb. Easy to say, hard to describe. Phenomenal. Interesting blend of tastes. Very tender. Delicious sauce. With a touch of raisins, vegetables and feta cheese. My plate was clean when they took it away. I loved every bite. My girlfriend ordered the Shrimp and Scallop Stew, which was also delicious (I stole a bit from her plate). Tender shrimp and scallops in a saffron cream sauce. My 2 other friends who joined us ordered the Crisp Flattened Chicken and the Prime RIb and thoroughly enjoyed them (I didn't steal anything from their plates because, well, our relationships are not as close). I will be back to try other menu items.

The Service:

Campanile succeeds because of its team. A team that understands that great food and great ambiance are only part of the dining experience that is completed with great service.

Our server Brian, exceptionally friendly, personable and very detailed. He was attentively concerned with our experience throughout, reminding us to please let him know if we needed anything. Only problem, we never needed anything because everything was quickly handled before we could realize we needed something. Our waters were refilled well before they reached bottom, more hot water was brought for the hot green tea my girl ordered before she needed it. Even the busboy was friendly and attentive. Taylor, who I believe is the manager, was very friendly, helpful and welcoming.

As we all left we were greeted by the Executive Chef Mark who very friendly and wanted to know how our experience was. I told him I had the lamb and thanked him for every delicious bite. He told me not to thank him, but the woman chef who prepared my entree; glancing to my right through the food portal she smiled and bowed.

If you get a chance to meet Jay, the general manager, you will understand why Campanile keeps such high standards of excellence. Strong and focused with a welcoming demeanor, you can tell he is very proud of his restaurant.

Greeted with conversation from the servers, chef, managers and the door held open by the hostess as we left, we felt as if we left the home of friends who consider us important.

It's great to find a restaurant that cares about what it's doing. No wonder it seems busy every time I drive by.

09/13/08

Rude Vale Service Manager

by clarapotesfellow at Citysearch

In my last visit to Campanile, this week, I had to be part of an unusual situation at the parking lot. While waiting for my car at the Valet, the manager was shouting obscenities in Spanish to the employees, and in some way rude to customers. I understand that a parking lot full at lunch time is a confusing situation but that's why the restaurant hires a valet service. They are supposed to know how to handle peak hour traffic and do it with grace. This particular valet manager was not up to the task. It was uncomfortable if not offensive to observe a rude manager abusing his staff in front of the customers. I have been to the restaurant several times for week-day lunch and never had a situation like that before.

05/25/08

Pretty building....TERRIBLE people

by melbugs41 at Citysearch

I went with a group of friends for a birthday party last night (a Saturday). We waited 45 minutes for a table and the host explained that it was because "they were busy". We were asked to have a drink at the bar and the woman serving us there was awful! RUDE RUDE RUDE! When we finally got a table our server was decent but slow it took 30 minutes to get our drinks! The other staff was awkward, we had the manager greet us saying he was happy we chose that restaurant which sounds nice but he was very intrusive and made all of us slightly uncomfortable. the food was decent but i will never pay 20 dollars for a bowl of pasta again, the desserts were dissapointing and they forgot to put a candle in the birthday girls order (which i had personally asked the weird manager to do) the night was a HUGE waste of time, the only good part was leaving and going to a bar to really celebrate. I would definately stay away!

• Pros: leaving the very pretty/historical building
• Cons: management