Giorgio Baldi Ristorante

05/15/09

Awful experience....Stay away

by jsla44 at Citysearch

The worst dining experience I have had in LA.

Brought my girlfriend who was dying to try the restaurant and the two of us were celebrating a small occassion.

Started out by asking for 2 glasses of champagne to start the evening. The server seem to misunderstand brought two small bottles and then scoffed at the fact that we didn't want both of them...

He then provided us with the specials...they sounded phenomenal. Hearing Italians paint pictures of the food they have to offer is quite enjoyable. However, when we finally opened the menu we saw that these "specials" were listed on the menu and not only that, they were above and beyond more expensive than anything else.

The restaurant was not busy, we had a 9 o'clock resveration and we wanted to enjoy our evening, relax with champagne, order a bottle of wine and take in the atmopshere which I must say is very romantic.

We were pushed to order and hovered over and when we finally wanted to just order a couple things before main courses again, scoffed at and told the chef would not allow that.

We took more time to go over the menu, and I must preface this by saying my girlfriend and I eat out 5x a week. We know what we are doing, we know food and know service. To be told the chef would not allow us to order a couple courses, just so we could enjoy our time there and gauge how hungry we might be after pastas, is a turn off.

We finally order and I ask for the Lamb. Let it be known the Lamb is 30$. Not pricey at all by that means but I didnt want steak and wasnt in the mood for veal chops. I was told when I ordered the lamb, "you don't want that, its just lamb, you should have the veal chops(42$). I said, that okay, I really want lamb tonight. He let it be.

After ordering and enjoying our first course, the couple next to us asked for the server because her fish was "bland" as she called it. She asked for the same sauce she got with the ravioli she had prior and no word of a lie the server responded with "you don't want that sauce with the fish. I will bring you something else." She said "no I want the same sauce I had with the ravioli, it was great. Again he said, "I will bring you something else, you don't want that sauce with the fish." She finally said "bring me whatever," as she was frustrated and obvioulsy not happy.

This place is overhyped and 240$ later for the two of us and I am heated. A phone call has already been made to the restaurant.

My advice, stay away.

• Pros: Food
• Cons: Servers

05/13/09

STAY AWAY !!! WORST SERVICE IN MY LIFE.

by FWTIII at Citysearch

I have been to many restaurants all over the world. This place, hands down, has the worst service possible. The waiters are rude, they act like you are speaking jibberish when you try and order, and God forbid you happen to not drink; you are then a second class citizen. I make good money, but it can be much better spent at a more intimate, friendly place with much better food.

• Pros: Food is ok.
• Cons: Extremely rude waiters, overpriced, no intimacy.

01/22/09

My Favorite

by MZ at Citysearch

This is the best Italian food in LA. Authentic and simple

11/29/08

Terrible service, food just okay

by wimbleton1 at Citysearch

Our waiter was extremely rude, and was disdainful of our order. Although the appetizers arrived quickly, it was 90 minutes before our main courses arrived!! And this was only after my husband complained. Who knows how long it would have been otherwise. People around us were seated and left before we were served. And the food was not the caliber we expected, given the reputation of the restaurant. And everything was extremely overpriced, including the wine list. We will not return. There are far better Italian restaurants in the area with less attitude, better service, and much better food.

• Pros: Seating was prompt.
• Cons: Service was rude and extremely slow, food was mediocre and overpriced.

10/24/08

Price steep - Food ok - Service ok

by markusiseli at Citysearch

I went there with my girl-friend on a Thursday evening. The service was with attitude but ok. If you ask for tap water be prepared to receive some of that attitude. The insalata mista was ok, the prosciutto with fresh figs was very good, the ravioli with asparagus were tasty, but I counted about 12 tiny ravioli on my plate for $18, and last but not least, the tortelli di zucca were drowning in oil - good thing that the portions at this restaurant are miniature in general.

The food is too expensive for its taste and quality and the attitude is too much for anyone not on Prozac.

We don't plan on going there again.

• Cons: price, attitude

09/13/08

OMG The Worst Place Ever

by monica1234 at Citysearch

Pretty much that is all that needs to be said about this place. I was taken there a year ago by a famous friend and the owners daughter was all smiles and seated us right away. The service was attentive and the food was so so. Cut to a year later and go again (I am not famous) taking a few friends from out of town. The treatment I received could not have been more different. The owners daughter is still at the door and she was so rude my friends wanted to leave. We waited an hour for our table with a reservation. Then the waiter was pushing costly wine on us and when we didn't go for it the service went down hill. The food took forever to come out. When they delivered our dessert the check came with it. Right after that we were pushed out the door. I was so humiliated that I wanted to say something to the owner Giorgio, but he looked too busy, and not in the kitchen. He was sitting at a table, flirting, with let's just say what looked to be working girls. I guess you need to be either famous or of a questionable profession just to be served average at best food within a timely manner. Never again.

04/15/08

Are You Kidding?

by malibudani at Citysearch

I'm really surprised by some of the positive reviews about this place. The food is nothing but a little above average but the service makes this the absolute worst place to have a good time. I had dinner here the other night and couldn't believe how rude everyone in this place was. They run a restaurant obviously for their 'friends and relatives' because they treat everyone else like they're doing you a favor. My food came 40 minutes after I ordered it and was cold! My complaints were practically laughed at. I tried this place because it was convenient to where I moved recently and will not be going back. It's totally unbelievable to read some of these positive reviews. It was like they were talking about a completely different restaurant. And the prices are a joke. I make good money but you absolutely are throwing it away here. Try someplace else that cares about their customers.

• Pros: I'm still trying to think of one.
• Cons: Anyone who works there.

03/26/08

Major Mistake!

by lauraria at Citysearch

I took the advice from a friend who works nearby this restaurant to check it out even though he hadn't been there himself. Big mistake. The owner was literally screaming at another customer for debating some charge on the bill when we walked in. Everyone was looking at him like he was crazy. Not a good start. I sat down with two of my girlfriends and they promptly informed us what they had run out of. Okay... My wine choice was also 'not available' that evening as well. When I asked the waiter what exactly was left to choose from, he simply walked away. I informed the manager who said they would take care of it. They didn't move an inch for 10 minutes. I went back to complain and they said if we couldn't wait that we could leave. That was all I needed to get my girlfriends and walk out of that place for good. What a joke! I actually thought I was on some hidden camera show. I'll never be back to this disaster again!

• Pros: None!
• Cons: Worst Service Ever!

03/26/08

Total Disappointment.

by markknowsfood at Citysearch

This is one of those restaurants that you walk away thinking "How can they stay in business'? I've been to countless restaurants throughout the world and this definitely ranked as one of the worst overall. I don't even like writing reviews since the experience is usually different for everyone but this restaurant needs to be avoided. I was there twice for dinner (first time on a date, second time for a group celebration) and both times they made mistakes on the orders, rushed us, and management couldn't care less. I had to send my lobster ravioli back because IT HAD HAIR COOKED INSIDE IT. Management said it was mine. I'M A BLOND - THE HAIR WAS BLACK! They just walked away annoyed! No one from our group enjoyed the experience. If you want to be overcharged for attitude and tables that are practically touching each other - this is your place. For the rest of us, we can choose from the countless other Italian restaurants that actually enjoy having customers!

• Pros: Neighborhood Restaurant.
• Cons: Bad Service, Rude Management, Overpriced, Average Food

03/16/08

What a disappointment!

by sambythebeach at Citysearch

I went here in December with my friend and our sets of parents. We made reservations early, because we had 6 people. We were so excited for a romantic meal that let us all get to know each other through some great wine and food. The wine was excellent, but everything else was not. Our waiter was very snooty, showing disapproval of whatever we ordered... maybe it wasn't expensive enough for him, but we made up the bill in our bottles of wine. He brought the wrong food to the wrong people and then tried to not let us return it when we realized it was not what we ordered. Obviously we complained enough for him to comply. My mother's lamb was burnt to a crisp, but she was too nervous to send it back since our waiter had been so rude up to this point. My friend's father sent it back for her, and once again there was an argument with the waiter. We were half way through our desserts and finally starting to relax a little when our waiter informed us that we had to leave! WHAT?!? We weren't even done with our desserts or coffee. He didn't care, and told us they needed the table. WE MADE RESERVATIONS!!! Our bill was almost $600 and we were being asked to leave!!! Are you kidding me?! The cherry on the cake was when I went to pick up my car from the valet, brand new 2008, and found 2 giant scratches in the bumper. Lovely! At least the valet didn't try to deny it. This was just such a disappointing night. We had heard such amazing things about this place and had it not been for a very nasty waiter, we wouldn't have had a problem paying the money for a special outing. But the food just didn't make up for how poorly we were treated.

• Pros: wine and food
• Cons: Service, price