Our first experience at Piattini was for drinks only. We stopped in for a glass of wine and, based on our positive experience, we decided to return at a later date for dinner.\r
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Several months later we did just that. My meal (pasta bolognese) was quite good but, unfortunately, my partner's chicken dish was not. Every restaurant has an off night, but what made this particular evening such a disappointment is that our waitress never returned to check on us. In the end, I ate my meal alone, while my partner sat there staring at an uneaten, substandard dish. Dining out isn't just about the food; it's about enjoying a meal together. When we spoke to the manager, she was apologetic, but also defensive. She comped one of our entrees and invited us to return for another meal. She wanted another opportunity to show us, of course, that Piattini is capable of ""getting things right.""\r
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Our initial response was to decline her offer. On one hand, it would have been nice to have a second meal as guests of the manager. On the other hand, there are too many better restaurants in town that get things right on the first try--and every try. Ultimately, sanity prevailed and we made arrangements to return.\r
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Tonight, we had our second meal at Piattini. The manager greeted us at the beginning of the evening and, in contrast to our first visit, she was most welcoming and not at all smug or defensive. Our meal and service were superior to that of our first visit.\r
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And then the check arrived.\r
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Our server explained that she understood that our last experience wasn't up to par and, therefore, the manager had comped ONE OF OUR ENTREES. We fully expected to pay our bar tab and to tip our server generously. We had no idea that management's good will gesture was so limited.\r
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As a result, the difference between a postive review (and another return visit) and a negative review (and an experience that we'll share with anyone who'll listen for weeks to come) is a mere $50.
Pros: Fair prices
Cons: Service, management response to poor service
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