My wife booked us a table for my birthday. For this type of restaurant, I have to say that the dining experience was awful. From the service, the food and the manager.
First of all, the waiter took our drink order but my wife was still deciding so when he brought me my drink, he never asked her for hers. Next another waiter comes to our table and asks if we would like a bread basket so we accepted. Next the original waiter comes back to take our order... still he didn't ask my wife about her drink as mine was 1/2 way. He leaves to place the order and our water is almost depleted. Still no bread.
After about 30 minutes, the waiter returns with the salad AND entree at the same time. He crams it all onto the table and left us with no drinks and almost deleted water. Still no bread!!
Sitting the and deciding if we should eat the salad first and let our entree get cold... that's a tough one. So we managed to make the best of it. The waiter comes by and fills our water but doesn't ask about our drinks. So we ate dinner and washed it down with water as that was all that was available for us. Still no bread.
Finally at the end of the dinner, the waiter comes by and asks us if we needed drinks. TOO LATE!! Then another waiter comes by and brings the bread basket AFTER we were done with dinner. TOO LATE!!
Could they have been under staffed... maybe but here's the kicker... the table adjacent to us has 3 wait staff fussing over them at the same time while we waited. They got fresh cracked pepper, we had to use the stuff in the shaker.
Now normally I never complain but this experience was so bad that I just had to. So I met the manager on our way out and told him of this experience. As apologetic as he was, he offered us NOTHING except hoping that we return. This manager was young, cocky and obviously a textbook manager as he applied no real world experience... because he has none. He only tactic to get us to return was pleading and promising us excellent service. In my opinion, a voucher for a free meal would have enticed us to return but again, he offered us NOTHING.
By the way, the food was just mediocre and regular; nothing special. I make a more tasty steak at home. I don't say this because I'm pissed, I say this because it's a fact. I asked my wife to try the Chicken Vesuvio in comparison to mine, she said hands down mine is better.
So my advice is to stay away from this place.
Again this was all brought up to the textbook manager and he offered us nothing. I would give the Grotto NO STARS if could but unfortunately I cannot post this without giving it at least 1 star. That sucks too because they don't deserve it!
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