My wife and I have been going to Rodi's on an off for many years. We are vegetarians and have liked Rodi's as being very vegetarian friendly though a bit on the poorly seasoned side. \r
We looked on line on the Saturday the 9th of Nov 2012 and found the music had happened on Friday the 9th! So we went in early. Our regular waitress, Jennifer, met us at the door and seated us. However, she didn't wait on us. She turned us over to a nice young girl who did not know the menu and was pretty inattentive consider there was nearly no one in the restaurant, on a Sat night? \r
We were looking over the menu when some of the musicians arrived to set up their equipment. We wondered what happened, oh well. We went ahead and ordered while a couple next to us, apparently also having been long time customers. Our Chips, as another poster mentioned, were greasy. soggy and very dark which is typically an indication that the oil in the fryer hasn't been changed regularly. The oil breaks down, won't fry as fast and allows the oil to be absorbed by the food. We should have sent them back. Our Sourdough bread with the Olive Oil and Balsamic dip was just awful. The oil was too thin, no color and no flavor, while the Balsamic vinegar was, well, like red wine vinegar and easily a very low grade of Balsamic because the two ingredients mixed immediately and became more like a vinegar, overpowering the weak Olive Oil, and oil salad dressing than a Olive Oil and Balsamic dip. Our ""Greek"" pizza arrived and after eating it we wondered why we weren't impressed. When we compared our experience later we figured out that there was no Feta Cheese on our pizza nor were there any Pepperocini's! \r
The couple next to us were ready to pay and the waitress went to run their card. The connection was down so they couldn't run the card and told the couple they could either wait for it to come back on line or pay cash. They paid cash and when they left it was obvious they weren't happy. Well about 20 minutes later we were ready to pay, same thing only our waitress never came back after asking us if we would wait a couple of minutes to let the program come back on line. 15 minutes later, no waitress, no opportunity to pay. We felt like we were being held hostage. By the way no one offered to allow us, or the guests that were next to us, to pay the old debit card way with the little portable slider machine until, in disgust we went to the Hostess counter to give them my business card and to tell them that I'd pay but I'm not waiting around. I raised my voice, out of frustration and disappointment to make sure others heard, really bad all the way around. I can't believe how poor the food was nor how bad the service was especially considering the place was nearly empty. The place was cold and uninviting and seems to have gone downhill from the last time we were there, when our waitress then forgot to serve our appetizer completely. I cook better at home, not going back as I won't put up with inferior food and bad service. Oh yeah, we ordered a bottle of California wine, typically fairly inexpensive, it was $35.00. I wouldn't mind if the atmosphere was better, but it wasn't. \r
I believe they used to make their own bread and pizza dough on premises as well as using fresh vegetables from Rodi's garden. Well, they order in all the bread now and their pizza's are pre-made by a local bakery.....too bad Rodi, you used to be the premier restaurant in the Area. \r
Oh, one other point. My wife works at JC Penney's whose new manager liked eating at Rodi's and wanted to have the company Christmas party there for 112 associates and their guests on a Sunday in the Loft. She was told that Rodi's doesn't work on Sunday. For a failing restaurant not to work on getting nearly 200 diners is just stupid. No wondering they're dieing, bad management, lower quality food, and inept service. What could go wrong? Bye bye Rodi's.
more