Extremely unimpressed with the entire experience. I joined City Search specifically to educate others who are contemplating dining at this place.
I went with some co-workers for lunch on a week day. We got there at 1pm and left after 3pm. We had the prix fixe (3 small courses).
We weren't given menus when we first sat down. After finally asking for them (who has to ask for a menu after being seated at a restaurant?) it took another 5 -10 minutes for the waitress to return. We hadn't even received water or bread yet.
We ordered, and only one of our meals came out first. My one co worker was fully finished with his meal before myself and my other co worker had received our first course! Our waitress was completely oblivious. I went to the manager to ask about the status of our meals. He only looked at me with a bewildered stare (as if I was crazy for wondering where my main course was after an hour of sitting down).
The prix fixe comes with wine. That didn't come until the long -awaited first course was over. We specifically asked for the wine when we said we wanted the prix fixe. So, when we ask where our wine was, of course, we receive another confused look - and this time the question: ""Did you order wine with your meal?""
It wasn't before long that we realized, out of the 4 full tables in the restaurant (us included) we were the only table that either A) didn't speak Italian, B) wasn't wearing suits or C) didn't have an obvious relationship with the manager.
It's time for the third course (dessert). Almost 2 hours have passed - and I ask if I can have coffee instead of a fruit bowl for the dessert. I am told ""No- that is not included"". So - aside from poor service, cold food and a bad attitude, the staff's ignorance trumps their will to compensate an agitated guest with a coffee-dessert swap.
Now- we need to pay (begrudgingly). Naturally, we have to ask for the check (why would our server put it on our table after every dish of the 3rd course had been cleared?). Instead of dropping off our bill on her way to our section, our server proceeds to take the order of a table of 4 behind us, and makes us wait even longer. I have to get up from the table, once again, to ask someone else for the bill (my second time asking).
San Rocco, some words of advice:
- lunch customers should be served within an hour- tops
- seat your guests with a menu; don't make them ask for it
- check on your tables, check on your servers, etc. just because a guest isn't your friend / acquaintance, doesn't mean they can't be. Do the NORMAL things a restaurant staff should do to ensure the food and service are up to par.
My company takes many clients out on business lunches and dinners. It's a shame that this off-putting restaurant will not be gaining any further business from us, our clients or friends.
Italian cuisine is my favorite. I've dined in many restaurants in New York City and Italy. San Rocco does a complete disservice to the Italian food industry both here and abroad!
There are some really positive San Rocco reviews from other CitySearch members; it's a shame that I cannot relate nor believe that any of those remarks are true.
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