I'd like to preface this with... I've been to this restaurant before with my in-laws and we were all completely impressed with the quality of food and service. I've also frequented the Cary location with co-workers at lunchtime. Having said that, I decided to introduce my wife to this "gem" I had found.
We arrived and were seated immediately. The restaurant only had a handful of patrons at the time, probably due to the hour. The evening was rather uneventful ... until mid-way through dinner, a gigantic c o c k r o a c h ran out from under our table and stopped next to the chair leg of the table across from ours.
My wife flagged down a staff member who said "the boss doesn't like it when we k i l l b u g s". He ran to the back and got a wine glass and a napkin, picked up the "visitor" and put it into the glass, with bare hands.
At this point, my wife was done eating. I continued to eat, thinking "well these things happen" ...
At no point did anyone come by and apologize or mention anything else about the incident. Also, the gentleman who was handling the r o a c h was back out on the floor within 15 seconds of disposing of it... and was packing up people's to-go orders and grating cheese. There is NO way he had time to even wipe his hands, let alone wash them.
Our check came, and we paid it, then tracked down the owner/manager (a tall, thin man with longish dark hair) about the r o a c h. He was rude and argumentative. My wife said that she expected someone to at least come by the table and apologize. She said she wasn't looking for a "freebie" ... having already paid the bill. The owner of the restaurant picked up the black check/money holder and took the change (about $10) and stuffed it in his pocket while they were talking.
Cinelli's has a b u g problem, a bad attitude and they don't wash their hands after handling nasty stuff. The food is good, but we will NOT be back.
Pros: The food is good...
Cons: I can watch r o a c h e s run around at any greasy spoon, for a whole lot less money.
more