I have been coming to Nino's for almost two years, since my fiance first took me there on our first date. He has actually been eating there since it opened, and it has always been one of our favorite restaurants. People have continued to slander and lambaste Nino's and both of us have always defended them to the last letter, because although sometimes their service leaves a lot to be desired, the food is always delicious.
Yesterday, however, was just the last straw.
It was Valentine's, and me and my fiance decided to go to Nino's with another couple, some friends of ours. I made a reservation a week in advance and spent the entire week talking Nino's up. I expected it to be a little hectic, what with it being Valentine's day, but what happened was simply unacceptable.
Our reservation was for 7:00, and so we turned up at 6:55. It took ten minutes for anyone to even acknowledge us. We were literally standing at the front of the restaurant, without even a ""hey sorry, we're really busy but we'll be with you in a minute."" Nothing! They didn't even greet us after ten minutes, I actually grabbed a waitress and told her I had a reservation and could we please be seated. She looked at me and told me they were first come first serve and that they didn't take reservations. I said, ""Well, that's confusing, since I was told I had a reservation over the phone."" Eventually they sat us. And that was it. No waters, no menus, nothing. They didn't bring us menus until 7.20, and then we asked for a wine menu and a few waters. 7.30, no menus, no water. It was ridiculous.
We eventually got up and left. I am devastated to have lost my favorite restaurant, but I will never go back there again, not when we have been loyal customers for years and this is how they treat us.
Nino's? A word of advice. If you choose to ignore your customers, make sure you don't do it to four ex-servers who know exactly how easy it is to serve a crowded restaurant.
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