| rev:text
| - Let me start by saying...the antiquated notion of "Oh look at the funny Italian! So passionate! So devil-may-care and flirtatious!" no longer works in a restaurant. I'm half Sicilian and even I myself acknowledge that. Especially in a small restaurant where the owner's actions are completely viewable to all customers, and in a time when there are tons of places to choose from.
I had been here twice previously and had pleasant enough experiences. In hindsight I think it was that I went earlier in the day. My third visit left much to be desired...namely, that I now desire another place altogether to dine at. We arrived for our reservation at 7pm on a Sunday night and were seated at a 4 top to the light sounds of Andrea Bocelli on the sound system. After waiting 15+ minutes just to get our drink and appetizer order in with the server, I noticed (by recognition of a couple of the folks seated) that there was a table of about 15 people adjacent to us populated by members of a small opera company here in town. And it was obvious they were there post-performance to dine and enjoy. But apparently - they were also there to give an unsolicited performance...whether the other patrons wanted one or not.
Without warning, Bocelli goes full blast over the speakers, and two of the opera singers start singing at full voice in this tiny, railroad style restaurant. It was the equivalent of screaming Motley Crüe into a shoebox. This went on for about another 20 minutes - and I couldn't even hear my friends sitting 2 feet from me. I had been multi-tasking - keeping an eye on the owner (Roberto) because he seemed to be encouraging this, all the while giving very obvious attention only to other tables occupied by female ASU students less than half his age, strutting around behind the bar while barking orders at servers, and trying himself to sing along at this impromptu Bocellipalooza. He seemed more caught up in showing off and preening for the customers rather than actually serving them.
I managed to get his attention and upon his arrival to the table I asked "how much longer is this going to go on? We can't hear ourselves talk and we weren't expecting a concert". Here's what followed:
R: "That's the opera - they're celebrating. It's their night."
ME: "Oh? What about the other customers filling your restaurant? Is is their night, too? If it's just the opera's night, then close your restaurant for a private event so other customers can have quieter dinners elsewhere."
R: "This is what we do here. Everybody knows. At night we turn up the music and sing and scream. EVERYBODY knows."
ME: "I guess I didn't get the memo. Also - I've been here twice before and it wasn't like this. The music and singing is way too loud and customers can't enjoy themselves - including the four of us."
R: "It's THEIR night."
ME: "Actually, I think it's YOUR night...because all these people you see seated in your restaurant? They're putting money in YOUR pocket. And you're singling out one table."
R: "Well I'll turn the music down but not off. This is what we do here."
ME: "I didn't ask anyone to shut any music off. I just wanna be able to have regular, reasonable dinner conversation without blaring music or tenors screaming at the next table."
So needless to say, I won't be back. And apparently I'm not alone in my experience with this juvenile, arrogant owner who thinks he's some sort of Italian celebrity and whose proprietary focus is hitting on college girls and parading himself around like an ex-member of the Rat Pack rather than practicing good customer service and creating an atmosphere that everyone can enjoy.
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