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| - I have ordered delivery from La Bella for years with no issues (ok, well one time they were using a new delivery driver and he went to the avenues instead of the streets and gave me some real attitude on the phone, but the restaurant comped my meal so I chalked it up to a frustrated driver who probably knew he was in trouble).
I don't think I've ever had a bad meal from this restaurant. But I went there in person for the first time last night and now my loyalty is shaken. I was SO excited, it had been over a year since I had their awesome pasta. I walked up to the counter and waited for the cashier to stop scrolling through social media for a few seconds before saying hello to get his attention. He was very nice once he took my order and I sat down. I waited a while, that's fine, and then someone who I actually thought was a customer tossed (yes, he tossed it) a plastic bag on the table next to me without a word. He didn't even turn around, I never saw the employee's face! I checked the receipt after about 20 seconds of just sitting there wondering what just happened (was it his food and he was going to sit there?) and it was mine. No acknowledgment from the staff. I have never been more taken aback in a restaurant. Once I got home I opened the container and all my pasta was shifted to one side and leaking, I imagine from being thrown onto the table.
I can't say a bad thing about the food. But since they started using new, more expensive delivery services and the customer service inside is non-existent... I don't know how often I'll be a customer. I don't expect to be treated like royalty when ordering food to go, but come on! It was really unpleasant.
The way I was treated last night was 1 star service. In no way do I feel "A-OK" about it as the 3 stars suggest. But I'm not going to give a place with great food 1 star because I had 1 bad experience. Try the pasta, it's great. Don't expect a pleasant dining experience. Probably get it to go....
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