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| - I have frequented Sienna Mercato/Emporio (meatballs) many times in the past, with good results and left happy enough. I've never really liked the prices they put on the food and I hate that there's no happy hour specials on the rooftop but there is on the first floor (what?). But regardless, the food is tasty and the idea behind the restaurant grouping is unique.
Anyway, went to lunch here with co-workers about a week and a half ago and left unhappy.
First thing I noticed on arrival, across the board raise on prices. I get it, you need to occasionally raise prices if business is slowing or what not, but dang, they raised the prices. And I'm sorry but one meatball should not cost $3.50 in my personal opinion.
Second, I always order two meatballs on top of the tomato risotto. The risotto is always good, and I like the meatballs. But service here is sooo picky. I order a pork and beef meatball, and ask for it on top of risotto. Shouldn't be a problem, right? The meatballs come in individual metal serving bowls (annoying in their own right) and the risotto also separately. I question why they're not on top of the risotto in one of the big bowls (as I usually have had in the past), and he explains you have to get the same balls to get that. Okay fine, I remember I've order the same balls in the past and have gotten what I wanted, but where was the warning about that as I ordered my food and asked for the food as I wanted? So this is sounding really winy, I know. But then, I asked him to simply take the risotto, pour it into a big bowl, and throw the meatballs on top in one bigger bowl. He takes the food, comes back 3 minutes later, "we can't do that", and offers to bring me my own bowl to do it myself. Really? I decline, eat my food, and leave.
I've had questionable experiences with meatballs in the past, but I'm done with this place. I cannot handle cruddy service and ridiculous serving policies because the place wants to be "fancy" and "hip". And prices? $12+ for two meatballs a small bowl of risotto. Nope.
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