Let's hope this was just a horrible misfire from a normally on-target Italian establishment. Our group was guided into the bar to await our table. The property is pristine, suggesting something special is at hand. Hardly.
Waiting outside in the bar, the metal chairs were hard and uncomfortable. Our server never offered us a cushion from a stack that was just outside of view but revealed once we headed to our table. Strike one. Once seated on the patio for dinner, the tablecloth barren plastic table top should have continued the elegance of the building instead of looking like a park picnic cast off. Our server (name withheld but available to the restaurant upon request) was the centerpiece of the poor service parade that passed before us. We had to ask for water (kind of comical considering it was 85 degrees outside) and getting any kind of descriptive information about the wonderful menu was a comic skit in action. Portion sizes were described as "you know, about average" while the reply to my order for the veal chop was acknowledged by a single word utterance of "cool". Strike two. We also had to ask for bread, then olive oil, then balsamic. Keep in mind this is not an inexpensive Italian restaurant nor was it busy; higher standards of service should accompany any meal where the bill is above $300 for a party of 5. Our wine selection was completely different (variety and vintner) than ordered and when pointed out, was dismissed as "that's what the manager gave me".
The food was marvelous and we would have relayed that to the server had we been asked. She never appeared to check on our meals until proffering up the desert menu. Another 10 minutes passed and she finally appeared seeking our order. Strike 3.
Not able to determine if this was poor training or poor attitude. I usually give points for effort but unfortunately saw almost none here. While the food, including a terrific octopus dish was a pleasure to the taste, the service experience was unexpectedly bitter.