'inoteca

It was my birthday a couple weeks ago. Obviously I wanted to go out to dinner with my close lady friends. Five of us met down at 'inoteca in the LES on a chilly night ready to eat some Italian food. I had been to this restaurant before and it was because of this great experience that I wanted to return and bring my closest friends to.

Waiting for the last member of our party, 4 of us sat at the large farm table in the middle of the restaurant like the posh diners we were. Then it began. HE came to the table.

HIM: "Water?"
Me: "Yes, please?"

We were then offered sparkling, still or tap. Tap all around. Duh. K was having trouble getting to the restaurant which warranted getting an antipasti platter to hold us over. With longing eyes I searched the room for HIM to help us, to ask us if we needed anything, you know, like food or more wine. Eventually we caught the eye of someone and got our platter ordered. K finally arrived and we seemed to be the only people who noticed because it took quite a while for HIM to come back. FINALLY, he returned and I welcomed him back to the table. Un-apologetically he said "Sorry".

Then it came time to order our food. No recommendations. No serving size guidance. Nada. When I ordered my chicken pate in Italian HE looked at me and said "You know that's chicken pate, right?"

Sigh.

Food arrived sporadically leaving some people without their bruschettas they had ordered while some of us received everything at once. Plates were placed in the wrong place resulting in a massive shuffle with each touchdown of a dish. The food was great, but was overshadowed by that guy that I would have to talk to again.

After food was cleared I expected the dessert menu to be brought over for us. Instead HE stood there and asked if we wanted anything else. Any good restaurant knows they can make more money on dessert. Don't give up at the main meal has left the table. Keep working on getting me to spend my money! IDIOT. Only two meun's were brought over for us to share like we were teenagers. Dessert was incorrectly described to us but we thought, what the heck we'll order a few. K's dessert was the Nutella Panino. Ooo sounds exotic, doesn't it. FALSE, not exotic. Have you ever had toast with Nutella on it? Then you have had the Nutella Panino from 'inoteca. When asked how dessert was I told him that it wasn't him, but to pass it on to the chef that the nutella dessert was a little disappointing. "Ok" He says. Not, thanks for the feedback, I'll pass that on, how were the other dishes...anything.

Eye roll.

It's surprising that one person can so perfectly ruin your birthday dinner. I tip my birthday hat to you and say, you succeeded good sir.

1 Star