Osteria Nonna Dora — Restaurant in Palermo

Yesterday, we tried to come for dinner but were told we needed a reservation. So we reserved a table in person with a lady for 7:30 pm the next day saying it was our anniversary and pointed to a table in the corner we wanted. She smiled and nodded and we returned the next night for dinner.

The server who saw us in (blond curly hair lady who was constantly chewing gum) pointed to the table close to the entrance in the middle of the restaurant. We said we wanted the table I reserved and she said no. I said I did not want the table and she put us somewhere else. Another server (who I think was a supervisor) with glasses and shoulder length dark wavy hair came to take our order. We ordered the grilled calamari, a pasta dish, bottle of wine and sparkling water. I then flagged her over and also ordered a salad. This woman had zero personality and did not care to engage in any conversation. A server (younger with blond hair) came to serve our wine. This server also had the personality of a brick. The food came out and I must say, it was not bad. Not spectacular or anything like that, but it was decent. We did not receive any bread and my salad never showed up. Not once did anyone check on us despite the fact I tried to make contact to our server (or supervisor) during the meal. In fact, it seemed like we (and other guests ) were looked down upon. This is Palermo, not Rome!

I went to pay (at the front counter where our server/supervisor took my credit card) and mentioned how my salad did not arrive and that we did not receive any bread for the table (in Italiano). She apologized and said it was her fault but that was it. It just seemed like she didn’t care - along with the other servers tonight.

Now I understand that restaurants have good and bad days. Having managed a few and been a regular diner for over 30 years, I know what good food and service looks like. Nonna Dora failed spectacularly in the service department. I have read this was an issue in previous reviews but I thought since we arrived at opening, it shouldn’t be an issue this time. Not the case.

Looks like Nonna Dora needs to remind its service staff that guests come first. It’s too bad as there are many great restaurants nearby that do a much better job.

And please don’t play 90’s pop music - it ruins the vibe of such a...

Osteria Nonna Dora is a challenging place to rate, the food is amazing, some of the best we have had in Palermo. The prices are very cheap, while the kitchen is quick and we were eating within 10 minutes of placing our order. However for reasons unknown we were the only table in the entire restaurant who were not given bread, my fiance wasn't sure if she wanted a second course as the portions were large so she asked if she could decide after her first course and the waitress never came back to ask. After being ignored for about 20 minutes after we finished our meal, I flagged the waitress and my fiance asked to see a dessert menu which the waitress met with a sigh and scowl and then produced the menus and proceeded to ignore us for another 20 minutes until another waiter came and asked us if he could get us something. The hostess also looked like she was very unhappy to be there and didn't offer so much as a thank you when we went to pay our bill. Service in Italy can be hit or miss but seeing how they interacted with other customers and then seeing how they interacted with us I can not in good mind give them the rating the food deserves. For context my fiance is from northern Italy and I am American. I'm not sure if it is the northern Italian accents we have or what exactly we did to receive this type of treatment but I can say I wasn't very impressed by it. It was right up there with some of the worst service I have received in any country. I would not return even though I would say it was the best meal I have had in Sicily, the service absolutely ruined the experience and left me with a sour feeling about the whole meal. It's really unfortunate as we were blown away by the food and it was easily some of the best we have had in all of Italy. Hopefully this was just an irregular experience and we caught the waitress on a bad night. For the chef and kitchens sake I would hope so as we have gotten better service in a...

Discrimination against solo travelers, young people or just blank xenophobia: It was a full night. Other people without reservation, coming at the same time as I did, were told to wait next to the entrance. I was just told: „We‘re full, sorrryyyyyy.“ I didn’t let this happen and waited for 45 minutes until it was my turn.

Meanwhile I casually conversed about my case with a young couple from Alto Adige, the German speaking part of Italy. They immediately added, that there’s often a bonus, if you’re Italian. Since they were bilingual, they got treated well.

Even they came after me, she called them to the table instead of me. They felt sorry and invited me to their table. This was very sweet but I refused to see what happens next and also didn’t want to spoil their evening. After I waited for 5 more minutes and she passed by passive-aggressively more than once, actively looking into the other direction minutes and she passed by aggressively more than once, actively looking into the other direction, I left.

I was very friendly in the beginning and waited patiently the whole time it made a good look in front of the restaurant. A group of three young guys we are also told that they couldn’t wait because they were full. Even if I was wearing a dress shirt, I maybe was too hip for the head waitress that obviously would only invite old people and couples in. Speaking of her: it’s the middle aged woman with glasses and blond, short curly hair. She should be ashamed to spoil someone’s last evening in Palermo. I wish her a week full of broken dishes and bitter coffee for...