Al Forno by the Veranda — Restaurant in Angeles

I had lunch at Al Forno yesterday with my friends. We usually go to other places but figured to try Al Forno for International Women’s Day.

Sadly, we had a really bad experience over lunch.

A/c was broken so it was pretty hot. With the way windows were at Al Forno, the heat was making us sweat.

The server mixed up our drinks. The server gave my drink to another friend and because we didn’t know what our drink looked like, we couldn’t correct her immediately. The server also gave another friend’s drink to someone else. We only figured it out after the correct drink came to my friend. Isn’t it standard procedure for the server to at least mention the name of the dish/drink and serve it to the customer who ordered it? If the server couldn’t remember the person who ordered, that’s ok. She could at least say the name of the drink before serving without assumptions.

1 server said splitting bill was not possible because it was too hard for the staff despite another server saying it was possible. In the end, we still got one bill for 5 paying customers. It was just surprising because it wasn’t a busy lunch service. This was a minor issue for us but why tell us it’s possible when another said it wasn’t possible?

The shrimp Gambas was fishy yesterday.

There were a lot of servers yesterday but it seemed like they couldn’t be bothered with our requests. Sadly, we might not choose Al Forno as our future girls...

The food was mid but the customer service was very bad. At least it was for me the day I ate there.

The waiters had no knowledge about the menu, whenever we’d ask them about the ingredients or the appearance of the food we planned on ordering, they’d always say “let me ask our manager” or someone else. Even with the drinks we planned on ordering. We simply asked which is the sweet and the dry red wine from their menu and they said “let me ask the bartender”, I get that that may not be their specialty but at least be knowledgeable with the food and drinks you have on your menu? Don’t you train your staff / waiters prior to hiring them?

Drinks were good. However when they got served to us, I said I’ll be having the margarita (mind you twas frozen), and she handed me the sangria with confidence and kept saying it was the margarita. 😭💀 (We just swapped afterwards. Oo nalang kami)

One thing I’ve also noticed is that whenever we’d call the attention of the waiters and they can’t see us, BUT the managers or god know what their position is (they’re the ones holding the paper and overlooking the place (?)) can, they cant even be bothered to relay the message or call their waiter’s attention so I can be tended to.

Food was mid, but the customer service can be improved pa.

Side note: A fancy restaurant but their menu looks...

We went there last saturday and saw some people waiting. We ask the server for 2 person and told us there's no available seat yet and we have to wait we ask for how many mins and she said 10 mins. So we waited even though there are vacant tables inside. I was confused because they did not ask for our name they don't even have a list. So they don't know who came first. After 15 mins, a family of 4 arrive and I was shook that they were seated immediately, when they don't even have a reservation. They said there are no seats but there are still vacant tables inside that can accommodate lots of people. So we still waited because the owner told us to wait but more people arrived that knows the owner because they where greeted by them and after that the lady owner told us it will take 45 mins to be seated??? like seriously?? They prioritize their friends and family they should've close their restaurants for that night for them. They don't value their customers. It makes me mad.

They asked if we have reservations but been calling them for days and no one is answering. What kind of customer...