Piazza 27 of MT Vernon — Restaurant in Baltimore

Rude customer service and staff not wearing masks or gloves while preparing food during a pandemic.

(There are other reviews scattered around the internet about them not wearing masks either so if you’re concerned about your health then don’t be fooled by the 5 star reviews about their pizza. Our health and lives are more important than pizza.)

I was in this restaurant at about 5:40 yesterday evening, and admittedly I was in such a hurry to get something to eat because I had been working all day without breakfast or lunch that I wasn’t paying attention when I went in and placed my order (my bad), but once I placed the order and looked around (finally) I noticed the cook wasn’t wearing gloves or a mask while preparing food and that the guy at the register hadn’t actually been wearing one either (again, my bad for not paying attention) so I decided to cancel the order and request a refund. Before even beginning to process my refund the guy at the counter (Trey?) began to argue the efficacy of mask wearing and actually stated that it was against the law and that his boss told him he didn’t have to wear one. When I asked again for my refund and stated that I didn’t believe it was against the law or a doctor had stated the claims he was making about mask wearing he became belligerent and started shouting at me about his uncle, who is a “researcher” at Johns Hopkins, who told him that wearing masks does not work. I again asked for my refund and stated that the conversation was not necessary as all I wanted was my money back and I didn’t need to hear his personal viewpoint on mask, and again he argued. In total it took me 13 minutes to get my refund and out of the store because the guy (the owner of the restaurant, according to him) would rather argue his views than honor or respect a customers request for a refund for food not cooked, received or eaten in anyway.

I will not be returning to this restaurant ever again and I’ve contacted the Baltimore City Health Department to find out if it’s indeed “illegal” to require food service workers to wear a mask during a pandemic and according to them...it is NOT!! They also implied that this restaurants actions may be a direct violation of Governor Hogans mandate on wearing facial coverings in public or when working in restaurants and bars with the public. (Unfortunately I don’t think I can post the link but it should be available online if you do a search for it).

Bottom line is, if people are okay with restaurant workers not wearing the proper PPE than that’s their choice to make, but for those of us that aren’t that is also our choice and we shouldn’t be talked down to by rude staff when requesting a refund or refusing to eat at their establishment until COVID-19 guidelines are actually being followed.

Also, I‘d like to urge people that when they see a business not in compliance with COVID-19 guidelines to...SPEAK UP!! There are too many people getting away with non-compliance that they don’t care about when customers actually call them out because others put up with it or no one else is holding them accountable. Please let places like this know that it’s not okay for them to play russian roulette with their CUSTOMERS...

This place is my favorite pizza place in Baltimore City HOWEVER since the new owners took over there is literally not one person who works there who speaks English. I don't care except for that there's no way to communicate a problem or to even call and order sometimes. Like this time they refused to take my order over the phone they said I had to order online(they just kept repeating online order) however the pizza is $5 more online so obviously I didn't want to pay $5 more for the same pizza and then when I went in there and said something they just kept saying ok and nodding bcuz they literally have no idea what I'm saying. Now I get it, I don't care if people speak English or not but when it's a business where u have to talk to people then u need at least one person who can comprehend what the customers are saying. I still have ½ off a pizza that I cannot use bcuz they literally have no clue what I'm saying. They messed my pizza up one night and I called and they said I could get ½ off next time I ordered and months later I still can't use it bcuz they just don't get it, like u can see the blank stare when ur speaking like a deer caught in headlights, they just help saying ok and yes but they aren't getting it. And let me reiterate again, this whole switch in owners sucks bcuz it's my favorite pizza place but it's getting to a point where I don't come very much anymore bcuz it's frustrating as can be. I just want to order a pizza or an for Parmesan cheese or whatever but I can't bcuz they don't understand me. I'm all about the melting pot of America, even my great grandparents were immigrants but please, PLEASE hire someone who can be the front man who can communicate with your customers bcuz ur going...

i just stopped here on my way to get a late night drink. they said that they didn't have the tikki massala, which is why i came here originally (having seen it on a prior passing trip). so, i requested the pesto pasta. it took a moment to confirm the order, because they did not seem to understand the difference between "penne" and "pasta" let alone have any understanding of the word "pesto."

after showing a picture of "pesto," to be sure i was getting what i was requesting, the friendly representative did say that this is what i would be getting for sure.

i payed and returned for collection, which was prompt.

for the food, let me firstly say (because i ate it first), the "garlic bread" is absolutely horrible. i mean. BAD. AWEFUL. it was a half of a regular sub roll. that was toasted. stale. chewy. and had basically no garlic or butter that i could taste. it REALLY made me not wish to try the main dish.

i, of course, was hungry, and that main dish did feel very hot. so i opened the utensil packet and dumped the salt/pepper on it (since it was included). then dug in.

great!

i would give it 5 stars for how good it is! ... if it wasn't for that garlic bread. service was friendly and well done, even if they didn't understand the words of what they were selling. not worth removing a star and a solid 5 in delivery. that side was just so aweful though. my god. so 4 stars.

good speed. good service. good food for what i ordered. just a really really crappy little slap on the side.

keep up the good work. and fix that...