Mezzaluna Pasteria & Mozzarella Bar Bentonville — Restaurant in Bentonville

Truly the most horrendous experience. We made a reservation two weeks prior for a Friday night at 7pm. We called 15 minutes before to confirm because we were on the way and have heard it gets busy. The hostess (very polite) said there was no reservation, but I was looking at the confirmation.. she then says multiple people have accidentally booked for the California location.. but we did not. She went to get her manager bc she couldn’t find it. Puts us on hold and then hangs up. We called back multiple times, but the phones were off. We arrive at 7pm and I show the hostess that we have a reservations and I show her the confirmation, and how the option to make the switch to the California location isn’t actually possible from Google (option to book a table which then shows a powered by open table reservation page. She says she can get her manager who may be able to help. The manager comes over and I say hi, I think somethings wrong with the phones, we talked earlier and you put us on hold and the phones were shut off. At this moment another family walks in and says the same thing, they have been calling and calling and they left voicemails, and the manager says: we have our phones off it’s too busy in an incredibly aggressive tone, (This restaurant was not full yet, I’m sure they were booked but that’s important to note it was not full, it didn’t appear to be short staffed bc there were people everywhere). She then turns to me and says sorry this isn’t our issue, and I repeat again we made a reservation on open table and they must have it. She then scoffs and says I can’t control Google, and I ask again if their reservations are booked on open table, which is where we booked form the Bentonville Google page (it auto flips to open table). She then says, yes they are but you obviously booked in California. So this isn’t our problem, and I just respond ok, so I show her the exact way I booked and there is no California option through the Google page which flips to open table, and she literally chuckles and says OK. I say, can we sit at the bar top, NOPE, They are too busy and reservations only there as well… it was empty bar top, I took a picture bc I was so confused as there was also two bartenders standing there. I ask to book for the next night then or Sunday bc we were celebrating.. bc honestly we have been to so many places in Bentonville and were looking forward to some really great Italian, I was telling myself I can get over the way this woman is treating me and the other people walking in asking what’s happening.. but she says we are booked through Tuesday but like so angry and rude and short, she didn’t let me finish any of my questions and cut me off with her nope responses. Like what is going on in there?? Just so offensive, and rude to multiple people. The phones don’t work the second week of opening?? The bar top is reservation only as well? I wish I could accurately describe her clearly frustrated, wanting nothing to do with customer facial expressions and the way she treated us and anyone who posed a reasonable question about their missing reservation or their voicemails they left. We even suggested another day like Saturday or Sunday or Monday, and she scoffs and said we are booked out through Tuesday, sorry. Like she wanted me to get out and never come back, simply for asking. I wasn’t angry or frustrated at all when I went in there, I truly thought they maybe just missed the reservation… and I asked if we could simply sit at the bar or make another and she treated me so terribly, and multiple people coming in after. Ugh. Just a huge bummer, I can get over the issue they are having with Google or open table, but for the restaurant manager to laugh and say if you have a problem, take it up with open table. To be treated like that. It was...

I went to Mezzaluna for the first time. I’m not sure if it’s trying to be an Italian restaurant or just an expensive restaurant that happens to serve Italian-style dishes, but either way, the experience didn’t quite match the price point. We were a small group, four adults and one child. Overall, the evening was okay, but several things stood out.

First, seating. We were squeezed into a four-top with a booth back, and a chair tacked onto the end of the table, directly in the server alley. There was an open table across from us that would’ve easily fit five without someone eating in the path of traffic. It’s a small detail, but first impressions matter.

Second, while I understand paced service, it’s off-putting when the server’s assistants try to clear plates while guests are still eating. We ordered the octopus appetizer, and halfway through, someone approached to take the plate while food was still on it. Not ideal.

Third, the check situation was puzzling. The server said they couldn’t split the bill, claiming the POS system didn’t allow itemized checks, even though the printed check was, in fact, itemized. After twenty years in hospitality, I’ve never seen a system that couldn’t split a tab. It felt like a subtle attempt to push a single payment and larger tip, which leaves a bad taste. On top of that, there’s a credit card surcharge that wasn't disclosed prior to payment. Small, but again, it’s about transparency and guest trust.

Finally, as we were finishing dessert and conversation, a woman, I assume the manager, came to the table to inform us that they typically book tables for 1 hour and 45 minutes, and that we’d been there for 2.5 hours. She mentioned another party had been waiting 30 minutes. I get it, it’s a small restaurant, and people wait. But telling a table that just spent nearly $300 to wrap it up because you need the turnover is not a great look. It’s unprofessional and kills any sense of hospitality.

Add to that the loud, open kitchen and servers rolling silverware beside nearby tables, and the whole environment felt more like a bustling cafeteria than an elevated dining space.

So after my first, and likely last, visit to Mezzaluna, my take is this: the drinks are great, the food is solid, the service is fine, but the atmosphere and overall hospitality don’t justify the cost. Between the noise, the pacing, and the “time’s up” attitude, it felt like eating at the most expensive cafeteria in...

I just had the worst experience I've ever had with a restaurant reservation. Mezzaluna called me to confirm my reservation for the next day and I asked if I could please increase my party size by 2. She told me no and they had only allotted 1.5 hours for us at our table and our dining experience would be expedited as is. I was concerned about that time constraint even for a party of 6 so I asked if we should plan to just order a lot of sharables, appetizers, and drinks to expedite the process. She said that wasn't allowed either and all parties had to order a full meal. Which again, I tried to be understanding as asked if I could consult the rest of my party as this was a Birthday Dinner and I could call back before the allotted 24 Hour Cancelation window which was still several hours away. She told me no and that I had 30 minutes to call back and let her know, she also was very upset at me that I had made the reservation without having a CC on file. Even though I told her multiple times I had given my CC to her team member when I made the original reservation and would be happy to give it to her again if she was willing to honor the 24 hour cancelation policy. She finally agreed, I gave her ANOTHER one of my CC numbers, and then shared I was feeling a little bit nervous after the way this conversation went and wanted to make sure that they were really okay with hosting our party and it was going to be a good experience for all. Like I said this was a Birthday Dinner so we wanted to feel welcomed and not rushed. She then bowed up and said that if I was being this difficult over the phone, my party surely was going to be difficult in the restaurant, and she was going to go ahead and cancel our reservation now, and hung up on me. As a group of Bentonville local girls we are shocked and devastated to receive this treatment in our hometown. We walk to welcome all the new business and opportunities coming to NWA but this type of treatment of guests is just unacceptable. After sharing this story with friends SEVERAL validated they had heard of similar experiences. PLEASE consider the type of business you are supporting and if you are considering celebrating a special occasion I would really do so elsewhere so protect your special event and avoid this type of treatment from the Mezzaluna staff. Support the restaurants that care about our town and community and this...