Formaggio Taverna and Patio — Restaurant in California

Unfortunately we recently had a terrible experience here (just yesterday ). We used to love it here and I even had my medical school graduation catered here a decade ago. Since the pandemic, this restaurant isn’t the same. Perhaps it’s a staff shortage.

We arrived and asked to be seated outside. The hostess actually didn’t know if there was a table available and asked guests sitting around if their neighboring table was available 🤦🏻‍♀️my toddler was running around and my newborn was being rocked and after 15 minutes of zero service I went and asked her if anyone was going to come and actually take our order. Her response was “we didn’t know if you’re staying.” So if you have a guest hanging out 15-20 minutes around the table and you have to guess if they’re staying or not, you lack some serious common sense. She could have just approached us and asked if it was thst confusing.

I got NO apology. The waiter said “it’s my first day back since the pandemic.” In fact, neither of them seemed to care that we were visibly upset. The hostess brought water and not a peep. Her ego was bigger than her head to not even be able to provide good customer moving on. We ordered and food took about an hour to come!! The restaurant didn’t even have that many people. No bread served nothing (if you’re gonna take forever to give us food at least bring a basket of bread). The waiter never once updated us on our order or apologized for taking forever. He also never checked in to see if everything tasted OK.

My chicken dish was dry as a bone. The pasta was watery. The only good thing was the burger.

We will never come...

So I have been eating at this bar/restaurant many times and about once a week. I would order something out and eat it at the bar, while having a few drinks. I have asked permission many times and never had an issue. The bartenders have always allowed me.

This week, I've eaten at the bar/restaurant a few times and today I ordered out and was enjoying a nice double with a few more to come. Instead, I was told that I could not bring in outside food and need to leave.

I told the women, that i have done this many times and had permission from the bar staff. She they are wrong and it was not allowed. I don't understand how multiple bartenders could all be wrong.

So not sure what happened today and way all of a sudden I had to leave. The same women who said It wasn't allowed, has been in the bar when I've done it the past.

So I have eight more days at this hotel and will be eating my dinner and getting my drinks some place else. Looks like they just lost a ton of money

I am a lifetime Marriott Titanium Marriott Member with over 1,700 stays around the world. This is the first time it has ever happened. Frustrating part is that I asked permission and the staff said it was ok and had no...

Formaggio pleasantly surprised me for dinner and breakfast. Staying at the hotel, I was just too damned lazy to take an Uber to an "outside" eatery, so "settled" for what I thought would be another mediocre restaurant within a hotel. Such was not the case. The staff are friendly and attentive. The menu (especially for dinner) nicely varied. For dinner, I (daringly) sprang for the grilled salmon (rare) with veggies and rice pilaf. The salmon was perfectly crisped to a nice sear on the outside yet pink, fleshy, and juicy inside. It tasted very fresh. Excellent! The veggies were tender crisp and tasty. This meal paired very nicely with a glass of their higher-end Pinot Noir. Dessert was affogato (Italian coffee-based dessert: a shot of espresso poured over a scoop of locally-made vanilla gelato) and a great way to end the meal. Prices are reasonable, given the food quality. If ever in the area again, would not hesitate to eat dinner here. Breakfast the next morning was similarly delicious with equally...