Puccini's Pizza Pasta-West Clay — Restaurant in Carmel

I gave 5 stars because that is what you deserve. But is there more? Can you do better? Yes.

My family orders take out at least 1-2 times per month. Are there any complaints? Well, not with food or service, but there is something within your control. My 4 hungry boys like a Hawaiian Pizza with bacon. Every other week I order a large cheese and a large Hawaiian Pizza with Bacon... Or NOT. There is no Hawaiian Pizza on the Menu! This throws everyone for a loop. I have to repeat the order at least three times because how could someone order a pizza with fruit and bacon from two different countries (Canadian bacon)?? The gaul. The Audacity!

Hear me out, it takes approximately 3 seconds to order a large cheese pizza. Simply say "Large Cheese Pizza". However, it takes me 1.5 minutes to order a Hawaiian Pizza with Bacon. Here is how it goes:

Me: "I'd like a Hawaiian Pizza with Bacon." You: "We don't have a Hawaiian pizza" Me: "I understand, can I have a large pizza with Pineapple, Canadian Bacon, and Bacon?" You: "So, you want a large pizza with Pineapple and bacon?" Me: "No, I want it with Canadian bacon too." You: "Got it, so a large pizza with Pineapple and Canadian bacon?" Me: "No, both kinds of bacon. The Canadian version and the rest of the world version." You: "So both bacons?" Me: "That is correct."

Assuming your employee taking my call is paid $15/hour, it costs you $.013 for me to order a cheese pizza and $.38 for me to order my Hawaiian with Bacon. That is 28.23% more expensive, which equals $.37 per order. I order at least 25 times a year, which equals $9.25 you leaving on the table (pun intended). In addition, I always take advantage of your discounted gift cards, so really, it is costing you $11.10. I've lived in the Carmel area for 3 years, and plan on living here for many many more. If the status quo continues, that is $333 over the next 30 years you are wasting. BUT, I come to the table (pun intended) with a solution.

From now on, can you please add "Peter The Great" to the menu? This is a Hawaiian...

Let’s start with the good. We had half cheese half meatball pizza. Everyone liked it. Crust was perfect - not soggy. Right amount of sauce, cheese and meatballs. It was easily the best pizza we’ve had since moving here less than a year ago. I would have given them 4 stars easily if the service was better.

Bad news is, the people working there don’t seem to have their act together. I paid for a pizza thru Grub Hub. Puccini’s wouldn’t let my wife pick it up because “Grub Hub is delivery”. My wife called me and I checked the receipt and it said “Paid For Pickup”. Then, Puccini’s made my wife pay for it in cash even though I had already paid for it. The store wasn’t exactly busy at the time. There were fewer than 3 customers in there. I tried calling to get a refund 2-3 times each hour for 3 hours but phone was always busy. So I finally gave up and chalked it up as a small donation to help their business during this Covid19 pandemic.

Bottom line: We enjoyed their pizza and I’d like to try more of their food. Do NOT use Grub Hub until they figure out that customers always pay for their orders IN ADVANCE. Call them instead (assuming they put their phone on the hook) and if that doesn’t work, then I guess I’ll have to go...

This past Friday there were five of us dining in. When we were seated, there were only 4 tables (2 with 5 guests) and the other two were tables of two . We gave the server our order ( 1 appetizer , 2 salads and 4 entrees). We received our appetizer and waited 25 mins for our salad (after asking the server where it was ). We waited another 25 mins before asking where our food was , only to be told that they did not have it as an order in the kitchen and they were short staffed ( 2 pastas , 1 chicken entree and 1 medium pizza). I would normally understand but 3 tables who arrived after we did ordered and had their food already. The server blamed it on the kitchen and the register as well as a man who did not even look up to talk to us blamed it on the server. 45 mins and we had one appetizer and two salads . It is a sad day and the excuse to short staff wears thin when it does not explain why others who ordered pizza and pasta after you get it before you. None of the staff apologized or tried to...