Caffe Aldo Lamberti

This is the 3rd time in about 20 years that I've been to Lamberti's. I don't know why I keep giving this place second chances. If it was possible to give a negative rating, I would, especially after today's experience.

Before I get into the details, some caveats. I'm not necessarily in the best mental space but then 🤷 you'll see the details. I've experienced food and service on the their spectrum, from most disturbing and disgusting places one can visit to the Michelin star and celebrity chefv types of establishment. Rarely have I ever felt like this.

In short, if I would have taken the money we paid, shoved it in my mouth and set it on fire, I may have enjoyed it more. Also Lamberti is a restaurant with an attitude and aplomb of a place with three Michelin stars, prices to match at least one of those and the quality of food and service that would make the the worst Old Country Buffet blush.

We made reservations to celebrate my parents 50th wedding anniversary and my dad's 77th birthday. Deep down I knew that what will get will be excessively overpriced but my mom would love it. Well, I didn't realize just how bad it can get.

I'm not going to hold the restaurant responsible for the neverending construction on route 70 that led to my 12 mine drive being almost 45 minutes long, I will say that whoever is in charge of signage, as well as training and managing the valet team must be fired immediately.

My car is waiting for repairs, so I was driving my mother in laws old Ford. I followed the signs entering from Brace road and was a bit confused with the with the sign telling me to turn left before the building, knowing that the traffic in front is one way but well, the sign must be right. Well, sign was wrong, and I did walk around to make sure, so I couldn't turn left. The vallet, driving another car, told me that I need to read the signs and go around the building (again the sign says to turn before the building) and that I can't read the signs and he can't help me other wise. It was said it a very condescending tone, appropriate considering the car I was driving.

If this was the only bump on the proverbial road, I may have not written this but... The rest of the night was no better..

The wait service continuously tried to instuct us how to order and how to do things. Which wouldn't be all that bad if the food was actually decent and the wait didn't take half the length of the extended version of the LOTR. I really want to write the rest out but it's late, I'm tired and I'm sorry bullet points is all I have left in me:

Beautiful and delicious looking shrimp that was severely overcooked to the point of rubber and badly under seasoned. Similarly under seasoned and absolutely bland oysters that were meaty and succulent but ended up wasted. Actually well cooked crab that could have been a highlight was oversalted. My risotto... hmmm I am struggling here because it was anything but a risotto, more like mushy rice with bland steamed mushrooms that I actually sent back as it was unedable. The wait for the wait for the main course was just under an hour, clocking at 52 minutes, which wouldn't have been so bad if we would have been asked if anyone wanted anything else while we waited for over 20 after the appetizer plates were cleared (and we've been done with those way before).

So yeah...