Gnocchi Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Clinton Township

I have been here once before and the food was delicious, however after tonight I probably will not go back. My wife and I walked in and the were busy, there were a couple people waiting and more walked in behind us, and a woman said to the crowd it would be about 10 minutes, which isn't an issue, places with good food get busy. After a few minutes they started seating people that walked in after us because they had a bigger group, which is also fine. What is not fine was the fact they contued to seat people that walked in after us until we were the last people waiting and then kept walking past us without once acknowledging the fact that they had two customers standing in front of them. After waiting 15 minutes and being completely ignored with the exception of the initial shout to the group at the door when we walked in, we decided to leave. I told the girl at the counter we decided to leave because they seated everybody that walked in after us and then completely ignored us and her response was "why didn't you say anything?". Sorry, but it's not my fault that employees ignore customers at the door nor is it my fault that this place can't have a simple pad of paper to take customers names and the order they walked in the door. I shouldn't have to say anything to be greeted nor should I have to say anything to get seated before the people standing behind me. Honestly, the reason I didn't say anything about the group of three that walked in behind me yet were seated first was because they were older people and I don't mind letting them go first as long as I at least get acknowledged while I wait. I expect more from a restaurant ran by a chef with so many awards, you would think that they would at least have a...

I used to really like this place when we first went there but the last three times I have been terribly disappointed. Yes, I'll give a place three separate chances to impress me and then I'm done. It seems like the quality of the food has going down. The rirst thing I noticed is that the chicken was stringy and grizzly more than it's chewy and tender with just straight meat. The last two times the chicken had a funky flavor that indicated it wasn't fresh. I tend to get chicken dishes when I eat Italian, mainly because too many Italian restaurants stuff hideous spices inside meatballs that just ruins the flavor. The meatballs at this restaurant are loaded with what tastes to be sage or something. Must be an Italian thing and that's fine because that's the makeup of international foods to have unique flavors and spices. I've just never been able to stomach Rosemary and sage and especially fennel. You might as well put soap shavings in the meat because that's what Rosemary tastes like to me. It also tastes like the meatballs are only beef. I truly believe I make a better meatballs with my homemade recipe using veal, beef and pork. This is surprising because there's an award-winning chef that allegedly still owns the restaurant but I have not seen him since this big ruse of a virus began and they had to shut down. The gnocchi is still delicious but what I had last night was extremely soft and mushy. I think I'll have to find a new Italian restaurant...

We returned for my wife's birthday. They were not nearly as busy as our previous visit, although a large party was coming in as we finished our meal. That said, we had a wonderful meal. Every dish we've had at Gnocchi has been on a par with the best restaurants we've enjoyed. My wife had three of her favorite foods, shrimp, gnocchi and pesto, done to perfection. My carbonara was so good. And , of course, service was impeccable.

Previous review: Mixed feelings. We had a great 1st experience, but second visit wasn't. I'm afraid Gnocchi may be the victim of its success; unable to handle the volume of business it's success generated. There were only two servers. One was obviously fully occupied handling takeout orders and seating the influx of dine in customers. The other appeared overwhelmed, forgetting us as she served other customers seated after we had placed our order. The later customers got drinks, bread and salad while we sat with nothing. When we asked about bread and salads, we were informed our entrees were coming right out. Rather than go off on the server, we left; hungry; having had nothing but water, and a weak iced tea in the 30 minutes we'd waited while all the other customers were served. A couple people posted in a local dining social media group about the great food and service they had received that same evening. So I have to think our experience was a one off. I...