Manhattan Chicago Pizzeria Kendall — Restaurant in Florida

I am not one to normally criticize an establishment due to bad service as everyone has an off day but when management is dishonest then It’s a different situation, it shows a downward problem.

Dined at Manhattan Chicago Pizza in Kendall & sadly had the absolute worst service I’ve ever experienced. The restaurant was not even half full upon our arrival (family of 5) and were pointed to the table we could sit at. Not escorted as is normally the case. We placed our order and made one request, to have the garlic oil on the side of the garlic knots. Bread arrived, no garlic. I asked our server, the same one who pointed us to our table, for the garlic. She acknowledged my request. Several minutes later after closing the ticket of the table next to us I asked her again for the garlic. She acknowledged again. This time I paid attention to the time and 6 minutes later I re-requested the garlic.

The mozzarella sticks arrived, with the garlic...finally.... and a side salad. Mozzarella sticks gone and the salad finished and we are still waiting for our pizza and pasta. 9 minutes later with no service or check in’s what so ever in between the pizza arrives. Minutes later the pasta arrived.

We wrap up the meal and wait 18 minutes until I finally ask another employee to send over the person who was helping us. The other employee kindly takes our half of pizza and boxes it to go, the other employee - not our server. I have to wave over the server so she can bring us our check. I don’t mind the dining experience and am not ina rush to ever leave, but such gaps of unattentiveness is ridiculous. We eventually get to pay and leave.

Still perturbed I call the restaraunt. We literally had just walked out, truth is I should’ve walked back in but I didn’t want to create a scene on Valentine’s Day in front of the family. I call and speak with the manager, expecting nothing and requesting nothing but to let them know just how bad the service was. The manager tells me that they were so busy and that must’ve been the reason. Again, the place was half empty and never passed half occupancy.

Not sure if the service could make the food less tasty but the food even seemed to suffer tonight.

Incredibly bad service + Dishonest management + Lacking food = loss of...

7:30pm 7-25 ....7 days latter I finally got my refund. It is not professional opinion that If I did not write accurate yet negative reviews on every site, I could, that I still would not have been given a refund for The lack of services rendered! Again in 40 plus years I have never experienced or heard of a restaurant not responding to these Accusations I made , with an apology or explanation. The lack of that shows the owners character and lack of concern for people bashing his service. He must think he can keep treating people like that with no loss of business to him . The worst service I have seen in the restaurant business in my over 40 years of working in both retail and the food and service industry. I have never come across a company that cares so little for there customers BASIC SATISFACTION, that they not only lie, don’t offer to make good after screwing up a delivery that should have taken 20-30-45m even an hour! After 2 hours of not receiving my food, I was told that my money will be returned and only the manager whom is NEVER THERE. Can perform a refund. This company is running on understaffed and absentee Managment. It’s been 4 days and I have yet to receive a refund. When I called the first 2 days, I was put on hold , told that there is nothing that can be done with out the manager??? I still amazed they are able to exist in this climate and day and age , with so much competition. I have never had a legitimate problem In my life with a restaurant, that just admits there mistakes, offers to make good on the meal and acts that they have a chance to do better next time. This company things there above good old fashioned constructive criticism. They just basically tell you to get lost and take there sweet time refunding my money. I’m amazed. The funny thing in my entire career I either don’t do reviews or do outstanding reviews!! This is the first time I was so turned off that in putting as much energy possible to let people know how bad I was treated until I get my money back. It’s only 28.00 . I have spent 5-6 times that in trying to get a refund and giving an accurate statement of my experience.

7/25 update not...

I want to start off with mentioning the good aspects about this restaurant.

Their pasta is very good and tastes even better the next day. It’s quiet inside for the most part, and the service was fast. (Keep in mind we were the only ones there)

However there are a few caveats, starting with the host/waiter.

The man they have up front is not suitable for a front of staff position. He’s very cold and detached from his work. He doesn’t follow up with you how everything is until you mention the check.

Automatic gratuity: while I see the need for this in some chain restaurants that receive a lot of people. For a mom and pop shop like this one I view it as scammy. The waiter should get paid based off his service, and clearly we knew why he felt it was fine for him to give us the quality service he did. He knew he would get paid anyways.

( i suspect he is the son or nephew of the owner)

The garlic rolls were hard as a rock and needed sauce because they were dry.

The Chicago deep dish pizza, which should be their speciality based off the name of the restaurant - Was nothing like a Chicago deep dish pizza.

It was a hollowed out thin dough, with a pool of greasy cheese on top and some sauce.

Tasted purely like cheese that was on a burnt thin crust .

Their pasta is the only thing that would make me want to come back, but considering how other restaurants also make good pasta I most likely won’t return for all the...