Nonnas Trattoria — Restaurant in Florida

Decent service, okay atmosphere, tourist trap quality food at outrageous prices.

Went with my wife and son when we were visiting St Augustine second to last week of January 2024. The portions, quality of food, prices and undisclosed fees are just flat out insulting. We don't drink and my son doesn't drink soda, so his only option was water since they only serve coke, diet coke and sprite. Not a big deal, just a little strange nowadays not to offer another option besides soda for kids.

My wife and I ordered calamari as an appetizer with no more than 10 rings of calamari for $15.00. My son's a picky eater so we ordered him plain spaghetti with butter, what I'd call a side serving in most restaurants, which cost $14.99. My wife ordered chicken Parmigiano, the chicken cutlets were the frozen patties you sometimes see as the large chicken tenders at a bar and grill, with a side of what they called Alfredo, which was more of a parmagian garlic sauce you buy at walmart, on penne. Her entree was $25. I ordered chicken picatta, which was okay I suppose. Crazy lemony and the chicken was completely overcooked and dried out. The picatta cost about the same, around $25 or $26. The real kicker was the 2% convenience change they added under the taxes on the bill and then a 20% service charge. Not a gratuity, it was explicitly listed as a service charge, with an area below it outlining tip or gratuity suggestions and a line to add a tip.

I worked a long time in the restaurant industry, ran a few kitchens and have traveled quite a lot throughout the world, and this was a first. Had the menu stated they add a flat 20% gratuity to the bill, I would've been a little ticked, but at least it would've been explained ahead of time, but adding 22% in fees and claiming they're a convenience and service fee is just insulting.

Had this only been the worst meal we had during our 3 day trip, I probably would've left it alone and not left a review, but for $114.00 with the crummy food and uncalled for fees this really chapped my a**.

If you're visiting St Augustine, do yourself a favor and go anywhere else; there's certainly no shortage of good restaurants in the area. Restaurants this bad don't deserve to be...

I’d like to begin by clarifying this review/critique. I’ve been in the restaurant business for over 23/years in the NY/LI region. I’ve experienced just about every thing imaginable in this industry. This review is based on two criteria…organization/management and food/service. Every restaurant I’ve worked in is under duress from the moment the doors are unlocked. On the night we came it was Friday Valentines Day( other than Mother’s Day)one of the busiest in the business. Nonna’s is a relatively small establishment on a narrow side street and sidewalk with about 5 indoor tables and 7- 8 outdoors…and a busy bar/restaurant next door add to the foot traffic. Normally Nonna’s is a walk in but on this night they were by reservation with seating at 5 7 9. The initial encounter was somewhat chaotic as servers were hustling and no real seating plan existed as they don’t do reservations or specified seating times. We arrived checked in and went next door to grab a drink,minutes later when I returned I was informed my reserved table was given away…WTF(typical NY reaction..lol). I stepped away for a moment and when told a table was opening up another new arrival complained apparently unaware I was ahead of him. This scenario was unfortunate and avoidable but staff was in new territory on this night. Once seated our server, Nino(the son of the owner…Amano)was extremely accommodating and professional if somewhat overwhelmed. We ordered from a special menu which was very limited but the food was outstanding. Amano oversees the entire process but he can’t be everywhere all the time. Clearly the kitchen was struggling as our entree’s….grouper and shrimp with mashed potatoes and the pasta Puttanesca were superb but I ordered chicken with the pasta which was missing,came out before the fried ravioli appetizer was served with the delicious house salad coming out last, unacceptable. Amano was extremely gracious with apologies and price adjustments were made without my input…very professional. They worked their tails off all night and I plan to come back during less hectic times to enjoy superb food and service. Thank you Amano,Nino and...

I had never been to Nonnas Trattoria even though I have lived in St Augustine for 36 years. I will never go again - ever as in never. We stood outside the door for over 10 minutes before we were even acknowledged with no one ahead of us. We finally receded with not a hello good evening nothing. Great service so far right? We opened our menus and decided what we wanted. As you can see by the picture below, the chicken dishes are served with a side. Does not specify what side just a side. When I ordered my chicken parmigiana I asked for a salad. The waitress asked me if I wanted red sauce or alfredo sauce for my parmigiana. I'm not really a marinara sauce type of person so I asked for alfredo. What I got was chicken parmigiana with red sauce and a a small side of penne pasta with alfredo sauce. I also got my salad. When the bill came, the person with whom I was having dinner was looking it over and said we were charged for a salad. I said well we should not have been. He calls the waitress over and he tells her and explains the situation. She looks me straight in the eye and said you asked for alfredo and I said yes I asked for alfredo sauce. She said well I gave it to you. I said no, you gave me penne with alfredo sauce. I did not ask for Penne. She argued with us for 5 minutes. I explained to her that the chicken parmigiana said it came with a side and that I asked for a salad as my side. Not only did she continue to argue with a customer who had spent over $100 for dinner, she never apologized and never offered to take the salad off the check. That is not good customer service. I know that my review is very long. But every bit of it needed to be said. I very really complain about anything restaurant. I wasn't complaining about the food I wasn't even complaining about the service I was complaining about the lack of courtesy on the part of the waitress and pointing out what it said on the menu. If you ever go there, and the waitress with the dark hair and glasses is your server remembered to be very explicit...