Marinella Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Glen Ellyn

Worse experience we have ever had. Our server Joanna took our drink order for a bottle of wine to never be seen again. We had to literally get up from the table to find someone so we could order food. The bruschetta was excellent, the calamari was rubbery. We were acknowledged more by the bus person and other waitstaff than the server Joanna who started with us and never heard where our food was after half hour. Her attitude and condescending tone which shocked the other customers as she was loud and rude. We asked to see the manager, she said I will do one better and get the owner. The owner was not much better than Joanna which shows why the waitstaff is as rude. We will never step foot in here again. We went to another restaurant in Carol Stream to eat a lovely dinner that we never received at Marinella's after waiting over 40 minutes. Joanna told us she was busy with other tables that were more important. The owner sarcastically said he would charge us only for the wine, we insisted on paying for our appetizers and what we ate but the bill did not reflect that and I have to say we were not impressed with him doing it because it was not sincere. Lesson learned just because a restaurant has 4.5 stars doesn't mean it's true.

Sir your response speaks more volume than your 30 plus years in business. We never got our food, you didn't acknowledge that. We are well aware of how made to order is, Il Sogno, where we should have gone or numerous others we have been to. We have never been treated so poorly throughout a dining experience. Short staffing is a problem everywhere but not used as an excuse for rudeness and bad service by the establishment. We do not need to continue this conversation. My review stands.

Anna you were not the person who came to our table last night, we insisted on paying for what we ate because the reluctance and attitude we received from all of your staff was not worth the free food. Joanna came to our table once the other times were because we had to ask the bus person or other waitstaff to get her, so please you are really making yourselves look bad for encouraging this type of behavior from your staff and yourselves, when clearly it is yours also, with the customer is always right attitude. Customers are not always right but we were treated horribly and no matter how long you have been in business or how good your food is that is inexcusable behavior from staff and owners. MY REVIEW STANDS and it will...

We used to dine and entertain guessts at Marinella quite often when the original owners operated the restaurant. Things are definitely not the same, which I can understand with new ownership in place. We do miss the white shirt + bow ties on the service staff that have been replaced by T shirts. We also miss the replacement of professional service staff with very young servers who lack life experience in general let alone professional restaurant and service skills. We were seated right away and 5 mins. later we were approached by a very vivacious young server announcing she was going to be our server and she was going to be with us in a minute. 5 min. later she came back announcing they have decided for a different server to take care of us. 5 min. later new server took our beverage order. 10 min later to place food order. 20 min. to have our salads served. After our salad we had to wait 45 min for main course. Had to get up and take the salt and pepper shaker from an adjacent table. The entire restaurant seemed to be in a state of chaos. Not once did any one approach us in regards to these problems. I asked the original server where our food was and in her way she tried to make light conversation and joke about it. Not getting anywhere with the high school kids we called on the lady who manages the restaurant indicating she has been aware of the problem and that they are having problems in the kitchen. She offered my wife a drink. She came over again and told us she was going to make one of our dinners complimentary I thanked her and that gets 2 of the five stars.

Thank you for your response. My wife and I appreciated your Professional attitude. We will...

Insanely overpriced for the quality of the food, service, and portion size. The precut bagged salad was totally drowning in the bottled dressing. My girlfriend ordered the carbonara and its was literally scrambled eggs with bacon and pasta. If theres even one true Italian working here they should know to speak up and tell them that that is NOT carbonara. Not only was the food bad but it certainly wasn't worth the hour and a half wait plus the passive service. Extremely disappointed. Will never return and I dont recommend anyone goes if you haven't already.

Response:

Hi Anna,

I'm sorry but I cant help but reiterate that that carbonara was not authentic. I am a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY and was taught by chefs there who spent a great deal of time in Italy cooking and learning the cuisine. Italian cuisine has also been one of my main focuses in my studies and continuing learning through my short career. Pasta Carbonara is not scrambled eggs and olive oil. Traditionally from Rome (where it originated) pasta carbonara only consists of guanciale, egg yolks, pecorino romano, salt, black pepper, and typically a touch of the cooking water. The yolks are added to the pasta just after coming out of the cooking water to cook them just enough to create a creamy and delicious sauce that is emulsified with the cheese. That dish of a fried egg tossed into it was seriously disappointing. Maybe you think that's authentic but I think you need to at least double check that dish and reassess. Very unfortunate. We do not want a refund we just will...