Ristorante Bergamo — Restaurant in Greenville

I really hate to even put this review out there but the more I thought about this evening the greater the disappointment I felt! My wife and I searched and planned this dinner night a month in advance from flying in from Dallas, TX to visit my parents in Greenville, SC and take my mom out for her 79th Birthday celebration. I made a reservation and made it very clear it was my Mothers 79th Birthday and we wanted to celebrate at their Italian Ristorante! I left my name as Michael with the hostess. Let me preface my wife and I have a home in Southern Italy and we live there almost full time and go back and forth from Dallas to Calabria, we talked up how special the Italian Cuisine is in Italy and wanted to try to replicate this experience at Bergamos in Greenville for my mothers special occasion. We got there a bit early our reservation was at 6, when we arrived we found out our table was given to another couple same name as Michael, no problem we were very patient and waited for another table soon after. We were very excited to sample many antipasti and insalate, we ordered 4 to try along with cocktails. Ethan out server was very nice and I again reminded him it was my Mothers 79th birthday and we wanted to make it special! So now the hostess which I feel was the chefs wife? And Ethan both know besides whomever I made the reservation with the day before. When we arrived I walked by the owner/ Chef Gian and in Italian I greeted him before sitting down.

Through the entire night we watched him talk to each table extensively but Never Once stopped by to say hello, ask how our meals were or thank us for stopping in but he had plenty of time to talk many others. We found this very strange but then again we are in a small town city not Dallas, not Italy? We ordered Brunello wine, 4 dinners, 4 deserts, grappa, and espresso and paid over $600 and never once did the owner or anyone in this place stop by to say hello, wish my mom a happy birthday or ask how our meals were?

The owner Gian walked right behind me many times and never once stopped to say anything? This was the most bizarre experience we have ever encountered anywhere, Keep in mind this whole restaurant only has about or less than 20 tables total, very small and intimate. We actually had wonderful meals but this” blowing” my family off was a huge turnoff and really dampened our evening. The couple next to us was celebrating a 4 year wedding anniversary and they came out with a dessert and candle?? My mom never heard a peep from Anyone and no candle or any celebratory anything! On the way out I was about to speak to the hostess lady who now I think may be Gian ls wife? I was going to tell how let down we were then I saw Gian at the front hostess stand, I introduced myself and my wife as my parents walked out the door and tried to engage in conversation with him saying we live in Italy and it really didn’t seem to gain any more traction with him to talk further with us? This was the final blow and my Mother witnessed this and said she would never return nor will we ever bring any of family here again!

This review has Nothing to do with the servers they did well, this is solely on the owner and lack of being courteous and finally nothing done for the birthday occasion, a simple hello and “Buon Compleanno” in Italiano could of made the night! Huge disaapoonhment!

We own businesses in the oil Industry and we understand how valuable good customer service is and how to treat customers/clients, this place doesn't have this it get it?, of course the regulars probably get that little extra hello and conversation but we certainly didn’t, again $600 plus dinner night…..

Gian, avevamo aspettative così alte per mostrare ai miei genitori la cucina italiana che sperimentiamo in Italia, ottimo cibo, servizio e amore italiano. Il tuo cibo era buono, ma ci hai perso tutti con la mancanza di amore e atmosfera italiana, mia madre non si è goduta la serata e non torneremo mai più né porteremo nessuno dei nostri amici...

My wife and I have seen Ristorante Bergamo while on strolls through the city many times and decided to dine here prior to our evening at the Peace Center to enjoy A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. We made reservations weeks prior and are highly recommended. Dining at a really nice place prior to a show reminds us of our visits to NYC for dinner on Restaurant Row and a show afterwards.

It's located on North Main Street at the corner of E Coffee Street only a short walk to the Peace Center. It's a perfect combination for going to the theater or other event afterwards.

Upon entering we were greeted and escorted up several steps to an elevated section to our table for two next to one of several windows overlooking East Coffee Street. A table with a view.

There is a bar counter area near the entrance where patrons were situated enjoying their evening. There are about fourteen tables that can accommodate from two to eight depending on your party. Tables are set with table cloths and napkins with an accent flickering flame luminary. Tim was very helpful with potential choices from the menu and was very accommodating throughout our visit. They have an extensive wine list by the glass and bottle as well as cocktails. We placed our beverage selections with Tim.

Fresh warm bread along with olives were brought out along with the virgin olive oil and let the dining experience commence.

We ordered an appetizer each consisting of the barley vegetable soup and the eggplant parmigiana. The soup was served in a covered mini tureen which I found to be a pleasant touch. The soup was beyond excellent. Fresh and hot. I fully enjoyed it. The eggplant was excellent and freshly made as well.

After considering the entrees, we ordered the Gamberoni Shrimp Brandy and Piccatina di vitello (veal). The shrimp entree was prepared in a light brandy cream sauce with fregula pasta. The shrimp was plentiful and as I mentioned in a light cream sauce unlike so many others establishments that are overly thick. I enjoyed this immensely. The veal dish prepared with lemon and capers also had half of a stuffed red pepper and vegetables. The veal was so tender it melted in your mouth.

A dinner like this would not be complete without something sweet. They offer a long dessert menu. We ordered the tiramisu and Coppa mascarpone. Both were excellent accompanied with fresh coffee.

Everything we had is fresh made and you can taste it throughout. Needless to say, we enjoyed our dining experience and will be back for our next...

Me and my friend were casually strolling downtown Greenville and decided to stop for a bite to eat. Being that we pass by the restaurant everytime while walking, we decided to give it a try. When we walked in, we stood there and waited while no one came to greet us. The bartender was having a conversation with other patrons and the waiters were just standing around. Finally a group of five people walked in behind us and that is when the bartender finally greeted us. NOT EVEN GOING TO TELL YOU WHY SHE FINALLY DID BUT I FELT THAT WAS THE REASON. She then says, I'm not sure if we can seat y'all because the kitchen is about to close but I'll check. She also tells the group behind us that and goes to check. A few minutes later, she comes back and says they will take us. Which was great, she seats us FIRST and tells us to enjoy the food. She was very pleasant. The group behind us is also seated as well. Now I don't know if she was our waitress but she asks how was our night and then pours us water. She then walks away and proceeds to fold us table cloths and sets other tables behind us. After looking over the menu for sometime no one EVER came to us to explain the menu. As I glanced over the group that was seated after us, was being poured water by the AA waiter that was at our table and being explained each item on the menu by another waiter. The AA waiter who poured our water then ask if we had any questions but at that time, I made up in my mind that I was not going to be spending my money at this place. We told the waiter that we will be leaving and left. It seemed like she was in a hurry to clock out anyways giving that we were newly seated in her section and she did not want to wait on us. If I could give zero stars I would. We happily went to Ink and Ivy down the street and had...