Nella Pizza e Pasta — Restaurant in Hyde Park Township

I went to Nella restaurant on Jun first and booked a dining table (not bar) for 2 at 5:30 pm. We arrived at 5:15 pm and saw multiple empty tables inside. However, the waitress guided us to a tiny space near the bar, despite our reservation. Planning to discuss a private and important business plan, we found the bar space too small and too close to other customers. We politely asked the waitress to arrange a table instead, but our request was rejected without explanation. It was upsetting because we had made our reservation well in advance, yet Nella did not reserve any table for us despite the empty spaces. After persistently asking for a reason, we were told the restaurant was saving those tables for larger parties arriving later. Why were we, who booked in advance and arrived on time, unable to get a table while later reservations were prioritized? Is it because we were Asians? Or did Nella overbook its seats?

I asked the waitress for her name, and she kindly told us. I informed her that I would report this incident to the restaurant and decided to change to another restaurant. At this point, we were disappointed but not angry. However, the manager rudely interrupted our conversation, demanding that we leave the restaurant. I refused, believing I had the right to ask for what was rightfully ours in a free country. The manager then threatened to call the police if we did not leave. I insisted on our right to dine there since we had a reservation. The manager accused us of threatening the waitress simply because I asked for her name and said I would report this incident. I disagree with this accusation, as I believe in the freedom of speech in America and the right to report incidents, especially at a Michelin guide-listed restaurant.

Finally, the police came, and I was so scared. As an undergrad student at UChicago who always follows the student honor code and being a good kid, I have never been interrogated by the police in the US before. Thankfully, the UChicago police were very kind and listened to us explain what we had experienced at Nella. And int the end, we were told we were welcome to return to the restaurant but decided to change to another restaurant in downtown Chicago in the end.

I have eaten at Nella many times, and I especially like their pizza and pistachio cheesecake. Given my very disappointing experience this time, I will never visit this restaurant again. I sincerely suggest that Nella rectify and reform its practices. We did not receive any apology even though they canceled our table without notice, and the manager was extremely unprofessional. Here are some suggestions for improvement:

Honor reservations and ensure that tables are reserved as promised. Improve communication and provide clear explanations when requests are denied. Train staff, especially the manager today, to handle customer concerns professionally and courteously. Implement a fair and transparent policy for table allocation, ensuring all guests are treated equally. Apologize and offer compensation when mistakes are made to show respect and appreciation...

As a tourist from a different state I wasn't sure exactly where to try great Chicago pizza, but I was near this restaurant with my family and decided to try it. Unfortunately the experience wasn't one I would like to remember. You would think that at a pizza place they would have full sized pizzas to share as a family, but unfortunately you have to get individual pies, which aren't really shareable because you have to eat the entire thing to really fell full. That's not even the real problem. I was extremely disappointed with the fact that I couldn't eat my 'cavani' pizza without using both a knife and a fork. Once I would pick up the pizza all the toppings would slide right off, even with the slightest tilt. And most importantly the food wasn't as good as expected, I've had tastier pizza from Costco and dominos. The salmon acceptable, but another problem is that a part of their menu doesn't tell you the prices, so you won't know how much it is until you receive you're check. Which leads to the one reason why I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone, EVERYTHING IS OVERPRICED. The price that you pay for the quality of the food you receive is no where near proportional. We paid $160 for a lunch that honestly should have cost around $80-100 max. Once I received the check my mouth dropped because I realized I had been robbed. One reason they probably have to overcharge you is to pay for the number of employees they have overstaffed. Literally 4-5 workers just casually standing around lunchtime, because there's nothing for them to do. But to end on a positive note, employees who helped us during our experience were great people. They know the menu really well and were able to answer many questions that came up because the menu might be difficult for some people to understand. Overall unless you're filthy rich and like salmon I wouldn't recommend this place...

I had been eagerly anticipating my dinner at Nella, and had made a reservation for a party of five well in advance. The menu, the ambiance, and the overall reputation of Nella had left me with high expectations. Unfortunately, my dining experience at Nella was marred by an incredibly disappointing turn of events.

The morning of our reservation, I received an email notification from Nella that my reseravtion had been cancelled. My heart sank as I heard the news that it was due to a private event. It is beyond me how a restaurant could disregard a confirmed reservation for a private event at such short notice. It is not only a matter of convenience but also a matter of respect for your customers.

The customer service was equally disheartening. While the staff was polite on the phone, they failed to provide any reasonable alternatives or even a heartfelt apology for the inconvenience. It's worth mentioning that we had planned this dinner for a special occasion, and Nella's last-minute cancellation is leaving us scrambling to find an alternative dining spot.

I understand that unforeseen circumstances may occasionally arise in the restaurant industry, but canceling a reservation for a party of five with such little notice is inexcusable. A restaurant of Nella's caliber should have policies and contingencies in place to ensure that such situations are handled more gracefully.

Sadly, this experience has left me with no desire to give Nella another chance in the future.

In conclusion, I strongly caution anyone considering making a reservation at Nella, especially for a special occasion, to be wary of the possibility of last-minute cancellations. It's a shame that a restaurant with such potential could let a reservation policy overshadow the culinary...