La Griglia — Restaurant in Kenilworth

We made reservations for when the restaurant opens, 5 pm. We were the first to be seated followed by 2-3 parties disbursed. Everyone was being offered water and given the drink menu, but we were just sitting there wondering when we will be greeted. Granted we are young looking so we are used to being overlooked. We had to ask a nearby waiter for water and a drink menu. He took our order and said I am not sure who is supposed to be your waiter but I'll help you, which was appreciated. We ordered our drinks, and I wanted to place appetizers before main course because I didn't want the food to just keep coming before I could enjoy my evening. It was our anniversary. We had to place the order all in at once. So of course the apps came out, dinner came out 10 minutes after finishing apps. I wanted to pair wine with my dinner, but it all just happened so fast, and I didn't even get halfway through my first cocktail before dinner came. This is a nice restaurant, I should be able to order how I want and as slow as I want when I am spending 300$. We got the baked oysters with pancetta - there was a lot of spinach, barely pancetta, plain tasting, stuffed mushrooms were good. The NY strip was good. My branzino was plain. Cocktails were strong and good. Dessert was tasty. Our waiter was great, and we appreciate him taking initiative. It was a nice night, but the experience could have...

The food and waitstaff service are excellent. However, if I had one complaint (and I do), it's with the hostess(or she may be the owner...not sure). During a recent visit with my husband, we were seated in the rear of the restaurant with 3 other occupied tables around us. I noticed the hostess walk back to our area and ask guests seated at the 3 surrounding tables if everything was ok with their meals. She did this on 3 separate occasions. Not once did she approach us to ask the same question. I noted this after her first visit to our area, and paid particular attention on her 2 remaining visits. She even looked directly at us, but did not say a word! We like everyone else, spent quite a bit of money there that evening and would have appreciated a show of concern for our meals as well. I was very annoyed that she chose not to address us and felt it was deliberate. Because of this, I chose not to give this place more stars and to not dine there...

Ordered the garlic shrimp white wine "scampi" sauce appetizer yesterday.. Absolutely horrific. Shrimp were pretty much boiled in a pool of oil under a salamander.. The end result was burnt herbs... All oil and burnt garlic with overcooked shrimp. Zero trace of white wine... This dish should clearly be seared shrimp with the proper sauce made fresh. Whoever decided to make THAT dish based on what the menu says is clueless. What started off as a great place to come to months ago has deteriorated into trash. ONLY positive is that the bartenders are really great but i guess to eat the food there these days u may need to get yourself drunk. I will pass. Also manager has had a horrible attitude and emphasizes herself on trivial randomness as opposed to making sure there is quality control with final products given to customers. Id advise to stay away and save yourself...