Gondola Pizza — Restaurant in La Mirada

This evening (1/22/2016) my wife and I decided to go to Gondolas for dinner. We have not been there in 2 months due to poor performance the last time we ate there. Let me preface my comments by stating that we have been customers of Gondolas for 30 Years.

Upon arriving at the restaurant we walked in and noticed 10 non-bussed tables. My wife got in line to order and I sat down at one of the non-bussed tables. I cleaned off the table and then went to the counter to ask for a cloth to wipe it off. After wiping it down, we waited for our food. We ordered our usual, which is garlic and oil spaghetti, antipasto salad and cheese sticks . When the salad arrived, we were told by the server that they were out of silverware. We had our salad, but couldn't eat due to no silverware available. Seven minutes later our spaghetti arrived. Still no silverware. Our server, who was very apologetic, brought us plastics forks to start our meal. Around the time we finished eating dinner, our bread stick arrived.

I was getting very upset and wanted to speak to the manager, but he was at a booth with friends and not available. I went up to the counter and asked to speak to the manager. The manager arrived shortly after my request. I asked if we could go to the banquet area to talk. When we got to their banquet area I asked the manager how he could allow his restaurant to go backwards in service and product. I stated we had been customers for 30 Years. He said that since I was being very condescending, our conversation was over.

I'm 66 years old and when I told him that if he continued to run the family business in this manner, they would be gone in 10 years. He then said, "he and the restaurant would be here in ten years, but I surely would not, based on my age."

He then followed me to my table and proceeded to ask my wife and I to leave the restaurant. My final comment is this: I wanted to talk to the manager because I care about the restaurant. The manager kicked the old man out. I must also add that I'm not only a customer, but an experienced restaurant owner who ran an award winning restaurant in Orange County for 15 years. My suggestion is to find a place to dine that respects its customers by having management working and not just sitting on their ass when customers have needs.

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First time here..long time lurker. Ah pizza, the many variations you come in..some cheap, some very overpriced and well some that just tend to hit the mark. Well, that is what Gondola Pizza aims to be and so far its working.

Came by last night after watching Jurassic World and figured we needed something to fill our stomachs after watching Ind. Rex eat all the other dinosaurs! We did carryout and ordered our Large pizza with 3 toppings..Pep,Sausage & Garlic. After looking at other reviews/pictures it seemed to me that there sausage was dominant for a reason and now I know why..the amount of meat ratio is ridiculous for what Id expect in a pizza and its worth the cost prices range from $10-23 depending on the size but its the ingredients they use that justify that cost. Sure I did notice sauce was a little light but I didnt care less considering how heavy the pizza was already from the toppings.

The girls at the front counter seemed very friendly even though we were there just to pickup but we were given a good fair share of customer service. Yes I did notice that big groups tend to come here (sports teams,dancers,etc) so just be prepared that youre not going here for a romantic evening but more of a family outing restaurant.

I cant wait to try more of their varieties like the seafood pizza with crab meat and shrimp to their interesting cold sandwiches full of Italian deli meats. They do serve wine/beer. although I wouldve liked to see some Italian beer on draft to pair with the meals they create but Im just nitpicking at this point.

Check online for their specials and $1...

Oh Gondola.....

Sunday afternoon (510 pm) I placed a phone order for pick up and selected a Giant pizza, a full order of spaghetti with meatballs, and added 8 extra meatballs because they're Delicious!

I arrived at 545, paid for my order, and was given a status of approx 10 minutes for my order to be completed.

While waiting I noticed several customers arrive after me and leave with thier orders similar to mine (pizza and pasta) so I requested an update. I was quoted an additional 5 minutes due to "they're finishing up on your spaghetti."

A few minutes later a male customer was very upset regarding his order because he waited 20 minutes and was then told the kitchen ran out of spaghetti. Hearing this update, I inquired again on the status of my order. 620 pm, I was now told the kitchen ran out of spaghetti and cannot complete my order. I was offered a refund and a opportunity select another pasta and wait 20 more minutes.

Really? I waited 30 minutes in the restaurant after paying for my order before I was told of the spaghetti shortage. Why should any customer have to check on their order 1, 2, 3 times just to walk out with an incomplete order and luke warm pizza? I wasn't offered a complimentary drink or slice of chocolate cake (as was made to the male customer in front of me.) I ended my conversation with the corner staff and asked if they felt it is ok to waste a person's time? They didn't answer me and just simply looked as I left my favorite restaurant in...