Gravina Malibu — Restaurant in Malibu

Food was a solid 3- disappointed that tap water comes in an unmarked water and charges you $6 for it but it’s whatever. Bread, not complimentary and even when paid for, came out bland and not tasting how fresh authentic Italian bread should be.

Service- Here is why I rate so poorly. I was seated by a young man, who might be the owners son or nephew. Throughout the course of my meal, not once was I asked for a refill of water, how was my dinner, or if there was anything else he can get us. We had more conversation with the person who cleaned up our table and he asked everything that a waiter should be asking.

At the end of the service, I tipped over $35 dollar for an already overpriced and under-portioned meal which I gave in cash to the table cleaner. The owner comes chasing after us outside saying service was not included. I explained I gave a tip but he said we did not tip the person who sat us down.

Why? He never provided service or followed up with us. He kept saying that they live off tips. How about instead of having a lazy son/nephew there to collect tips just for sitting and charging people, you give him a liveable wage or teach him the importance of providing great service?

Never in my life had I had an owner come after me demanding I pay tip. This left a completely sour taste in my mouth and never again will I ever come into this establishment again.

Look at all the 1 star and 2 star reviews. Many have experienced the same...

We were skeptical after the number of 5 star and 1 star reviews, but I think the people who gave it 1 star were expecting Olive Garden or some kind of chain restaurant. We had a good experience, the service was a little funny (I think our waiter switched halfway through, but we arrived very early in service so perhaps we were seated and started off by the manager and then moved over to a waiter?)

Due to the high price and some bad reviews we decided to skip appetizers and just go straight to entrees. Each item we ordered was perfect, not too large portion, flavors were perfectly balanced and we were very happy with them. There were several freshly baked torte dessert options, we tried two which were both nice.

I was glad to have seen some reviews complaining about the water options being "sparkling or flat" and the "flat water" being a bottle of still mineral water from Italy for $6. While I'd normally just get tap water, perhaps the tap water this close to the beach isn't very nice, and they are saving you from the experience?

I honestly gave 4 stars because I found it a little tacky that the waiter asked us to leave a 5 star review, and for the lack of free water being offered. Otherwise everything was good and I'd definitely visit again next time we are...

Don’t just don’t eat here The service was awful for one excuses for everything that went wrong plus my friend and I both got sick and when I called for a refund more excuses and they want me to jump through hoops to give me a refund

So after I wrote this review the restaurant called me and we talked about my problem He told me that he saw I already wrote a review and I told him I usually don’t write reviews I usually just don’t go back but the way they handled my request was the reason I had to write it He then proceeded to tell me if I changed it to a 5 star review he would give me my money back which I said I would not do but I would take this one down if he gave me a refund then he said oh it’s just about the money then and I told him I would not have asked for a refund if we hadn’t both gotten sick Actually makes me question the 5star reviews that made me try it in the first place He said he would talk to the manager and they would call me back on Monday I did not...