Zarletti — Restaurant in Milwaukee

We came on 516/15 around 9:30pm with a reservation for 8 ppl for my sister in law's bday and was the last table to be served. The bartender who was a male with blonde hair was super nice He updated and us on when our table will be ready, and offer us water. We were seated, but had the WORST service ever BY A HORRIBLE WAITER. The waiter, who was a male with dark hair in his late 20's or early to mid 30's with a scruff beard and beer belly was already asking us when the rest of our guests were arriving, which my sister in law who made the reservation told me that they offered to reserved until 10:30pm & told her on the phone. So we felt really RUSH by our waiter and knew that the he was impatient already because he kept looking at his watch. We asked the waiter if they do any birthday special, and he said the can get us a piece of cake for our bday girl, and we even verified that it was for one person's birthday, which he never brought out to us even after dinner, & someone in our group even ordered dessert (cheesecake). Away, we placed our orders, and when I was asking the waiter about specials and the items in the menu (seafood), he just give me quick answers and ignored me, left me before I can even placed my order and starter taking orders from the other guests in our group. I asked if they did separate checks, and he said "No, he will only bring one check." This was our first time in this restaurant, and there were several dishes we were unfamiliar with, so I was definitely felt offended when he did that. So our group finally got our dishes, and I didn't even get mine until 20 MINUTES after our group got all theirs.. The waiter's exact words was that "he didn't realized that I didn't get my food". I order the pasta with the mushrooms and scallops, and my scallops was definitely overcooked, tasting burnt, and I didn't even complain at all. Anyway, we ate our food, and at the end of the night the waiter asked us if we are paying with multiple credit cards, which we reply "yes", since we wanted separate checks in the beginning. We were trying to figure out our charges, and the waiter was SO RUDE. HE WAS DEFINITELY UPSET THAT WE WERE TAKING TIME TO DO THIS, BUT WE DID NOT KNOW WHICH DISHES WERE WHICH, SINCE IT WAS ALL IN ITALIAN TITLES. HE ASKED US TO WRITE OUR CHARGES AND THEN ASK US TO MARK WHICH ITEMS WAS IN CASH. THEN HE TRY TO CALCULATE THE CASH TOTAL AND TOLD US THAT HE ""DID NOT WANT TO LOSE OUT ON HIS TIPS FOR THE CASH PAYMENT"",--------THE MANNER THAT HE SAID IT WAS VERY OFFENSIVE AND RUDE. OUR GUEST HAVE TO TELL HIM THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE FOR HIM TO TELL US IN THAT TONE, SINCE WE PLANNED TO TAKE CARE OF IT. Throughout the whole check time, he kept telling us "tip wasn't included."

Tried to be nice and leave this review on Facebook instead of google, but funny, it never showed up. So here we are. Excellent food, yes. Utterly fantastic service from Bryan in the past, yes. Absolutely horrible experience the last time I was there, oh heck yes. I haven't been here since covid. I have always sat at the bar and eaten. But since I KNOW how things change, I DELIBERATELY sent a Facebook message to the restaurant asking if there was a change in policy, and if I could still walk in and sit at the bar. I also asked what the ragu of the day was because I love their pappardelle. The social media person was very polite, said they would check with the chef on the pappardelle but informed me, and I have the transcript, that seating at the bar was open and I should have no problem finding a seat if I did indeed come at 5:00. So I drove a half an hour to downtown Milwaukee, walked in, sat at the bar, only to be greeted by an incredibly cranky manager, who seemed to relish telling me that the bar was reservation only and they were totally booked. Without giving me a chance to explain why I was there, she immediately started babbling about Open Table and their Mequon location. She told me numerous times that I really should try to use Open Table. She said this as if I was stupid and didn't know what Open Table was and why on earth wasn't I using it. When she finally let me get a word in edgewise and I explained the situation with the social media person on Facebook and showed her the transcript of what he told me, she gave me a cursory apology and continued to browbeat me about why I hadn't used Open Table. She finally told me that the social media person had overstepped their bounds but then basically said she wasn't responsible for the social media person. I'm sorry, but if you're the manager, aren't you responsible for the social media person. For the record, I absolutely do not blame the social media person. (They have a lousy boss) On my way out the door, I no doubt had a terrible expression on my face and was asked by a couple coming in what had happened. When I briefly explained I had a run in with the manager, they said, "That's why we asked. We had a terrible experience with her as well." So, bottom line.... gas from Waukesha County and $7 for valet parking that I wouldn't have had to pay for as I am currently sitting comfortably in the Pfister hotel where they treat you perfectly all the time and have free parking. Loved your food Zarletti. Missed your food, Zarletti....

Zarletti’s is always food prepared well. Two criticisms exist each time I visit. First is that presented with specials of the day prices should be included or expressed by the server. A diner shouldn’t have to ask. It’s uncomfortable for all concerned and unnecessary. The second relates to GF. Having a GF option available for pasta is very nice. But a $4 addition to the price for something that is not preferential but necessary is a slap in the face even if they do make their own. It says “we don’t really want to do it, but if you insist we will.” As GF pasta is never worth the calories, the added cost makes this menu option easy to pass up. Unfortunately then secondo options as backup are minimal. Having eaten my way around Italy I am aware that flour is not necessary to this portion of an Italian meal. And yet it is at Zarletti’s. Having to eat GF, and having eaten here four times, I have tried all that is possible with two of those choices being specials. Eating the special of the day can possibly be GF but with prices not listed, there’s a 50/50 chance of being costly and prohibitive so the check can be a surprise if you don’t ask the uncomfortable and obvious question. What is bothersome though is that many of the secondo options could easily be GF as would exist in Italy but there is no desire to make it so. So what remains is a sense that GF is not welcome. When all is considered, Zarletti’s is great food. If you’re GF and plan to eat here often your dining options are limited and possibly more costly. Atmosphere rec’d 3 stars because the music is too loud for the small space and the selection doesn’t add to ambiance but is rather...