VERGINA Restaurant Naples — Restaurant in Naples

This restaurant has been a family favorite and we go here several times in the high and low seasons - sometimes for happy hour and sometimes for a picturesque evening dinner on the patio. So when my parents and 2 families came to visit, we picked this place to reserve for our group celebration. Unfortunately, we are embarrassed that this is where we brought them - it was not a pleasant dining experience. It started with the service - our server was dismissive and rude to our 21 year old group of children sitting close by. Then, several meals arrived stone cold and had to be returned (only to be put in the microwave to heat up- we know because some of our plates looked exactly as we sent them), also, 3 of the 5 steaks were seriously undercooked and also had to be returned. Rather than being apologetic, the server seemed put off. Not one apology was made. Just a silent pickup and a silent drop off 10 minutes later with no check-in to see how things were. Additionally, 4 people in the group did not get their meal until well after the rest of us had completely finished eating (even with the reheat and reissuing of several plates). But the heartbreak and shock was when my purse was suddenly gone. We changed tables because the size of the group changed from 13 to 14 people. I left my purse at the original table for no more than 5 min. when I went back it was gone. I looked everywhere and it could not be found. When we raised with the staff there total indifference with little to no help to look. Someone manning the host booth said it was too busy to look - my husband, after several attempts convinced him to help because of how important it was - so he did a 10 second walkabout, pretended to look (with my husband witnessing his attempt to look) and returned to say ‘sorry, no purse.’ The most upsetting thing is that we don’t understand is how the purse went missing in a such a private area and such a short period of time. The value of the purse and the content was substantial and it included all the paperwork for our service dog and some medication, so we were very upset. My husband tried again to get help before we left but no one seemed to care. He noticed cameras in the area and asked if they could look at those the next day when it was less busy to see what happened and hopefully get some answers. When he called the next day for help to see if it had been returned, the person who answered (same person who was manning the front of the restaurant the night before) hung up on him - when he tried to call again seconds later, no one answered. He left a detailed message and no one ever returned his call. Very disconcerting and maybe even suspect that they did this after saying we were calling for a missing purse. Adding insult to injury, we tipped 20 percent - only because we wanted to keep the drama down for our guests and we also know that some of the tips go to the bussing and kitchen staff who rely on their percentage of the tip-out to live. We actively supported and recommended this restaurant during the financial crisis (supporting a place we hoped would last) and also through the economic recovery to today. We have brought many people to Vergina’s over the years. Sadly, we have lost all trust and favour for this place. It was the last time for us, and will be for everyone we know. And my guess, based on our recent experience, is that no one from management will respond to this review. Clearly now that the business has rebounded, they don’t care about their customers and those who have supported them - only money and...

If I could give 0 zero stars I would. I had a very bad experience at Vergina tonight. So upsetting I left and really do not think I would be back. First, I come to Vergina often. I always reserve on Open Table. I had a reservation tonight January 3rd at 7pm. The hostess working was extremely rude young lady. *ATTENTION AUGUSTUS PLEASE SEE WHO THIS YOUNG LADY WAS AS SHE IS SO RUDE AND TREATS YOUR CUSTOMERS HORRIBLY. WEARING A BOW ON HER HEAD AND RED DRESS (SHE IS SKINNY AND SHORT looks hispanic probably mexican decent) I ACTUALLY LOOKED AROUND TO SEE IF I SAW YOU BUT UNFORTUNATELY I THINK YOU WERE NOT PRESENT TONIGHT. She is the rudest, and most unkind human being. I got to my reservation at 7pm, she proceeded to sit us outside. I told her very nicely I was very sorry but I had requested standard seating not outdoor. I followed to explain my son was special needs and tonight was a rather cold night and I could not sit with him outdoors since he is immune compromised and gets sick easily. She told me we do not guarantee seating and you have to wait 1 hour to be seated if you do not want to sit outside. I was like "This is insane. I made a reservation, why would I have to wait an hour when I specifically specified standard sitting not outdoors plus my situation with my son." Do you think she called a manager or even tried to tell me to give her a few minutes to try to accomodate? No not at all, instead she just kept saying the same thing over and over "we do not guarantee seating." I told her "Ok, thats fine I will leave to Ruth Chris Steakhouse". She told me that's fine, turned her head and went on to seat another party behind me. Then, as I was driving to Ruth Chris I received a phone call and it is her saying: your table is ready. I said "I clearly told you I was leaving and I did because you did nothing for me and I was not going to be standing in the cold with my special needs child for an hour". She screamed at me very loud and told me: "perfect but now you know if you ever try to come back that we do not guarantee seating" and hung up the phone at me. I called the restaurant back about 7 to 8 times she kept answering and hanging up the phone on me. This is why I decided to write this review. Incredibly rude young lady. I have never in all my years been treated this way in a restaurant. This person should not be handling your guests she is a very selfish and heartless person. I truthfully do not care about any kind of rejection to me personally but just the matter where you can even tell my son has a disability physically just looking at him and that not even out of any kindness in her heart did she feel she needed to do something to make the situation right is so low of her and her human quality. I'm so sorry but I don't feel I will be back to this restaurant nor do I recommend it any longer to anyone. Another gentleman that was there that looked like a manager also spanish speaking just stayed inside to not even have to come address the situation because he clearly saw me walking in and out with my son. Not a good person either. Truly a shame. Make sure you check out your hires, that is very important. I know Naples is seasonal but there are good people out there who really need a job and will do it well. Anyone better than that young lady and a clown dressed in a suit that doesn't even act upon the restaurants issues. I only tell you this because I know you Augustus and you're always on top of everything in this restaurant. But they are not quality employees. I feel very sad tonight to have to write such a...

I’m sharing this review in the hopes that future guests have a better experience than I did. My date night at Vergina on Saturday, November 16th, started off promising. A reservation was made for 8:30, and the initial service was friendly and welcoming. However, things took a turn towards the end of the evening, leaving me disappointed in how the situation was handled.

As my date was paying, our server made an unexpected and passive-aggressive comment about the tip. She covered the remark by inquiring if service was okay and when we confirmed it was, she pointed out that ‘he had left only a 10% tip, so I just wanted to make sure everything was okay." We were caught off guard by her comment, but continued with our conversation and prepared to leave.

At that point, a man who later revealed himself as the general manager approached us and asked the same question, "Was everything okay with the service?" After we confirmed that the service had been fine, he responded with, "Well, the standard tip is 18-20%." Clearly not satisfied with the amount. This was both awkward and unprofessional and in an attempt to defend my date, I tried to express that I felt this approach was inappropriate, but was met with a defensive response along the lines of, "This is how we make our money."

In an attempt to smooth things over, I offered to increase our tip and asked for contact information to file a formal complaint. The server then asked if I planned to write a review, and I agreed. I explained that I understood the challenges restaurant workers face, having worked in the industry myself, and I empathized. However, there is a way to conduct yourself in a place of business and I felt that conduct was lacking. When I made it clear I was still going to write a review, she declined the additional tip. The general manager declined to give me contact information for a complaint and then he threatened to call the police so I left it alone. Our server continued to argue with me saying she’s only making $7/hr and she basically paid for our meal & if I had experience working in the industry then I would understand. But actually, I don’t. Gratitude is apart of my character, not greed. While I appreciate the hard work of restaurant staff, the way this situation was handled left a sour taste. As a customer, to be confronted about the size of a tip is distasteful. I’ve worked in restaurants where I didn't receive a tip despite providing excellent service. That’s just how the cookie crumbles sometimes, but a tip is better than nothing at all and I’m so disgusted at the entitlement & audacity that I wish we dined elsewhere.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get names of the individuals but I did find pictures of them on Vergina’s Instagram and have included them below. I hope this review doesn’t fall on deaf ears as I do have a piece of advice to management: I suggest reconsidering your approach to customer service and how you conduct yourselves with your guests. You never know who you’re serving. Professionalism and respect for your guests should be at the forefront of EVERY...