My family and I have been loyal patrons of Patriziaâs for many years, but our recent visit left us questioning if something has changedâpossibly even new ownership. Normally, dining in has been a better experience than delivery, which often suffers from slow service and inconsistent food quality. Unfortunately, this time, even dining in was far from enjoyable.
What really struck me was the breakdown in communication. Despite me clearly speaking English, the waiter insisted on addressing me in Spanish, presumably because some members of my party spoke the language. However, I was speaking English, and it felt disrespectful that he continued in Spanish, especially in what is supposed to be an Italian-American restaurant. He clearly spoke English to other customers, so his insistence on Spanish with me made the situation uncomfortable.
The food also failed to meet the expectations weâve developed over the years. I ordered my usual chicken cutlet with arugula and a side of balsamic reduction. This has never been an issue before, but this time, the waiter acted as if he didnât understand my request, and even explained what balsamic reduction was, as if I didnât know. When my dish finally arrived, the chicken was smothered in a mountain of balsamic DRESSING drenched arugula. After sending it back, the replacement dish was noticeably smaller, and they had used plain balsamic vinegar instead of the reduction I asked for. I took a bite and began coughing immediately from the acidity. Sadly, after this experience, we didnât feel comfortable eating the food and left feeling like we had overpaid for a meal that we couldnât enjoy.
Adding to the frustration, when we requested a simple side of pasta with butter, the waiter refused, saying they only offer pasta with oil. The overall tone of the service made us feel like every request was an inconvenience, and it reflected a general lack of care or professionalism. Several staff brought our dishes out. The incorrect dishes were placed in front of us and then taken back.
We were a small party celebrating a special occasion, and we asked if we could have 3 separate tabs, a standard request at most restaurants. The waiter, however, brusquely told us, âNo, one tab only, and only two credit cards.â While I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, thinking it might be due to their system, the fact that he was taking orders with pen and paper made his refusal seem unnecessary and unaccommodating.
As someone who comes from a family of restaurant owners, I tend to notice things others might not. What struck me most was the lack of authenticity in what is supposed to be an Italian restaurant. The staff appeared to be mostly South American, speaking Spanish among themselves, which made me wonder if the restaurant had been sold or undergone some major change behind the scenes. Granted this is a normal sight in NY. However, an invested family member is usually on premises supervising to ensure quality control. The overall experience did not align with the Italian identity that Patriziaâs is known for.
We wonât...
   Read moreToday we dined at Patriciaâs of East Tremont for Motherâs Day. Michelle our waitress was great and accommodated our large family of 24. Thank you Michelle for your amazing customer service.
Unfortunately, our 83 year old grandmother slipped and fell on her hip on their un even greasy and slippery ramp going from the main restaurant to their extension where we were seated. We expected for the manager Joe to be empathetic to an older woman falling as the customers nearby had done after witnessing her fall. However, he was extremely demeaning and showed no remorse for the situation.
When the bill arrived. We explained to Joe that we would like for our grandmothers bill $ 65 (which was the fee per person plus tax and gratuity for the prefix menu for a large party) to be accommodated since she fell on the premise and did not fully partake in the meals and did not drink because she was in pain.
Joe the manager said â I brought her ice, what more do you wantâ he also stated â if you sign a paper stating that you will not sue us for her fall, we will take off her billâ. Never have we experienced such behavior in a restaurant. He further stated â your bellies are full rightâ and threatened to call the police on my mother. Statements like âwe know your kindâ in regards to him assuming we wanted compensation for our entire bill are uncouth. The intent of the conversation with the manager couldâve easily been resolved with an apology and acknowledgment of the situation. Confrontation is not what we were expecting to receive. Our family drove almost 2 hours in traffic from Orange County, NY to have lunch with our grandmother who lives in the Bronx and our day was ruined.
Gennaro the owner reached out and apologized for the behavior we experienced and we do appreciate the gesture and the voided remainder of the bill aside from the $500 deposit. We did NOT ask for compensation for the bill and I expressed multiple times that we were NOT looking for the Entire bill to be voided. We just wanted some acknowledgment and accountability and lack their of. Motherâs Day is ruined due to the unprofessionalism of his manager. We did receive a police report from NYPD and an FDNY EMT report. The owner did say he would follow up within 24 hours with a report.
Again thank you to Michelle for all her kindness. We hope that In the future your establishment would handle such an incident in a much more professional manner. Empathy goes a long way. Good Customer service is extremely important when running a successful business. We will not be in support of...
   Read morePatricia's on Tremont Avenue in the Bronx has been one of my go-to restaurants for the past 15+ years or so. Just A FEW of my favorite dishes from there are their amazing Gnocchi (I get them with Vodka Sauce!), the very tasty Wood Burning Oven Pizza Margherita (fresh mozzarella and basil on a thin crust), Veal Scallopini Alla Giacomo (sauteed with peas, prosciutto, and white sauce), Stuffed Shells, Spicy Buffalo Wings (with Blu Cheese of course) ...and much, much more! You'll find something on the menu for everybody - including picky eaters like kids (they also have a children's menu which includes chicken fingers, spaghetti and meatballs, and more). The mix of a family atmosphere, decent prices, and mouth watering food make this a restaurant that everyone can agree on. Bbefore grabbing the check and heading out, be sure not to leave without dessert! My absolute favorite is their "Special Nutella Pastry" which goes perfect with a piping hot espresso. If it's a hot day then I would go for the Tartufo to cool down (chocolate and vanilla ice cream in a hard chocolate shell with a cherry in the middle). If you've never been here, I suggest dropping whatever you had planned tonight to make your way over there. I can guarantee that they won't disappoint and you will become a repeat customer like myself. The staff is friendly, attentful, and know their stuff as far as menu items and wines go. If you order through the Grubhub app there is no delivery fee (but please don't forget to include a tip for your driver!) and you can apply a coupon for $5 off any order over $30. I know this place extremely well so if you have any questions feel free to reach out. I'm...
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