Steve's Place — Restaurant in Newington

There are so many good reviews for this place, I am almost sorry to write this one. I have lived in Newington for 29 years but had never been to Steve's Place. I visited for the first time back in June. I bought a grinder which was alright and a side of potato salad which was fantastic. This past Saturday, I went back to get 2 pounds of potato salad for a get together. I believe it was the owner who helped me. He was very pleasant and we talked while he filled one container of potato salad and put it on the scale. He said "that's 1 1/2 lbs" and mentioned that it was $6.99 a pound and then he started to fill a second. He asked if I minded if it was a 'little over' - I could not see, of course, but a little over, generally means a little, so I said yes. We continued talking, he put the 2 containers of potato salad in a paper bag, filled out a paper receipt and charged me $19.50...which I paid! For a 'little over' 2 lbs of salad! $19.50!? Sometimes when you are in a situation, you don't realize right at that moment that you are being taken advantage of, so obviously I didn't think quickly enough. I went home, checked out my overpriced purchase, which hardly seemed worth $20 and realized he screwed me. I called and told him he over charged me, to which he said, "you said a little over was okay", and he said something like, "It's not like you weren't going to eat it." I said, "A little over means a little, not $5 worth." He said, "One container was $11 something and the other was $7 something. You got what you paid for." He did apologize but I don't think he felt bad. Whether or not it was close to 3lbs of salad, I couldn't say because I didn't weight it, but it did not look like that much and the problem was I didn't ask for that much. I asked for $14 worth. He did this intentionally...and he knows he did. Why and for what purpose do you screw over a customer? Especially in such a well established place? I don't get it. This place has been here a long time and is well liked in the community, but this long time resident has been burned and...

My co-workers and I stopped in to have lunch today. Yes, it is a small little place, but full of charm from the friendly staff to the varies pictures of local sports teams and figures on the walls. I had the premium Italian sandwich and I was really impressed overall with the quality of the meats, the baguette, etc. My friends told me the Rueben sandwich served on Friday is a must. What impressed me even more was the welcoming attitude at this little place. The owner asked me how my meal was and overall visit, I told him this was my first visit and that I loved the sandwich and would be back. The price was reasonable. Some people complained about limited parking in some reviews, but there is extra parking in the back of the building, just go there, no big deal. Overall a nice little mom and pop place worth supporting by discovering it...

I wanted to love this place. The reviews gave me high hopes. The fact it's been open so long made me think it was going to be great.

I've never been so disappointed. The pastrami sandwich was meh. The double cheeseburgers the boys got were two greasy patties that were so thick my boys couldn't eat them, and the buns were approaching stale.

Also, see the photo of the massive piece of fat/gristle that was in my son's patty.

And for three entrees, three cans of coke and an order of onion rings, it was $58. That's wild for a place that doesn't even have ranch for the rings...

The staff was super nice, and I have no complaints there, but the rave reviews are definitely from people who have a nostalgic connection here, not people that actually enjoy good food.

Sorry Steve's...I wanted to love you, but it's not...