Oak and Almond — Restaurant in Norwalk

This place is absolutely fantastic. The food is superb, with a plethora or complex and delicate flavors that dance on the palate, and it's all sourced locally or, as seasons dictate, at least organic. The wine list is also great, and the wait staff (order-takers specifically... This is an important distinction later on) is adept at figuring out your taste preferences and matching your preferences to the food you've ordered, resulting in a downright delectable dining experience. Not so hot on the beer selection, but that didn't take away from my experience at all. The only real negative point that is actually fairly frustrating every time we go is that the wait staff who takes the orders are very well trained and speak perfect English, but the wait staff who bring your food, being you pepper and parmesan cheese, water, etc. have EXTREMELY limited English vocabulary and can't understand even very simple sentences. Asking for the pepper to be more coarse from the grinder, for example, was met with completely blank stares on THREE separate visits, from different employees (but always the people serving the food/busing tables). In fact, one time, I asked for the fresh pepper from that big standard wooden grinder they bring around at every restaurant to be more coarse, the guy went and found a regular pepper shaker with finely-ground black pepper (read: both the opposite of what I asked for AND flavorless). More than one of those employees, on More than one occasion, couldn't understand various other requests, as well, such as asking to be moved to an available outside table or asking...well...for honestly anything other than "more water, please" or "cheese, please." That may sound insensitive, but it's truly not an exaggeration. They simply do not speak English (though they understood me when speaking to them in Spanish). Considering that they are the primary people you seem to interact with, after placing orders, this is a major point against an otherwise SUPERB establishment. If it were an isolated ocurrence or just one employee, it would have been annoying but ultimately not worth a ding to the restaurant's overall score, but it is neither isolated nor a single employee. For that reason, and for unreasonably slow service on More than one occasion, I have to knock off a star. Fix those two problems and it's a no-brainer 5-star spot at actually quite amazingly reasonable prices (for Fairfield County CT, that is). However, despite those two things, this is a must-visit spot if you're looking for fine...

Overall this establishment provides you with everything you could ask for in a restaurant setting... good food, good drinks, good atmosphere!

However, it is behind the curtain which is troubling that as a customer you may never have the chance of witnessing... the management.

The management I am speaking of is Jon Paul, who is the manager at Oak & Almond, treats new staff with impetuous inferiority and belittlement. After training with staff I was sat down with this man whom was to go over scheduling and review. During our brief 10 minute meeting he could not bare to look me in the eyes (this is where I knew I could not trust the management). Aside from our conversation not being fully finished, he managed to pick up essentially meaningless distractions to deter the conversation just so that he could walk away when it came time to discuss payment and salary. Overall I was promised a paycheck (WHICH WAS NEVER MADE) and a follow-up call from him directly in the following two days to start work immediately.

If you have been reading this far, I am sure you have an idea of where this is going. I never received the call but being the persistent and competitive individual I am, I called multiple times that week to get in touch with Jon Paul. Each time I was greeted by someone else working there who could not seem to locate Jon Paul or that he wasn't available.

By this point I am well aware that I was being dodged by management (good management handles calls like this regardless of the situation). If they had spoke with me and addressed the situation I would have been understanding regardless the outcome. About a week has passed and I figured I would stop by on the weekend to check in with Jon Paul in person and follow-up on our last discussion.

On 2 separate occasions I was met by other members of the staff to inform me that Jon Paul was not there. However literally minutes before I had walked in, I sat in the parking lot and called the host and was made aware that he was present in the building, but upon walking in he "hasn't been in all day".

After knowing that I would never see my paycheck or having a face-to-face meet with Jon Paul I gave up on this establishment which clearly doesn't maintain good business ethics with their current management.

With all of this being said, I am not deterred from eating at this establishment and enjoying their cocktail selection at the bar. But it concerns me the manner in which a guest may be treated by a manager who clearly doesn't value his employees equally...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Oak and Almond located at 544 Main Ave in Norwalk, CT, and I must say, my experience was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with top-notch service and a warm atmosphere.

Even though I arrived within an hour of their closing time, the staff at Oak and Almond went above and beyond to accommodate me. I opted to call in my order ahead of time, and to my delight, the restaurant had my order prepared and ready upon my arrival. This level of efficiency and attention to detail was truly impressive and made for a seamless dining experience.

The attentiveness of the staff was truly noteworthy. Despite the late hour, they treated me with the same level of care and courtesy as if I had walked in during peak hours. The waitstaff was not only knowledgeable about the menu offerings but also willing to provide recommendations based on my preferences. This personalized touch added an extra layer of comfort to the dining experience.

As I looked around, I couldn't help but appreciate the cleanliness of the restaurant. The tables were spotless, and the overall ambiance was inviting. The décor struck a balance between rustic and contemporary, creating a charming and comfortable environment that was both visually appealing and welcoming.

In conclusion, my visit to Oak and Almond was a delightful experience from start to finish. The outstanding service, accommodating attitude, and impeccable cleanliness all contributed to a memorable evening. Whether you're looking for a place to enjoy a quiet dinner or a cozy gathering with friends, Oak and Almond certainly fits the bill. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking not only great food but also a wonderful overall...