Arcaro and Genell, Old Forge, PA — Restaurant in Old Forge

Service was the WORST/SLOWEST that I have ever experienced anywhere (in 50 years of adulthood). The waitress was the most inattentive that I have ever seen. (This was in Aug. 2022.)

Reservations for 10 (+ 3 very young children) on Sat. night. We arrived shortly ~7:00pm & were directed outside, to walk along the side of the building on a decline to a separate entrance (2 people were noticeably disabled & this was difficult for them - also, most were dressed in formal clerical garb). It was very noisy & one other group in this room was extremely loud. Seating was at one long table with hard wooden bench seats on one side and hard metal chairs on the other side.

We waited a VERY long time for orders to even be taken. Beverages & bread were brought to the table and then the waitress effectively disappeared. Each of the 2 carafes of water held only enough for 2-1/2 glasses and we had to constantly ask for more water.

After more than an hour, I finally flagged down the waitress, saying that my friend was gluten-intolerant & couldn't eat bread, that she hadn't eaten since 8:00am, to please bring her salad. We were hoping that this would prod her to bring all of the salads, but she served only the one.

Shortly after that, the young kids' parents spoke up & a small pizza was brought out so that the kids could eat (this was already WAY after their bedtimes). We were not served our salads til after 8:30. When our salad plates were cleared, we asked the waitress about the delay & were told that "it was very busy." We pressed for an ETA about our entrees & she brushed us off.

At 8:55pm, those of us at one end of the table agreed that, if we were still not served, we would simply walk out in 5 min. At 9:00pm, we were literally getting out of our seats when the first few entrees were brought out, so we stayed.

My friend had ordered chicken ($19) and, while I continued to await my salmon ($25), she gave me some of her chicken (I returned the favor when my meal was served). After all of the entrees were served and half-finished, the waitress returned with the side-order veggies (broccoli & sliced potatoes - nothing else on the menu was available), each on a small bread plate. My salmon was tasty, but not outstanding and was a VERY small portion.

All together (one person treated us), including drinks + tax - but not including tip (which NONE was deserved, but I'm sure was paid) - the bill was probably ~$300+.

With this absolutely terrible service, I wouldn't go back there if we were...

I do not live near here, but had for years heard the stories about the pizza from this part of the state... and certainly the images of the pies here in the photo section are incredibly enticing. So finally my family planned an outing one weekend to come up here and try what is called one of the top 5 pizzas in the US.

I was completely underwhelmed. I've been around the pizza block, had some of the best of NYC and this area over the past 50 years and when pies are that good, they become the things you daydream about. This isn't that. Don't mistake me. This was made well, and with care... but nothing about it was memorable. The cheese was a hybrid of mozzarella and some type of melty american which made it slightly creamy. Not my first choice but I don't mind if it has flavor, and that's where this sort of went flat. The cheese does not have much of a taste signature.

Sadly the same thing was true of the sauce. It was not bad but I was hoping to ride into flavor country... nope. It was not sweet, not tomatoey, not acidic... it was just sort of there, like the cheese. Nothing disagreeable, but nothing to get worked up over either.

Finally the crust, which was the star. Baked up nice and had a golden crisp. However even there... it is like a sicilian, but much thinner than most sicilians, which seemed odd. I suppose were one from here this would seem normal, and of course that's what makes regionality what it is.

So... was it bad? No, not at all. Was it great? No, I wouldn't go that far. Top 5? Not even close. They clearly put enough care in that everyone should endeavor to try it once. I am glad I took the drive to have it, but I doubt I'll do it again given how far away it is. If I find myself in the area again I'll try a competitor, because while they all are seemingly similar, the locals all claim this, that or the other...

Honestly after all the many absolutely delicious meals there, it was a total disappointment. To me Arcaro and Genells was always a real treat, a great experience. This was neither. I truly do understand that they are trying to practice the guidelines for covid but that does not mean they can't still make it a nice dining experience. My first bad experience was just finding the right door since there are like five different doors which had tiny little signs none of which had even an arrow to point you in the right direction! Only after we hit EVERY door that we had to walk all the way to the very last one which we only found by following another person. So we FINALLY get inside, we find that we have to order as of it's take out with no service and plastic plates and silverware. Seriously?! Honestly when you sit inside and get quality service, you don't mind paying the high price for their food. It's worth it! But to pay that price to have to sit outside with bugs crawling on those horrible rolls and lukewarm soup, no it definitely was not worth it. I personally do not understand why they can't treat you the same way as if you were inside, with REAL plates and silverware and glasses! There is such a thing as disposable gloves that they can wear to wash dishes. My illusion of this restaurant being one of my most absolutely favorite places has been shattered. I honestly don't know if I...