Cusumano — Restaurant in Old Forge

Let me corroborate some of these previous reviews before the owner accuses another unsatisfied customer of having dementia.

Table for 7, reservation made 2 days in advance, for 7pm Saturday. Why am I standing in the foyer at 7:30pm, getting tripped over by drunk waitresses and 12-year-old busboys? That's not what "reservation" means. Maybe I'm hallucinating, like the rest of these reviewers.

When we were finally seated, they didn't bring us water for another half hour. I can't tell you how excited I was for my water ration, like a prisoner. But even prisoners get bread, right? Guess again. Bread wouldn't come out until 8:30. A couple one-inch-thick slices of baguette for a table of 7. Mangia!

Stumblina took our orders and then disappeared for another half hour. Thankfully, one of the child laborers gave us another water ration. This held us over until 9, when they brought out our salads. The Caesar (note the spelling for menu revisions) came as a side with my theoretical entree, but they snuck a sassy little $5 upcharge onto it. It was absolutely made with iceberg lettuce.

I cannot believe that the Cusumano PR team is like "we'd never use iceberg lettuce! You're just confused!" as if their patrons have never visited a grocery store before.

We came here to celebrate a birthday and a new job, so we're praying for something to salvage the evening. I ask for more bread. To her credit, this waitress did bring us three pieces of bread within the next 5 minutes. We did not have to fight each other with silverware for a portion. She also brought us cheese cubes, for some reason. Unfortunately, the bread was frozen inside. Not lukewarm. Not stale. Not even "kind of cold". Frozen solid inside. Inedible. Possibly still dough.

That was about where we checked out, and told one of the inebriated waitresses (since our other two had gone missing again) that the meal was a train wreck and we wanted to pay for our drinks and our bad salads and leave.

The owner himself could not be bothered to come talk to us. Looking at the reviews, it's probably because he rationalizes away the messes he makes every night. This poor drunk woman came back and said, "The owner said to comp you a free pizza".

Why would we want a free pizza? You won't feed us what we ordered! The few items we have received have been spectacular failures. Including bread. Medieval peasants accidentally succeeded at making bread. I can't sit here until you figure out a pizza, I've got work on Monday.

What a nightmare. Do yourself a favor and go anywhere else. Microwave a hot pocket at Convenient, you've got less chance of food poisoning and guaranteed...

Food quality is poor! We are new to the Old Forge area. The other day, we were celebrating an event and decided to go here for the first time. We were very disappointed.

Wait time: we waited about 50 minutes before our food came out. We ate all the bread and finished two drinks. There was group of people sitting next to us who have been waiting before, and their food came after ours. The waiter passed by us again and again with frustration as the food was not coming out. No, it is not her fault that the kitchen is short-staffed or the management take in customers if there not enough personal.

Food: once the food came out, it was not good. We took a couple of bites of the Fettuccine and Clams and left it. When the waiter asked if we wanted to go, we did not want to take it for leftovers. The food was rushed; it seemed that the chef had just put a dish together to save the day. This dish was not worth $27 at all. I could have gotten a better dish for half the price at any diner.

Cocktails: we ordered martinis; it tasted like 90% syrus and 10% spirit. It was too sweet as if I was drinking syrup. I told the waiter and I decided to try another one, it was the same thing. My wife's cocktail was the same; it did not taste like a martini. $15 for a martini made with 90% + syrup. We wasted $45 in syrup.

The highest point is the staff. The hostess, the waiter, and the girl serving water were always very polite. Good customer service.

I went home and read reviews; other people had the same experience. I asked friends at work who are more familiar with the area, and they agreed the quality of this restaurant has declined: long wait time, poor food quality, and overpriced. The responsibility is on the owner/management to try to cut corners, not hire enough staff, and serve poorly made dishes. I am not...

I have been going here for years. The last two times., the wait from the time we order until food hit the table was ridiculously long. I was just there on Thursday night 12/14/23. 10 in our party. Myself and another ordered Italian Wedding soup. After a a hour and a half the soup arrived without any meatballs in it. Very disappointed. I always loved eating here…. The time in which I waited from the time the food was ordered and the disappointment with the soup, I will not be back again… edited for a response to your inaccuracy that you were told…. I was the first to arrive a little before 6:PM. There rest of the party was there by 6:30. Your Sir, are being told what you want to hear by the staff you are paying. It was 8:26 when I left the restaurant just after finishing my meal. You also did not address the fact that there was not any meat in the wedding soup. I wrote this review because I spoke to the waitress twice about the soup. It was two servings without meat. I have always loved your establishment. The last two experiences had be very disappointing. I would hope you treat customers better and address their concerns in a professional manner.

Edited….TJ (owner) contacted me personally. He made good on the opportunities. He truly cares about his customers and his reputation. I WILL BE BACK. I will also be recommending Cusumono’s to...