Pizza Bruno College Park — Restaurant in Orlando

As much as I want to love this place, because it's so cherished by the local community and it's a small business, I can't honestly write a raving review for either the food or the service. But, I do want to start by mentioning what I thought was great about Pizza Bruno. My boyfriend and I tried to go to two pizza places on a Monday night, both of which were closed, before we decided on PB, which was open and only a short walk away from where we had originally wanted to eat. I like that PB is located within walking distance of other College Park main street staples, and that it very much carries itself like a small business, with some grungy art on the walls, dim but warm lighting, and a bustling back of house within view of the patrons eating at the restaurant's few booths. I loved the kale salad, which was delicious and hearty, generously topped with nuts and cheese, and also delivered in a big enough portion that my boyfriend and I could split it and both have plenty.

On the flip side, I wasn't crazy about the restaurant's main offering and namesake, the pizza. I can only speak on the quality of the pizza from the College Park location, which I've eaten at twice, and I wonder if the pizza at the original location is better. For me, it was too thin and crispy. The toppings were scarce, and on the white pie that we ordered (the KBAR), most of what I ended up tasting was salt, rather than the meat and herbs on top. After leaving, we realized that the KBAR is supposed to come with a red sauce swirl on top of the white base, but for some reason ours didn't. The marinara would have (hopefully) helped alleviate some of the saltiness of the pizza, but we'll never know since it wasn't made correctly. That said, we still ate it all because we don't believe in wasting food, and it definitely wasn't the worst pizza I've ever had.

But as much mess as I'm talking about the pizza, my main gripe with this place is actually the lack of reusable cups. When the waitress seated us, she gave us two plastic cups of water. We both drank our respective cups (the salty pizza immediately parched us), and then asked for a refill. This probably sounds melodramatic but I was honest to god shocked when the waitress came back with two more disposable cups filled with water, instead of a pitcher to refill the two plastic cups we already had. I mentioned above how neither of us believes in wasting food, and in the same vein, we thought that the compulsory use of 4 plastic cups for a half-hour dinner was horribly wasteful and a terrible example for other local businesses. This is especially true for a business operating in Central Florida, where we're surrounded by bodies of water that are impacted by plastic pollution. If our own local businesses aren't committed to treating their home like it's worth respecting and protecting from ecological degradation, how are we supposed to expect tourists to do it? It made no sense to be given a compostable straw, but then also 4 plastic cups in the same sitting. I really want to see Pizza Bruno step it up in this department and do better, and if they need the help to do so, I recommend they check out surfrider.org, which has resources to assist businesses in transitioning to low-plastic to help reduce plastics in our marine...

I have been to Bruno's about 10 times in the past year and have been tempted to write a review on several occasions. I have also been very reluctant to do so. After last night's experience, it is finally time. To keep it concise, I will list things below:

The food - obviously Bruno knows how to make great food. The problem is, the only thing consistent about it is the INCONSISTENCY. I have literally watched the most delicious looking pizza ever be served to someone and the one that we were served was utterly flat and dead from over-cooking and lack of ingredients. This has happened more than once. I have also been served the most amazing deep-dish pizza ever and then the next time it was so over-cooked that I had to bring it back for a new one. The crust was actually impossible to chew through. No apology was made, but a dismissive and somewhat disgusted attitude from the host was palpable - as if I was happy to waste this much time on simply getting a decent pizza from what is supposed to be a great place.

The service - also totally inconsistent. One of the most impressive and friendly young ladies I have dealt with was our server twice. It was great! Other times, it is extremely slow, bored, and distracted people who should honestly get another job.

The atmosphere - fine usually, however, last night they were blaring some CARDI B MIX. It was a Saturday night, there were just a few customers, and the girl who was working at the bar had her personal mix on via her phone. It was so obnoxious that we decided to leave before ordering actual dinner. I spoke to her on the way out and her immediate response was "well it's not usually the customers who get to pick the music." I said, "no, but it's not supposed to be the staff either and it should at least be appropriate to the restaurant and setting." She got disgusted and told me to have a nice night. Obviously I continued making a few more points, laughed at her, and left.

So overall, what COULD be a great place is, unfortunately, just another totally inconsistent restaurant. In fact the only thing that IS consistent, is the price. And many of the employees act like because it is expensive, that it is great. It is NOT great. It COULD be, but it isn't. And it is a total shame. The obvious solution would be something that I have only seen once...the owner actually being there. He has a bunch of kids working there and they definitely need a babysitter. His customers deserve much more, considering what they are willing to pay for what could be an excellent meal. I know that he cares. I just don't think he knows the reality of what is going on there. Being there ever would...

Pizza Bruno, College Park, 2429 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, Florida - 1- Star

Michelin Recommended?

I came into this review excited to be heading to another Michelin recommended restaurant, especially since I had such a magnificent experience a couple weeks ago at the fabulous Bacán in Lake Nona. I gladly drove the hour and a half from my beachside South Brevard home to Downtown Orlando. Upon arrival, I respected the sign that advised, "Please Wait for Host."

I waited... and I waited. And. I. Waited.

Finally, after standing there alone for what was probably only about five minutes but what felt like an ETERNITY (especially with all the employees just staring at me), a guy walked up, and without greeting me, without apologizing for my wait, without acknowledging my reservation-- even though I had forked out a $25.00 reservation fee--muttered, and gestured unceremoniously, "Sit wherever you want."

The location is a catfish. I was expecting something swank and fancy. But no. The décor invoked Pizza Hut circa 1980.

My waiter, introducing himself as Josh, took my order and disappeared. Never to be seen again. Mind you, I am the ONLY customer in this supposedly fine dining establishment, and I had to PAY to make this reservation.

The cook, such as he was, brought out my food:

For my appetizer, I ordered the Fried Clams, which were spoiled and inedible. For pizza, I requested the Court Street Specialty Pie. Special it was not. For pasta, I chose a Sausage & Broccoli Orecchiette. It was over-cooked and improperly drained, the entire plate swimming in fetid pasta water.

On the bright side, my Brussels Sprouts were inoffensive, which is why I am generously granting a single star to this Michelin imposter.

I waived my credit card imploring loudly, "May I have my bill, please?"

Finally, a woman came over, and seeing that none of my food had been eaten, still asked with unwarranted temerity how everything was.

Well, I'll tell you...

The Big Boy says, "Michelin recommended? If I was homeless and dumpster diving, I wouldn't eat...