Arrivederci Trattoria — Restaurant in Phoenix

Update: I've downgraded from 4 to 2 stars, unfortunately, due to the increasingly poor service. I've been back a couple more times, with mediocre service, but my visit tonight for a goodbye dinner for a friend was so below expectations that I wouldn't choose to go back.

While the server was never rude, he also almost completely ignored use despite there being only two other tables in the entire restaurant in order to chat by the bar. I observed him hovering up there most of the time when trying to catch his eye at various points during the meal. The bloke I took to be the manager spent nearly all the time we were there talking to people at a table just behind the host stand, rather than overseeing the floor.

We had made reservations thru their website for 630PM, but upon arriving were told that they didn't have any reservations for us; well, could have been a website glitch and there was no problem getting a table, so no big deal. However at 8pm, I got an email saying that the restaurant had canceled our reservation. I can't imagine why a restaurant would be ignoring their reservation system other than poor management, myself.

It took about 10min after being seated to have our server come by to take our drink order and tell us the dinner specials. We received our drinks and ordered, and he checked on us a couple minutes after that. He never once offered to refill our drinks and my friend's was empty by that point, so we requested a drink refill for her.

This never arrived, and after about another 10 or so minutes later we had to flag down the bus boy to ask him to get the waiter. He did finally show up... sans drink, so we had to ask him to get it again, and also to box up my friend's dinner (by this point she had finished eating). I had to ask for refills on our water as well. I also asked for some bread to mop up my the last of my pasta with. He then cleared our plates without asking, and I had to stop him from taking my plate as well :/

He managed to bring out the drink and bread after a while, tho not the water. I imagine he must have overheard us talking about that about afterward as he suddenly showed up with a water jug to top them up at that point. He then brought us the check, and I had to also remind him that we still were waiting on my friend's doggie bag.

I could forgive the lapses if it had been busy, but with only two other tables in the place for the hour we were there there is simply no excuse. Neither the manager nor the server obviously much cared about ensuring a reasonable level of service, much less an inviting atmosphere. While I enjoy the restaurant's food and the ambience (the gorgonzola scallopini was tasty!), I've crossed it off my list - having to chase down the server or repeatedly ask for basic table service items isn't my idea of a top notch night out.

First visit impression: lovely place, nicely decorated, good ambience, excellent food, excellent service.

Service: Our server was very friendly and accommodating. He picked up on my looking at another table that might have served our needs better (we had a toddler and a baby with us) and immediately offered to seat us there instead. He made pleasant small talk and obviously enjoyed kidding around with our toddler.

Ambience: Very nice, felt like walking into an old world cottage inn - all tile and dark woods and such like. Tables were somewhat crowded together, but since it was not busy this was not an issue for our visit.

Food: Very good. We had the mushroom martini for starters, which was tasty (tho too much balsamic and not enough goat cheese for my tastes). My friend reported that her lamb ossobucco was excellent, and I enjoyed my veal scallopini with mushrooms and wine sauce (tho I found the veal slightly overcooked, it was well within the...

We recently arrived at Arrivederci on a weekend night for a drink and a snack at what evidently was 15 minutes prior to the closing of the kitchen. When we pulled up, we parked near the front door, our headlights illuminating the restaurant and placing a spotlight on the kitchen staff who consequently appeared like deer in the literal headlights. As we walked I and seated ourselves at the bar, I noted that most of the fellas in the kitchen scattered like cockroaches. We asked the bartender if the kitchen was still opened and he turned to one of the remaining staff members who indicated that the kitchen was, in fact, still serving food. We ordered drinks and two appetizers, which included butterfly shrimp and meatballs while awaiting our order, the cooks leered at us from their stations for what seemed like an eternity. The experience was extremely uncomfortable, and initially I speculated that they may simply be mesmerized by my unparalleled beauty, but I realized it was more likely that they were shooting us death stares because we were delaying their ability to clock out and enjoy mucho cervezas. When our food arrived, we ate the shrimp, which was generally acceptable. Then, we encountered the meatballs. Ha! The “meatballs,” I imagine, could not have been much larger than rodent testicles; they were the smallest “ meatballs” that I have ever encountered. Since my friend and I were sharing an appetizer, it essentially became the luck of the draw In regards to who ate which of the few tiny balls of meat they presented to us. Apparently, I was the lucky winner that evening. Upon biting into the mini ball, it quickly became apparent that it was riddled with an unGodly amount of red pepper. I broke a sweat, coughed, and choked my bum off as the gents in the kitchen observed. I was fuming with anger and an overdose of pepper as it was obviously a deliberate act. Despite their unprofessional conduct, my friend and I chose not to bring their behavior to the attention of management and instead decided to simply never return. Upon leaving, we actually encountered the owner who had been pacing outside in his cell phone for the entirety of our visit. My friend mentioned that the meatballs were ridiculously spicy (he certainly minimized the experience; although he’d likely be singing a contrasting tune if he had been the victim of the pepper ball). He owner responded by laughing it off and claiming that the spicy marinara sauce was the culprit. Au contraire, mon frere, the sauce was not spicy in the slightest. (Note that I actually prefer spice and heat in my cuisine, but I don't appreciate evil attempts to set my senses ablaze.) Arrivederci? Never again. Pass right on by that “Italian” restaurant and check out one of the respectable, satisfying Italian establishments that value each and...

I would have given this establishment 4 stars however the service is unsatisfactory. On this night, we felt like celebrating, so we decided to come to this place because google gave 4.3 stars. The host at the door greeted us and was very nice. We were sat down at the bar, and then this is where it went downhill. We waited about 10 minutes, and our server, Alexis, never came and asked us for our drinks or order, it was the busgirl who gave us our menus and cutlery. My husband and I could not figure out when, where, or what happen, or how we upset this lady. We have been observing her, thinking that she is just busy. NOPE, we had to wave her down and order our drinks and she turn around and says " GO AHEAD" with attitude. We had to wave her down again to order something to eat (appetizers), and she did not ask my husband if he wanted to order, then she took off right away the moment I said my order. We sat down in the middle, where she never bothered to come over and ask us how we are doing. Throughout the night, my husband had to wave another person to order his entree. Alexis was so nice and very personable to the other patrons however not to US. My husband and I were thinking we were just overthinking, until we got our BILL, and she over-charged us drinks. She never apologized for that action; in fact, she actually came over in front of us while staring us down at the same time. Bottom line, we went to this place to have a good time, and eat good food, however we were left dumbfounded and annoyed. She's very nice to the local patron she knows. Unfortunately, not in our case. Good luck to your restaurant. Word is Gold and if this person still works in that place. You can only pretend and be a fake person as much as you can. Your action speaks...