Il cilentano Pasta Bar — Restaurant in San Francisco

I wish I could give it minus stars. Had an absolutely appalling racist experience.

Walked into this restaurant at 10pm (they close at midnight) the restaurant only had 3 small tables occupied (one table only had one person seated and was getting ready to order). I was asked by the owner how many we were and I said we were two adults and a 7 month old baby so if we could be seated at a table for 3. Was shown to a table for 3 but wasn’t handed a menu. I turned around after waiting for a minute and signaled for a menu.

An Asian looking lady handed me the menu without as much as a smile. I knew what I wanted within 30 seconds of scanning the menu, so said I was ready to order and asked for a gnocchi, she just nodded and left. She came back after a minute and said since we were two people I would have to order for minimum two people, I was quite taken aback because the restaurant was less than half full and it was already 10pm, I tried to explain to her that my husband had already had dinner and I had a sleeping baby and would be done soon (they had not entered the restaurant because my husband was looking for parking). She had yeah no that’s the minimum, so I asked if I should just leave then in disbelief and she shockingly said yes!and took the menu from me and left. I called my husband to tell him their policy and he said order four pastas if required (because he knew I wanted to eat here) even though I really wanted to get up and leave but because of my baby I didn’t want to go through the hassle of looking for a restaurant and parking again so I thought I’d order two pastas anyways

Embarrassed, I asked for the menu again, a surly looking man tossed me a menu and left, I turned around to ask someone to take my order but the Asian lady was back and said “oh you’re still here?” and I said yeah I’ll just order two pastas for myself then.. I wasn’t sweet but I was not rude at all even after her sarcastic tone, she took the menu from me and said yeah no we won’t be serving you, I said “no, I said I’m ordering two mains” thinking she hadn’t heard me properly she said “yeah no we won’t serve you, you can leave”. I was in absolute disbelief. I asked her why she wouldn’t serve me and she said because it’s our choice and you have to leave

I saw the owner standing in the back seeing all this but thought maybe he has no clue what has transpired so I went up to him and said “I just want to know why you won’t serve me” he said “it’s up to the server sorry, maybe she didn’t like your attitude” I couldn’t believe what he was saying so I stupidly told him everything that had happened and he said yeah I don’t come between servers and customers, please leave if she said you have to leave” I told him he was the first owner who absolutely had no concern about how his customers were treated and that he obviously had severely racist staff and left and he did not try to rectify the situation just shouted “no we don’t!” while I walked out visibly upset.

There were only three tables occupied, all echoing with American accents.

I’ve been to multiple countries around the world and have never had an encounter like this. Ruined my whole night. My first racist encounter after visiting 20 countries and by someone who looked Asian....

Came in with my husband, wasn’t too hungry but was in the area so we wanted to try out the place. We first asked for recommendations to which the owner responded “I don’t have recommendations because everything on the menu is good”. We were left speechless. That wasn’t really helpful when we are trying to decide. Then he left and a waitress came to take our order. We picked one pasta dish (the ragú) and she told us we had to order two pasta dishes. Both me and my husband were like ? ? ? There was an awkward pause for a couple seconds. She said:”You have to order two pastas. Come on, it’s Friday.” I was shocked, and my husband was confused. Never have we encountered such remarks from any restaurants and were forced to order two items. I guess that was a red flag where we should’ve left because no good restaurant would be THAT DESPERATE for money. My husband ended up picking a salad because we weren’t hungry for two pastas. When the pasta came, it was undercooked with a thick white ring in the center. I called the waitress over and she told me it was supposed to be like that because it was “Al dente” like I wouldn’t know what “Al dente” means. However, the pasta was indeed UNDERCOOKED and raw inside. Not just “firm and chewy”. She unwillingly took the dish back and they switched out the pasta noodles. Then she was staring at my husband when he proceeded to eat. When I finally got to taste the ragú, it was sour like rancid, the meat itself was dry and hard. Nothing close to tender. The pasta itself was bland and lacking flavor. Overall very mediocre and I’ve had much, much better. They forced a tip in the end by filling in the tip and total on our check. Never seen that before. A waitress writing in the tip and total on the actual check FOR YOU. The overall experience was so uncomfortable and the food was sad. I have never ever received service like this anywhere. I don’t recommend this place because they are really entitled and arrogant yet ignorant and oblivious of their product and service. At the end of the day, as a restaurant, you are in the service industry. No matter how proud you are of your food, your service is just as important. If you are so arrogant, don’t serve. Nobody...

Run by a repugnant human being who does not believe disabled people deserve rights or that federal or state law applies to him. Skip this hideous excuse of an eatery if you have any empathy for others and care to stand for their rights.

I have a rare genetic disease and rely on the assistance of my service dog for independence on a day to day basis. My service dog even allows me the freedom to not be restricted to my wheelchair.

I drove over 6 hours to spend my birthday in San Francisco with my partner, and chose this place for a late night dinner. On entry I was told by the owner that he doesn't allow service dogs, and that he doesn't care what the city or anyone else says. That he's been told by the city before that he isn't allowed to deny disabled people equal access, but he doesn't care and he'll be shut down before he allows service dogs in his restaurant.

I hope he has actually planned for this to come to fruition, as I have a recording of him stating that this is his policy, and I plan to take it to a civil rights attorney, the Department of Justice (who's phone number and card I offered to personally give him, by the way), and any other interested parties to ensure he is held to the law.

I started out polite, I tried to educate him and work with him. He refused to listen to me or accept any information I had about service animals (I carry ADA info cards). I wasted the few precious steps out of my wheelchair that I get in a day at this awful place, was denied equal rights on my birthday, and left before coming back and actually giving the owner a piece of my mind.

And to the owner, if you're reading this - I truly wish you could have learned and been better. I tried my best. Now I simply must reiterate that I meant every word I said and I will stand on my principals. Have the day and life...