Gastromaniac Homemade Pasta & Pizza — Restaurant in South Lake Tahoe

We came in with a fairly large group. As soon as we entered, we were basically stopped and questioned from multiple staff about how many people and they didn't have room for us right then and for us to wait outside in the cold? We had multiple staff members shouting questions to us in a chaotic manner. I get that they didn't have room to accommodate right then, but the male staff member kept talking fast and loud that we need to stay outside while he was walking in and out of the back room which is obvious that he was annoyed and didnt want to serve us. That just screams unprofessionalism. Why would you act in that manner? He flat out was not wanting to so his job. It was obvious they didn't want to serve a larger group. They treated us like we walked in 5 min before closing, but were still open for several more hours. They told us to leave our number and they will let us know. Half our group was eventually seated. Other people finished and there was room. We let our group know and when they came back the staff was extremely rude and said, what are you doing here, we didn't call you? By then we were all annoyed that from the second we entered, they were trying to run us off. It was obvious they didn't want to do the work and hoping if they were rude enough, we would just leave. Why would you tell a couple families with small kids to go stand outside in the cold to wait? The younger generations are really changing the business model with customer service. Not putting the food down because of the service, but the pizza is not that great. It has a sour/tart taste and the couple times I have ate there, I walked out wondering why I came back. My wife is a pasta freak and was excited for their custom pasta. She was not impressed, it is very basic and bland. If you want to try it, go in by yourself, they get very agitated if you show up with more than 2 people. They seem to be a fairly new business, it is just crazy they act this way when it is your customers keeping your business going. Save yourself the hassle and expense and just...

We visited Gastromaniac twice, and while the food was good, the major issue was the lack of honesty from the staff, which made for a very disappointing experience.

On our first visit, we were shown to a table where we could sit. Orders are placed at the counter, like in a fast food setup, rather than at the table. However, before we even ordered, we were told that the pasta we wanted would take longer than expected, without any real explanation, and that we’d need to wait around 20 minutes before sitting. The real reason became clear when a group of five/six, clearly friends of the owner, arrived just after us and took the table. I would have understood if this had been explained honestly, but to be misled with an excuse about delayed dishes was unnecessary and frustrating.

We eventually ate with only a short delay, and the meal was good (though the cheese pasta tasted more like cream sauce as the cheese flavor was quite subtle).

The following evening, we arrived at 7:25 pm, well before the posted closing time of 8:30 pm. To our surprise, despite several tables still eating, we were told that there had been a power outage and the kitchen had to close early. It was obvious there had been no power outage, but with the restaurant not busy and upcoming closed days, it was clear they preferred to close the kitchen early. Again, we would have understood if this had been communicated honestly, but being told a fabricated story was extremely unpleasant and left a sour impression.

In short, while the food here is decent, the lack of transparency from the staff made both visits disappointing. I hope the restaurant reconsiders its approach to communication...

This wonderful little place checks all the boxes.

1. The food is great and reasonably priced. Our party of four for lunch ordered two pizzas and one pasta and nobody left hungry. Everything we ordered was delicious and my companions were genuinely impressed. The pizza menu has some great offerings you don’t see too often outside Italy, including arugula and prosciutto atop pizza. The pasta and sauces are made in-house by the owner from northern Italy as well!! The beer and wine list is small, but well curated with something for everyone. Even the espresso exceeded my expectations.
2. The restaurant is clean, comfortable, and well-maintained. Even if you peek inside the open kitchen you’ll find everything clean, neat, and organized.
3. Most importantly, the staff, including the warm owners, are hospitable and welcoming. Everyone was kind and all of our needs were taken care of without our having to ask. A family with two younger children came in after us and they were given the same care and attention that we received.

Our experience from the moment we walked in to the moment we left was top-notch and I can’t recommend the...