Bocce Club Pizza — Restaurant in Town of Amherst

Updated review: I had previously left a one star review based on a singular experience that was an exception, not the rule. I am updating my review based on a lifetime of eating Bocce Club pizza. I love Bocce, and it will probably always remain my favorite. I will update to four stars, leaving off one star due to increasing inconsistency in product. Sad about that, but- it's the most accurate way to rate. Hopefully Bocce will dedicate more effort towards consistency. Previous review: I had an awful customer service experience tonight, and that is what my one star reflects. Been coming here for decades, and it's so disheartening when places with such esteemed reputations treat a customer poorly. I arrived at the specified time, and no other customers were at the counter. Great! No wait! I am handed my half pizza, but not my box of boneless wing bites. After some moments, counter person advises there will be about a seven minute wait. Ok, fine... I don't gripe or quibble. (Even though I have not arrived early, and the entire order should've been ready.) Standing at the counter, I realize- hey, this pizza is going to get cold. I ask counter person to put it back in the warming area. Good thing I did, because it was twenty minutes by the time those bites appeared! And all I got was an "ok- Meg" when the food was finally presented. No apology for the wait. Nothing. I couldn't believe it! I'm very nonconfrontational, so all I could muster was a "this is pretty disturbing because now that pizza isn't hot anymore.." I didn't know how to best express my displeasure, without sounding like a jerk. Anyway. The girl literally said, "yes it is" (hot), and opened the box. Not sure what it was we were supposed to see! Steam? Nada. Then, as response- she indifferently asks if I wanted a two-liter, an apparent attempt at... compensation? I said, "no, that's ok, thanks." (I don't drink soda, didn't want to make anything more of it... Just wanted to get out of there. 😣) It was the lack of acknowledgement that really bothered me the most. Epitome of showing lack of regard towards the customer....

I hardly ever write negative reviews, but I had such a negative experience using Bocce for catering that I feel obligated to leave a warning to anyone else considering using them for an event.

I called over a week in advance and asked about placing a catering order for pickup on a Tuesday at 5:30 pm. (I was picking up for an event on North Campus at 6). They told me that they would have no issue accommodating me and I could call on the same day but if I was feeling anxious I could place the order the Monday before. This is what I did.

When I showed up to pick the food up at 5:28 they told me it would be another 10 minutes or so until my food was ready. I explained this was a catering order for an event and that I was supposed to bring the food over at 5:45 so we could set up before it started. They just shrugged and said was cooking and would be ready in about 10 minutes.

It was not ready in 10 minutes. It was ready at 5:45. Maybe for some 15 minutes is not a big deal, but for this event it was. I wanted to pizza to be hot when it arrived which is why I scheduled the pickup at 5:30. As a result of their delay our event (with a guest speaker from out of town) was delayed and I missed the start of the event since after dropping the food I still had to park.

I think the most frustrating part was that I spoke to 3 people there, and nobody seemed even remotely apologetic about the delay. This suggests to me that this may be typical for them. I think the quality of the pizza was fine, but I would not go back--It seems the choices at Bocce Club are either A) order the pizza for pickup at an earlier time and let it get cold and soggy or B) plan to be late.

I would recommend an alternative for anyone planning an event (highly recommend, for instance, Forno Napoli as an...

Took them over a hour from receiving a order for a half cheese pizza to complete the order. Customer was extremely upset. Upon arrival to the restaurant I showed them the order and they would look for it then come back and attend to other customers. He then would ask me for the name again and go back and check. After about 3-4 times of this happening, someone from the back finally said it will be another 10 minutes. Which is basically them saying we forgot the order and we are going to make it now. After 10 minutes I politely asked them to check because I saw a order that was exactly the same get shelved. It was not the order, not a problem. Within a minute or so they started complaining about our company and various employees that come to pick up orders. Due to me trying to be persistent on behalf of the customer. Which in turn means this happens often that they are late. Finally, the order comes out and I delivered it 1 hour late. We represent the customers and we only get paid per order. Not per hour. It's better to be straight forward with us, so we can relay it to the customers and try to keep them happy. If you keep telling us, every 5-10 minutes that it will be another 5-10 minutes. The customer we have to relay this information to will get extremely upset. It's no different than if the customer came to pick up the order themselves.

Edit: I would also like to add, that the older gentleman asked one of the younger staff to prioritize an order because it was a "good friend of his" right in front of everyone. which made the situation...