ITA Kitchen - Garden City — Restaurant in Town of Hempstead

On the evening of Friday, August 25, 2023, my family and went to ITA Garden City. We had a 7:15 reservation and high hopes for a memorable dining experience. Unfortunately, our visit left us feeling underwhelmed and disappointed.

Ambiance and Seating: While the restaurant's ambiance initially held promise, our seating arrangement near the bus station was far from ideal. We were exposed to the less glamorous aspects of restaurant operation, from watching staff scrape plates into take-away containers to being privy to the hustle and bustle of all that goes into serving patrons. This close proximity to the inner workings of the restaurant diminished the sense of mystery and sophistication that often accompanies a fine dining experience.

Noise Level: Although the music was at times too loud for comfortable conversation, we managed to communicate. However, the excessive volume during birthday celebrations was distasteful and uncomfortable for some in our party, detracting from the overall atmosphere.

Service and Waitstaff: Our waitress was pleasant but clearly lacked experience, displaying visible nervousness when our order did not progress as expected. Her insistence on removing the menus before delivering our appetizers felt rushed and unwelcoming. This misstep in service disrupted the flow of our dining experience.

Beverages: The beverage selection was a letdown, failing to match the upscale image of the restaurant. While my wife found her merlot to be average for the price, the limited beer options, including the unavailability of the Sam Adams I ordered, left much to be desired. The other options, Miller light and Peroni, are not hallmarks of an upscale restaurant.

Appetizers: Our appetizers, the Spicy Pesto Mussels and Rabe and Sausage Egg Rolls, were not up to par. The mussels lacked the nuanced flavors of a well-prepared pesto dish, with the cream sauce overpowering any potential subtleties from the basil, olive oil, and Parmesan. Similarly, the egg rolls failed to capture the expected spiciness/bitterness of the broccoli rabe, resulting in a flat fried sausage wonton.

Entrees: The entrees were undoubtedly the most disappointing aspect of our evening. The "secret" off-menu chicken bowls, upon inquiry, turned out to be made from ground chicken rather than the expected pounded chicken breast. This revelation was disappointing, considering the anticipation built around the dish on ITA's social media. The Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi, ITA Spicy Rigatoni, Manny's Veal, and SJ's Veal Chop all suffered from uninspired flavors and lackluster sauces. Truffle oil did little to elevate the gnocchi and my wife’s veal dish was plagued by an acidic flavor which made one suspect that the preparer merely opened a jar of artichoke hearts and dumped its contents onto the dish. My SJ’s Veal was swimming in a mushroom gravy that was clearly packaged and lacking in sophistication and flavor. I literally ate about four bites of the massive pounded veal chop.

Overall Impression: Given our dissatisfaction with the preceding courses, we opted to skip dessert. Our visit to ITA Garden City fell far short of our expectations for a special family night. The food quality, lack of value (our bill for four was $275 with tip and one drink each for my wife and I), and overall lackluster experience left us feeling unsatisfied and regretful of the significant expense incurred.

ITA Garden City failed to deliver on the promise of an upscale and satisfying dining experience. While we were excited to celebrate together before my son's departure for college, the restaurant's shortcomings left us yearning for a more fulfilling...

I used to love this place, however as a returning customer I was EXTREMELY disappointed. I chose this place to celebrate my birthday with friends and family. Upon entering, the restaurant smelled as if it had been cleaned with a dirty mop. It was not the best choice to stay after, but we hoped to give it the benefit of the doubt as we've dined there before and never experienced this. As we looked over the menu, the waitress approached us and asked if we were ready to order. We told her we would like to put in some appetizers and then we would decide later if we wanted entrees. She told us we had to put the order all in now that it was their policy. I told her that I did not know how hungry we would be so just to clarify if I am still hungry I can't order more food if I only order appetizers ? She expressed that all I could probably order was dessert that this is their policy. She had an attitude and it was evident in her tone and body language and she rudely walked away. We spoke with the manager whom was well Spoken and tried his best to rectify the situation, however it was clarified that they expect all food orders to be in together unless we order at least one entree. I've never heard of such policy and I've dined in many places. He insisted this was happening everywhere and that it's to make the kitchen run smooth. We understood, however we were disappointed that we were pressured into ordering so much food in fear that we may still be hungry after appetizers. He also then sent us a wonderful waitress who was very kind and is definitely the only reason I'm giving this place even one star. When our drinks came the seltzer and gingerale tasted so bad like the soda machines were dirty. Then the food came and the sizing was massive. We definitely did not need so much food. The carrozza was delicious but the chicken bowl was not good. We paid $45 for mostly bread crumbs. The Chicken tacos was all an Instagram hype and it seemed more filled with breadcrumbs than chicken. Everything was extremely greasy. Everyone went home with an upset stomach that ended up in all Of us throwing up. After leaving everything felt Like a scam to order more food. I've never heard of any place saying that you can't order more food if you're hungry unless you've ordered At least one entree. If I am in a restaurant spending money especially money like the cost of ITA I expect to eat what I want and however much I want. I will no longer be recommending this restaurant to anyone & they have lost a...

Stopped in with my wife after having a beyond horrible night in Bay Shore. We were reluctant to go but we live close by so I figured we’d give it another shot with it being a different location and hearing great things from our neighbors. Extremely glad we did. Food was great, nothing outstanding but the service was absolutely incredible. The only reason I personally will be going back is for the service. Our waiter Shawn was such a pleasure and professional; one of the best we’ve had and we go out all the time. He made sure everything was perfect. Great attention to detail, personality, knowledge of the menu and especially his patience with my wife who asks a million questions. We felt like we were his only table and he had at least 7 others from what I could see. We had clean and new silverware after every course (had the same fork and knife since the apps at Bay Shore), always there for a drink order and water was never empty. I slipped a little when getting up to go to the bathroom and Shawn was on his hands and knees wiping the floor. I dropped my napkin on the floor and before I could even lift my head to ask for a new one he was there with a new one in hand. We felt like royalty. I’m a restaurant guy I notice all the little things. I NEVER write reviews but felt compelled to let it be known how much of an amazing experience we had because of the employee and not necessarily because of the establishment. I didn’t get his info but Shawn if you see this I’m opening up a place after the winter and would love for you to train the staff, I’m coming back for your info and schedule. I’d recommend anyone to go there to have a fun, romantic and exciting time (definitely way way better than Bay Shore) but if you want an actual amazing dining experience request Shawn, he’s got it all under control. We came in at a busy time and rightfully so everyone else seemed a little overwhelmed. I honestly can’t say or express enough how much of a pleasure it was and how much of a nice time we had. The Irish manager was very nice too. You guys have 2 new neighborhood regulars now. We saw the table next to us get the table cheese that they make in front of you! After seeing that we have to go back just for that along with everything else. Also! Be prepared for a birthday celebration every 10 or so minutes! Was a little much at times but all in the spirit of fun and having a good time! So so happy we gave it...