Il Fresco — Restaurant in Town of Orangetown

This was an experience that is one for the books, albeit several years back:

My father’s birthday party. Family gathering. I ordered some dish, chicken and prosciutto. The dish came literally floating in probably a quarter of sauce. The best part of this was when I raised my concerns to the server, the female manager was dispatched to my table where I was lectured on how “expensive prosciutto is” and that “her brother was the chef”. I told her straight out to get the check and we were leaving. We waited for another 20 minutes before I told a passing server that we were leaving if the check didn’t come.

Overall, having eaten here several times as a couple, it was OK. But they cannot handle a group of 10. The customer service is deplorable. The handicapped accessibility is nearly impossible.

I don’t tolerate bad service when that’s what we’re paying for at a restaurant; but frankly I don’t care who your brother is unless he has letters or stars after his name; which the proprietor here certainly does not.

Don’t waste your money. Go to Piermont and take your pick of properly operated, diverse menus and management that cares.

RESPONSE TO OWNER:

My review is from a horrific experience at your restaurant, that was supposed to be a happy occasion which was turned into a disaster by your restaurant’s arrogant, egotistical and frankly, grossly mismanaged staff. This occurred several years ago but I believe that my experience is still relevant and that the public should be aware that I, of all people, need to be lectured by a cheaply dressed “chef’s sister sans manager” on the price of prosciutto di parma? My complaint was that the dish was drowned in a quart of processed sauce, not the lecture I was unprofessionally given that it costs whatever $ per pound? Like I said at the time, I don’t care what the cost of 2 slices of prosciutto was or is. We left your restaurant, bill paid, with our assurance that we would never return. That promise has stood.

Family run restaurants are some of my favorite places to dine, the world over. Mostly because I believe in preserving small businesses. But the arrogance and outright unprofessionalism which I and my family was handled with needs to be documented for the public.

My wife and I used to dine in your cellar regularly. We have never returned, nor will any member of our family even if you paid for my meal and sent a chauffeur and car.

Never again. I wouldn’t tolerate Il Fresco’s arrogant management, untrained culinary staff nor their handicapped inaccessible restaurant if they gave me a lifetime of free meals.

Again, not worth your time or money. We left Il Fresco that night, went to Confetti’s in Piermont and wouldn’t return if the shabby dressed “chef’s sister” personally comp’ed our meals every night for the rest of time.

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I was unfortunate enough to dine at Il Fresco a few days ago. The experience began with entering and being seated in the dining room. The smell of dampness and mold was unbearable. We asked to eat outside and we’re moved immediately. The service was fair as we ordered beverages. I ordered a glass of the Baby Amarone for myself. The wine I was served had turned and was not consumable. I sent it back and the waiter returned with an unopened bottle that he opened at the table. I must say it was much better. Our dinner included the eggplant rollatini which was served with a burnt tomato sauce. I asked for veal milanese and was told they did not have it. I had to explain to the waiter that the veal parmigiana was the same sans the tomato sauce and cheese. His response was oh. When I received my meal it was cooked perfectly but to my disappointment the veal was tough, gray and of a pour quality. To add insult to injury when the bill arrived there were three Andes Chocolate mints served with it. I took them home and opened them this evening. All three were stale. Needless to say I will never return even though I have had several delightful lunches there in years past. As far as the star rating 1 star is really being kind. Besides the stench on the inside the outside was poorly maintained with rotting wood around the windows and rotting facia along the roof line being covered with...

El fresco had wonderful atmosphere and wonderful service. The food however for what my husband and I ordered was absolutely terrible. We ordered the seafood Bouillabaisse Now being Italian the sauce that is in the bouillabaisse has a flavor and somewhat of a consistency. Being Italian having had this dish, not only in Italy, but in America, many many times this was the worst water down worst dish we have ever had. We refused and sent it back only to be faced with the chef that explained that his brother had made this and that he was offended. I told him I was offended having been Italian and have had this dish at many other places, and this was terribly watered down and had no taste. He was terribly insulted and left the table with not even an apology. I would say that a chef that represents a restaurant that has been established for many many years be More Receptive to a customers critique of the food that they presented to the public. Not only was I insulted, but totally appalled of how he would not even hear of what I had to say. my son, however. Had a delicious dish. And like I said service atmosphere was terrific. Stay away from the bouillabaisse. For they know not how to properly prepare it. It was so terribly watered down that The thought of putting a piece of Italian bread into that water was disgusting. It was terrible stay away...