The Original Buscemi's — Restaurant in Utica

I have worked retail for 23 years and I just want the owners of this establishment to know how some of their employees are dealing with customers this probably happened about a month ago or so and finally had time to put in my review.

I had called to order a fresh 4 piece square pizza. I was told that I needed to order six pieces to place the order and said ok no problem. Went in picked up the pizza and when I got home opened the box and it was not a fresh pizza . So I had called immediately and spoke to a woman on the phone (maybe the owner/franchise) who was very nice , apologetic said no problem honey I am so sorry……….can you come back? And I said no I couldn’t not at this time. She said that’s ok…… she took my name and phone number down and I said it probably wouldn’t be for a couple weeks. She said OK just try and get in as soon as you can. When I was finally able to make it back up there, which was probably a few days before the two weeks I called and asked to speak to a manager, and the girl who answered said you can speak with me. I started to explain the situation to her with what had happened and as soon as I said a couple weeks ago, she Immediately said we only allow 4 days after it happens with an attitude, no less. I then proceeded to explain to her. I was never told about the four days or I would have made it a point to call sooner……….Still with the attitude said we normally don’t do this, but I will honor it just this one time. My frustration with the whole situation and why I was being argued with about it I finally said I don’t need your @&#%ing pizza and hung up. The swearing was probably unnecessary and my apologies for that!! Also these stars have nothing to do with who I originally spoke with...

I attempted to order party subs here. First thing you encounter is a website that appears to have been created circa 2005. No big deal, a static menu with a phone number, I can adapt. Call the number. Despite only having a phone number as a point of contact, the employee answering the phone seemed very bothered by having to answer the phone. I said I wanted 2 party subs.

This seemed to confuse the employee, as though they didn't know they sold party subs. After working through that confusion, I ordered the first sub, a turkey sub.

The employee then decided that concluded my order because she said, "2 turkey subs" and tried to wrap up the call.

Now we had to have fairly lengthy interaction where I clarified that I want 1 turkey sub and I am about to tell her what the other sub is.

At this point things go completely off the rails. On the website they have a sub simply named "Pizza". Yes, the sub is named "Pizza". This sent the employee's mind into another dimension.

There were two reasons for this. First, calling a sub simply "Pizza" is a huge ambiguity. Second, as I learned, Buscemi's stopped selling "Pizza" sub sometime between when the website was created (2005) and today (2025).

After a large investment in both time and effort we were both able to understand that I was asking for a sub called "Pizza", and that sub was no longer sold by Buscemi's.

So, I pivoted to an Italian sub. With the order items sorted out, she quoted a price of $150 for two 3-foot party subs.

The reason I selected Buscemi's is because I thought the prices wouldn't have parity with a premium bakery or deli.

When I expressed hesitation at the price she...

I went in this Buscemi's to get a few pizza rolls. I have been buying them here for many years. I walked up to the counter where the pizza is, see 3 people. 1 girl on the floor messing with her shoes, 2 guys looking at her. She gets up and says can I help you? I said I would like 2 pizza rolls, but thinking she was just on the floor and didn't wash her hands. She says to go to the cash register, I did. I was watching her and she was chomping on gum and making bubbles over my food while putting them in the bag, I was to embarrassed to say something so I just paid for them. A kid who works there walks up to the cashier showing something to her on his phone. They were talking back and forth, she was ignoring me. I paid with my debit then looked at her waiting for my receipt and a bag to put pizza rolls in. She says what? You want a bag? I said forget it and walked out. I was grossed out and upset so decided to call the manager and tell my story. The guy said he was manager but didn't ask who it was or anything. I said this is weird, you don't even care and you probably just lost a customer today. He said okay, thanks for calling. I will talk to them. Where there is food you have to employ clean people with manners to work...