Nostra Tavola — Restaurant in Vancouver

The gentle folk here work hard to serve up the perfect experience and for the most part, they are exactly in the sweet spot. The atmosphere is elegant yet relaxed, a palette of rich and mysterious colors, deep in their understanding of light and dark, steeped in the art of gentility and welcome. The staff were masters in the subtleties of service and approachability. Unobtrusive yet omnipresent in their in responses. We were a meeting of gods, we were having a tête-à-tête of global implications, an initial gathering of internet warriors… and Nostra Tavola presented the perfect venue. Good friends and good food are always the perfect condiment. The chili crisp on your noodles, the sprinkles on your Ben and Jerry’s. Dare I say, the cherry on top! The food was also top drawer, a humble salami sandwich elevated by spicy hot salami and a solid rustic bread. Sophisticated yet fun, surprising yet universal. And of course the fries, which were the Labrador retriever of fries, dependable and lovable.

Into this paragon of perfection, this song to sustenance there came one small mote, a single speck of irritation. A grain of sand in my delight… and it was about the bill.

I hate the practice of adding tips to a bill. We were a group of foodies, a gathering of experienced restaurant goers. I don’t think we would have skimped on the notion of gratuities. I travel the world with filthy lucre, I pay my way with cash, I hold on to the old ways. So I did not realize I had been charged a 20% gratuity until I was on my way out and other diners mentioned it. I tipped about 35%, which added to my bill means I tipped about 55% and while the service was good, it was not that good. It would have been nice when I put the money on the board, if the server had said something. In fact it seemed to catch a few others off guard as well. When I asked if I had been charged the extra tip since I had not received a receipt, there was an awkward moment at the desk. They offered to check, but honestly I am not going to stand and quibble in the middle of my group, or claw back a percentage of the bill. That would be a perfect way to escalate the thing into a truly embarrassing moment. I let it slide and so did others. I value good service. I generally tip well over 20%. I know groups can be difficult. But it left a bad aftertaste to the meal, like the taste of fish in your french fries. After being made to feel so welcome, it added a bad memory. What do I remember of Nostra Travola? Well now instead of the food, I remember the tip. Which is a pity. A glob of chewing gum on...

SHADY BUSINESS AT THE BAR. If you want to go out and treat yourself and feel unseen, ignored, slightly pre judged and hustled come to this bar, I had Collin waiting on me. I was never given a happy hour menu like everyone else at the bar, I order my app salad and first round, I eat I wait a bit and order Togo food and ask for a berry martini everyone in the restaurant is drinking. I'm then told it's on happy hour I can get it but full price (at 5:15) no problem I then ask for the HH menu to know for next time where 2/3 drinks and the two apps I order are listed. I was charged the full price for my salad when it was in happy hour and the app I was told is a different portion ( no worries would have just been nice to know) I feel the bartender at that point is just trying to get a high tab. He then rushes me out and drops this tab I order one more lemon drop and ask for the happy hour to at least be added on the things I ordered in time which I was charged full price for. Weird! My tab was $115 which is no biggie but any server knows a one top at a bar before six at $115 is a good tab. The manager Katelyn was behind the bar putting on the game I wait till she leaves grab my Togo to tell her I tipped the bar but I think everyone should be included and made aware of specials and not charged full price on things on the list she proceeds to ignore me even when I'm saying ma'am and trying to politely tap her (still won't even look in my direction) it goes on so long I talk to a server and ask her if this woman was their manger? She says yes and I ask what her name is? I finally call her name and she tells me to wait by the door I go wait by the door for her to even give me the time to acknowledge my existence. This was my first and last time at this establishment for sure. Sadly but, spend your money elsewhere.

Reply: Katelyn why would I continue to wait for you to fix it when you blatantly ignored me while I was standing right next to you for so long I had to ask a server on the pos computer your name? For you to even look at me? If we’re being honest you had no intention on even acknowledging me then ask me to go stand by the door and wait even more. You weren’t interested in hearing what I had to say or fixing it and that’s okay but that’s just not how a successful business should be ran or how any person dinning should be...

I placed a to-go order on a Saturday night. When I called and placed my order I was told it’ll be 20-25min and they would call me to let me know it was ready. That worked great since I live crossing road just one block away. I waited a whole 32min and no call so I drove there: walked in and the place seemed loud and there was about 3 men huddled by the cash register at the end of the bar and a girl behind the bar. They all turned at me when I walked in, but no one approached me. I waited by the door for a few minutes before anyone decided to greet me. After I said I was there for an to-go order the guy handed me a paper bag that was sitting under the warming light. I asked if it had been ready for some time and he said “oh it just came out” and I believed that. As soon as I got home I opened the “crispy” calamari….there was nothing crispo about it, it was bland, overly breaded and COLD! I immediately opened my linguini before it would get cold and it was already COLD! And super salty. All I could taste was salt and zero spicy as it stayed on the menu. Needless to say, my $40 ($18 linguini & $16 crispy calamari, plus taxes & tip) dinner was a bust and it definitely had been sitting there for some time.First time ordering and not sure I would give it another try. Overly priced for the portion & quality of food and the customer service could use some help.

UPDATE: I received an unexpected call from Kyle with Nostra Tavola. He was friendly, apologetic & offered a refund. Him reaching out to make things right speaks loud about a business. I’ll definitely give them...