Pazzo Pomodoro — Restaurant in Vienna

My husband recommended this place as he went often with his family when he was younger. We were accompanied by my parents, my husband's parents, and his brother as well. The meal started off just fine at first. Appetizers were served and were delicious. Then the mains were served and we started eating. This is where the bad experience begins.

My mother started eating her dish, which was a scallop and risotto dish, and after a little bit said her throat started feeling like it was closing up a bit. She simply told me where her epipen was and put the dish aside. We made absolutely no complaint to the staff as it wasn't their fault if she suddenly couldn't eat it. Her throat felt better a few minutes after she stopped eating it

For context: My mother does NOT have any food allergies at all. She carries an epipen because she is deadly allergic to a common household medication. The only reason she thought she might be having a reaction is because she has been on chemo for her cancer which might cause reactions to foods you never had a reaction to before.

When our server (Mauro, I believe he said his name was) came over and saw the dish, he asked about it. At first he just wanted to make sure that the meal tasted fine or if there was something wrong. However, when my mom explained she potentially felt a slight allergic reaction to it, his attitude changed. He started practically scolding my mother about how "It's the customer's responsibility to let us know if you have an allergy", and he repeated this over and over again like a parent scolding their child. My mother attempted to interject to explain that she was not and has never been allergic to shellfish, but her meek tone was overtaken once again by our waiter who kept the scolding going.

To be fair, my father, who doesn't know my mother's particulars that well, falsely said she was allergic to cilantro when she is not. She is one of the people where cilantro tastes like soap so she does not eat it (which made my father believe she was allergic). When the waiter heard my father say that, he again started scolding saying she could be allergic then to parsley because they're related. Again, my mother has no food allergies. She grows and eats her own parsley at home, for goodness sake.

After being told the same thing about how "It's the customer's responsibility/it's your responsibility" in a scolding tone, my mother just eventually said she was sorry and he one more time said about how "don't say sorry, but it's your responsibility...". After he left, most of us had a bad taste in our mouths from the encounter. We packed our meal, paid, and left.

I understand that restaurants do not want their customers to suffer an allergic reaction, and by no means am I one to truly believe "the customer is always right". However, this server did not try to listen to mother attempting to explain herself and also scolded her repeatedly in front of the entire restaurant instead of just giving a simple, nice explanation and leaving it at that.

All I can say is, this place's food is good, my husband and his family have fond memories of it, but we will absolutely never step foot in here again after the treatment my...

Pazzo Pomodoro: 118 Branch Road SE, Vienna, VA 22180, last inspection: May 15

violations: Observed the sanitizing solution in the 3-vat sink with a concentration of 100 ppm total quaternary ammonium compound, hand soap was not provided at kitchen handwashing sinks (both corrected), dented canned food cans were noted among conned food supplies on a dry storage shelving and not separated to be returned or be discarded, wet wiping cloths used for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces were observed stored on the counter, food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: C chicken Florentine = 84F, Caesar dressing = 54F, sliced tomatoes = 52F, fresh mozzarella cheese = 57F, temperature measuring device in the following mechanically refrigerated unit was not properly located in the warmest part of the unit, salad preparation refrigeration unit is not operating properly and is unable to maintain cold food at or below 41°F, low temperature, chemical sanitizing warewashing machine was observed with a sanitizing rinse concentration of less than 50 ppm chlorine solution, detergents and sanitizing agent/chlorine were not present in the buckets at the ware washing machine, surfaces of the can opener bald and base holder were observed to be heavily soiled with accumulations of grime and debris, food-contact surfaces of utensils and equipment were not observed sanitized at the ware washing machine and at the 3-vat sink, bulk grease spill noted on the ground in the dumpster area, outside bulk grease container was not properly covered, trash, spill grease, and litter were observed adjacent to the refuse and grease containers outside the facility, inadequate lighting was provided in the food preparation areas especially under the hood system on the cookline, floor under the cooking equipment at the hood system is in...

Local authentic Italian restaurant with wood-fired oven from Naples! The food and service is reminiscent of my trip to Rome and Almalfi. Even the restaurant name "Pomodoro" meaning tomato sauce is legit.

My hubby and I ordered a feast with a Charcuterie board, Tuscan bread, Margherita pizza, Rainbow Trout, Chocolate Mousse, and Tiramisu.

Tuscan style flatbread (5/5) - Peppered with seasoning and olive oil, baked in the wood-fired oven was bursting with flavor in every bite. It was hands-down my favorite item on the menu and beats the dry complementary bread, definitely worth ordering!

Charcuterie board (5/5) - My hubby enjoyed the fresh slices of prosciutto and parmesan and blue cheese.

Rainbow Trout (5/5) - My husband kept raving about the delicacy of the fresh caught fish. The side of grilled veggies and potatoes was tasty.

Margherita pizza (1/5) - Disappointing and didn't have the pillowy soft crust that I hoped for. Despite the hand-made oven from Naples, the bland pizza didn't quite deliver and measure up to Assaggi Osteria or Pupatella. Fun to watch the pizza cook in the wood-fired oven in front of me! I'll go with a pasta dish next time.

Chocolate Mousse (5/5) - Decadent and divine, loaded with chocolate chunks and topped with raspberry cream.

Tiramisu (1/5) - Underwhelming, where were the layers? Some of the sides were full of dense cream and missing the spongy coffee soaked layers.

As a tip, check out pics of all the dishes with descriptions on the restaurant's website.

As many Yelpers have noted, the service is fantastic! Truly authentic and very genuine. Will be back for the Tuscan bread and try out some of the...