AVOID!

I decided to give this place a shot, as it came highly recommended by several friends. Took a seat at the bar on a Sunday evening (1/22) after a wait of about 25 mins. Bartender was friendly, but clearly needs more instruction/training. The service felt awkward, and he was painfully unfamiliar with the liquors and wines on offer. It became quickly obvious that they simply don't stock essential spirits; I requested a Bombay Sapphire martini--didn't have it. Tanqueray? No. Ended up with a different London dry that I wasn't familiar with, after considerable begging and back-and-forth with the bartender. Clearly I wasn't the only patron puzzled by this, as the gentleman next to me was informed they don't carry Bulleit or Maker's Mark. Seriously? Nothing against craft spirits, but in my view, you can't load up on those until you have your bases covered.

As for the food, it was a mixed bag…arguably worse. The garlic bread with white sauce was probably the highlight of the meal. The fried mozzarella was more bread than cheese. Then onto the veal francese, a real embarrassment. As a home cook as well as a regular on the dining circuit, I am familiar with the classic egg- and parmesan-batter sauté method . . . but this dish really missed the mark--as it was coated in such a heavy layer of overcooked egg that it was difficult to taste the other flavors. The vegetables were wilted, soggy and over-salted. By the end of it all, I was clearly disappointed; and to his credit, the bartender recognized that verbally if not in practice. I relayed my frustrations with the veal, which he acknowledged, but little/no apology and was presented a check with nothing removed. Perhaps Caruso is coasting on its status as an "it" restaurant of the moment, and thus didn't see it worthwhile to try and make things right with a chagrined customer. Fine, but they have not earned my return business.

Frankly, the ambiance was my favorite thing about this spot. It's clear that some thought went into decoration, music, and so on. Just wish food and service matched up.

UPDATE: Management responded to my review, with passive interest at best. The chef/proprietor addressed none of my concerns directly, and rather brushed them off. He takes issue with my observation that they are coasting, but his non-response to my complaint is case-in-point. He did offer to refund my meal, though when I said I’d be willing to give the place another chance, his reply was that “we aren’t the restaurant for you.” Not sure what that means, given that I dine out several nights per week and appreciate good food. Oh well, there are plenty of other Italian joints in this town that actually value customer service and quality over Instagram appeal. I’d recommend Trattoria Alberto, Filomena, La Perla, and Floriana. Onward!