San Lorenzo — Restaurant in Washington

Abnormal dining experience, but interesting social experiment to endure.

BLUF: I chose to go here, so it is ultimately my fault. They should consider closing and giving the space to a better restaurant with different management because the space is SO NICE though.

1. Four different staff interacted with us. One took our water order, then disappeared for the entire meal. Second individual, was our primary waiter who said less than nine words to us. Third man, water person, performed better than everyone else. The Fourth woman brought the bread and appeared to move with more urgency than everyone else.

2. Potential bias towards different customers. Some customers receive far better service than others. There are two levels to the seating arrangement. Level two appears to have their preferred patrons, who are serviced in a more thorough manner. On the lower level, older people received better or faster service. Level two consisted of old, white men.

3. Our primary server: avoid at all costs. Couldn’t make any recommendations, nor provide any insight to the menu. It may be better if the wait service is replaced by AI. It appeared we were a nuisance to our waiter.

4. Owner or pseudo manager interactions: An individual who appeared to be tangentially involved in the management kept walking up to customers and making a lot of physical contact with them. He appeared to be on drugs and would repeatedly walk in and out of the restaurant, to what I assess was to consume more drugs. He’d stumble back in and look increasingly disheveled as the night continued.

5. Food: cold. Despite what people think, it’s not actually difficult to serve hot food. It’s not rocket science.

6. Prosciutto cutting machine: it’s a trap and a gimmick. No serious dining establishment does that. Also, guests sit directly next to the prosciutto as it lies out in the open.

7. Dessert menu: the staff offers it to you like you’ve graduated to the PhD level of dining after you’ve endured their horrible service. They should take context clues and assume no one on the bottom level wants to eat dessert.

8. Time: the entire meal took 2.5 hours. It took 2.5 hours to receive one appetizer and two entrees. It took 25 minutes to receive the check alone. That’s a paper product, just print it.

9. Price: paid $200 for two. Simply absurd for the quality. I could have bought two weeks of groceries and cooked four dinner entrees myself, but better with zero...

HOW IN THE WORLD DOES THIS PLACE HAVE 5 star reviews?????? I was so excited to go here while visiting Washington. It was on top of my list of places to eat. And boy oh boy was I ever disappointed….. where do I start??

When you first walk in, you are hit with a strong smell, I couldn’t quite figure out what it was under the prosciutto was brought to our table. Maybe it’s because I don't eat meat, but in my opinion that smell is not normal for anything ingested should smell.

Let’s move onto the waiter and his condensing tone. he was very annoyed with me when i was inquiring about dishes due to a food allergy. After inquiring about the dishes I had my eyes on and couldn’t end up ordering any of it. So I asked the waiter what on the menu can I order since I’m sensitive dairy. And told him what I can and can’t have. He turned and told me that I shouldn’t of come here then, rolled his eyes and walked away and said I’ll give you time to think about it!!!!

I understand that I’m not an easy customer due to my food restrictions, but don’t have to be rude about it.

Now onto the food, we had asked the waiter how big the portions are so can get an idea of how much food to order. He said they’re fairly generous! IT IS NOT. The lobster risotto Is not the normal portion like other places, and there wasn’t much lobster in it at all, just the few bits that you see there. And I will tell you this and many people will be able to relate, whenever I eat sea food that isn’t fresh, I get hives, and low and behold, I got hives right after. This is not the last of it yet… when it came time to dessert, I read the ingredients on the menu and went with the chocolate cake, (remember that the waiter and I’ve already had this talk about my sensitivity to dairy) he brings out the cake, and there’s whip cream on the cake 😒, so I tell him and his response is why didn’t you tell me? I totally would’ve understood if the restaurant was busy and he had too many tables to serve but he did not, so the attitude was just uncalled for.

He took the cake back and brought out a new one, that night…. I puked my brain out. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he intentionally wanted to poison me.

so to say i was disappointed is an understatement!! What a horrible night it turned out to be, to have hives, vomit and diarrhea.

And that is why I have chosen to give my review so that people who have food allergies can be aware and not...

I had the pleasure of dining at San Lorenzo on a delightful Thursday evening, enjoying the pleasant outdoor seating area and the gentle breeze. To commence my culinary journey, I indulged in a special appetizer consisting of soft crab paired with delectable asparagus. The bread served was simply exquisite, perfectly complementing the flavors of the dish.

Moving on to the main course, I was enthralled by the Tortellini filled with the heavenly combination of robiolina and black truffle. This exquisite creation truly captured the essence of Italian cuisine. To accompany my meal, I savored a delightful Chianti Classico Riserva from the renowned region of Tuscany, which elevated the flavors of the dish to new heights.

As the evening progressed, I found myself intrigued by the selection of desserts. I ultimately decided on the cheesecake, adorned with a tropical fruit jelly and drizzled with a luscious vanilla sauce. This remarkable creation harmoniously blended the delicate textures of a cheesecake with the exquisite allure of crème brûlée, leaving my taste buds thoroughly satisfied.

The service at San Lorenzo was nothing short of impeccable. I had the privilege of meeting Chef Massimo, whose culinary expertise shone through in every dish. The manager, Christina, was an absolute delight, ensuring that every guest had a truly remarkable dining experience. Her keen attention to detail was exemplified when she promptly replaced my wine upon noticing a bug that had inadvertently found its way into the glass. Such meticulousness truly left an impression.

Despite dining al fresco, I couldn't resist the opportunity to explore the interior of the restaurant. Its charming ambiance transported me back to fond memories of my visits to Florence, evoking a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of family-owned establishments.

In summary, my experience at San Lorenzo was nothing short of extraordinary. From the carefully crafted dishes to the exceptional service, every aspect of the evening was a testament to the culinary mastery and dedication of the team. Whether savoring the exquisite flavors outdoors or immersing oneself in the charming interior, San Lorenzo is undoubtedly a destination that captures the essence of fine dining and leaves a lasting impression on its...