Fratellis Italian Steakhouse Winston-Salem — Restaurant in Winston-Salem

June 2021 We usually go to Ryan's when in Winston-Salem for special occasions, but my parents wanted to try Fratellis for their anniversary. This was definitely a mistake for several reasons.

1. I told the reservation staff member this was a milestone anniversary celebration dinner (for 4), and she very politely promised she would make sure this was noted.
2. Upon arrival several days later, we were happy to be immediately seated. Unfortunately we eventually realized this must be the worst table at Fratellis - very first one directly beside the entry with its constant host staff traffic where customers stand/sit/walk/talk while waiting on tables. Also where the servers gather to laugh and loudly converse while waiting for their orders by the large open kitchen. An extremely poor choice for four people with Thursday night reservations to celebrate a big anniversary.
3. The team server concept seems like a good plan, but not when they don’t communicate and repeat the same questions - or even worse assume it’s their teammate offering prompt service when it isn’t.
4. After ordering a bottle of wine, our server asked if we were celebrating an event, so we again told him it was my parents’ anniversary. We’re not sure if Fratellis typically does anything for celebrations, but it was never acknowledged or even mentioned in a good-bye wish.
5. Also not sure if the server was new to this, but no wine tasting was offered - instead it was immediately poured into every glass with a bit conspicuously spilling on the table each time.
6. In prep for the main course, a server picked up my dirty fork and knife (which I had placed on my dirty appetizer plate) sat them back down - directly on the table - and told me I would need to keep those to finish the meal.
7. A server swooped in and took away the remaining bread while my parents both had several bites to go on their meals.
8. Even with black toilets, we could still tell Fratellis isn’t worried about keeping the bathrooms clean throughout dinner service. However, at least in there you finally have a quiet space to hear their relaxing muzak.
9. Since it was a big night for my parents, I decided to call back and speak with a manager instead of asking to talk with one that evening. When I did, the manager on duty politely thanked me for the feedback and said he would talk with the staff. Wanting my feedback to be taken seriously, I did not ask for anything more, and he certainly made no effort to offer.
10. On the positive side (for many diners) where the food may be lacking in freshness or creativity, Fratellis definitely makes up for it with portion size and butter. So, go somewhere else for your celebrations, but if you’re looking for comfort food and sub-par service with an Applebee’s atmosphere, then try Fratellis - or save a few bucks and just go...

Noticed a lot of mixed reviews (either glowing praise or "this wasn't worth the money" type posts), and thought the negative reviews might just be people who weren't happy with the prices since it's not cheap.

Nope, it's really a 50/50 shot. I got blackened salmon and it was great - one of the best meals I've had out in a while. My wife got 41 day aged ribeye (medium rare) and it was dry, flavorless, and a bit tough. Our friend also got the 41 day aged ribeye (medium rare) and it was juicy, full of flavor, and tender. My wife asked if she definitely got the same cut of meat (because everybody tried it and agreed it was NOT the same quality/flavor as the other identical order on the table) and the waiter - a very friendly and helpful person - brought it back, then told us the chef insisted that it was definitely the same cut. The offer was to bring it back and finish eating (wife said no, she didn't want it), put it in a to-go box (again, she didn't want it), and as a consolation prize they offered "spaghetti or a dessert" for the compensation of a terrible $60 steak - to which my wife also said no. We didn't make any more of a scene because who wants to be those people, and we certainly didn't want to make the waiter's life hard, so we simply paid the bill and left.

Other notes: Wait staff was super friendly and helpful. We totally understand the issue with the steak (and the kitchen's response) was out of their control. One our friends got the filet mignon and I didn't realize it was the filet until I asked him what he had gotten, while he was struggling to cut through it with a steak knife (also medium rare). Unbelievably tough and stringy for a filet mignon. Another friend also got a medium rare filet and said it was 'good'. Appetizers were also hit or miss - the pizza was great (seriously, I would do a pickup order JUST for the pizza in the future, highly recommended) the bacon slab mediocre, the crab-stuffed shrimp was incredibly bland.

It might be a little cheaper than a place like Ryan's, but I'd have gladly had a $200 bill with a good steak instead of a $165 bill with steak returned to...

So, my fiancé and my daughter fiend this restaurant on the web. We live in Hickory. My birthday was this past Sat on 5/29. On 5/28 before I left for work, he told me that I needed to come home and get dressed for dinner. We needed to be on the road by 6:30 for an 8:00 reservation. Cool! I get home early, get dressed, we drive 1hr and 10 mins to get there. Let me say, my 1 star was because my fiancé’s steak was cooked perfectly.

The greeter was great and they set a good time with the outside of the building. We are immediately taken to our table. We sat there for about 5 mins and a waitress came to take our drink order. He ordered a Long Island and I ordered an Apple Martini. We then ordered apps. I got crab stuffed shrimp and he got crab cakes. The apps were great. His drink was great, my apple martini was brown.... I adv the waitress that that was not what I ordered and it should be green. She took it back to the bar and she advised me they were missing some items and had to substitute. (Why wouldn’t you tell me and give me the option to order something else?)

Our food: Baby got the steak with a salad and mashed potatoes loaded because they were out of baked potatoes. He said his mashed potatoes were cold. The butter would not even melt.

I got chicken Parmesan which was served with a salad and Fettuccine Alfredo. My food came to the table swimming in a puddle of juices. Half of eating something is being able to visually enjoy it. I could not even say that the food was good because it looks so nasty I was grossed out trying to eat it. I ate two pieces of chicken.

We got our check and there was an extra Long Island on there. Once removed we spent $150 (which is good for a nice restaurant). We didn’t complain about the food, because I didn’t want to sit and wait for it. I had already waited all day to eat. I am a chef... I would have NEVER allowed a plate like that out of my kitchen. We don’t mind spending for what we want, we went to Ruth Chris a couple of weeks ago. We will NEVER...