Angeli Cafe - disappointing...
We decided to have a last minute dinner at Angeli tonight, having been a hand full of times before and always enjoyed it. We got there around 8:45 --- the host said it would be a few minutes for a table. Almost 20 minutes later we were seated. After being seated for about 10 minutes no one came by to bring us water, bread or see if we wanted drinks. We flagged down a bus boy and he said he would get the waiter. Finally, after at least 25 minutes of staring at the menu a waiter came to our table...said he had thought someone else had taken our order. Nope. So, we ordered...the wine and food came out promptly and was delicious as usual...but there was no sign of Andrew (our waiter according to the bill). After the bus boy cleared the dishes there was still no sign of Andrew. We flagged down the bus boy (again) to bring the bill. Andrew brought it after about 10 minutes then disappeared. Finally, we gave the bill to a different waiter. We paid (left a pretty crappy tip - which we NEVER do) and saw Andrew hanging out a table in the patio area...he didn't even acknowledge us as we left. Although the food was very tasty, the service left a very bad taste...will have a very hard time returning again.
Obessed
Mar 08, 2008 11:11PM
so sorry to hear this. i have to agree that their service has ranged from only fair to poor. the poor experience was similar to yours but we had a server who only would answer our questions in one or two words. she was also very harsh. when it took a while for our food, we asked how long it may be and she yelled "soon!". she had a heavy accent and not sure where it was from. it was almost borderline comical but of course in the end we were disappointed. they tend to have waitstaff that seems to like to talk to one another. evan, if you're reading this you could make your place so much better if you hired more professional people. the food there is great and that is the only reason i kept going back but since i've moved out of the hood i don't feel the need to take a special trip.
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So, I sent an email to Evan about the service we received and I got a very nice and apologetic response back. She said they have gotten really busy over the past few months and have tried to staff up, and suggested they might need to staff up even more. She was very appreciative that I took the time to let her know about the service we received - saying if they don't know about this then they won't be able to change it. I will give definitely give them another chance, since it's in my neighborhood and as I mentioned I always enjoy the food. It also helps that she immediately responded to my email saying how sorry she was of the service we received.
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I find the service lacking and often just plain rude. The last time I ate there I ordered the linguine with clams and my companion ordered the penne bolognese. We requested parmesan for the bolognese and our waiter snapped that one shouldn't put cheese on clams. Extremely annoying as I wasn't planning on putting it on the clams and what business is it of his anyway?
The food is good but not great. For the same price I would much rather eat at Mozza, where the pizzas are more inspired and the service is always top-notch.
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here's a link to a fun thread below on the no cheese on seafood.
but really, and i hope to god that no one does this, but you should be able to put ketchup on your food if you want. the thought of that combo is gross but my point is you paid for it and if you like cheese on your clams linguini it's your right. and your not the first person to like it. we're not in italy and angeli caffe is faaar from authentic Italian. i like angeli only b/c it's not was never a fuss to go there. i never had to make reservations and it's never a scene like in many hollywood places.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/427677
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I know, the cheese was for the bolognese. In any case, it isn't his place to tell diners how to enjoy their food. A good parmesan is lovely on pretty much anything!
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fwiw, I've had both bad service and worse food at Mozza.
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me too. I have had bad service at both. But the food At Angeli has been top notch always.
The service has varied form stellar to just laughable.
Stellar: I was accidentally given a nut dish, and the waiter ran on food to get me antihistamine, as I am allergic to nuts. They know I like the bread and keep it coming.
OUr food is always right on time and right what we ordered.
They are amazing with kids, in a way that keeps kids and other patrons happy. That is rare!
The servers are not snooty (not to us) But open and approachable.
I often book events and call a billion times. I have not been killed by harried staff once.
Silly: I TOLD them I was allergic to nuts, and he gave me a dish with nuts in it and check after serving it. But he was very good about making up for it.
The website is WOEFULLY out of date. Menu's and the thursday dinners are MONTHS behind.
I am on the mailing list, but never ever get any of the mailings. I keep getting bumped off and have to ask to be put on again every month.
My mother tried to get me shceduled for the website mentioned "cooking in LA' Classes. No one could tell her if Evan was doing one, how much it would cost, etc. IN fact, no one seemed to want to bother asking Evan. I emailed her several times asking. She NEVER answered. That is sad, she's usually so wonderful.
You often have to ask for refills a few times
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I totally agree with you re the bad service at Mozza. With their service, horrible ambience and mediocre food, I am at a total loss as to why this place is so busy and so hyped in the media. I guess there must be enough people who like scene, and are happy to eat in a place where conversation is impossible due to the decibel level.
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Sadly, I can't say the same for the service at the Osteria Mozza, which was almost as bad as what the OP described at Angeli. Started with the bartender who promised snacks while we waited but never delivered. Then people who sat down well after us received menus before us. I had to flag down a waiter to get menus, who offered no apologies beyond a lame joke about having to scour the place to find them. Another server brought us a "complimentary" amuse bouche. I couldn't hear her description of the ingredients, so I asked her to repeat it. Instead, she just reiterated in that it was "complimentary" and walked away. Finally, when the check came, the server quite conspicuously placed the check in front of me, instead of my female dining companion, who was actually paying. The food, however, was fantastic...
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That's unfortunate. They do seem to be pretty understaffed there, but when we went, it at least looked like they were trying their best to serve everyone promptly.
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I have been emailing with Evan...and she is really sorry about the terrible service we received. She assured me that they are working on fixing it and she definitely seems like she cares.
Seperately, I learned that Andrew was not our waiter. Instead, he was actually the more attentive server who took/and processed our bill.
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in you next email, please tell her about how much we all hope she'll update the website!
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I've only been to Angeli once, the food was great, the price point was right on and the service was so-so. We were there early, right after they opened, no one in the place and the service was still somewhat inattentive. They also seemed a bit uptight that I was using my KCRW card for the discount, which is ironic since Evan is on KCRW weekly.
However, just last week I had horrible attitudinal service at Osteria La Buca, which is totally overpriced for what you get. We are at Paramount often for evening screenings and need to have early dinners, so I want to give Angeli another try.
We are finally trying Osteria Mozza next week, can't wait to see if we get indifferent service there.
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