A while ago now, I surprised BF with a special date. We both like museums, and we’re always saying “We should go see [exhibit]” but then life just gets in the way… so one Saturday when both our calendars appeared to be free and clear, I whisked him away, packed a picnic lunch, and headed over to the Museum of Natural History.
After a full day of walking and exploring, comparing what we remembered from our childhood and what it was like now, we were hungry again, and walking around the Museum area itself proved fruitless. BF really wanted Italian, so we finally wandered our way into Nocello at 257 West 55th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue. (Yes, we walked quite a bit, but hell, we’re New Yorkers, walking is second nature.)
We were both taken aback when we entered the cozy but not full by any means restaurant, asked for a table for two, and the hostess practically sneered at us, “Do you have a reservation?” I felt more than unwelcome and unhappy by this snarling accusation of “How dare you not have a reservation!” but after we told her no, and she acted like it was a huge favor to seat us, we were seated after no waiting. What was the point of that? To make us feel like schmucks? Cuz it worked, but I’m not going to pull punches here.
To make matters worse, we watched other people come in who clearly didn’t have reservations but were warmly welcomed by the hostess. So, wtf? Were they regulars? Was the hostess a blatant racist? How do I know? I just know how I was treated and it was unappreciated.
Surprisingly, after we’d ordered, we were brought these two slices of bread as an amuse bouche of sorts, I suppose. I was surprised because the week before, I’d been running around and Googl’ing and just looking for taramasalata like a mad woman, and it appeared to be spread on the bread. I tasted it; indeed it was a creamy roe spread that I first had in Greece and fell in love with. When I asked the waiter to confirm (BF wasn’t sure if I was 100% right), he responded quite haughtily that it was caviar spread. WhatEVER. This place needs the attitude dialed down a bit.
(BF did, even after I said that I thought it was fish roe spread, try a bite, but didn’t like it. Oh well. More for me!)
We both noted with more than a bit of dismay that the dish of olives and olive oil (above picture, background) they give you was covered in red pepper flakes; neither of us appreciat super spicy things so he avoided that altogether while I timidly dipped and was surprised to discover just how spicy it was.
We chose to start off with a shared appetizer of baked clams; BF loves baked clams. I thought these were pretty good, BF liked them as well, though we agreed that they were not the best ever, they were more than decent. The waiter appeared as soon as we’d finished with the clams to take our plate, which again bothered us insomuch as we didn’t get to dip our bread in the juices!
BF opted for the chicken francaise; it’s been a while so I can’t remember exactly why but I know he was less than thrilled with his dish. Perhaps the chicken was too dry? it was just not to his liking. It wasn’t thin in some places but then super thin in other places… very odd.
I grudgingly admit that I really enjoyed my veal francaise. It was tender, succulent, thin enough, and just overall delicious, they also gave me two huge pieces so I had leftovers for lunch the next day. Unfortunately when I went to ask for it to be packed up, the waiter seemed highly amused by this and asked me if I also wanted the broccoli to go with it. Um, yes, and is that a problem? I paid for my food, but not for snarky comments from you, okay?
It’s so unfortunate that this place seems to think it’s too good for my business for whatever reason. I genuinely enjoyed my food, and though BF didn’t like his dish, he did like mine, and we both said we would go back if they hadn’t been so rude to us! And if we were in the area, which is not a common occurrence.
Yvo says: Attitude adjustment, please! I’m not sure what triggered the nastiness- though I guess in retrospect everyone in the restaurant was not a minority, I hate playing the race card. I mean, we’re in NYC! and not in an all-one-race neighborhood, it’s just I don’t think of things in those terms. Anyway, the food was lovely, and great company always makes me happy, but shitty service really, really gets to me. I don’t need to go somewhere and have people talk down to me so I’ll feel bad- I can just talk to my family for that. KIDDING! but really, it’s unnecessary for them to talk to me like that.
not recommended unless you’re into verbal abuse- maybe for take out, if they do take out
eonyc says
I pass this place every day on my way to work. I’m not sure if I WANT to try it now (I have NO patience for rude people), but if I do, I’ll let you know if they’re any less rude to this white chick! 😉
SkippyMom says
You had me at “You don’t have a reservation?” and her snarky attitude. You are a braver person than me. I would have held up my hand – turned to SKH and said “Food may be 5 star but the attitude is nil”. I appreciate you explaining what you felt may have been the race card…which angers me even more….but further explaining that you may have misconstrued. [Although I don’t feel that you were no matter the race mix in the ‘rant]
With that said – I know race is a factor in a lot of the parts of the US but it shouldn’t be a qualifier to say “We are in NY – not some suburb”….[BIG paraphrase on my part, sorry!]
I don’t care if the food melted in my mouth…there is nothing about bad service that would get me to come back once more.
I know you don’t do this, but I feel that you need to send this review or a letter stating your experience to the owners. It is simply unacceptable how you all were treated.
Much love and hugs from Skip!
Anonymous says
like skippymom, i too feel like you should make the owner/management aware of your experience and that people in fact, read your blog and would not visit because of the poor service.