12/14/08

Incompetent waitress and hit/miss food

by SomeRandomGuy

I have walked past this restaurant many times, but finally stepped in for a late brunch today. They frowned a bit upon hearing I was a party of one, but gave me a table in five minutes. I asked for steak&eggs medium rare, but with just salad, no home fries, and also half an order of pancakes on the side.

When the food came, after quite a wait, the steak was the most sorry example I've seen in any New York diner. 1/4 inch thick, and about 5x8 inches. It was also cooked uniformly gray all through. The pancakes looked great though, with blueberries and strawberries, and fresh fruit on the side. The banana slices however had brown mushy spots that I had to cut away myself.

I was too hungry to cause a ruccus, and didn't want to wait even longer, so I started eating. The waitress never once checked back how things were, except once to take the ketchup bottle to another table.

When the check came, I was rung up for two complete brunches, and I noticed she hadn't even written any of my special orders for the steak and eggs, so no wonder it wasnt what I had ordered. Her only note said "medium", even though I asked for medium-rare.

She said they didn't offer half order pancakes, just full order. She had no answer as to why she hadn't told me that when I ordered, as opposed to just put it on the check.

I was amazed, so I called the manager over. He began offering money off the check, but I insisted instead that he hear me out. He did, saying "sorry" and "it's been busy" at every chance. I paid and left, vowing to put some reviews in online. Ergo, this posting.

I really wanted to like Raffaela's, it looks so cosy and has a good mix of customers -locals, old and young- but I can't bear a waitstaff that so completely botches things.

Pancakes were great though. And they did refill the hot water for my tea when I asked.

• Pros: Great Pancakes. Wonderfully decorated, nice marble diner tables and odd wooden chairs and tables
• Cons: Incompetent service. Sorry excuse for a steak, undersized and overcooked.

10/31/07

Cosy neighborhood restaurant. Go for dessert, coffee and a good conversation

by pickyb

Rafaella's decor is very cosy with couches and mismatched furniture. The quality of the food depends on what you order. I've had very good steak there, However, their hommos salad is awful. Also don't eat there if you're in a rush. Service is quite slow.

• Pros: cosy atmosphere
• Cons: slow service

10/23/07

Lame

by rd3030

This place lacks in service, ambiance, and food. The furniture can be antique without stuffing coming out of the seat cushions. The service managed to not check on us even once. Our waitress was too busy reading to even see if we wanted dessert, coffee or even the check for that matter. The food, poor to average on the low end. Not even worth wasting time typing about it.

• Pros: ?
• Cons: Too many other good spots to dine at in the area