Casa Mono

Doesn't Recommend

Mark S.

Joined 9 months ago

Bad Hostess. Dear Owner's of Casa Mono,  First, may I say, that I love your restaurant   The food is always incredible and the wait staff very professional. However, there does seem to be a hostess and seating issue. Are you aware of this? I've been to your establishment many times and had to deal with a rather inflexible hostess more than once. I can only site one time, this past Valentine's Day 2012, where the hostess on duty that evening could not have been more helpful to us. A very, very sweet girl who, from the inception, made us feel welcomed at your establishment. Unfortunately yesterday we had no such experience and had to deal with a hostess, on at four o'clock in the afternoon of May 6th 2012, who was not very helpful at all. We were a party of four and we arrived a bit after 4 o'clock, our reserved time.   On her screen she had us down for 3:45 which meant, to her, that we were 15 minutes late to which I replied that we were scheduled for 4 o'clock. She said she had taken the reservation, she had not.  We had spoken with a gentleman the day before who gave us the 4 o'clock time.  That said and done we asked to be seated. She informed us that she could not seat us until we were all present. I told her one of our party was on the phone, right outside the restaurant, to his family in Spain about a very significant matter. He had to make an emergency call and, considering the time change, he needed to do it promptly. I told the hostess that he would be right in but she said she could not seat us until he was in the restaurant. Really? Is that your policy? I can understand, in a crowded space, that having to seat a fourth person later, after seating the others, may disturb a crowded restaurant but your restaurant only had two or three other tables occupied at that time and, we would have disturbed no one. She also stated, when he came in and she could seat us, that we would have to leave by 5:45. Again, Really? Not only will you not let the people there and ready to be seated be accommodated but you are going to rush us out as well. To make matters worse it was my birthday and I was so looking forward to spending it at Casa Mono. I find it hard to believe, that a place of your caliber, would allow a hostess( the very first person you meet and the very first impression you get of a restaurant) to treat people in such a manner. It was only after we decided that we would leave, go somewhere else and our friend had finished his call did she offer to help us, that was too little too late. We could have avoided any drama had she just sat the three of us when we had arrived. We could have ordered for the four of us, our friend would have come in, joined us, and I would have had a "Happy Birthday." I've been to Spain many times and, although your cuisine is slightly different from the food there, it is one of the closest I've had to it in the states so far.  Unfortunately this was a bad experience for all of us and I'm very doubtful that we will be returning any time soon. I don't expect any action on your part in sending this note. I just wanted you to be aware, if you were not, that this was how some people get treated at your restaurant. I work for myself as well and if this was happening with a worker of mine, in their dealings with any of my customers, I would surely want to know. I am also very aware that this particular hostess may dispute what I have written and that’s fine, that’s her version and or opinion. Furthermore, I will say that the customer should always be made to feel welcomed and any effort, within reason, should be made to accommodate them. I won’t say the customer is always right but I will say, at the very least, they should be heard. With much respect for your chefs and waitstaff, Mark Selfridge

Doesn't Recommend

Matt Jefferson

Joined 5 years ago

Boycott Mario Batali Restaurants. Mario Batali's recent comment comparing bankers to Hitler and Stalin are downright disgusting and irresponsible (reference at bottom of review). While there are many views on bankers during these challenging times, his references to such dictators who executed many people for their religion and / or beliefs is hurtful and ignorant. I do not believe it is in this world's best interest to support him or his restaurants given his most recent comments.

google or search for the following article as a reference: "mario-batali-apologizes-for-comments-comparing-bankers-to-hitler-stalin"

Doesn't Recommend

Jonathan Stewarts

Joined 1 year ago

Batali's comments are insensitive and hurtful. I can't believe Batali is comparing bankers to Hitler and Stalin. Agree with the previous post that it is completely insensitive. Why can't he just stick to making food? I can only assume that if he is busy attending conferences and media events offering his political views he is definitely not paying attention to his businesses and the quality of his food. Given this, and the insensitivity he recently displayed in comparing bankers to Hitler, I will no longer eat at his restaurants and will encourage others to do the same.

Doesn't Recommend

tammy Scroggins

Joined 2 years ago

rudest service ever. After visiting this restaurant I wanted to call up Mario Batali and give him a piece of my mind. My boyfriend and I were in the city for 5 days and visited many popular restaurants and were treated famously, until we happend upon Casa Mono. We had no reservations but were told the"bar was open" (there was one other man sitting) and proceeded to sit and order wine. It was very expensive wine if I may add. We then decided to order a small plate each as it was between meals and were told that typically people order 2 to 3 small plates each or they "boot you". We probably would have ordered more but we were told that you had to send your complete order in at one time. We had never been there and weren't sure what we wanted. We then asked for more wine and our waiter told us that he couldn't serve us more wine unless we ordered more food. We were several hundred dollars into this and willing to spend more money, but I couldn't get out of there fast enough after that kind of treatment. I would have understood if we

had been taking up space eating the free bread and olives and drinking iced tea, but we were spending money. I have no problem adhering to restaurant policy but no where was it stated and we were welcomed in only to be practically ousted. I will never go back and I will tell everyone I know. Come on, Mario. You seem like such a fun loving guy and food should be fun. This was not!

Doesn't Recommend

ascioni

Joined 5 years ago

Appalling Service and "Rules". If you want to be treated like terribly go to Casa Mono. I went last Friday night at 6:00 pm (in the summer!). There were very few tables taken and the bar was completely empty. I was told by the rude hostess that you had to eat a full dinner in order to sit at the bar. I was intending to eat dinner so that was not a problem. I went to sit down and she informed me that I could only sit if my full party was here. I was waiting for one friend that would be there in 10 minutes. I was not allowed to sit at the bar and have a glass of wine until she arrived. The bar was completely empty! As I was walking out I heard the hostess telling another party of 2 that they would have to leave their table by 7:30 because they had another reservation. Appalling service. No food is worth being treated like this. I had similar treatment at babbo so sadly, I guest this is how Mario operates his restaurants. Fortunately the night was saved...I walked just a few yards down Irving to The House and met my friend for a lovely dinning experience.

Doesn't Recommend

201delta

Joined 4 years ago

bad experiance on a nice friday afternoon. The hostess actually was threatening to call the police on my friend, who asked to be moved to another table. The ventilation system did not work properly. The smoke and the smell was charging into our face. The hostess actually kicked us out after we sat down for 15 min and we were stupid enough to pay and tip the poor waiters. She does not deserve to be employed by any place that interact with people.

Please get rid of her!!!!!

Doesn't Recommend

mika68

Joined 5 years ago

Hostess should be fired. I have been to Casa Mono many times and every time after having enjoyed great food and a nice bottle of wine, I would walk away with an aftertaste left by outrageously rude hostess. Last time I decided that I would not set the foot in this restaurant until I see that monster fired.

Regardless of the fact that the reservation was in place and we were going to have an early dinner, the hostess made us feel that she was doing us a huge favor. When we walked at 5:30pm (which is NOT a prime time for sure), we were offered a table that is surrounded by the all greasy air from the kitchen. It would be impossible to eat there since the smell gets into you nose, clothes, hair immediately.

Most of the tables were free and we asked if we could be seated at some other table. For that we were given an ultimatum that we will have to leave by 8pm.

Despite there were still several tables available, the hostess approached us at 7:45pm and said that we should leave..which made me feel that I was homeless and she graciously throw me a bone for free and now the party is over.

I hope management of Casa Mono reads reviews that seem to be very consistent and would make something out of it in the near future.

Doesn't Recommend

SKafta

Joined 4 years ago

I have to agree with the consensus: rude service (7/9/09). After a wonderful dinner which we very much enjoyed, our evening was nearly ruined by the unfortunately juvenile behavior of our server and hostess. We had been given a table with the understanding that we could only stay an hour, as a party with a reservation would be arriving at that time. However, after one hour, our server informed us that the reservation had been cancelled. With the time restraint now gone, we went on to order more drinks and dessert. However, after an hour had passed, we were informed that the party with the original reservation had come after all, and we had to leave - immediately. With our desserts still on the table and our drinks still half full (and a $200 bill already paid), we felt it our right to at least finish what we had paid for. When our server saw that we were not willing to leave immediately, the hostess came and very rudely repeated the server's previous instructions. When we tried to explain the situation, she rudely accused us of lying, saying that we had been told that we would have only one additional hour - which was not the case.

In any case, I worked in customer service for many years and these individuals broke so many rules, I can't list them all! As we were leaving the restaurant, the hostess couldn't help but add that we were not welcome back!

Recommends

NYCGuy

Joined 4 years ago

Excellent Atmosphere, Excellent Food.. My girlfriend and I made a trip to Casa Mono for lunch one Saturday afternoon. It wasn't crowded yet, but quickly filled up. The Hostess (Jenna or Jenny?) was very friendly and knowledgeable about menu items and helped us both make our selections. The food was excellent. I highly recommended the Patatas Bravas. Although it is small, it has a nice atmosphere. Casa Mono is well worth the visit.

Doesn't Recommend

grubstreetqueen

Joined 4 years ago

Worst service ever and way overpriced. What a nasty and bitter old hostess they have here. I have never been treated so poorly than I was tonight at Casa Mono. After we ran a $350 bill, we were kicked out of our table because they had a reservation waiting. She could have politely asked us to finish up, but instead this sour lemon of a hostess was incredibly rude and practically pulled a glass of wine out of my friend's hand. I dine out quite often and have never experienced anything like this...still in shock actually. They should be embarrassed and ashamed of their rude staff (hostess specifically). The food was nothing special. I do not recommend this place. As a loyal Lupa, Babbo and Otto regular, your money and time are better spent at these other Batali establishments, not Casa Mono. This place stinks!