Dallas Restaurant Guide

On Saturday January 10, 2009 we decided to try a new restaurant, and made reservations Capriccio Ristorante Dallas for 7:45 PM. We arrived on time and at first they couldn’t find our reservations. When they found them we had to wait for the table to be setup. We were seated in the hard surface, rear room which was about ¾ occupied. Music was being set up in the rear of the room.

Upon seating, our waitress brought us menus and beverages and the music started playing. It was loud and our party of six was not able to have a conversation. One of our party asked the manager to lower the music and we were told that private party was booked and that the music was not an ongoing event at the restaurant. He said he would see what he could, but the volume continued at the same level.

Our waitress took our order and after a wait brought our soup, salads, and appetizers. It was about 8:45 pm. After finishing, the first course, with the volume still loud we again called the manager, and we were moved to the front room away from the music. And then we waited. About 9:20 PM I got up from the table and found the lady who seated us who was having an extended conversation with a table of patrons. I asked how long it would be for our entrees to be served. Her reply was “You haven’t been served yet? Let me check and I will be back in a minute.” In a while she told me they were having kitchen problems and didn’t expect the crowd at the party, but our food would be out shortly. We were there 30 minutes before the party attendees started to arrive.

At 9:40 we were finally served. Both pork chop diners came out cold and the twice baked potatoes were not only cold, but lumpy and hard. My vegetable was cold and wrong. I had asked for a substitute. There was no sauce on the meat as indicated on the menu, and the cheese was hard and cold. The same existed for the other party that had ordered that same entrée. The eggplant dishes were warm and the other dishes seemed to be ok.

We had been there about two hours when these were served. We were tired and hungry and by in large satisfied with the food except it was late.

When we asked for checks, the waitress brought us 3 deserts and 6 forks for us on the house for our trouble. We declined since our plans were to adjourn to one of our houses for deserts, coffee and conversation. The bill was presented in full and paid. Upon leaving the lady who had seated us approached with my coat and asked how everything was. Quietly, I told here that it was probably the worst restaurant experience I had had in the last 20 years. She responded with “Oh, I’m so sorry. Give me a hug.”

If the food had been on time and hot it would have been acceptable experience, but not a place I would select to come back, given the number of great Italian restaurants in this price range in Dallas of $50.00 a couple with no liquor or deserts..

Subsequently, I wrote to the owner this letter and requested a response. He did so and apologized. He said he would refund our bill by putting a credit on our cards. It was not there at the end of January. In the middle of February, I send him a copy of his response with a note that there was no credit to our bill. He did not respond to that note. Our new bills came in at the end of February and again, no credit was made.