These were my comments from Feb. 23rd, 2009:
We love Gianni's and we had a very good dinner, outstanding actually, but they must get their act together and I will actually send them an email as if they don't work out some of their kinks they will be the master of their eventual undoing!
I called at 5pm to see if we could get a reservation for dinner and were told that we could come at 8:30pm. Although that was a little late since we were up at 5am, we took the reservation. We arrived to see a very long line at the front desk. People were in line for checking in and to see if there was anything available. The problem was that the maitre de was checking in each person and then walking them over to their table, which took up too much time. They should have checked in the people and then passed them off to someone else? There were a few people that said they had reservations but their name was not on the list (I know sometimes people say this to get in) but one man had the reservation email on hand. He was offered an inside table although his reservation had clearly stated outside. People were waiting for tables who had no reservation but how could they possibly know if they had space when they were so behind in seeing who was showing up for their reservations!!
Of course, when we got to the front of the line they had no record of my reservation, it was know 8:45pm and I was not happy as they told me I was going to have to wait.
I went over to the manager and explained, politely, the situation and was annoyed by what had just transpired. I told him that and we would have gone elsewhere when we called if they couldn't have accomodated us and gone earlier too. We got a table 5 minutes later.
Sat down and was greeted by a waiter who was quite knowledable but seemed to be more interested in what was going on at all the tables around him. He forgot to ask us if we wanted any drinks, which we didn't, so no big deal. We were four people and while he was taking our order, he twice looked away and was watching something while we were talking???
These were my comments about Gianni's that I posted on March 22nd, 2009:
Went to Gianni's again, actually third time during this trip. I really don't know what to make of them? Food was good but service...
Arrived ten minutes before my reservation and of course, they didn't have it. That is three reservations and they only had one that I made via email. The other two were made by phone (one by me and the other via the concierge). I don't know if they rarely mark the phone reservations down but it is not a good situation. Many arrive with reservations and have the printed confirmations and they don't have it marked down??
Again, you need to wait as the hostess takes each person directly to their table so the whole process takes so much longer than necessary.
We were seated outside under the absent front canopy. Noticing that the front canopy was not closed I asked to sit closer in but was refused as the area under the canopy closer to the building but it is reserved for large parties (there were empty areas available). Tables of two must sit at the edge by the sidewalk. After 1/3 of the way through our meal it got very windy and I was cold. Asked if the canopy could be closed over and was told it was broken and then told by someone else that people want to sit outside don't like having the canopy over them??? Broken story more believable. Generally, service was slow but there were lots of people running around doing, well, not really sure!!
The ambiance is very nice at Gianni's and the food is great but my frustration with this place is rising. I think I may try Azzura next trip. I know it is the same owner but perhaps it is run a little better?? (read in another thread that the old manager is back so I will check that out). I am going to email the owner with my comments eventually.