Top : United_States : DC : Washington : Banduccis Restaurant601 2nd Street NE
Washington
DC
United States
Telephone : 202.544.8995
Type of cuisine served :Payment MethodsAll restaurants accept cash.
ReviewsNot worth the wait About a week ago I visited this neighborhood favorite. I have lived in the neighborhood for about 3 years and had never visited Banducci's in NE Washington, DC, although some in the neighborhood have raved about it in the past. I had always wondered, why didn't I try this neighborhood favorite. About a week ago I visited this neighborhood favorite. I have lived in the neighborhood for about 3 years and had never visited Banducci's in NE Washington, DC, although some in the neighborhood have raved about it in the past. I had always wondered, why didn't I try this neighborhood favorite. Our experience (myself and 3 others) was poor from the start, with an obvious newbie in the waiter department. The dishes were reasonably priced as was the wine and beer consumed that evening. Aside from the obvious and constant shortcomings of our newbie, Banducci's may not be what it had promised to be. I ordered (from the menu) the spinach and cheese ravioli. What I received was not ravioli. I received what seemed to be tortelini. Anyone who loves food as much as I do would be upset with this. Not getting what you ordered is nothing less than unacceptable. Not to mention that I didn't even see the tortelini on the menu (it may acutally be there, I just didn't see it) - regardless, I would not have ordered it. Upon taking this matter up with the newbie, he promptly returned the dish inside to speak with the head chef and owner of the restaurant about this obvious error. He quickly returned with the same dish, placed it in front of me and assured me that this was ravioli. After a quick back and forth of exchanges about what the differences in ravioli and tortelini are, he stated the final blow, or next to final blow. The newbie was instructed to advise me that the combination of noodles, spinach and cheese were the same no matter what form the actual pasta took, ravioli or tortelini. Dumbfounded I asked as a consumer that they seriously think about changing thier menu to reflect, in an accurate fashion, what they serve thier customers. It was unacceptable - period - that this be served under the guise of "ravioli." After going ahead and eating a dish that I could have made at home for myself - using the Barilla packages that you can find in any grocery store for $2.99 - my girlfriend went to pay the bill. The head chef and owner of Banducci's was there and she explained to him my genuine unhappiness of the dinner situation that had just unfolded. The final blow: the head chef and owner of this Italian neighborhood restaurant, uttered the words that I thought I'd never hear an Italian chef say. Paraphrasing: "All pastas taste the same." Unbelievable. Now I can safely walk by the restaurant day in and day out on my way to and from work, and never have to think about why I don't go there. This neighborhood favorite is nothing but a neigborhood forgotten memory to me. I have to wonder how many others have had a similar experience to mine. Food Rating [4/10] Service Rating [4/10] Ambiance Rating [6/10] Great for lunch, if you have time I've never been there for dinner, but I work right across from it. Everything at lunch time that I have had is good, not outstanding, but well worth the cash. The wait can be a killer, though. I've never been there for dinner, but I work right across from it. Everything at lunch time that I have had is good, not outstanding, but well worth the cash. The wait can be a killer, though. Food Rating [6/10] Service Rating [6/10] Ambiance Rating [6/10] Great Food: Terrible Service I used to go to Banducci's for their salad trio. The food is reasonably priced and very good. However, after many problems with orders being wrong and the owner being excessively rude, my coworkers and I stopped going. I used to go to Banducci's for their salad trio. The food is reasonably priced and very good. However, after many problems with orders being wrong and the owner being excessively rude, my coworkers and I stopped going. Food Rating [8/10] Service Rating [2/10] Ambiance Rating [4/10]
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