1 /5 Matt Feil: I’m genuinely heartbroken to be writing this review. For 23 years, we have gone out of our way to dine here whenever we’re in town, because the food has always been exceptional. Unfortunately, our New Year’s Eve dinner was a complete disappointment — the worst dining experience we’ve ever had here.
Because we were a larger group, we were required to order from a preset menu. While we weren’t thrilled about that, we trusted the restaurant’s long-standing reputation, our personal experience here, and expected something special. Sadly, that trust was misplaced.
The salads were fine but basic and quite small. The risotto was overwhelmed by smoky salmon, slightly undercooked, and paired with scallops that were rubbery and fishy. The main courses were even more disappointing. My veal was tough and served over plain, unseasoned boiled spinach, topped with cheese and ham. It honestly reminded me of an airline meal — not something you’d expect from a high-end restaurant we’ve supported for over two decades.
To make matters worse, the price was shocking. For seven people, the bill came to $860 — without alcohol. Had we been allowed to order from the regular menu, we would have paid far less and enjoyed food we know and love. Instead, we left feeling disappointed, frustrated, and frankly taken advantage of. The quality, flavor, and execution did not come close to justifying the cost. Even the mashed potatoes tasted like instant ones.
This experience was deeply disappointing. Buona Tavola has always been special to us, which makes this all the more upsetting. I truly hope this was an anomaly, but we were violated. This meal left us feeling let down and disheartened.
Our waitress and the service was good. No problem there.
