Monday, November 30, 2015

Restaurant Review: Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano

Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano
Levis Commons
1320 Levis Commons Blvd.; Perrysburg, OH  43551
Hours: Mon-Thr 11:30 - 9:30Fri-Sat 11:30 - 10:30
Sun 11:30 - 9:00
(419) 872-6100
Biaggis on the Web

Managing Partner: Tavis Hissa
Chef Partner: Justin Nye



Main Lady and I hit Biaggis for dinner before we went to see a show at the theater, which I may write about later on.  This isn't a bad choice for dinner if you're going to see a flick; it's close to the theater, there's plenty of parking and the prices aren't outrageous.  That's part of the up-side.

The downside?  The bartender is completely incompetent and should be deported back to India as being a danger to civilized society.  I was early, and while I was waiting for my table I eased on over to the bar to wet my whistle.  The zero behind the bar couldn't mix a dry martini up, and the other bartender ignored me, even when Mister Zero told him to wait on me.  Until the bar problems get fired, confine your drinking to beer and wine.

The table service is very mediocre.  Our waitress didn't get off to a good start (I ordered water without ice; she brought me ice water), and when the kitchen didn't get our orders up 30 minutes after we put them in, she was conspicuously absent.  When the food showed up, so did she, helpfully asking us if we wanted anything else.  The rest of the evening she was okay.  Not great, not bad.  Just marginally acceptable. 

Restaurants get away with giving service like this because no one complains.  The clientele either doesn't know any better because they don't dine out all that often, or they think this level of mediocrity is the new normal.

I found the food was good.  The soup of the day was too salty, but the entrees made up for it.

Chicken Pietro

We both had Chicken Pietro, which was excellent.  The chicken wasn't overcooked, the green beans were delicious as were the garlic potatoes.  The sauce wasn't overbearing, and the Portabello mushrooms were the perfect addition.  Excellent!

The only other thing you should know about is that the place is noisy.  Biaggi's has invented itself as an upscale, adult family restaurant.  The crowd they get contains the occasional trailer trash clan that let's their young'uns climb up the drapes while the women practice hog calling for the next county fair.  So if you're trying to have a conversation with your significant other, be prepared to shout.

I cannot for the life of me understand why restaurants allow these cretins inside, but have a royal hissy fit if someone want to bring their dog in.  The dog is better behaved than the kids, is quieter, and is better company.  It's probably smarter and has better breeding than the little snot-noses as well.

So, out of a possible five star perfect score:

  • Service: 2
  • Food: 4
  • Ambiance: 3
  • Average: 3

Want to improve?  Fire everyone behind the bar.  Just fire 'em without apology.  Tell the chef to stop dumping salt into everything.  A very little salt is good; more is not better.  When you see a family at the front door, tell the breeders that only exceptionally well-behaved children are allowed inside.  Children must be quiet, polite, and prone to remain seated throughout the entire dining experience.  Otherwise, everyone in the family will be told to leave.


I'll be back at some point, mainly because of the food.

2 comments:

CWMartin said...

Maybe if you could get Mr. Zero to wait on the kids... I assume THEY aren't real picky about their "martinis"...

Mad Jack said...

You know, that's not half bad. Serve 'em chocolate martinis. The gin will quiet the little noisemakers down. :)