Pomodoro

07/12/2008 Posted by thehobbit

Food and neighborhood ambiance get the full five stars. But, as others have said, the service deserves negative marks. The previous poster about the Mickey M***e experience has a kindred spirit. I'll get to that in a moment. First a little background. The first time we went here 3 years ago, we were treated a little like second-class citizens, but we were charmed by the cozy atmosphere, nice wine, and excellent food. We began going there semi-frequently, and they began treating us like humans, going so far as to give us free desserts when a very annoying dinner party next to us got too rowdy. Peppered within those good times were a few moments where we felt like they would bark at us, "No Food for you!!!" But the good was so good that we kept coming back, and they seemed to sort of accept us into their club. Then we saw a furry critter. It zoomed around the restaurant (which was empty at 5 o'clock) several times. The previous Mickey M***e poster had a nearly identical response that we had when we brought it to their attention. I even went out of my way to be considerate and understanding. I was just shocked at how angry and put off they seemed by me pointing out that a rodent was literally scurrying beside me and my wife's feet. "What do you want us to do about it? There's contruction" blablabla... WOW! Having gone there around ten times in the past, and always ordered apps and drinks and tipped over 20% (in cash, due to that ridiculous no credit card policy), I expected a pleasant surprise in the bill to ease my loathing. Nope. Just a long, cold stare from the owner and the wait staff. My wife and I have put up with a lot from this place. But this made us feel like trash, and the when that abused feeling didn't go away after a couple days, we resolved never to return. And have felt all the better since.

Pros: Food, lighting, drinks, atmosphere

Cons: Owner, staff's rock-star vibe

05/25/2008 Posted by SophiaKZ

WOW. I've seen many reviews here and on Yelp excoriating the manager and the service at Pomodoro in Brookline, and I was very hesitant to believe them. However, in this case, they are 100% spot on. We had a very nice dinner - OK drinks, yummy antipasto, delicious wine, and decent if uninspired entrees. As we were deciding on desert, I saw a dark object moving on the floor. It was somewhat alarming, and I mentioned it to my husband - and, since he's been watching nature forever, he managed to identify the culprit. Yep, it was a small, grey four-footed critter - a m**** (Citysearch won't let me use the actual word). We debated what to do, and finally mentioned it to our waitress. Her response, delivered in the most detached tone possible: "Oh yeah, we know about them, they're doing contruction next door." It was the most indifferent response we'd ever received in a situation like this, so we decided to ask to speak to the manager. WHAT A MISTAKE. She came over to our table defensive, combative, and downright hostile. Actual comments included: "Your waitress already explained it," "I don't know what you want us to do about it," and - this is the kicker - "Maybe you need to be more realistic." Honestly? I don't even know what that means. Should we always expect small animals in the dining room at restaurants?!? Keep in mind, we had already paid the check and just wanted to let the manager know why we probably wouldn't be coming back. Clearly, she didn't care. All in all? Not really the anniversary dinner we were hoping for, but at least it's a good story for the grandkids. Bottom line: We eat out at many restaurants in the Boston area, and we're always ready to give a place another chance. However, in this case, Pomodoro is permanently off the list. We recommend that you avoid it as well. There are literally hundreds of alternatives in this price range where the management actually cares about your dining experience.

Cons: critters, rude and combative manager