Crispo
A close friend of mine who also knows my taste buds very well recommended Crispo. My go-to foodie friend and I decided we needed to try it for one of our weekly dinners. We made a reservation on Open Table, got the time we wanted. Showed up at the restaurant, had the option to sit outside and we did because it was a beautiful evening. We looked at the menu and oooh-ed and aaaah-ed it like crazy and debated on what we should order. Our waiter was helpful in deciding what to order based on portions and how hungry we were. We ended up ordering 3 appetizers, a pasta, and a half order of a different pasta.
The bread and drinks came out and then the appetizers started coming out. My friend asked the busboy for some Parmesan cheese, he said “you want to buy it?” and we said no that we wanted it for our bread/appetizers. The woman that seated us came over and asked if we wanted Parmesan cheese and we said yes and she informed us that they do not provide Parmesan cheese but we could purchase it because it’s expensive and imported. We asked how much it was and she said $5.50. We confirmed that it would be enough for us to use for our entire meal not just appetizers and she said yes. Next thing you know, she brings out a ladle of grated cheese and says “here’s the IMPORTED cheese” (yes she emphasized imported). We continued on with out meal, a bit confused and asked our waiter what the deal was. He said it’s a policy because the cheese is so expensive so not provide it and it must be purchased. We didn’t comprehend but continued to eat our meal.
Next thing you know, they bring out our pastas and the busboy has a grated cheese device and asks if we want cheese on our pasta. My jaw dropped. We couldn’t put words together. WHAT? NOW we can have cheese and it’s grated differently? I don’t get it. Ask the waiter what the deal is and he says because it’s so expensive they only offer Parmesan for the main courses but not appetizers and bread. They try to regulate how much cheese is used. Still don’t understand. He tells me his manager deals with people asking all the time and it’s the owners policy. I ask to speak to the manager. Before she comes out he brings us two glasses of limoncello and emphasizes that it’s not a big deal but feels bad and wants to offer us something. (Limoncello is gross. Even in Italy, specifically Positano where it is made or as they say IMPORTED, I didn’t drink it)
So the manager (the woman who sat us who also brought us the $5.50 cheese) comes out and asks what the problem is. I explain to her that it makes no sense that we could have cheese with our entrees and not our appetizers and she explains that it’s expensive and imported. She proceeds to tell us that the same cheese we paid $5.50 for was the cheese that we had grated on our pasta. Wait wait what! You’re telling me I paid $5.50 for this earlier and now I can have an unlimited amount ON MY PASTA? I really don’t understand. She tells me it’s the owners policy for the past 7 years and they’re a small restaurant and are trying to save costs. I explain that there are hundreds of small restaurants in NYC and they are no different. If anything, they stand out as being absolutely ridiculous for this policy. The manager refused to remove the $5.50 on the bill and timidly walks away as I can’t seem to understand or grasp what she has to say and she doesn’t seem to really be behind it anyway. I was absolutely disturbed I enjoyed my food, but I couldn’t believe that we paid $140 for a meal that did not include Parmesan on our appetizers and we were charged for it.
I’ve been to top, high end, more expensive, more scene-y and exclusive restaurants throughout New York City and the world and never in my life have I received such poor customer service in someone demanding we pay for cheese that would otherwise be provided to us during the main course of our meal. I am absolutely repulsed and demand a better explanation.
Crispo
240 West 14th Street
