Just paid $200 for 4 plates of food and we didn’t finish a single one… are there people out there that think this place is good?
Comments
tylernicole86 t1_j69bdop wrote
I lived in SF for a few years too. Have you found anywhere that does compare to SF restaurants???
Cold-Film-9587 t1_j6csm33 wrote
DC restaurants
804RVALove t1_j6cxwid wrote
Yes. This. I moved from SF to DC and that was an easy transition. RVA doesn’t have the same vibe.
804RVALove t1_j6cxrip wrote
I don’t know if it’s because of the differences in cities or just the post-Covid environment, but I haven’t really yet. SF has this energy that I haven’t been able to find elsewhere. I did make a recent trip back to SF and some places were still popping with locals, but others were still pretty quiet. SF is still somewhat in a face-mask and isolation situation, though.
Yaya’s Cookbook is probably the only place I get that SF vibe… slightly.
moni_bk t1_j6g42he wrote
Just ate at the new Italian restaurant in the old longoven space. It's called "lost letter", it was very good. Expensive, but good.
[deleted] t1_j6gg63w wrote
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Ew_fine t1_j687w71 wrote
Atmosphere is lovely. Appetizers were good, pasta was watery and tasteless. I couldn’t finish mine.
Swrdmn OP t1_j68a4yh wrote
This is actually quite a perfect description
happens2me2 t1_j68gzwn wrote
I’m in this camp too. Edo’s and Mama Cucina’s are leagues above this place.
tarhuntah t1_j68cbrq wrote
Edo’s is the way.
Goatpunching t1_j6b2iu6 wrote
Or dinamo
RichmondTransplant t1_j684qxr wrote
Easily the worst for the $$. We thought the bill was wrong it was so high. And the food was nothing special at all.
theboyfromphl t1_j671izi wrote
Went last year for the first time and never went back since. Not good quality service either for the dinner price tag.
Jon_hamm_wallet t1_j683pcc wrote
Wow.....we also went last night and all of our food was great. Granted we just got apps, but we were super happy with everything we tried.
Swrdmn OP t1_j684364 wrote
We got a couple apps. The classic bruschetta and the mozz. They were both mediocre at best. Carraba’s does a better job than Gersi.
Diet_Coke t1_j6aw7og wrote
That's always been my experience. Sometimes I wonder if I'm lucky or if other people just have way too high expectations.
Mr_Kittlesworth t1_j68a695 wrote
Compared to Edos or Bacchus or La Grotta it’s just mediocre. And a higher price point.
Charlesinrichmond t1_j68zqv2 wrote
la grotta was pretty bad when I went there I have to say. Bacchus mediocre, but prices ok
KTandTheBlondDogs86 t1_j6e94sf wrote
I find Bacchus to be mediocre food and atmosphere but the service was good.
a_real_tomato t1_j6elh2v wrote
Bacchus is, in my opinion, extremely mediocre. I also find something about it a little bit gross, but I do like the mood in there
Hobartacus t1_j68ak0x wrote
My wife went a while back and thought the food was OKAY, but her group got pushed out the door after paying despite still finishing desserts and drinks etc. Thought they were pretty rude and not worth the money.
BoxedRats t1_j68ml9f wrote
Same thing happened to me. Got there over an hour before closing and they rushed us out.
thegreatmachine21 t1_j68itog wrote
Been a couple times and everyone enjoyed their meals all around. Surprised by all the hate flowing here.
Something_Etc t1_j68jewd wrote
Same. I’ve never had a bad meal or experience there.
glittermoose t1_j6arh8s wrote
Thirded. Wife and I love this place.
what-the-what24 t1_j66yg0h wrote
It all depends on where you grew up, what you ordered, and how desperate you are given other options for Italian in RVA. If you choose wisely and stick to the basics when you order, it’s good. If you ordered sausage & spinach orecchiette, I’m sorry for your loss.
Edit: I have a Sicilian grandfather, was born and raised in Baltimore, and moved here after living in New Jersey, where my parents live today. Suffice it to say, I’m desperate for good Italian.
Swrdmn OP t1_j66ysie wrote
They say this plate is worth $35
freetimerva t1_j682ir5 wrote
That is a pathetic looking plate.
khuldrim t1_j68iraa wrote
I’d rather see what it looked like before they ate half of it and mixed everything around.
freetimerva t1_j68juai wrote
Looks like you have your chance.
Doesn't look like they've eaten half of it or mixed everything around.
khuldrim t1_j68kne7 wrote
It’s a horrible picture and they have eaten some large portion of it. You’d think if you were disapppijnted with what you were served you’d take the pic right after it was given to you not after you ate a large bit of it and did who knows what to the rest.
freetimerva t1_j6adisf wrote
Looks like someone had a couple bites and took a photo of a crappy plate of food. Just as you requested.
Show me a photo of that dish fresh, chef.
thegreatmachine21 t1_j6b7yv9 wrote
So you were clearly at the table that night it seems.
freetimerva t1_j6b92kh wrote
You were at mine as well!
thegreatmachine21 t1_j68j935 wrote
How ya gonna show us a sloppy half eaten plate of food and try to ask people to gauge its value? That's gonna look like shit no matter what.
Northside_Newf t1_j68s8aw wrote
…what dish is going to look “presentable” after you’ve eaten half of it and swirled it all around?
Swrdmn OP t1_j69wkth wrote
She had only taken a couple bites of the veal. It came out looking like that.
tpasmall t1_j6akk4w wrote
Something must have changed because I've eaten Gersi plenty of times and I've not paid that much or had anything that looked like that
Swrdmn OP t1_j66ykwb wrote
Nah dude… gersi is garbage. The charge premium for fucking Joe’s Inn pasta.
gamerthrowaway_ t1_j674zcb wrote
This is hyperbole and we all know it. I don't think Gersi is hot shit myself, but to compare it in the same league as Joe's is you being salty it wasn't magical.
fanrva t1_j67chk1 wrote
Not at all the same league, but I’d gladly pay joes $14 for four meals of carbs and cheese or just make my own sauce at home over spending ~$40/plate for gersi
Swrdmn OP t1_j67ncko wrote
No it’s not. Ordered the black linguine and they didn’t even get the shape of pasta right. The veal parm was garbage. It was legit just bland tomatoes on top of store bought pasta.
UniversityAny755 t1_j68o71m wrote
Which Joe's are we comparing to? Fan Joe's or Bon Air Joe's? Fan Joe's ain't bad, Bon Air Joe's is crap.
augie_wartooth t1_j68q8pf wrote
No one is ever talking about the Bon Air Joe’s unless they’re specifically saying so. We like to pretend it doesn’t exist.
Charlesinrichmond t1_j6900pj wrote
this is true. Btw my ZZQ was ok. Which was sad, because it wasn't great. And I think if I ordered wrong it would have been mediocre
augie_wartooth t1_j691k7q wrote
See, this is my issue with that place! I’m glad so many people like it and have good experiences, nice to see a business succeed, etc. I just always want to tell people the other perspective on that place because there are better options.
Charlesinrichmond t1_j696vpn wrote
I hear you. And I'm worried now it's a trend, not a one off. I think the problem is that Chris Fultz is really good, but has an architecture firm to run.
This last bit was no better than I make myself, and maybe not as good. I do ok brisket, but I'd rather buy really good brisket.
Is there anyone else in Richmond though? I've had no better
RVAPerson01 t1_j68lyrc wrote
Grew up in NYC, first gen Italian family, go to a Italy quite a bit, particularly southern and Sicily, for several month a year…so I think I kinda of an a decent judge of this type of food..the ambiance is def red sauce Brooklyn vibe but that’s where it ends.. they brought us bread..after we had to ask.. and it was not just cold..it felt like it was in early stage defrost..one pasta dish was fine, the other terrible..the food reminded me of one of those awful tourist places in what’s left of little Italy.but at least there the service was decent. For sure better places in RVA for Italian
freetimerva t1_j682mcr wrote
Worst meal I've ever had.
TehSnaek t1_j684ud4 wrote
Actually one of my favorite restaurants in Richmond. Black Salt Cesar is delicious, and Lemon pasta add fresh ricotta is worth all my money.
They are obviously doing something right if they are able to open a second Richmond location.
Swrdmn OP t1_j6856hy wrote
Subway has over 20,000 restaurants in the US. Do they make the best subs?
TehSnaek t1_j6859f4 wrote
Not a valid argument.
Swrdmn OP t1_j685dxc wrote
How so?
blackmamba1221 t1_j6896tq wrote
no one goes to subway because it has the best subs. You go because it's cheap and convenient. They have that many stores because they are cheap to run and make money. The poster is correct in the sense that usually a non franchise won't open a second location unless they are making money at the first location, so yes they must be doing something right
Swrdmn OP t1_j689wzk wrote
My point is that profitability is not directly coordinated to quality. You can be the worst sub sandwich restaurant and still be the one with the most locations… Subway
djeeetyet t1_j68da0i wrote
financial success for a restaurant means they are doing the right things to make money and only part of it is making great food. the end product is ok but not phenomenal. i grew up in North Jersey and literally 95% of the Sopranos was filmed within a 30 mile radius of my hometown and a lot of it like 15 minutes away. i thus ate a ton of Italian food growing up given the demographics, all from local joints, and it was all better than Gersi.
SwearWordShow t1_j673sge wrote
Since Robin Inn closed they might have the title now
Soloemilia t1_j688eph wrote
Robin Inn at least you only had to spend about 18-20 per person for the pleasure
SonicBoris t1_j68mpqb wrote
Did they get a new staff that sucks? I went there a year ago on a whim. We had excellent service when eating at the bar, and the single entree we ordered to split was plenty of food for two people. Hell, I even remember texting a friend while I was there that we should eat there next time we hang out. My only trip was the prices.
There has to be a new staff or something. I can tell from the photo in this thread that whoever is ordering the ingredients is doing some serious cost-cutting, and that BOH doesn’t seem to gaf.
u-turnsonthehighway t1_j68i5w8 wrote
I went once and got the bruschetta, roast chicken and panna cotta and loved it ! haven’t tried anything else so maybe everything else is bad but i enjoyed my time there
Northside_Newf t1_j68rvu4 wrote
Huh, I’m surprised at all the hate. I’ve thought it was good as hell every time I’ve been there.
selfdiagnoseddeath t1_j6aj0n2 wrote
I am a career waiter and bartender and I'm here to say thay no matter where you dine, it is my assumption that if you are in anyway dissatisfied with a dish then you are under no obligation to pay for it unless you finish it.
However, It is still expected that you tip on the original cost of the food you were served, does that make sense?
If you do find yourself in a situation where you feel like the food isn't good enough for the cost then you should do this.
Stop eating the dish(es) and request from your waiter the manager. Tell the manager on duty that you appreciate the restaurants attempt to muse you with their cuisine but you are displeased with an offending item(s).
What they should do then is remove the items from the table and subsequently your bill.
Service may continue if you like.
Importantly, remember the items comped from your bill were still served to you and because of that you should still tip accordingly, based on the total of the order that you originally placed.
I hope that makes sense, have fun in Richmond dining because it is so important that we all have a good time with friends and family in hospitality settings.
a_real_tomato t1_j6emgg7 wrote
I completely disagree. You are trying a chef's product and it's completely subjective; you are not guaranteed to like it. You're taking a risk. If something is genuinely wrong with the food -- it's tastes off, it's way too salty, it's the wrong dish, it smells bad, it's cold, etc, that's different. You just "don't like it"? No.
selfdiagnoseddeath t1_j6fdny8 wrote
That's fair, you're definitely entitled to believe that but in my experience I myself and other manager's who I've had the pleasure to work with have reserved the right to comp a dishes or dishes for this reason as well.
Source: am career food and beverage service professional with expertise in fine dining.
nightopian t1_j67wu2h wrote
Got it take out (I know) and never thought to return
masonbrit t1_j68pecy wrote
Nah you did it right. Learned their food is mediocre at best and didn’t have to deal with the poor service
beeegs39 t1_j68932r wrote
I’ve had some good meals there and some subpar ones. $36 for veal parm is outrageous though. At most a $25 dish.
1905band t1_j68n5km wrote
Richmond has a small handful of pretty solid Italian spots. Gersi isn’t one of them. Those small handful, dear to my heart as they are, don’t hold a candle to northeastern US Italian food. But then again of course they don’t, why would they?
atl_bowling_swedes t1_j69u2hd wrote
What are the small handful you have enjoyed? I moved down here about 10 years ago and was initially always disappointed so I gave up.
1905band t1_j6a926q wrote
Dinamo, Edo’s, Bacchus, 8 1/2. RIP Mama Zu’s, although I’ve heard exciting rumors of plans for that space. Haven’t been to Lost Letter or Sprezza yet but they look worth a try. But they’re good in the context of a small Southern city. Compared against like, the North End or Baltimore’s Little Italy or any other regional Italian powerhouse they’re just not gonna stack up.
redditaccount300000 t1_j6ec1us wrote
Dinamo, edo, mamma zu, 8 1/2 are all run by the same people I believe.
atl_bowling_swedes t1_j6a9fb0 wrote
Yeah I guess I just haven't properly set my expectations. Dinamo and Edo's both disappointed me. I only tried each once though so maybe they both deserve another shot.
BoxedRats t1_j68mi6a wrote
We arrived over an hour before closing and they rushed us out during a business dinner. Really rude servers. Will never go back and don’t get the hype
Reasonable_Body7661 t1_j6ac9uv wrote
I’ve been 3 times. I don’t get what the fuss is about. It’s super basic and overpriced.
goodsam2 t1_j68nn3k wrote
I live not that far from it and the website talked about reservations so I only went last year before for Valentine's day stuff at noon and man it wasn't that good.
It's wild they are affiliated with a Gersi in like Brooklyn but I was disappointed.
Back to Edo's or maybe sprezza.
jodot_ho t1_j68xvsn wrote
Go to Arianna's Italian restaurant and pizzeria instead
gordonglover t1_j6aeaxj wrote
After going to gersi and feeling the same thing you did, I went on a journey to find the best Italian. My search resulted in every recommendation was just fine and the best Italian is olive garden.
OPACY_Magic t1_j6d9p00 wrote
Most overrated restaurant in Richmond
sevenbee t1_j6eppo3 wrote
Bar none the most overrated restaurant in the city right now. Spent $120 on mediocre pasta and a salty salad - ended up going to Joes to finish the night because we were still hungry.
[deleted] t1_j671ej0 wrote
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TehSnaek t1_j685lcw wrote
A chain and a local restaurant are just not comparable. I’m not here to say that you have to like Gersi, but I think it’s harsh to say worst italian in Richmond.
Swrdmn OP t1_j685zez wrote
So I’m judging the food, quality of service, price point of the menu, and atmosphere. And overall, Gersi is a worse experience than driving to Short Pump to eat at Maggiano’s. The fact that one is a chain and the other is not makes no difference.
markerfive t1_j68v5nl wrote
We've generally enjoyed our meals at Gersi - great pasta and salads. We did have one issue with under-cooked pasta, but they made it right. (Not sure how a restaurant that focuses on pasta can under-cook it...) If I were to complain, it would be about the service and not the food.
moni_bk t1_j6g4rbt wrote
I had the same issue, massively undercooked and crunchy.
twelvesteprevenge t1_j69g0n4 wrote
Their new place, Uliveto, is exactly the same. Apps were okay, pasta entree was incredibly bland, service was poor, and they are trying to juice as many seats as they can out of that tiny ass space. I ate with my elbow in somebody’s armpit the whole time. I could smell dude’s hair gel he was so close. Such a stunningly poor value but damned if there wasn’t a line of suburban housewives out the door.
RVAWTFBBQ t1_j6gcr7u wrote
>Their new place, Uliveto, is exactly the same.
Oh man, same owners as Gersi? Thanks for the heads up before we wasted $$ on a dinner there.
broccoliceleryradish t1_j69t76w wrote
Their roast chicken is amazing 👏 pasta is meh
tpasmall t1_j6akrcy wrote
Never had an issue with Gersi, there are plenty of places that are significantly worse though
[deleted] t1_j6bi8zd wrote
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RVA-Jade t1_j6cn9cd wrote
I got the chicken parm but subbed the red sauce on the pasta for lemon at the recommendation of the server and it was great. My favorite Italian in Richmond is still Angela’s on ridge.
moni_bk t1_j6g3rfz wrote
Worst Italian i have had. I like al dente pasta,. But this was just plain undercooked crunchy pasta. I didn't finish mine either.
Special_Smell9482 t1_j66ufql wrote
I’ve gotten take out from there and liked it
ktj46 t1_j67g0q0 wrote
I don’t know bro, Italian food is an acquired taste! 😉
804RVALove t1_j67mqdf wrote
Biggest waste of money ever. Went once and that was enough for me. I lived in SF and I was super excited about the atmosphere as the packed restaurant and noise level reminded me of my favorite places in SF, but the food was overpriced crap. Small portions, slow, and sloppy service. No thanks.
ETA: I usually give a place a second try in case they were having an off night, but I wasn’t getting that kind of vibe from them.