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Peter Sclafani III joins Portobello's

Posted on 6/22/20 at 9:11 am
Posted by Will Cover
Davidson, NC
Member since Mar 2007
40378 posts
Posted on 6/22/20 at 9:11 am
A new partner, a new menu, and new renovations..

Portobello's

He's done quite the hopping in the last 2 to 3 years.
Posted by Ash Williams
South of i-10
Member since May 2009
18563 posts
Posted on 6/22/20 at 9:24 am to
I know nothing of this guy, but wasnt there just a thread about how he was going to Phil's?

Is he working at both locations now or did he already leave Phil's?
Posted by MikeBRLA
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2005
17242 posts
Posted on 6/22/20 at 10:14 am to
I live right there and used to go often. I went the other night to check out their renovations. The new menu is much more expensive than the old one which I’m not happy about bc it’s no longer a quick inexpensive easy dinner if we don’t have anything around the house. More of a special occasion place now bc of the high prices.

The wait staff was new and didn’t know what they were doing. They were college kids rather than professional waiters which at their new price point isn’t acceptable. On top of getting our orders wrong my meal was grossly undercooked (pasta was rock hard). Other than the pasta being undercooked every with the food was good however.

The good news is that during the renovations they finally fixed the AC in the main dining room. Before the reno it was unbearably hot and humid during the summer. Glad they fixed that.

I think ultimately it will be good , but they need to work out the kinks bc it’s basically a new restaurant bc of new menu and new staff.
Posted by LouisianaLady
Member since Mar 2009
83165 posts
Posted on 6/22/20 at 10:21 am to
quote:

The wait staff was new and didn’t know what they were doing. They were college kids rather than professional waiters which at their new price point isn’t acceptable.


I don’t know how much you’ve been out during this pandemic stuff, but unfortunately this isn’t specific to Portobellos. Everyone apparently refused to return to work when places opened back up because they were able to still receive unemployment (it requires some work for an employer to go in and deny each individual claim every Sunday so maybe a lot of them didn’t bother or something).

So a lot of the restaurants are obviously running on staff that have never waited tables before. :(

I don’t mind too much - just noticed small things like waitress asking which gin or vodka I want in my margarita, or people reciting something memorized and then when asked about other items saying, “that would be an excellent option as well” to all of them with no detail They’re trying and everyone has been nice so it’s fine but definitely noticed.
This post was edited on 6/22/20 at 10:30 am
Posted by MikeBRLA
Baton Rouge
Member since Jun 2005
17242 posts
Posted on 6/22/20 at 10:40 am to
quote:

I don’t know how much you’ve been out during this pandemic stuff, but unfortunately this isn’t specific to Portobellos.


I’ve been out quite a bit bc I’ll do anything to get out of the house. We’ve been going out to dinner about 5 nights a week lately. The service was awful at any price point but unacceptable at their price point. It was only their 2nd or third night of being open to the public when we went so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt so to speak. I’ll definitely be going back to try the new items on the new menu.
Posted by Degas
2187645493 posts
Member since Jul 2010
12083 posts
Posted on 6/22/20 at 10:58 am to
LINK
This post was edited on 6/22/20 at 1:00 pm
Posted by Trout Bandit
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Dec 2012
15110 posts
Posted on 6/22/20 at 11:00 am to
Their price point didn't seem that bad to me. Is it more expensive than Portobello's?? Yes but the menu is significantly improved. I felt that the previous menu was like a chain restaurant. The service will get better in time so try having some patience.

LINK
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
111626 posts
Posted on 6/22/20 at 11:19 am to
quote:

Their price point didn't seem that bad to me. Is it more expensive than Portobello's?? Yes but the menu is significantly improved.


Yeah, if anything, everything there seems a bit on the lower end of what I'd expect to pay for any of those dishes.
Posted by urinetrouble
Member since Oct 2007
20658 posts
Posted on 6/22/20 at 11:42 am to
I hope they didn't mess with the sensation salad, one of the best in town. The Chicken Ciabatta is a great sandwich too.
Posted by USMCTIGER1970
BATON ROUGE
Member since Mar 2017
2371 posts
Posted on 6/22/20 at 12:54 pm to
quote:

Their price point didn't seem that bad to me. Is it more expensive than Portobello's?? Yes but the menu is significantly improved. I felt that the previous menu was like a chain restaurant. The service will get better in time so try having some patience.


Definitely higher prices than before, but not outrageous. Based on the prices and menu, they want you to think you are eating at Ruffino's like you probably wanted too, but you couldn't justify paying and extra $50-60 to eat there.

This post was edited on 6/22/20 at 12:55 pm
Posted by RoyalLSU
New Orleans
Member since Sep 2014
804 posts
Posted on 6/26/20 at 9:25 pm to
Went there tonight. Everything was excellent. Wait staff was definitely on the young, inexperienced side but we got the owners grandson or something as our waiter and he knew everything front and back. The food was extremely good
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