Italianni's: On the Art of Good Service

The preparation of good food is merely an expression of art, one of the joys of civilized living,” said Dione Lucas, the first female graduate of Le Cordon Bleu. But more than just taste and appearance, we have come to appreciate that part of the food experience has to do with ambience. This does not only pertain to one’s surroundings, however. Rather, the quality of service at a restaurant likewise contributes to the enjoyment of a meal.

The thing is we’ve always loved Italianni’s from the time it first opened some years ago. Each meal starts with complimentary freshly baked focaccia and Tuscan bread that is lovely with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a bit of Parmesan cheese. The excellent pasta is also freshly made. And while I seem to be inexorably fixated on the baked ziti, the shrimp Fra Diablo or fettucine with sauteed shrimps, garlic, pine nuts, spinach, asparagus and feta cheese in a pomodoro cream sauce); or shrimp and mushroom linguini; or even the classic aglio olio are good as well. For more filling meals the sea bass Mediterraneo (angel hair pasta sauteed in butter, olive oil, black olives, capers and tomatoes crowned with a pan-fried sea bass fillet is great, too.  Of course, one could always succumb to the temptation of meat and have the grilled pork chops or pork tenderloin.

Let Italianni’s Restaurant corporate executive chef Jonathan “Boom” Jota help you boost your confidence in the kitchen.

But everything has been good so far. We have been lucky, so that apart from the food being up to par, the service has been friendly and efficient during our numerous visits. Until now, it impresses us that no matter how big our dining group has been and how disorganized we have been when ordering, the service staff manages to get our choices right—and without needing to list it down. To tell the truth, trying to confuse the server has become something of a mischievous game in my family--with unproductive results so far. The servers in each Italianni’s branch manage to get it right with no orders forgotten each time. And really, Italianni’s abides by its maxim of GRAND (Guest’s Requests are Never Denied.)

Dining at the restaurant has always been a pleasurable because the service is attentive without being superfluous—just as dining at a casual restaurant should be. Believe us: In the restaurant rounds we’ve made, we’ve had enough of the servers who hover around our table like hawks, seemingly snooping in on the conversation. We’re fed up with flailing our arms to get the attention of harassed or bored staff who border on being rude. At Italianni’s, the servers are there whenever you need them. They make an essential contribution to helping you love the restaurant even more.

The service is reason to smile. Photos by JOEY Mendoza