JeffB wrote:Interesting choice for a first post and first impression. There's an unwritten rule that first posts be either informative or introductory, not incendiary. I'm guessing the guy who answers the phone at La Gondola knows RG and the new delivery policy was bespoke.

not that it really matters, but the poster in question first posted back in Feb. of 2006 raving about Spacca Napoli.

Then I withdraw my post. RG's second post (even years later) was entirely appropriate. Rules is rules. My bad. (I had miscounted the number of RG posts in this very thread.)

LTH,

Let's all calm down, Restaurant Gal is obviously special and there is no reason La Gondola shouldn't change the rules just for her.

I'm going to call La Gondola in a moment and give them a piece of my mind, at least what's left of it after reading this thread.

Enjoy,
Gary

I'm gonna go see if my imam can declare a jihad against these evildoers... I'll get back to you.

JeffB wrote:Interesting choice for a first post and first impression. There's an unwritten rule that first posts be either informative or introductory, not incendiary. I'm guessing the guy who answers the phone at La Gondola knows RG and the new delivery policy was bespoke.

She(?) actually had posted once before. A couple years ago she(?) posted a well thought out and well crafted report in the Spacca Napoli thread. I wonder what happened between then and now?

Restaurant Gal wrote:Mikey G...

Talk about hysterical...have your doc check your testosterone levels. What next? A Michael Vick pitbull?

I live in a VERY safe neighborhood...primarily a mix of whites and hispanics...lots of kids...lots of neighbors vigilant about keeping the neighborhood safe. Toss in some impeccable gay men too. YOUR comments are racist. And inappropriate. My former delivery man knows my dog by name. Hachi's Kitchen isn't fearful of delivering here. You SIR, are out of line. The subject is service, quality and trying to rip off the consumer.

You came here, you asked for other's input, and you got it. Maybe you didn't get the input that you wanted, but you got input.

Mike's post gave you a list of varying reasons on why it might not be possible or they changed their policies. None of them are racist, or insulting. You flying off the handle calling him a racist, hysterical, and comparing him to a person that was tried and accused of the mistreatment of animals for not giving you an answer that you like tends to give you no credibility.

If you don't like their service and quality, don't give them your money. If they're trying to rip you off as a consumer write them a letter or report them to the BBB. While what happened to you was an inconvience a business is entitled to set their own rules, and if those rules cause them to loose business then they've shot themselves in foot.

Specifically to Whiskey...I am a patron restaurants want. I'm polite, dress appropriately and tip well. Ask Arun. I knew him when he started out and was in a place that was a step above a diner. I didn't make him into what he is today by any stretch but I certainly promoted him, his talents, his food and his efforts...and do to this day. Whenever I find anything I think is terrific, I promote it. La Gondola, until yesterday, happened to be included on that list. No longer. Simple. End of this. They have a bad service policy, a bad order taker and management that doesn't care about regular customers. It does nothing for me one way or another if they lose customers by conducting biz in a bad economy in an ignorant way. This is a blog about people's opinions of restaurants. I feel this one has turned bad.

That said, everyone...do whatever you want! Quit posting. I put this out there in frustration and from being offended by their handling of the matter which was unacceptable. Period. I'm finished with people psychoanalyzing a post. Move on.

Hilarious!

Restaurant Gal wrote:I would certainly like to hear other's input.

Restaurant Gal wrote:That said, everyone...do whatever you want! Quit posting......Move on.

Restaurant Gal wrote:Ask Arun. I knew him when he started out and was in a place that was a step above a diner.

RG,

I too was at Arun when it was "a step above a diner" on Irving Park, yet still my delivery man, former or present, does not know my dog by name.

Special, I'll say it again, special

Enjoy,
Gary

Restaurant Gal...... It seems that you're latest opinion on La Gondola is overwhelmingly seen as well....ridiculous. So, gather yourself and try another post on another topic. Your maniacal rants aren't helping your cause on this one.

By the way, I had a wonderful grilled calamari, antipasto salad, and rigatoni boscaiola tonight. It's such a charmig little place, despite the strip mall location. They deliver too!!

Restaurant Gal wrote:Specifically to Whiskey...I am a patron restaurants want. I'm polite, dress appropriately and tip well. Ask Arun. I knew him when he started out and was in a place that was a step above a diner. I didn't make him into what he is today by any stretch but I certainly promoted him, his talents, his food and his efforts...and do to this day. Whenever I find anything I think is terrific, I promote it. La Gondola, until yesterday, happened to be included on that list. No longer. Simple. End of this. They have a bad service policy, a bad order taker and management that doesn't care about regular customers. It does nothing for me one way or another if they lose customers by conducting biz in a bad economy in an ignorant way. This is a blog about people's opinions of restaurants. I feel this one has turned bad.

That said, everyone...do whatever you want! Quit posting. I put this out there in frustration and from being offended by their handling of the matter which was unacceptable. Period. I'm finished with people psychoanalyzing a post. Move on.

When I read this post, my mind summoned the voice of Judi Dench playing Lady Catherine de Bourgh in the newest remake of Pride and Prejudice.

RG-while I am sure if you went to Arun's you would be "attended to" perhaps La Gondola is no longer fitting for a woman of your rank.

P.S. Mr. Wiv-Lady Catherine would like to know if, indeed, you have a dog. She has not heard of it.

get a grip. they are under no obligation to deliver to you. get over it!!! move on!

Went to the new location of La Gondola last week (on Belmont, in the building Joey's Brickhouse used to be) and had a bowl of spaghetti aglio e olio that was so delicious (pasta cooked perfectly IMO, seasoned beautifully), I had to keep eating it way past the point of satiation. (I.e., until not a strand was left.)

And last night, we had the Ashland location deliver a thin crust with pepperoni, sausage and mushroom about which the same was true. Just the perfume of the crust when we opened the box was enough to trigger my engulf-and-devour response.

In particular, I wish the new Belmont location great success. It's a neighborhood improvement.

La Gondola
1258 W. Belmont
Chicago IL 60657

Having never been to La Gondola I will be sure to stop there soon after reading this epic thread.

JLenart wrote:Having never been to La Gondola I will be sure to stop there soon after reading this epic thread.

Racist.

ETA - I forgot about this thread. Truly a classic.

Oh yeah, and La Gondola sounds good too. Definitely a step up from Joey's Brickhouse. I'll have to get over there soon.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:I'm a bit impressed.

I definitely would have lost the "I bet you can't include 'impeccable gay men', 'pitbull' and 'racist' all in one post" wager.

However did I miss this thread? What a great way to head out of the office LMAO.

Somehow, I've lived in north Lincoln Park for almost a decade yet never tried La Gondola. When I first noticed it on a trip to Jewel, I assumed it was some run of the mill Italian joint. Even after I'd read good things, I'd always forget when trying to think of a place to go out & eat. When they had a Groupon a couple months ago, I bought it figuring it'd finally compel me to try the place. A couple times, I'd tried to book for same day or next day and couldn't get a reservation... not so surprising considering they only have 5-6 tables. So I book a reservation for 8pm tonight about a week ago...

Anyway, my wife got stuck at work late and we didn't end up arriving until 9pm (at one point, I called and said we'd be there about 8:20-8:30). When they couldn't seat us until 10pm and we were starving, they offered to waive the dine-in only on the Groupon so we got carry outs. After studying the menu and asking for recommendations, we ended up ordering Rigatoni Boscaiola (cream tomato sauce, mushroom, sausage), Chicken Monte Carlo (white wine sauce, eggplant, roasted red pepper, broccoli) and a thin crust pepperoni pizza. Got a choice of soup or salad with the two entrees. Had a nice chat with the owner (?) and waiter while waiting, and my wife enjoyed glass of wine. They handed us a bag of food and we walked out, got in our car & drove off... they'd forgotten our pizza and had one of their employees chase us down at a red light to give it to us! Every one of their staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful.

Arriving home, we finally got to enjoy our dinner. And we thoroughly enjoyed everything. The pasta was tasty, cooked to perfection and not too rich. The chicken was moist and the veggies in the dish were flavorful. The white wine sauce was a little bland, but given the flavor of the pasta and pizza, it was a fine balance. Really liked the pizza. Thin, but not too thin with a crispy crust that could withstand more cheese than normally found on a think crust pizza. About to heat up the leftovers for lunch and can't wait to enjoy it all again!

Now, I'm just sorry it took us so long to check La Gondola out. I know a lot of restaurants don't think Groupons work, and perhaps they usually don't. But this is a case where it worked exactly as they're supposed to. Got us through the door and won us over so we'll definitely be back soon and often.