I will say that based on your review I won't be making the trip to Cafe Troia. With all the three star food restaurants around I can't see spending that kind of money for poor service. Reading the review I expected a service rating of one star. You know times are bad when the owned of a white table cloth restaurant has to double as a server.

I was there the night in question and those that recognized you DID not alert the owners until you were gone. One of the owners waited on you because that's what owners do. In the middle of cold and flu season the last thing you want is a server who is sick. When your reservation book is filled the only way around that is for the owner to jump in where needed. Anyone who owns a restaurant can do every job in the restaurant. I found it beneath you to attack a lovely young woman who was doing what any owner would do - make the customer happy. I can assure you that Mrs.Troia-Martin is very knowledgeable about wines. You can't tell a cork is bad until you attempt to open - as you well know and, wines by the glass change on a regular basis as new wines are introduced. Carol Troia and Lisa Troia Martin not only purchased and renovated a new building while still operating in the old location, they were closed a mere week before they opened in the new one. Since opening day they have been busy and have been working 24/7 to maintain the status quo of a restaurant known both for their food and their warm atmosphere as well as taking care of the thousand and one details that come with any new business location. Shame on you Elizabeth, it seems you had to go out of your way to toss in a few negative comments.

I don't know if the cork was dry or not, but I do know you have to put the corkscrew in the center of the cork to open it cleanly. And if you don't list glasses of wine, you need to be able to tell the customer what they are. My job isn't to support restaurant owners, but to tell readers what my experience at a restaurant was. That's what I did. EL

EL - In response to Melody's reaction to you...I did not read your review as terribly negative at all. You were simply pointing out obvious and factual issues with the service. I am sure the owners are nice people, and wish their restaurant success. But as an owner (especially as the owner), if you do take it upon yourself to wait upon customers, I would think you should be aware of what food/wine your restaurant has to offer. Wouldn't you expect that from your own servers?

While I do not think I need to jump to Our Leader's defense, every comment seemed well-articulated and justified. I would like a discussion about another point raised, not mentioning the cost of the specials. I always feel self-conscious (cheap) asking, but I am especially grateful when servers include that in their description.

This doesn't add anything of importance, but my initial thought upon reading the review was that EL was recognized and the owner decided to take matters in her own hands by acting as the server. That was just a thought I had while reading the review. If, in fact, the scheduled server called in sick and no one was available, I can see the owner doing whatever it took to serve the customers in her restaurant. I have worked in restaurants earlier in my life and have seen the owner serve tables when needed.

I can see both sides of this. The restaurant owner is mortified for being taken to task for poor service, while in her mind she was doing the best she could under emergency circumstances. (sick employees)

EL only knows what she experiences, she does not know what is going on behind the curtain on this particular day.

Maybe another review of the restaurant is in order 6/8 months from the original review. But of course, you are now known at the restaurant.

Getting whacked with a hefty price tag usually means I will never, ever go back to that restaurant again.

I ate dinner at a newish place downtown a while back with some friends and ordered the special which, was not that different than several other items on the menu and got hammered with an entrée that was 60 bucks. A $24 appetizer is outrageous and not articulating the hefty price tag for something like that is sleazy. Sorry - just is.

Obviously it's time for a complete makeover, EL!

"Obviously it's time for a complete makeover, EL!"

And it might even be tax-deductible. Just like uniforms and special equipment needed for employment.

It is a fact that no servers were sick the night you were there. the waitstaff was standing in the main dinning room complaining of the owner"s taking their tips away she did it before but she never done it since. thanks EL,AS FOR Melody she is her friend she runs errants for her ,by the way the owners did not reconize u that night,the wait staff did but did not tell her till after u left.after she gave the staff hell for not telling her but as one of them told her that she breach to them evry day she should have sat and leave the bread to the baker....it is greed nothing else..