"The grandmother apologized as we lit into her"

Stay classy JT.

Do you actually know this person, or can I too start dropping your name to get what I want? I'll go to the movies and say, "I demand a free large popcorn! I know Elizabeth Large!!!"

Never heard of her. EL

It's very interesting to see the internet devolve into a threat these days. I'm sure that Mrs. B. knows who these people are, or at the very least can get a name from their credit card. And yet the threat comes from anonymity.. because JT is not going to post their full name and cell number on some random BS that they write, and even though Mrs. B. knows who they are, she still can't do much about it (besides this, I suppose, and let the people decide).

The whole "do what I ask or I will blog about it" is a very personal form of impersonal terrorism.. while we can pick out shills pretty well, I think people get enjoyment out of crazy stories.. it would be an interesting study to see how many people believe blogs vs newspapers or word of mouth stories.

Mrs. B. has the name and phone number; she started by asking me if I knew this person. That's how I know JT isn't anyone I know. EL

The Springs1?

If JT did indeed say she was a friend of yours, it's strange that she voiced her complaint to Suzanne Loudermilk, not here at D@L. Of course, we have two different versions of what she said or did. Still, JT's comment sounds vindictive. And if Mrs. Blatterman seemed resonable to you, I trust your vibe.

There may be two sides to this. Food is emotional. Operating restaurants requires psychic sainthood. It sounds like they were a bunch of drunks messing the restaurant up, but it may not have helped that Gia's is very intense with pressures on both the mother and daughter operators that have occasionally led to discussable issues before. I'm reminded of the Birches thread.

How true. Did you like the ambiguity of my headline? :-) EL

I've eaten at Gia's a handful of times, and one of my friends goes several times a week, including for breakfast. Mrs. B has never been anything but lovely and generous to us, and I think she gives Gia's its warmth and friendliness.

On a food note, the chicken and sausage entree and the bruschetta (with peppers and capers) are outstanding, and I'm happy to see they will soon be serving alcohol.

I hate to see the restaurant dragged through the mud like this (not your fault, EL).

Wow people are crazy! I agree if there were reservations I would have also opened the upstairs, unless of course it was a disabled person.

After almost three hours though what can a person expect? At that rate she should be lucky they wasn't charging by the hour...

EL - Even if you were friends, IMHO using your name to get one's own way should lead to an end of a friendship.

You're absolutely right. I don't even have anyone as a friend who would be the kind of person who would think of using my name. EL

If I were this JT person, I would worry about the legal consequences involved (ex. libel damages) with both the restaurant and EL. Especially when they know who you are, and have your contact information readily available.

Gia's is amazing and friendly. I had no idea spaghetti and meatballs could taste that good. Some advice for JT- I usually head over to 1 Eyed Mikes for drinks afterward... BTW.... I work at The Sun and it rarely improves poor dining experiences to mention it...

My favorite was the time that drunk woman with the big hair and too much makeup claimed she was you.

In these types of "she said/she said" situations, the truth usually lies somewhere in between the two sides' stories.

Nonetheless, common decency and being a mature adult would suggest that the crazed customer move upstairs and not ruin their and everyone else's evening.

It's sad to go through life wasting so much time and energy on being nasty to people when you don't get your way. At the end of the day, it's just a table...seriously.

But Gailor , I thought it would work!

JT sounds like a self centered rotten person.

"...the scariest place I've ever eaten"..."circled the table the entire time we ate"..."Our daughter was terrified."

When trying to decide who is telling the truth, I tend to give less credibility to stories delivered with this kind of hyperbole.

It also seems that JT was willing to return for a free dinner, but when the call didn't come (Mrs. B's mistake, after promising it) decided "I wiill never return there or recommend this place."

If it is the "...the scariest place [she's] ever eaten"..." why would she entertain the notion of returning, even for a free meal?

I'm expecting JT to write us and say, "No, I said I was best friends with Suzanne Loudermilk!"

Trixie, so close! I wish Mom would use the line "I'm Elizabeth Large and I will destroy you," when we have a bad experience at a restaurant, but it hasn't happened yet.

Gailor, I nominate that for Comment of the Week.

"Even patrons that left as we did were shaking their heads out of disappointment and shock."

at JT or at Gia's?
if it was at Gia's, I would think they would've left with JT...

love the common sense employed by JT at that one...

Let's see...Halloween is coming up. How about we all dress like Elizabeth (however we think she looks), and all descend on one restaurant in town. Then we could argue about which of us was really her.

How about Cazbar? When the belly dancing is going on.

Sometimes, an ill wind can blow some good. Thanks to the comments from Multimedia Editor(ish) Mary and Adam, I look forward to dining at Cafe Gia first chance I get. Not quite what JT had in mind, I suspect, when she penned her caustic post.

I know Giavonna personally. She is as gracious host you are going to find. BYOB or whatever it is called is tough ..she did her best to accommodate ...for what it is worth I don't what happened that day nor do I care..but I know she goes out of her way to please customers and that day sounds out of character...I have nothing to do with the place have nothing gain by this post

Welp, I think JT's a nut case. She blasts Gia's because Mrs. B. had the temerity to try to honor reservations? Oh, the HORror! Oh, the huMANity!! Mrs. B. was apparently restrained and lady-like. I'd have grabbed JT's elbow and gently but firmly shoved her out the door, and closed it on her big mouth!

Dottie, if I'm ever in a smackdown, I want you by my side!

MAG - I agree, I want to go to Gia's first chance I get. Tee hee hee, maybe JT is a shill (knowing how loyal sandboxer can be, especially when someplace or someone is badmouthed for no reason)

This is crap. The restaurant is great, the people are great, and we love this restaurant.

I was at Gia's 2 years ago. My one and only visit. It was very cold outside and my date went to get the wine (BYOB) and left me with Giavonna. She put her arm around me and walk with me to the counter and made me sit and have a soft drink while I waited. She came by our table once or twice and was graciuos and lovely. I remember every minute of that evening. It was one of those really great experiences that stays fresh in your mind and in your heart always.

made me sit and have a soft drink while I waited

???