21160 Fri Aug 30 12:54:24 -0700 2002 30 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 75221 I've had such a bad experience at Steps of Rome, and heard so many negative opinions afterwards, that I feel I need to share my experience. I wasn't expecting a classy place, but the lack of manners of the waitstaff was beyond belief. After sitting down, when we said we just wanted some coffee and dessert they gave us a mean look and told us very impolitely to "go order that at the bar". We should have left right away, but instead we decided to order some antipasti because we wanted to stay seated. When my friend asked for mineral water, the waiter kept asking "do you want water with bubbles or wine with bubbles" as she was stupid or something. He then tried to hardsell us some wine. When the bill came and I tried to pay by card, the waiter whispered something in my ear (I could smell his less-than-perfect breath). When I asked him if he could repeat please he gave me another mean look and whispered something to my friend's ear, but she also could not understand a word. So he angrily WROTE IN HUGE CHARACTERS on the tablecloth the words "CASH ONLY" with a big arrow pointing to the check, and left without a word. I have been to hundreds of restaurants in many parts of the world and I have never, ever been treated so badly. Several people told me they had similar experiences. In summary, Steps of Rome may the perfect place for drunks trying to quench their hangover on a Friday night or tourists willing to be mistreated by a bunch of rude, dumb, juvenile, insulting waiters who hit on women customers with cheesy lines in Italian that no self-respecting italian woman would listen for a second, and eat bad food while listening to bad loud music, but it's definitely not the place to go if you are looking for a decent, respectful, professional service. Don't waste your time here, there are tons of great Italian places in the city. I will certainly not go there again. Fri Aug 30 12:54:24 -0700 2002 0 Marco 1 75227 That review was funny. Steps of Rome is notoriously cheeseball. No one should ever go there expecting anything "decent, respectful, professional." Anything beyond an italian coffee (which, admittedly, they do quite well) and you're asking for trouble. After all, it's not about the food. It's about the scene. If you're into that scene, you'll enjoy yourself. If you're not, you will be put off. I actually think it is a fun place to go sometimes, like during the world cup, when italy is playing. But, then I know what to expect. Sorry you got trapped. Fri Aug 30 13:26:12 -0700 2002 75221 0 JohnnyP 2 75234 I don't know what you are talking about. I went there exactly to get an espresso and dessert with a friend. I got disrespected and made fun of by three waiters that combined together maybe have 1/4 of my IQ and 1/10 of my education. What's your point anyway? A place can be fun, but customers must be treated with RESPECT. And what's exactly the fun in treating customers badly just because they want to give the table to another party who will spend more? Fri Aug 30 13:54:39 -0700 2002 75227 0 Marco 3 75240 1/4 of your education? 1/10th of your IQ- the three waiters combined.?Many a local has had a fun time at Steps of Rome. Great street scene, classy continental waiters and some pretty people. Food? passable. Tolerance of tourist first timers demanding things "their way" zero. Fri Aug 30 14:23:33 -0700 2002 75234 0 duke dee 4 75251 My sentiments as well. Yes, the staff can be brusque at times, but from my experience that's they way they've always been. I guess you could say that's part of their "charm", like it or not. I go there because they are one of the few cafes that make decent espresso drinks. I also enjoy "talking shop" with their barista on latte art technique (that heart-shaped pattern on top of the cappuccino). One of the few places that can do that. Fri Aug 30 16:21:39 -0700 2002 75240 0 Mr. Bluetooth 5 75339 those guys might be good a steaming the milk, but for straight espresso- I would go to Greco. Sat Aug 31 17:56:25 -0700 2002 75251 0 baker 6 75347 The morning crew at Greco is friendly and outstanding. They are the kings of North Beach. They always greet with a smile and eye contact. They are completely efficient. Can't find better crema in SF and they respect the milk. They don't sculpt foam but that has never impressed me as much as the art of a perfect capp. This person getting lit up by a bad service experience at Steps probably wouldn't appreciate Greco either. He let the waiter hump his leg and then complained about it like he had no reponsibility. Bad service is part of life. If this is all they had to focus on, then it must have been a dreadfully boring night. This guy reminds me of someone who steps in dog crap and then smells it repeatedly and yowls about it as if he were the center of the universe. Making a statement about someone's intelligence and education was my first clue. Sun Sep 01 09:38:50 -0700 2002 75339 0 k. gerstenberger 7 75348 Generally speaking, the ability to pour latte art is a sign of dedication to the craft. Everything from the crema to the milk texturing must be just right in order to do it successfully. I have a keen interest, as I'm personally trying to perfect the technique at home. Thus the continued patronage at SOR. They've got it down pat. Of course, as both of you have alluded, that ability doesn't guarantee a great espresso by itself. It's the key reason I don't order espresso straight anywhere these days: chance are, they can't do it decently. The capps and lattes help "milk it down" so as to mask the deficiencies in the espresso itself. If Greco can consistently pull god shots, preferably in ristretto form, you can rest assured that I will patronize them in the future. Thanks for the tips on Greco. I'll definitely pay them a visit next time. Sun Sep 01 12:05:48 -0700 2002 75347 0 Mr. Bluetooth 8 75579 I used to go to "Steps of Rome" sometimes when I lived in San Francisco. Their Tiramisu is the best. It was a good place to go with friends local or out of town. They made a decent sandwich, and the lively crowd and the waiters entertained your guests. Its the usual convention in coffeehouses to order at the bar and in some places they will then deliver to your table. I never had any trouble there and would never have put up with any crap from the staff. The place was started by young Italian immigrants and they do have an international clientel. Be thankful that San Francisco has banned all smoking in resturants as the smoke was unbearable before. If you want a more quiet experience go to Cafe Puccini, one of the oldest cafes in North Beach, just next door to Cafe Greco. Its owned by Italian Americans, features Puccini on the jukebox (which is usually silent), and Hispanic staff. Its a cafe where you can go to read and or work for hours over coffee and desserts. The almond pastries are great. Tue Oct 04 14:50:32 -0700 2005 75348 0 Blaine 4 75254 Classy??? You've got to be kidding me. These people can't speak proper italian, let alone english. What's classy in the cheesy lines they use on women or dancing like a monkey in the middle of the freaking cafe? Maybe you think that way because you don't understand italian. I swear, two of the waiters were having a fake fight like two 12 years old. Now THAT's classy. They look like a parody of the SNL parody of the restaurant "Bella" with waiters hitting on customers. They are a bunch of uneducated terroni who wouldn't get a job as a waiter in any half decent place in Italy. I feel sorry for you if you think that's classy. Go to Italy to experience what true quality of life, class, hospitality, and style are. FYU I'm not a tourist, I live in SF and I've lived 30 years in Italy, and I know exactly what I'm talking about. Fri Aug 30 16:39:26 -0700 2002 75240 0 Marco 5 75258 Actually, I was agreeing with you in my first response to you. I thought your post was "funny" because Steps of Rome is notoriously cheesey and, if not lacking in class, certainly lacking in maturity and it was amuzing to see the response of an unsuspecting victim. When I said, "sorry you got trapped", I meant it. In the end, I think your just reaction should be never to return, rather than to demand more respect and lament the experience. Many people love the Steps of Rome precisely for the scene, which is decidely 'scemo' but energetic none-the-less. Now, if you have lived in Italy, you should know that any place as popular as Steps of Rome is likely to charge a cover charge. That is Italy's way of ensuring profit. America's way is pushing food, esp. beverages. It's no great secret... you just have to work with the system you're in. Personally, I prefer the cover charge. I don't like this game of padding the bill, turning tables, etc. But, we're not in Italy, we're in America. As for the comment about terroni... I think, perhaps, that explains it all. Pretense and superiority create an air with a thick, lingering stench. No education is necessary to sense it. a capi gualione? Fri Aug 30 16:55:22 -0700 2002 75254 0 JohnnyP 6 75269 Nice way to turn things around. It's funny how people on the internet make extrapolations and assumptions. The comment about terroni is a response to the ludicrous claim that they are "classy" and is amply deserved given the way they treated us. I can assure there was no "stench of superiority" in us going in to get espresso and dessert in what I thought would be a fun environment. The owner and waitstaff, on the other hand, are unbelievably obnoxious and clearly feel above their customers. I'm not going to take that shit from anybody, let alone some poorly educated moron, thank you very much. As to your opinion of what a proper resonse might be, the point of my post is to let know other "unsuspecting victims" what to expect. I think the only reason they are still in business is the constant flux of unsuspecting touris. Fri Aug 30 18:25:36 -0700 2002 75258 0 Marco 7 75277 Look dude, in my first post I was agreeing with you and giving you my genuine sympathy for getting trapped. But, for many people who know what to expect, Steps of Rome can be a fun and unique place to hang out. Classy? Absolutely not. Obnoxious? Entirely. I'm with ya that far... and I feel bad that you were not prepared for your first visit. BUT, I don't think your assessment applies to all who might venture to go there. And I know it doesn't call for what amounts to an ethnic slur in Italian. If the service is that bad at a restaurant, no one will go and the place will fail. Obviously, in the case of Steps of Rome, the place continues to thrive, despite your exp. with the service and even without any polenta on the menu! ;) Fri Aug 30 18:58:17 -0700 2002 75269 0 JohnnyP 8 75283 if you look on craiglist you'll find that I'm not the only one who won't go twice to SOR. Luckily for them, their location and reputation (built on past glories) still ensures a constant flow of one-time-only tourists. by the way, that not an ethnic slur in its original meaning, and we really only have on ethnic group in Italy. Not all terroni are southerners and not all southerners are terroni. If you want some polenta, try Ristorante Milano ... Fri Aug 30 19:29:54 -0700 2002 75277 0 Marco 9 75286 "If you want some polenta, try Ristorante Milano" Thanks for the suggestion. I've actually been meaning to try Milano, very near my new apartment. Do they take credit cards? ;) Fri Aug 30 19:47:01 -0700 2002 75283 0 JohnnyP 10 75295 try it, it's really good. And next time you are at SOR, keep this in mind: http://www.theonion.com/onion3510/european_romantic.html Fri Aug 30 21:39:44 -0700 2002 75286 0 Marco 11 75422 LOL, that is so funny. After reading the first segment, I was thinking to myself (if she only knew). The second part had me rolling! Thanks for posting. Tue Sep 03 16:05:07 -0700 2002 75295 0 JohnnyP 10 75324 Johnny, gotta thank you and Marco for providing today's most entertaining thread. How are you doing on checking out the places on your list (linked below)? Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/17545#52333 Sat Aug 31 03:16:53 -0700 2002 75286 0 Melanie Wong 11 75424 Wow, that's quite a memory.... or, something!? :) Actually, of the four on my original list, I've been to all but Milano. But, Milano is not next on the list. It is currently second in line to Allegro. I have not forgotten your recommendation for 'pasta ai cecci' after all. Tue Sep 03 16:13:14 -0700 2002 75324 0 JohnnyP 12 75431 Hee hee, be sure to report back, JohnnyP! Love the flair of your writing. Tue Sep 03 18:18:35 -0700 2002 75424 0 Melanie Wong 3 75253 "What's your point anyway? A place can be fun, but customers must be treated with RESPECT." Personally, I don't subscribe to that point of view. I feel like, it's their restaurant... if they can get away with poor service, it's their prerogative. Also, I don't like the mentality that the customer is always right. That is too corporate for me... too Nordstrom, or something. Besides, a true proprietor gives and takes, just as do his customers. It is an equal proposition, not one of implied superiority, i.e. customer over server. That's just my take and, perhaps due to this attitude, I rarely seem to have poor service. RESPECT, after all, is a two way street. Furthermore... I would have to say that rude, or at least indifferent, service is actually an element of authenticity at Steps of Rome. Have you ever been to a busy trattoria in Rome? If so, you'll know what I mean. Like I said, go for the coffee and dessert... just don't do it at peak dinner hours. To do so is to place your expectations upon a proprietor/server at his busiest and most financially important time. Generally, I try to RESPECT that about restaurants and tend to inform them upon arrival of my wishes for dessert and coffee only. I express my concern about interferring with their livelihood and most are willing to accomodate, if for no other reason than the fact that they RESPECT the RESPECT I have shown for them. If you just assume, as customer, that you deserve RESPECT, then you are actually less likely to receive it. That is my experience anyhow. Take it or leave it. And, I'm sure Steps of Rome would say the very same thing... take it or leave it. Fri Aug 30 16:38:15 -0700 2002 75234 0 JohnnyP 1 75268 I'm wondering if you could clarify whether you were at the cafe (further north on Columbus) or the restaurant (closer to Broadway). I've never had more than a drink at the cafe, so service wasn't an issue. No one seemed to care if I spent the whole day there except during the world cup games. The guys behind the counter seemed friendly enough--maybe it helps to be a woman. However it sounds like you were being served in the restaurant, which may account for why they were protecting their table space. If so, they should have sent you to the cafe. There's no excuse for rude service. They aren't paying you. I wouldn't take it personally though or feel the need to impugn anyone's intelligence over whether they take credit cards. Sounds like dessert elsewhere is in order. Fri Aug 30 18:20:27 -0700 2002 75221 0 Windy 2 75271 this was at the cafe, not the restaurant. The point about the credit card is that he wrote "cash only" angrily on the table with a big arrow, with the clear intent of insulting us. Fri Aug 30 18:32:16 -0700 2002 75268 0 Marco 3 75290 i guess the only response would be to walk out--without paying, or definitely without tipping. Or writing TIP in big letters with a arrow pointing to a penny. Fri Aug 30 20:10:20 -0700 2002 75271 0 peaches 4 75291 that would have been a great move. too bad I didn't think of it. Fri Aug 30 20:30:30 -0700 2002 75290 0 Marco 2 75272 "maybe it helps to be a woman" uh, no, it *definitely* helps to be a woman at Steps of Rome! I assure you, the waiters aren't fake fightin' to impress the guys. LOL Place cracks me up... but, I still love to go on ocassion. Fri Aug 30 18:45:29 -0700 2002 75268 0 JohnnyP 1 75363 You're wrong and here's why. Everyone who wants just dessert or coffee orders at the bar. Not just you. And you can have a table without more food. Just not table service. And as for the food they have some of the most honest pasta dishes you can get outside of a home Italian kitchen. The last time we were there after dinner we ordered shots of Vov. Waiter had no idea what we were talking about even though the bottle was right behind the bar. Owner comped us for the drinks because it was his own personal stash and no one had ever asked for it before. And if this is the worst service you've ever had anywhere in your life, then you haven't lived. Sun Sep 01 21:52:05 -0700 2002 75221 0 Louisa Chu 1 75486 Steps of Rome has fabulous tiramisu. Definitely worth checking out. Wed Sep 11 18:30:03 -0700 2002 75221 0 km 1 75547 Sorry you had a bad experience. However as someone who lives in Italy, I must say the food here is truly Italian of great quality and accuracy to the true Italian way of cooking, (not "Americanized" as so many other places which claim to be Italian). You must understand there is a reason why this place has a line outside of people waiting to have dinner, when other restaurants up and down this street sit empty. If you were a restaurateur, you could understand why you cannot give a table to a group who wants to linger over "just coffee and dessert" during dinner time, while a long line of customers who want to eat dinner and drink wine, (a great wine list by the way)are shivering out on the sidewalk in the San Francisco fog. This much abused "customer is always right" philosophy is a thing of the past. Macy's, I. Magnin and many other retailers in San Francisco went bankrupt and through reorganization due to that policy. Only large corporate conglomerates can still afford to lose money like that. The small American business must be profitable by weeding out the true good customers from the ones who are looking to experience the place without contributing to the profits. I know many San Francisco locals who love this place and go often and are treated beautifully. Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the famous beat poet-laureate, Phillip Kaufman, movie director, Rob Schnieder, Sean Penn, John Leguizamo, actors have all been seen here having a great time and coming back for more. This is probably one of the few if not the only Italian restaurant and caffe in North Beach that is not a tourist trap. Please rethink your opinions. Maybe you were a wee bit jealous of those good looking waiters getting all the attention. Mon Feb 02 16:24:04 -0800 2004 75221 0 Italiana 2 2857099 Okay... good looking italian waiters... perhaps in '04, certainly a thing of the past. (Sure you didn't work for the place?). I just had dinner there. It was not my first time. I ate their back in Feb of '07 and found the food to be reasonably authentic, with a hint of American influence. In Feb, the only thing I noticed was that after my meal, they misrepresented a dessert on the menu. I've spent some time in Italy and was mildly confused/disappointed when it was not what I'd expected. Tonight I returned. Initially, I was greeted in a very friendly fashion by an older gentleman- very friendly and personable... reminded me of the italian 'proprietarii' from Italy. The meal was served with little to no incident. However, after being presented with the dessert menu, I posed a question to the waiter, asking if I may view the dessert I wanted to try. He replied, "We prepare it at the time you order", which was a reasonable response. However afterwards, I sat there for perhaps 15 minutes in which I received not even the slightest look or acknowledgement. I thought, "What's up with this?" I'll not attribute the lack of attention to nothing than perhaps a sense of entitlement or just poor form (figura brutta). The place was not crowded. I was not rude nor demanding. I certainly would not go as far as to say "tourist trap" however there was a bit of favoratism towards their more turisti d'europa. Fri Aug 17 22:02:45 -0700 2007 75547 10965 reality check 3 2857577 Thanks for the update and resurfacing this post. I just started reading Chowhound in 2002 and the passion and humor in this post was one of the reports that hooked me and made me a fan. Anyway, What did you have to eat? Which dessert was misreprested? Have you tried the tiramisu? It gets good mentions on the board. I would assume it is the same at both the Cafe and the Trattoria. A few other Steps of Rome posts. http://www.chowhound.com/topics/322178 http://www.chowhound.com/topics/351296#2099784 http://www.chowhound.com/topics/318118 Sat Aug 18 08:20:37 -0700 2007 2857099 10264 rworange