398771 Sat May 05 20:14:27 -0700 2007 2 19 Outer Boroughs 0 2545226 We visited Wave Hill this afternoon (gorgeous gardens, definitely try to get there on a beautiful spring day) and wanted to eat in the neighborhood. We struck up a conversation with another visitor, who suggested Beccofino. We walked into a lovely, exposed-brick-walled restaurant, nice music playing, and great smells coming out of the kitchen. We ordered--seafood salad and cannelini for appetizers, and house special pork chop for main, which we told the waitress that we would share. (We're not a little old couple who split 1 salad and 1 main course and then share a cup of coffee. Two main dishes is just too much food for us, and taking it home in a doggy-bag just doesn't cut it.) Uh-oh, first problem: a $4.50 sharing fee. I asked if it held even though we were ordering appetizers and everything, and they said yes. Ok, so I figured that's because salad is included with the main dish, so they'll give us 2 salads, but no--only one salad. The food comes out, and it's really good. The pork chop was delicious, with a lovely gravy that had lots of mushrooms and sausage in it, and it came with oven-roasted potatoes and broccoli. The dish was split in the kitchen, so we avoided the messiness of having to divide it up ourselves, maybe worth the sharing charge. And then, halfway through my main course, a crumpled-up napkin flies through the air and lands--splat!--right in my plate. I looked up, and the woman at the next table said that she saw it happen, and the napkin came from the bar, which we were sitting next to. So, I called the bartender over and showed her my plate. She apologized, and said she was throwing it into the garbage and must have missed. I asked, do you think I should continue eating this dish, and she replied, sure, the napkin isn't dirty, just a little wet. I answered that I would not finish a dish that had a dirty napkin thrown into it, so she said that was fine, I'll take half off your bill. I was fuming. My dear SO calmly finished his meal, the check came, and they did take half off--half the price of the pork chop dish, not half the price of the bill. The sharing charge remained as well. While I must say that the food (as much as I ate of it) was good, it seems to me the management needs a little finesse. Think twice before visiting Beccofino, or who knows what may land in your dish. Sat May 05 20:14:28 -0700 2007 10625 Missyme 1 2554255 Why is it that this sort of weirdness only happens in places that are desperate for good food? Near Einstein in the Bronx there is almost nowhere good to eat. I was at Pine Too (don't ask where it is, you don't want to go there) one day and they offered free mussels with lunch. We got old, gritty, disgusting mussels with marinara sauce. Just throw them away!!! Talk about something inedible landing on your plate. Wed May 09 06:38:55 -0700 2007 2545226 16728 kenito799 1 2601568 Obviously a bad experience, and not what I'd consider acceptable. However, my wife and I went there last night for our anniversary and found the food delicious; the service friendly, helpful, and attentive; and the prices reasonable though not cheap (2 appetizers + 2 entrees + 2 desserts + bottle of decent chianti + tip = $125). The fried calimari were delicate and totally non-rubbery, with at crispy tempura-like crust and the (special) veal forestier was delectable. Definitely worth going back. Fri May 25 09:29:41 -0700 2007 2545226 101069 JHCC