665600 Sun Nov 08 11:57:57 -0800 2009 7 12 Boston Area 0 5165252 Someone help me understand this. Everyone few months I always wind up with Saturday or Sunday company which I am unprepared for. So, I've taken to running into the North end to DePasquale's and getting fresh pasta (which has been very good). Then I hit up Il Pannino Express and get a dozen meatballs and sauce....then over to Modern or Marias. Voila, dinner everyone loves. This doesn't come cheap mind you, but in a pinch its worth it. So, Saturday I had some relatives coming with just an hours notice and I made a fast run to North End. I get fresh pasta at DePasquales, and run to Ill Pannino. No problem they put up a dozen meatballs, plank the lid on and want to shove me off. I'm like "whoa Nellie", there's no sauce in there. They said right, only meatballs....we can't give you sauce. I stated that I will pay for the sauce....they said NO SAUCE. What the He11 good are the meatballs without the sauce ??? Who eats meatballs without sauce. They guy basically said take it or leave it. I would rather have left it, but had a half hour to get home. I pleaded and said look, I like your meatballs, and I don't want to buy sauce from somewhere else that will have a different flavor and seasoning from the meatballs. He said....NO SAUCE. I felt like I was fighting with the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. Then he leans in and whispers to me (and I thought great, the guy feels for me and will sell me some sauce). He says "Go to DePasquales". I said, that's weird, I just bought fresh pasta there. He said buy their sauce (Gosh dang, I'm so confused at this point). Why would Il Panno tell me to buy someone else's sauce........ding ding ding...hello !!! I figured it out. Il Pannino is selling their sauce to DePasquales put up in jars with the DePasquale label. The guy says yup, that's our sauce. So after dropping 40 bucks, I run to DePasquale's grabbed what looked like an 8 oz. little jar, bring it to the register, and oh cwap....it was nine bucks and change !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $8.95 to be exact, then add tax. I thought Rao's was expensive and the jar was half the size. It wasn't even enough sauce to dampen the pasta. What is Il Pannino using gold-plated tomatos?? But I made do by adding a few things here and there. Bottom line is I have no fuss with the actual food, but boy what a rotten way to do business. Shame, shame shame. Sun Nov 08 11:57:57 -0800 2009 54569 Buddernut 1 5165653 I feel for you being in a rush and all, but I'm not sure I understand why they are rotten -- because they're selling their sauce retail through another vendor? Why is that a rotten way to do business? No one said you HAD to buy it if you thought it was a rip off. Sun Nov 08 15:41:15 -0800 2009 5165252 177848 purple bot 2 5165942 I've purchased sauce and meatballs many times there before. This appears only a new wrinkle that the sauce is being sold at DePasquales. The sauce is not labeled "Il Pannino"...it is labeled DePasquales. If they sell a meal.....they put on a ladle of sauce. All I wanted was a few ladles of sauce with the purchase. They sell takeout there as well as eat in. To me its like ordering chicken soup and not getting any broth. Again, I said the food was good, and I sure in heck could not go to the store, by groceries, make meatballs, and a quick sauce in 1/2 hour. I thought it was a nice treat to have a north end dinner and pastries for my family, who was passing through to attend a wake. They do a take-out business....period. If I would like a cup of sauce and want to pay...I don't get it. I understand if they bottle a product and sell it elsewere, but again, its labled DePasquales. Maybe next time I get a sandwich there, they'll send me to Bova's for my bread. Hey, I chalk it up to the quirkiness of the north end. Maria was even screaming at her workers yesterday; albeit with a smile. Boy, judging from some thoughts here, I guess I should snap out the dark ages and no expect sauce with my meatballs. And Peg, I do agree about Artu...they are another go-to choice for take-out. I guess I lost my head in all the pedestrian traffic that was out and about. Sun Nov 08 18:11:14 -0800 2009 5165653 54569 Buddernut 3 5166554 I had a good veal dish for takeout frrom Artu the other night. re Il Pannino steering you to DePasquale's for sauce, Frank Depasquale owns both so it's not like he's sending you to Bova for bread. Maybe he's just trying to drive some traffic to his new store. Not saying it's right and I think Pannino should have accomodated you. Mon Nov 09 05:28:52 -0800 2009 5165942 10111 9lives 1 5165697 I would have said keep your meatballs and gone to Artu. They do takeout, make a decent meatball and are way more accomodating. Why do business with someone who doesn't care about customer needs. Sun Nov 08 15:58:09 -0800 2009 5165252 26213 Pegmeister 1 5166729 frank depasquale owns the pasta place and all the il paninos. maybe they're trying to steer business to the pasta shop? maybe the il panino was low on sauce and didn't have enough to sell? either way, i agree, bad customer service. that being said, if you do this drill once a month, why not stock your freezer with these products and save the hassle? eta: oops missed that 9lives already posted about frank's ownership. Mon Nov 09 07:12:09 -0800 2009 5165252 30273 hotoynoodle 1 5166756 Honestly, that is just plain absurd. I would have told him to keep the danged meatballs. Mon Nov 09 07:24:27 -0800 2009 5165252 10169 StriperGuy 1 5166811 Who wants to buy a dozen meatballs without sauce? Of course you want sauce with the meatballs. That's just crazy. If you don't mind me asking how much did they charge for a dozen meatballs? I would definately not give him any more of my business. Mon Nov 09 07:45:16 -0800 2009 5165252 50594 buffet king