Forums39
Topics38,564
Posts311,396
Members26,550
|
Most Online2,218 Jan 21st, 2020
|
|
16 registered members (hokiesailor, SeeDiver, fabila, SteveH, George1234, ydrwrb1, SXMScubaman, xrayman67, Lionsail, Cincinnati_Kid, GaryC, 5 invisible),
868
guests, and 71
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: Sandra]
#266996
10/26/2021 09:18 AM
10/26/2021 09:18 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,673 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,673
Central Florida!
|
I went there once, a while ago, at their previous location and I wasn't bowled over. Haven't been back. It does seem like this place has a continuing issue with service.
Carol Hill
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: Sandra]
#267035
10/26/2021 03:26 PM
10/26/2021 03:26 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085
Massachusetts
|
What changed...not that long ago this was THE go to suggestion for a nice meal
Edit: never mind...I did some searching of previous posts and they spew a similar vibe
Last edited by boucharda; 10/26/2021 03:31 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: geomo]
#267042
10/26/2021 04:04 PM
10/26/2021 04:04 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,698 Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,698
Auburn, WA
|
On that note, we just cancelled our reservation. Life's too short for bad attitude, service and food. Good decision.
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: Sandra]
#267048
10/26/2021 05:04 PM
10/26/2021 05:04 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,300 Vancouver, WA
Todd
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 4,300
Vancouver, WA
|
It is not my favorite place but don't recall any issues with service and the food was good, not great but better than Isola in my opinion which seems to be on a favored list right now. Probably have gone 6 to 8 times to Sale. Kind of goes to how things can change in just a few months time. I do enjoy the setting there on the water with the yachts. T
I prefer the Isle seat
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: kim]
#267055
10/26/2021 05:45 PM
10/26/2021 05:45 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,512 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,512
Ohio
|
Is Sale and Pepe the same Davide as LaGondola days? NO! Davide from La Gondola has Izi.
J.D.
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#267058
10/26/2021 05:51 PM
10/26/2021 05:51 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,679 Newtown, CT
kim
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,679
Newtown, CT
|
Is Sale and Pepe the same Davide as LaGondola days? NO! He left the island a long time ago and would NOT run a $hitshow like this. Ah ok! Well I totally messed that up. For some reason I thought there was a connection to Sale & Pepe or maybe Izzi?
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: kim]
#267061
10/26/2021 05:59 PM
10/26/2021 05:59 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,512 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,512
Ohio
|
Is Sale and Pepe the same Davide as LaGondola days? NO! He left the island a long time ago and would NOT run a $hitshow like this. Ah ok! Well I totally messed that up. For some reason I thought there was a connection to Sale & Pepe or maybe Izzi? Not at all. Davide Foini owned LA Gondola and employed a waiter named Davide (Carroccio, I believe?) and the chef was Marco Ferrante. Izi was started by Davide Foini with Marco in the kitchen but Marco has since moved on to Isola and Davide Foini runs Izi. The Davide that runs Sale & Pepe is not in the La Gondola/Izi mix. I edited my initial response as there are multiple "Davide"'s involved.
J.D.
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: bdeeley]
#267063
10/26/2021 06:22 PM
10/26/2021 06:22 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,512 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,512
Ohio
|
The Head Chef at Isola is Matteo Bottini and has been for for a number of years. But the restaurant is managed by Marco Ferrante who was the chef at La Gondola. Correct?
J.D.
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#267066
10/26/2021 06:36 PM
10/26/2021 06:36 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,698 Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,698
Auburn, WA
|
The Head Chef at Isola is Matteo Bottini and has been for for a number of years. But the restaurant is managed by Marco Ferrante who was the chef at La Gondola. Correct? Yes. Marco runs Isola and also does some of the cooking. Great personal friend and runs a tight ship.
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#267067
10/26/2021 06:39 PM
10/26/2021 06:39 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,512 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,512
Ohio
|
The Head Chef at Isola is Matteo Bottini and has been for for a number of years. But the restaurant is managed by Marco Ferrante who was the chef at La Gondola. Correct? Yes. Marco runs Isola and also does some of the cooking. Great personal friend and runs a tight ship. Correct, unlike Davide that runs Sale & Pepe.
J.D.
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#267068
10/26/2021 06:45 PM
10/26/2021 06:45 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,636 United States of America
bdeeley
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,636
United States of America
|
There used to be a chef at one time at La Gondola that was also a Matteo, but different from the one at Isola.
Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: BeachKitten]
#267165
10/27/2021 03:53 PM
10/27/2021 03:53 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,636 United States of America
bdeeley
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,636
United States of America
|
What I find interesting is that for your first post you came to disparage a business.
And shame on you regular naysayers for jumping on the bandwagon.
I suppose restaurants in NYC don’t ask people to have reservations? Or perhaps seat a regular and recognized customer, who most certainly would not need a reservation given their loyalty?
I would never demand that a chef leave the kitchen during dinner service. THAT sounds like rude and entitled behavior. Once things ease up Davide makes his rounds in the dining room.
We have never experienced anything but great Sicilian food. Kim, I hope you will go. How many times must someone post before they are allowed to talk about a less than stellar performance, from an organization, where they are spending their money? 10, 100 or 1000 posts? (it can be a restaurant, a rental car agency, a rental property, etc....) Maybe she has been a lurker on this board, like so many of us have, before she found her voice and made her first submission. Sometimes, when you perceive that something really bad has happened you want to share. She didn't make a reservation and that was her fault, but if whenever she showed up, others showed up after her that also didn't have reservations and got seated before her, loyal customer or not, than maybe she has a right to be annoyed by that happening. Seems to me, the supposed regular customer is being entitled, by just showing up without the reservation, with the expectation of getting seated immediately. When I go to some of my regular haunts, if they are slammed than I expect to wait. Sometimes I am comped a drink or an appetizer while I'm waiting, if at the bar, or once I get seated, but I would never expect it from an establishment. Not once did she use the word "demand" in her post but she did say she asked to speak with Davide. Not an unreasonable request when one is as sorely dissatisfied as she seemed to be. We don't know if she waited only 5 minutes for him to come out or an hour, but the waitress/manager could have come out and simply said he's not available, she still would have left with an attitude but at least she couldn't say the manager wasn't responsive to her request. I can't believe that there are more than a handful, on this forum, who haven't asked to speak to a manager/supervisor/owner, in their lifetime, when they were experiencing a real problem or what they perceived as a real problem. Her initial post might have been over the top, but so were some of the attacks against her. Sounds like a bad experience, caused by BOTH parties, but there was no reason for the "nastiness" that was directed her way by some on the board. And then to attack other members of the board that might have experienced less than stellar visits at Sale & Pepe, not right. I'm sure this thread will be closed now.
Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: Sandra]
#267166
10/27/2021 04:00 PM
10/27/2021 04:00 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,267 Boynton Beach, FL
EdB
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,267
Boynton Beach, FL
|
We also have dined twice at Sal e Pepe, and was blown away both times. The food was fantastic, the ambience was totally beautiful, and the staff were great. Neither time did we have a reservation, and both times were seated quickly, and had plenty of attention both by wait staff, and then by the owner himself. he couldn't have been any nicer. It does seem strange to me, that a brand new poster would post such a ''scathing'' review of a restaurant. Guess some people have nothing better to do, than to try to ruin someone else's liveliehood. I am sure we will be back there at S and P this March!!!
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: Sandra]
#267170
10/27/2021 04:11 PM
10/27/2021 04:11 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085 Massachusetts
boucharda
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,085
Massachusetts
|
Ummmm...I think ANY reviews should be posted...positive or negative and readers can decide. If we only posted rah-rah comments then what's the point....EVERYTHING is then great...I ALWAYS take any comments with a grain of salt. The Spaghetti House comments were very helpful as were the Sale and Pepe Edit: and I mentioned that there were a few similar issues posted previously in this forum What changed...not that long ago this was THE go to suggestion for a nice meal
Edit: never mind...I did some searching of previous posts and they spew a similar vibe
Last edited by boucharda; 10/27/2021 04:24 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: BeachKitten]
#267175
10/27/2021 05:41 PM
10/27/2021 05:41 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,636 United States of America
bdeeley
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,636
United States of America
|
And I stand by what I said!!!! And if she had been from Canada would it have been Canadian ignorance or from France, French ignorance?
Last edited by bdeeley; 10/27/2021 05:49 PM.
Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: bdeeley]
#267181
10/27/2021 06:25 PM
10/27/2021 06:25 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278 Maryland/DC Metro
BeachKitten
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,278
Maryland/DC Metro
|
And I stand by what I said!!!! And if she had been from Canada would it have been Canadian ignorance or from France, French ignorance? Well, yes. Yes it would be. It can be simplified to ignorance and entitlement. Fine with that. How about linguistic racism?
"It is good to do nothing all day, and then to rest"
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: BeachKitten]
#267183
10/27/2021 06:44 PM
10/27/2021 06:44 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,636 United States of America
bdeeley
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,636
United States of America
|
No, not fine with that at all, but I've seen what and who you are and have no need to respond anymore. (Bad Review = ignorance + entitlement + racism)
(It's taken more than 10 years but I've actually seen the race card played on TTOL, amazing)
Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: Sandra]
#267185
10/27/2021 07:02 PM
10/27/2021 07:02 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,645 Brookfield, CT.
pat
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,645
Brookfield, CT.
|
C’mon, Peeps. We’re better than this. If I could remember my moderator login I’d close this thread right now but since I can’t……….
Can we at least agree that we’ve all had different experiences and let the buyer beware?! And be done with the nastiness!
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
|
|
|
Re: Sale Et Pepe StMaarten Terrible Restaurant & Service
[Re: pat]
#267186
10/27/2021 07:08 PM
10/27/2021 07:08 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,512 Ohio
ruralcarrier
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,512
Ohio
|
How about I close it then.
J.D.
|
|
|
|