Neumanali, Hayward
Decided to get a nice, leisurely lunch here, only been for dinner before. After last time, I wasn't sure about coming back, but, determined to support local restaurants, so one more time. Why not. Sadly, don't think I'm returning.
When we first went a couple years ago, the food was fantastic. The restored Victorian, tasteful bistro decor, original artwork, all made for an excellent dining experience in a culinary wasteland this side of the bay. Things a little downhill food-wise when they started changing chefs, but still not enough to stop us yet.
Last visit in August, food was plain weird. Crabcakes good, but atop a mountain of corn, fava beans, and assorted veggies that would have been better suited as a side to a steak. "Steamed clams with oven roasted tomatoes, garlic, white wine and cream with grilled garlic crostini" were ok, the cream made it weird and over the top. "Cioppino with prawns, scallops, halibut and clams served with grilled garlic crostini" lame - Ragu sauce-like. Worst appetizer: figs and goat cheese. Flavors didn't meld, and HORRIBLE - the figs were so unripe they had no business serving them!
Same maître d', but there's no friendliness or recognition ever in 2 years, and today was no different, except today, not in the mood. Especially after he was really friendly to a couple other tables, so I know he's capable of it. I'd read other reviews that they have a tendency to be really friendly to their chums, but ignore everyone else. I did notice that, but not bothered till today.
Didn't feel like wine, and think lemonade. Umm, no, out of lemonade. No prob. Ok, curious about their open-faced pulled pork sandwich. What an odd diner item on an higher-end menu, so I wonder if they'll do something interesting to it. Nope. This hideous thing appears, the pork so dry and tough it's become jerky, and changed to this nasty dark brown color. The "caramelized" onions barely cooked. No seasonings, no sauce. I left half on the plate, and tell the server when she comes. She apologizes.
I decide to have dessert. Umm, no, out of creme brulee. Ok, affogato with vanilla gelato. Takes my order, leaves, returns, umm, no, out of vanilla gelato. Sigh. Ok, peach sorbet, and cappuccino. Sorbet arrives, only, hmmm, not a sorbet but an ice cream. Sigh. But I don't say anything about that.
Ok, you'd think after the "we're out of everything you want" and the hideous sandwich, they'd at least knock off the capp to make up for it? NOPE. Full charge. *Shrug*. Oh well, no prob, can go elsewhere. Disappointing. Just kinda wished we didn't always have to go to the City for finer dining.
When we first went a couple years ago, the food was fantastic. The restored Victorian, tasteful bistro decor, original artwork, all made for an excellent dining experience in a culinary wasteland this side of the bay. Things a little downhill food-wise when they started changing chefs, but still not enough to stop us yet.
Last visit in August, food was plain weird. Crabcakes good, but atop a mountain of corn, fava beans, and assorted veggies that would have been better suited as a side to a steak. "Steamed clams with oven roasted tomatoes, garlic, white wine and cream with grilled garlic crostini" were ok, the cream made it weird and over the top. "Cioppino with prawns, scallops, halibut and clams served with grilled garlic crostini" lame - Ragu sauce-like. Worst appetizer: figs and goat cheese. Flavors didn't meld, and HORRIBLE - the figs were so unripe they had no business serving them!
Same maître d', but there's no friendliness or recognition ever in 2 years, and today was no different, except today, not in the mood. Especially after he was really friendly to a couple other tables, so I know he's capable of it. I'd read other reviews that they have a tendency to be really friendly to their chums, but ignore everyone else. I did notice that, but not bothered till today.
Didn't feel like wine, and think lemonade. Umm, no, out of lemonade. No prob. Ok, curious about their open-faced pulled pork sandwich. What an odd diner item on an higher-end menu, so I wonder if they'll do something interesting to it. Nope. This hideous thing appears, the pork so dry and tough it's become jerky, and changed to this nasty dark brown color. The "caramelized" onions barely cooked. No seasonings, no sauce. I left half on the plate, and tell the server when she comes. She apologizes.
I decide to have dessert. Umm, no, out of creme brulee. Ok, affogato with vanilla gelato. Takes my order, leaves, returns, umm, no, out of vanilla gelato. Sigh. Ok, peach sorbet, and cappuccino. Sorbet arrives, only, hmmm, not a sorbet but an ice cream. Sigh. But I don't say anything about that.
Ok, you'd think after the "we're out of everything you want" and the hideous sandwich, they'd at least knock off the capp to make up for it? NOPE. Full charge. *Shrug*. Oh well, no prob, can go elsewhere. Disappointing. Just kinda wished we didn't always have to go to the City for finer dining.
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