After waiting over 40 minutes for a table, we were taken to our table where we preceded to order drinks and appetizers from inexperienced, high school aged server. After a review of the menu, we chose the Primo Appetizer priced at $18.95, which offered a taste of all their featured appetizers. The Shrimp Marconi was served cold even though the sauce consisted of butter, wine, and garlic. It say it was unappetizing would be an understatement, considering the congealed butter which lay at the bottom of this cold dish.

The next appetizer item was the Maryland Crab Cakes. It would have been nice to have some crab mixed into the bread mixture presented as the Crab Cake but this diner believes that would have been asking for too much.

The final appetizer of this appetizer trio call Primo Appetizer was the Bruschetta, which was served on what could only be described as a store bought cracker. The only positive thing this diner can say of this appetizer trio was that the tomato mixture on the Bruschetta was freshly made.

Prior getting our salad course, we waited for our server to clear off the table. After a long interval we decided that it would behoove us to make use of the nearby busboy's cart and deposit our dished there ourselves. When the harried server finally came back to our table, she did not even realize that the table had been cleared off. We even had to ask multiple times for refills on our wine and ice tea. At one point, after asking for water a third time we were able to get the attention of a busboy who was able to fill our request for water. In addition to having to clean off our own dishes, our salads were very unremarkable and the House Cesar Dressing was a poor quality bottled dressing.

Disorganization seemed to be the theme of the evening, which was very surprising for a restaurant that has been in business for the last 45 years. Once our entrees came, our disappointment with our dinning experience was complete. The Pasta Marinara, priced at $9.75, had a sauce that was watery and tasteless. Now for those of you who do not cook Italian food let this diner say that Marinara is one of the easiest Italian sauces to make.

Marinara sauce is very easy to create, the ingredients to make a good sauce consist of tomatoes, garlic, sugar, and fresh basil. The only way the Marinara sauce can become watery and flavorless is when it has not simmered long enough to reduce the water shed by the tomatoes during cooking or when hot water is added to provide more sauce for extra servings. Either way any restaurant serving such a sauce should be ashamed. This diner has eaten better quality Marinara sauce from the mall restaurant Sbarro and for much cheaper!

We also ordered the Veal Piccata, priced at $18.50, which made us wish that we had chosen to eat somewhere else. Marconi's presented an overly breaded, priced, and soggy veal patty with a greasy sauce lacking the signature caper/lemon flavor that Veal Piccata should have. It was accompanied by vegetables that were over cooked and with out any tang.

We ended the meal with a traditional Italian dessert, Connoli; this diner must say this was the highlight of the meal. The coffee offered was well done and the Connoli served was freshly made. A secret to creating a good Connoli is filling this pastry just prior to serving so that the pastry doesn't become soggy from the filling. Maroni's Connoli filling was simply made without chocolate chips or nuts, so it was hard to make a mistake in putting it together. The pastry shell itself was not made in house.

Though this evening meal was poorly made, presented, served; this writer would have restrained from giving this review until such time another night of dining was made, however, due to the poor service and the prices attached to an evening at this restaurant, this diner believes that future patrons of Marconi's should be warned. Marconi's, at one time, may have been very good Italian restaurant, but this diner's meal did not reflect the implied quality a restaurant that has been around for 45 years. When in Cleveland try another restaurant.

Marconi's Restaurant

424 Berlin Road

Huron, OH 44839

419-433-4341

As you walk into Al's Steakhouse, you're transported to a time when waiters knew how to serve the customer a dining experience and not just a plate of food. It's been so long since this writer has experienced such service in a mid-priced restaurant that I expected Frank Sinatra to walk through the door.

The restaurant is a time warp back to the days of great dining, excellent service, and exceptional food. For those of you who have never experienced first class dining this is the place for you. Al's Steakhouse is a first class restaurant with mid-range prices. The restaurant accepts casual attire but to make your dining experience extra special I suggest you dress up. You'll feel like one of the Rat Pack!

Al's Steakhouse offers a full menu offering all the entrees that made the steakhouses of the sixties so entertaining. Their menu includes Seafood, Steaks tender enough to cut with a fork, and vegetables cooked to a flavorful crispness. Al's Steakhouse also offers a full wine cellar and bar. Just walking into the place entices you to ask for a Highball!

The food at Al's Steakhouse is excellent, but the tableside service is what sets it apart from other mid-priced Steakhouses. This restaurant creates a dining event that most people now only experience if they eat at a high-end restaurant. Al's offers excellent food and service with prices that rival such places as Outback and Texas Roadhouse.

Al's Steakhouse makes going out to eat a social event again and it's a place that transports you back an era where the customer was important. It's a hip place with good food, wine, and excellent service. Make sure to experience Al's Steakhouse if you're in Joliet, Illinois and tell them Frank sent you.

I placed the order early in the afternoon and was told my order would be ready for pick up in 15 minutes. Having encountered this situation before with the Anaya's Restaurants I knew it would be more like 30 minutes. I decided to run a few errands in the area and then go to pick up my food. I arrived approximately one hour later and to my surprise I was told that my food was not quite ready and to have a drink at the bar (at my cost) while I wait...the food would right out.

In retrospect I see know that they were conniving enough to try to milk me for more money. I did not stay for the drink; instead I paid for my food in good faith that it was about ready, and left to run a quick errand. When I returned one-half hour later my food was still not ready! As a food professional, I can understand a considerable amount of wait time as a seated customer with an overly busy waiter. There is no excuse that could possible justify to any extent why it had been over 1.5 hours and my food was still not ready. I had only ordered 2 entrees for Christ sake.

So I asked the dimwitted hung-over hostess to speak with the Manager on Duty. She left and came back what felt like an eternity later, smiled, and ignored me. I said "well!" At which point she looked right at me and asked if I would still like to speak with a manager. At this point one can only imagine if the hostess' parents were related. I replied with a yes and she set off again for the manager.

Eventually, the ethnically appropriate Manager arrived with a disturbed tone. I spoke with her and said that I was not wanting to complain, but rather to inform her of the situation that was going on under her nose. I wanted her to be aware of what was going on so that no other customers would be subjected to such an injustice. She said she would go to check on my food (possibly spit in it I suspect) and see what was going on. Ten punishing minutes later (for a total of over 1 hour and 45 minutes since placing my to-go order) she returns with a bag containing my food in hand. She handed me the bag, and with an extremely insulting and sarcastic tone makes a half-assed attempt to apologize and shows me the door.

Cyclone's has typically been a great place to enjoy a relaxed brunch and mimosas, but under this management I can only suggest they get their act together before they drive away all their customers, bankrupt the company, and disgrace the Anaya family name. I have been it situations similar to this in restaurant of far less reputation and 99% of the time the manager is quick to make amends...offer comps from free drinks to free meals. My problem is not so much with the fact that nothing was offered for this terrible service, but the manner in which they continued. I am appalled at the service this past weekend from the Anaya's Mexican Restaurant and strongly recommend against eating there anytime soon.

I do believe in second chances and might give one after sufficient time has passed for this restaurant to get back to quality service.

But Dolce Vita stands out even among these. On Saturday evening, a group of 12 of us had an early reservation. We were seated almost immediately, and offered drinks and bread choices, though our party was not complete. The waiter addressed the table as a whole, giving the feeling of a performance rather that just a recitation of our options. He asked if we would prefer a bruschetta, foccacchia, or just crusty Italian bread. When there was no immediate response, the waiter suggested that he bring a mix of the three. All were fresh and delicious.

After our party was complete, the owner, Franco Graceffa, came to our table and gave a performance of his own, telling us about favored menu items, and that the kitchen would prepare anything requested. Rather than ordering individual appetizers, he suggested we get a couple of family style platters of antipasti. We ordered a large Antipasti Misto, with Italian cold cuts and salad specialties, and my favorite, freshly made mozzarella . As a second platter, they chef did up a vegan-friendly hot and cold platter. Everything was wonderful, and there was more than enough for everyone.

The choice of entrees was difficult as there are so many wonderful-sounding items. I ordered Vitello Grand Marnier ($22.95), veal sautéed in orange liqueur, and my husband had Gamberi Scampi ($19.95), jumbo shrimp sautéed in olive oil, garlic with white wine and lemon. Both were delicious. Others at our table ordered a variety if items, including one vegan and 3 vegetarian plates. The menu is extensive, including pasta, of course, and beef, chicken, veal, and seafood. The vegetarian dishes were inventive and enjoyable. No one was displeased with what they got.

Portions are not enormous like in some Italian restaurants, but this actually pleased me. The portions were reasonable and with the antipasto and bread, more than sufficient. We ordered only 2 desserts, a cheesecake with fresh berries and a classic tiramisu. Both were excellent, but the tiramisu was the star of the show. Light as a cloud, with just the right amount of rum, and not heavy on the chocolate, it was flawless.

There is a wine list, but we left the choices to the waiter, who brought Shiraz and Pinot Grigio, both of which were excellent.

The décor is typical North End Italian, with lively oil paintings and bright colors. The exposed ceiling does nothing to dim the noise, but that seems to be part of the overall atmosphere.

This is such a fun restaurant, and I look forward to going back again. I also intend to get a recipe for the veal with Grand Marnier; it was that good. Dolce Vita was delightful, though noisy - at one point, Mr. Graceffa started singing "Volare", as customers joined in! We felt welcomed by the staff, thrilled with the food, and had an all around wonderful time.