[rating:3]
Yesterday was my actual birthday, and the day started off on a difficult note. I woke up with a terrible headache and nausea. I tried a few different pain relievers, but nothing seemed to help right away. Eventually I decided to push through, hit the gym, and go for a five mile run. That seemed to do the trick.
My wife and I had made a reservation for 6 pm, but we ran a bit late and rescheduled for 7 pm. This is no fault of the restaurant, but for someone dealing with a migraine, the location presented some challenges. The walk over and much of the evening were accompanied by constant car horns, loud street noise, and car alarms, all of which made the headache worse.
Inside IL PUNTO Ristorante, the atmosphere was lively and fairly loud, which is usually enjoyable, but tough when dealing with a splitting headache. In hindsight, I probably should have canceled, but I did not want to disappoint my mom, so I toughed it out.
We arrived on time and were seated promptly. I was hungry and hoped there would be bread at the table, especially after a long workout. We were given olive oil and vinegar, but no bread. We waited for my mom and sister, who were running a little late.
Since I was hungry, I went ahead and ordered appetizers before they arrived, a Caesar salad and some calamari for the table. The salad and croutons were fresh and crunchy, but the dressing lacked flavor. It may have been a lighter version, which could explain it.
The calamari also did not stand out. It was somewhat bland, the breading was not particularly appealing, and the dipping sauce was thin and watery. I started to wonder how the rest of the evening would go.
When my mom and sister arrived, they could tell I was not at my best, mostly due to the migraine. My mom had some Advil on hand, and after a few minutes I started feeling considerably better. Mom always knows best.
They also noticed the absence of bread, and a few minutes later a staff member brought some out. By that point we had already finished the appetizers. The bread itself was good with a nice variety, but the timing left something to be desired.
For the main courses, I had salmon with vegetables and potatoes, which my mom also ordered. My wife had a seafood risotto, and my sister ordered a lasagna style dish.
The main courses were a significant improvement over the appetizers. The vegetables and potatoes were flavorful, and the salmon was well seasoned and satisfying. I did notice one side of the salmon appeared undercooked, so I left that portion. My wife enjoyed her risotto, though she felt it was slightly undercooked as well. I found the texture a bit firm but the flavor was good. My mom and sister seemed to enjoy their dishes.
The standout aspect of IL PUNTO Ristorante was without question the service. Outside of the bread timing, the staff was attentive, consistently refilling our water and checking in throughout the meal. The service was genuinely impressive.
When the bill arrived, I noticed an 18% gratuity was already included. My personal preference is to leave the tip amount to the customer’s discretion, so this was a bit unexpected. That said, my wife and I were satisfied with the service and did not contest it. It may be worth giving customers the option to determine the tip amount on their own.
We had forgotten to print out a Groupon but were allowed to use the digital version on our phone, which was a thoughtful accommodation.
Overall the experience was a pleasant one. If you do not mind some street noise and the occasional lapse in bread timing, IL PUNTO Ristorante is worth a visit.
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