By an extraordinary chance I had landed in the same factory studied by the great Chicago You, and anyone that still supports you should be ashamed of yourselves. Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook PageStay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter, First published on March 3, 2016 / 4:19 AM. The host of the show moved among the crowd when necessary directing the guests to lower their voices when needed. Youd think that theyd send their kids to culinary school to train them to take over instead of just handing the business over to them to ruin. Robert gets to work on the new menu and he adds two new dishes to the menu. That alone says something isnt right. I dont want to come off like I am bragging for what I have in life, but you simply cant blanket an entire generation for having poor work ethic. Cant wait to see the show. Reported as permanently closed. I never claimed I was head of the waitstaff. Chef Robert Irvine receives a heartbreaking plea from Megan, who owns the BFE Bar and Grill in Waynesboro, Ga. with her husband, Mike. Eventually, I received a call from the Food Network show. My veal marsala was inauthentic. One should not type the way one speaks, it tells who you are. When you hire a person to work, you expect that person to work. Selected as one of Pittsburgh's 50 finest in 2012, http://pittsburghhotplate.com/restaurant-reviews/dels-restaurant-and-bar. As the local economy began to suffer they started to lose customers and Michael started working a 90 hour week, trying to do everything himself. When our son died suddenly, she sent trays of food even though she only knew the family through my brother in lazw who was a patron and told her about this.. WebStacey says that the team is feeling "energized" after the Restaurant: Impossible transformation and looking ahead to the future. Its a free country & the 1st amendment states our Freedom of Speech, and the Internet has provided a new era of finger pointing, good and bad. I heard they went back to their old ways and back to the old menu. 1: Wednesday, March 9: Noon-7 p.m. Even Pleasure Bar, a few blocks away, doesnt make me feel so underwhelmed as much as Dels. Servers can basically get a job anywhere in Pittsburgh if you are all such GREAT servers, should be no problem. I will say I have heard Mariannes rants first hand but I can say I dont blame her. 42min. Well I was shocked that this place was still in business, the decor was terrible, the wait staff was medicore at best, and the food lacked flavor. I still stand by my previous feelings: some things made there are great, most things there are just all right, and a few things made there are simply awful. Making that many apostrophes has to be eating up free time that could be spent shamelessly self promotingI mean caring about the lives of employees. And, to be honest, the chips were quite good, and I recognized I was paying for the salsa bar, which was *excellent*. Driving by Dels last night with friends, decided this was the night to stop back in. When we have or monthly meetings, afterwards we go to Dels for their happy hour. On a related note: It was West Penn that never allowed outside caterers. Comments will be moderated prior to being published. I have been there for funeral lunches as well as weddings, and always came away thought the food was great. I hope you will change, because I love Pittsburgh and love to see its traditional local businesses thriving. Your not worth the time you took to learn cuisine. I wouldnt know how I would get a position like this if I had a poor work ethic. "We want to keep the menu fresh and When a table expresses interest in dessert, a server is supposed to bring out an example tray (that is supposed to be updated nightly to reflect which desserts are available) for the patrons choosing. The owner recently left a very very long and rambling review of her restuarant on urbanspoon. We have made the mistake of taking out of town visitors from NYC and DC there, and now every single time they visit they want to go back to Piccolo Forno. Veal Marsala. The room where the brunch was held smelled like a wet rag left out for days and the food tasted similarly. The quality of the food has improved and the majority of the reviews after the changeover have been positive. Dels is not a true representation of Bloomfield. Our reservation was for seven oclock; we didnt make our way in until eight. He asked his mother Camille to help him at the restaurant as she has excellent managerial skills. Service was, well, iffy, but picked up at the end. I live in Puerto Rico, so I dont know when Ill be able to visit your restaurant. My friends and I love food, always have disposable income because we dont have kids, and we lead hectic lives WORKING constantly and leaving little room or energy for food options besides dining out. The things you listed on both of your comments, that she yells about, are Common Sense Mistakes by the waitstaff. And will the owners of Dels adhere to the new menu and dcor? This doesnt excuse the near constant abuse that I, and many others, went through during our time there as servers. Reminder to writers and diners: this is food, not rocket science. 4.5 1,227. I had tried the sauce and all I tasted was tomato, again under seasoned. It was the same menu and the same bland spaghetti sauce. The floors were covered with a neutral-colored carpet and the tables were white, sans tablecloths. Unfortunately the food just kept getting blander and blander and the pasta more and more watery. I may be an old man when it happens since Pittsburgh is so terrified of any kind of change, but it WILL happen eventually. 40 years ago my parents did not have to deal with the work ethics that I am faced with today. On Thursday, a crew was to arrive at my work and do some filming. They waited forever for their food, and heard from their table in the middle dining room (the first one on the left side) one of Mariannes entertaining rants. Dels was Catering in excess of Thousands of dollars of food per week for 18 years(food couldnt be too bad if they kept coming back) Then UPMC stopped ALL OUTSIDE FOOD VENDORS & they now have to use UPMC FOOD ONLY. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services. You will have a much better experience. As a business owner trying to attract new clientele how can you make a statement like this? We noticed a hundred people standing outside the restaurant waiting to get in. Grazie Mille, Good points Grazie, but were not in Italy, were in America, and people this country do expect these things . Our starters were Caesar salads, bruschetta and mussels. Your food has never been good, but it will be your poisonous, hateful, statements that will close the doors of Dels. Long pieces of toasted bread were topped with a zesty combination of olive, parsley, fresh tomatoes, and fresh lemon juice. I liked the new decor. Most people who dine out want a good meal in a pleasant environment and are perfectly willing to pay for itthey dont want bad food and bad service, even for free. The meatballs & pasta were flying out of there, saw them refilling it about 4 times. If Im in the area, I prefer the place called Pasta Express to get my pasta. The waitress had to keep asking us to push in our chairs so she could get to the table next to us. 4.5. No one should set foot in Dels based on this kind of disgusting behavior. Chef Robert & his team have been a great wake up call. The guy customer, whose birthday it was, had the um, I dont know what youd call it actually, nerve maybe? My only thought is that when you run a business and you turn over so many employees, not to mention the public berating that allegedly happens, that you are leaving yourself open to such public criticism. I dont think people just want to bash the place. For homework at the end of the first day, Robert asks the cooks to make twelve new pizza specials and cost the dishes to make a profit. Click for more Restaurant Impossible Restaurants. The eggs, bacon & home fries were spot on! And for her sake, as well as for the future of Dels, I hope they find a way to put a stop to it. Blaming the staff and not taking responsibility as the one who hired them does not show me that you have changed at all. Shes not a bad person at heart just lacks basic social skills. Date Of Creation: 13 December 2023. I am sorry to say that it was the worst meal we ever had. Under the If you are going to critique a restaurant in a public forum I suggest that you get your facts strait. Have eaten and loved Dels since I was a teenager, and that was a long time ago. WebBest Restaurants in West Monroe, LA - Laughing Crab, Boudreaux's Cajun Cafe, Warehouse No. Because you suck. It took them forever to get us our check and the whole time we kept saying Im glad this place is going to be on a makeover showit really needs one! We wont be back. No decent, capable person wants to work under those conditions, therefore you end up employing only the people who cant find work elsewhere. The entrees arrived, and the first dish was a cod served in red sauce. My husband grew up in Lawrenceville and we went to this restaurant several times while dating and early in our marriage. Cod with Red Sauce. Why wouldnt they have photos of Pittsburgh on the wall? Katie Lane asked. Shift No. This particular dish should be served with a sauce that results from sauted, caramelized mushrooms. Are there reps getting around the UPP ban? And while I didnt experience that menu, I think it would have been good to branch out. The catering business accounts for 30% of their trade and Michael isnt able to tell Robert the food costs. Sometimes it was downright awful. You must be 18 years or older to volunteer. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A total waste of money! Then St Francis Hospital closed & the same with West Penn & the economy took a HARD HIT. You can see she is a hard worker who tries to make everyone happy and your not going to make everyone happy.. My sister just told me her and her husband ate there on March 4th and had the $ 20.00 dinner for 2. The mushrooms should be added after the veal is cooked, and removed. You are not a decent human being. The pizza was always great and still is and they make some really good sandwiches so if I go there it is usually for lunch. I went to Dels last week for dinner. I am leery of dinner since I went a few years ago and took a coworker who was in town and the food was not good. Youll see what I mean. Dont like it, Dennys is about 10 miles away. Everyone knows that no matter how great the food is, having a bad (or unhappy) server can negatively affect the dining experience to some extent. (synopsis: I shared my experience of poor service and being served bow tie pasta that had not been drained properly. BG You are spot on. Then again, as a native of Pittsburgh, I realize all change is evil! Restaurant Impossible's Robert Irvine Returns to Pittsburgh I had intentions of trying Dels again after this makeover but if folks affiliated with the restaurant are going to call me a liar and continue to attack former employees on a food blog, then perhaps I will forego my visit based on principle. That last sentence needs to be stressed to Marianne. I learned from him at a young age that you get nowhere in life without a little hard work (unless you win the power ball). all be told its your restaurant and your business.dont blame anyone but yourself. I had never heard of the show. all i hear are excuses.how dare you blame employees or the workers that you as a owner hired or your managers hired. One time she even gave free pizzas to the firemen who showed up when our alarms went off, though there was no fire anywhere to put out. Food was pretty good too & pretty cheap for lunch, under $10. We cant wait, my mouth is already watering for their lasagna. There are 2 sides to every story, as the old saying goes. Long story short: I got an e-mail a few minutes before they were to arrive stating that they would not be able to make it down. And I hope you learned to stop reusing uneaten bread!! Since everyone likes to bring up Food Network, do you think Mario Batalli would ever cook anything remotely resembling anything currently on the menu at Dels? Good luck and blessings to Dels ! My father took myself and boyfriend to your restaurant for our birthday dinner at the beginning of October. Just an example of the unintended consequences on local businesses of UPMCs new policy apparently they felt a plate of pasta might sway a doctors medical opinion because, you know, after 7+ years of education and training, a plate of pasta is so worth throwing it all down the drain. Then, When will restaurant impossible return? Also troubling were the hard, floury gnocchi that accompanied the veal. I do hope you kept the Eggplant Parmigiana unchanged, It wasalways my favorite of any Italian restaurant. The petite desserts were obviously from a freezer, probably from Sams club (I know, ive bought them for parties). We are not from here and have seen Dels, but never been in. The episode aired last fall. Ive never eaten here but I loved the show and the owners and staff appeared to be genuinely happy to be helped. Interesting that no one has noted that Lidia visited Dels las summer as part of her touring of Little Italys in America. Two things.. Tiramisu is rarely seen on a dessert menu when you are in Italy.. Let me clarify the ban remark relative to UPMC in-service meals are still acceptable within the institutions, but an outright ban exists in UPP offices. Its also essential to have a cappuccino machine on hand; another missing menu item. This page seems to have a lot of former employees and pr plants bickering. Very disturbing. Cuisine: Pizza, Subs, Sandwiches. That cheesecake is different. If this were the case every establishment with young employees would need rescued. God Bless You Marianne. It was by far the worst brunch AND worst buffet Ive ever seen. Dels sucks. Everything you see, is what Chef Robert gave the OK to, including the RUG!.I just ate there last week & was very happy with the New Menu(smaller) & the food! Click for more Restaurant Impossible Restaurants Say what you wish but time will tell. In 2012, the Food Networks Restaurant: Impossible crew swooped in to carry out its mission of rescuing failing restaurants. My Husband & I went there a few years ago with 2 other couples, and all enjoyed their dinners. Our Caesar salads arrived first. Of course, because now everyone knows of this gem in the city. As the New Year approaches and looking forward to 2012, it is important to take time to reflect, evaluate, criticize and commend our actions of the past. But they followed the advice, even where it was problematic. After reading all the negative comments about her, my suggestion to her would be to Fire People! When people are hired to wait tables and claim to have all the experience in the world, and they lie about it, whats a person to do? by Greg Curtis. Marianne- Dells Mafalda sauce was featured on it and I think is in the accompanying cookbook. How dare Dels consider themselves a Pgh institution. No customer wants to enjoy a meal in such an atmosphere either. I wonder why people leave their family businesses to their children without training them and educating them before the hand-over. If you cant make it better at home, stay away from your keyboard. (They obviously have to whittle down two days worth of footage for a 46 minute show.) I always said, while working there, that Dels could be a reality show all its own. The sauce also did not have the color like the one Chef Robert made, so I assume they went back to their old sauce as well. Renesha feels disrespected by the staff and customers while Brandy's failure to lead or communicate is sinking them deeper into debt. My husband speculated they feared we were critics, and, well, I suppose we are, but not professional ones. After reading Chef Chucks review, makes me more inclined to visit Dels myself. You do get a lot of food for your money with the large portions there which some families just love. Web2 reviews0 Followers. Seems like if you didnt have an enjoyable food experience you would express it while there and give the restaurant a chance to rectify the situation. According to my TV Guide, the Del's episode airs tonight at 10:00 pm. In fact I was just there this evening Jan 29, 2012, with my girlfriend and as always we had a wonderful meal. With the constant turnover of servers, thered be no need to vote someone off each week! leaving Bobby Jr. Delpizzo ( Dinos brother Bobby Sr. Delpizzo son ) without a penny. Caught my interest, as I have never been to Dels. Dels opened in 1949 and was a restaurant mainstay in Pittsburghs Little Italy neighborhood of Bloomfield throughout the post-war era. I never understood why people liked Dels so much. Season: OR Year: 2012 S2, Ep17 4 Jan. 2012 Sullivan's Grill 7.6 (10) Rate Regardless, Ill never again have food delivered to a UPMC facility. I had fettuccini alfredo that was ok at best and I thought it was very under seasoned. Next trip in, Im going to make it for dinner & will be back with my thoughts then. What once was, no longer is!!! Bruschetta came next. 2: Wednesday, March 9: 7 p.m.-2 a.m. I agree that this page is to inform people about their food choices. I remember thinking, this is the same Dels??. If you havent seen it, watch for the episode about Dodge City. One 40-year-old divorce recalls having an affair with Lorant when the latter was in his eighties. When Chef Robert Irvine visits Del's in Pittsburgh, Pa., it's clear that the biggest issue with this failing 62-year-old icon is not the food or decor, but owner Marianne. The renovation is complete and Robert reveals the makeover to the family and they are overwhelmed. He wasnt as funny as he thought he was, he was a bit annoying, other than him, we gave it a thumbs up. @Karen-I was there the week before R.I. & on the Grand re-opening! Similar restaurants in your area. I never go there and anyone that asks me where to go for good Italian food I recommend Damicos. The next day, Robert arrives and meets with the design team, who are making great progress. The high turn over was always due to Marianne being a crazy loon. Id love to root for the institution that is Dels, at least in theory, but I just dont know if I can walk back into that restaurant with the same person in the kitchen who was adding ice from the ice machine to cooked sauce. In this Restaurant Impossible episode, Chef Robert Irvine visit's Del's Restaurant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Del's Restaurant is an Italian restaurant that has been operating for 61 years. The restaurant is owned by Marianne and her brother John Del Pizzo. My food is and will always be of the greatest quality and my staff will match. As a lover of Pittsburgh and of Bloomfield, I want Dels to thrive and survive there another 60 years as a family owned business and Italian tradition. Yes, I do passionately support neighborhood businesses when they deserve it. According to my TV Guide, the Del's episode airs tonight at 10:00 pm. We had eaten so much already, but surely could force down some sweet Italian pastry. Current Deal - Extra 40% Off Certificates!! Robert heads to Del's Italian Restaurant and Bar in Pittsburgh, PA with Tom Bury (Restaurant: Most of the people on this show learn from their mistakes and try to change their ways. Heres to many more years Dels!! He teaches both Michael and Jerry how to make the simple dishes and Michael is impressed with the taste. Light blue paint in an Italian restaurant? This also applies to the catering side of the business, they are making a loss on each job. Thank you, Pittsburghsteve. Webrestaurant, establishment where refreshments or meals may be procured by the public. This is in response to BG, you probably still work at Dels as I read between the lines. Camille has invested $10,000, the current debt is around $510,000 and the weekly revenue is $10,000. The portions of the past dishes It is a fact that the quality and work ethics of our newer generation has declined in every industry!!! It didnt seem fresh and/or authentic. Your order Checkout $0.00 All Photos Menu Restaurant. Aug 23, 2014. I made the time today to address this, beacause it was brought to my attention and we think we know who this may be.So Touche to you BG! The pizza was enh (stole my sons for breakfast next morning); my veal was pretty good but not stunning. I may go back again, but nothing is pulling me there. The first night is always hectic and to judge the food isnt fair. I never order Italian food unless its in an authentic Italian restaurant, (not in one of those chains), but Dels is one Italian restaurant that hasnt disappointed me yet. The salad was exceptionally cold and crispy. Dels advertises for bartenders and servers on Craigslist weekly, if not more. Glorified pizza shops should never under any circumstances be refered to as authentic Italian food. to make a comment to Marianne about not exactly getting a meal free and how she treats her wait staff. Neighborhood: Pittsburgh. I am further inclined to believe that commenters word over the owners at Dels after essentially being called a liar in my comment on the old review. Or eating big sloppy pieces of pizza dripping with sauce and greasy mounds of cheese? The bruschetta would have been better served on small, bite-sized crostini. Im really surprised that they dont have more bar patrons for lunch not drinkers, but people who want to grab a sandwich at the bar, tune in the news, and escape the dungeon-like atmosphere of most dining rooms, Dels included. Michael will be in charge of the kitchen and Camille will be in charge of the front of house. I dont know Mariane and have never heard anything good about her but when I have eaten there I never finished the food. PTL's Mikey Hood heads over to The Frick Pittsburgh where they are celebrating WinterFest! DINING. Interesting, if not petty, employee lounge discussion here. When I bring visitors around Pittsburgh, I never recommend the place or take people there. So sad, I really liked Dells. I guess cowards are now using the internet to bully people, places and things. ALL Italians are like that, by far is the worse), an employer should never insult a customer or employee with explicit language, at any time. It had become an iconic Italian dessert when in all actuality any Italian would never end a meal with dessert made with cream A frozen piece of cheesecake with raspberry coulis, and German chocolate cake eventually made their way to our table. The dressing was authentic, and tasted of anchovy, Worchester sauce, and parmesan cheese. Give us a call at (412) 448-2900. However, I was disappointed that Marianne was out of hot peppers but that was the first time in all those years. Since the age of 14, I have never been without a job. (They should probably HAVE a dessert menu!) The food was alright, but I loved the decor and bright expansive windows. Stella's Italian Restaurant was Restaurant Impossible season 4 episode 4 and aired on August 08 2012. And her bar is always empty which is sad. As the Owner of Dels Restaurant, I have taken on more then I can handle, trying to deal with 65 plus employees and their personal lives which has affected my life and my business to extremes. Such a shame! "Restaurant: Impossible" But having grown up in Lawrenceville and now living in Bloomfield, I have eaten at Dels perhaps 8 times in my 40-year lifetime (usually family functions, occasionally a date) and never once was it particularly good. A Tuscan Shrimp and a Eggplant Parmesan. Restaurant: Impossible is celebrating its 50th episode with an in-depth look at what it takes to make "Restaurant: Impossible" possible. Or a plant by managment trying to discredit BG. They eat out constantly all over Pgh., including all the new trending places. When we said yes, we were told that they went back to the old way of making it as the owners felt that it was still a better production process. Delicious! An employee said they buy them from A. Has the county heath department paid a visit yet, to address the obvious lack of safety in food handling? Are you kidding me with that statement?! A lof of Fridays and Saturdays were spent there dining. Back in the dining room Taniya is having problems with the tabletops and she doesnt know if the oil paint Is going to dry before the reopening. Camille doesnt think this is the way to run the restaurant but Michael wont listen to her. We saw a sign for Sunday Brunch, so we decided to stop in. Good luck with all the changes and I hope you can keep a sense of humor about all the comments. It seems that the two top complaints are still the quality of food and the owner. But, we have no complaints. When Chef Robert Irvine visits Del's, in Pittsburgh, PA, it's clear that the biggest issue Further, Dels has reverted back to many of their old ways since Robert Irvine conducted his make-over. I just hope that the absolute craziness I experienced there is made over for the better, as well. March 3, 2016 / 4:19 AM The catering business is currently propping open the restaurant and is the only reason that they have not closed. Use code NEW at checkout. If all of you people that have eaten there had such a problem, why didnt you speak up then and deal with the issue and the past servers, why did you stay? Ive been eating there since I was 4 years old and I am now 48 and I think they have the best Eggplant Parmesan around.. Thanks for standing up for me. And yes everyone knows Marianne & her entertaining rants. Ive been to Dels a few times when others insisted on it. Overall, I liked the new decor. I commend Marianne and John DelPizzo for having the honesty to request help. She should keep an ownership position but leave, we are witnessing her committing slow-motion suicide with her intransigence. The subject line of the email must read: FN 1308 PA VOLUNTEER. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Most of this whole series of rants is immature and self-serving. I am a fan and will always be a fan of Dels! Order The Impossible Burger online from Milky Way Pittsburgh. Small vases help fresh tulips, and were placed on every table; nice touch. 1 The Chicago School is more celebrated in France than in the United States, and accordingly Jean Pie ; 1 On July 2, 1974 I began my 11-month stint as a machine operator at Allied Corporation, a pseudonym for the engine division of the multinational corporation, Allis Chalmers. Whoever you are BG, you DO tell lies. She told me how they LOVED their dinners, and encouraged us to get there. That old saying must still hold true: Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see! Weba public establishment where meals are served to paying customers for consumption on the premises when we get sick of cooking dinner at home, we like to go out to eat at a nice He also works with Michael on costing his menu by visiting a local restaurant to learn about their prices.