I lived in Boston for 45 years before moving to Florida. Since my children are there, I do come back to Boston frequently. This trip I decided to have a dinner at an old familiar haunt and made reservations for the 5 of us. What can I say the `Italian North End which is Boston's version of little Italy has circum to a homogeneous pre-packaged version of itself ala Disney. Upon arriving at Francesca’s we only waited a short time while the manager watching the hired manager shoo away some people without reservations for saying that they were walking up the street to look around while they waited 30-45 minutes for a table. Although we had reservations the girl at the door waited 15 minutes before she told us that the manager would be handling us which he did after several more minutes. We were seated and after some time a rude, seemingly indifferent of possibility of her actions effecting her tip; Russian waitress begrudgingly took our order.
She got irritated that we did not order bottles of wine and then when the first of our food did arrive she threw our food on the table and could not make any comment from that point on. As other courses arrived she then barked at us to move things out of the way because we ordered too much food. The food was pretty good but the service was absolutely horrible.
Believe me I pondered the tip upon receiving my bill for $250, but realized that the bus people also depended on this money. After many years eating, entertaining clients and touring people to the joys of the North End and Francesca’s dining I have one word for a recommendation of that combination….. DON'T
