Timpano Chophouse & Martini Bar

Eh.... I'll start off by saying I could see how some would like this place. It's dark and noisy, which make some people feel like it's a vibrant night hotspot. For me, it felt a little overwhelming. The service was decent, a little overbearing, but friendly enough. I expected the food to have a little more zing for my buck, but whatever. The place gets a decent amount of business, so they must be doing something right...I just didn't see it.…

For special occasions.... Just went with a party of 6 last evening...originally booked for 4 and called late afternoon and the hostess was more than happy to accomodate us...everything on the menu is a la carte, so it can get pretty expensive..the wine list is extensive but priced for by the glass and not by the bottle, so ask about bottle pricing...we had the mozzarello fritti: thick, yet lightly breaded mozzarello pieces, perfectly seasoned and served with a spicy marinara sauce...and spinach/artichoke dip/fondue....served with seasoned cracker strips...wonderful but not enough dippers.....salads....tomato and fresh mozzarella, spinach, and watercress/argula...all had different tastes and were fresh and delicious...the entrees were the pork chop...thick and juicy....served medium as anything more dries the meat out...and with a side of wedge potatoes.$4 extra...were crisp and light and not greasy....veal marsala...the sauce was great to dip with the hot, hard rolls....the7 oz. filet was done medium rare with a side of peppercorn sauce..extra charge, of course....and the garlic mashed potatoes, also extra...were a perfect complement to each other...the filet was tender...and the potatoes were like homemade...creamy.....the ahi tuna served on fresh greens and balsamic chopped tomatoes was light and mild yet filling...the shrimp and lobster ravolli was served in a light tomato sauce..there are 6 on a platter and enjoyed....the lasagna bolognese looked very hardy and was loaded with chopped meat....we were way too stuffed for dessert but have indulged in them before....our server had a lovely presentation of chocolate covered strawberries and other coated delights, tiramasu, chocolate mousse, cheesecake, and 3 other treats...all in small, decorative glasses...just enough to share....their taste and quality are good but not great, especially after a large meal...the atmosphere is dark yet friendly, the wait staff is knowledgable, but when the bar and dining areas get crowded, it gets very loud.…

So Bad, it used to be great. Our dining experience began when my wife phoned for dinner reservations, only to learn that they were not accepting any more reservations for the evening. The person on the other end of the phone then told my wife in a sarcastic voice that she didn't know, that it was first come, first serve, and "that's the way it is the restaurant business."

In spite of the sarcasm my wife endured on the phone, we decided to try our luck, so agreed to meet the rest of our party at the restaurant at 4:30 p.m. (It was my birthday, so my choice). We arrived at 4:20 so we could try to get our name on a list for a table before the others arrived. Although disappointed, we accepted the fact that it would be a 30-40 minute wait. Some 40 minutes later, I inquired about our table and was told ours would be the next "big table".

At 45 minutes, I checked back with the hostess I had spoken with. She told me they were setting our table at that time. At 50 minutes, I mentioned the estimate I had been given and how long we had been waiting. I also inquired about a large table we could see from the lobby, a table that had been vacant ever since we got there. I was told that table was reserved.

I have no problem with a business saving a table that is reserved, but it seemed kind of pointless to hold a table for an hour when you have a lobby full of people waiting to be seated, some of which would have already eaten and left the establishment by he time of the reservation.

Needless to say, by this time I was not too enchanted with Timpanos, and as a result, did not enjoy what should have been a festive occasion. Whether it was waiting almost an hour to be seated or just a bad night for the chef, I didn't enjoy my meal any more than the time spent standing in the lobby of the restaurant. In all fairness, I would like to compliment our waitress, but she had too many tables to find time for us. She was friendly, pleasant, and efficient.…