Trattoria Neapolis Italian Restaurant & Bar –
Trattoria Neapolis is now open!
Here’s one review and the response from the owner(?)
Review of Trattoria Neapolis:
What a disappointment this was. I must have been one of the first customers after opening. Although I was prepared for possible first night glitches, it wasn’t that which disappointed me. This strikes me as a want to be upscale Italian restaurant but dabbles in mediocrity from the limited menu selection to the poor wine selection. They advertise home made breads but we never saw any. Asked the waiter about that and he advised “its an ask for bread place”. Well how are we suppose to know that, why not ask. Portions are tiny for the cost, pizza was way under cooked. When we got our pasta I asked, “is this the half order” and they said no, why did you order the half order. Hot red peppers were not hot at all. Couldn’t be stale, they just opened an hour prior. I watched this place being built as I live directly across the parking lot and waited anxiously for its opening. This I suppose added to my disappointment. Doubt I’ll be back which is sad but if I’m looking for an overpriced, mediocre dinner with limited wine selection and need a waiter that is more animated than helpful, I might just give it another try.
Trattoria Neapolis
@Anthony: Please call the restaurant and ask for the owner (me) so I can do my best to ensure you have a great experience if you come in again. What you describe is not representative of what we hear from our other guests. Diners on Yelp, for example, give us a perfect score of five stars.
Reviewers use words such as “awe-inspiring,” “leaves me super hopeful for Pasdena’s dining scene,” and (one of my favorites) “wowza!” The LA Times Daily dish said that we are “bringing the style and flair of an Italian piazza.”
On our wine selection. We have about two thousand bottles of wine, much of which is in temperature controlled storage upstairs. I apologize if our server did not offer you the full wine list. Our wine director is VP of the North American Sommelier Association. Please also try our beers and cocktails. The head of our beer program was called by LA Magazine the best beer sommelier in Los Angeles. The head of our cocktail program was just nominated for American Bartender of the Year.
On our menu selection. Grub Street called it “a great looking menu.” Thrillist called our selection of pastas, “awesome-sounding.” It’s true that we don’t have twenty or more pastas, for example, on our menu. But this is so that we can ensure that every one is truly special.
On our bread. We make our bread in house with a very special mixer imported from near Venice, Italy that imitates the action of hands kneading dough. We are happy to provide this bread to customers free of charge upon request.
On our pizza. Our pizzaiolo (pizza maker) grew up in his family’s pizzeria in Palermo, Sicily. I trained in Naples, Italy myself, so I can say from experience that our pizzaiolo is one of the most talented I have ever seen.
On our pasta. Customers have said that they appreciate having the option of both full and half size portions. I apologize if that wasn’t made clear.
On spice level. We have adjusted the spice level of our dishes to where most customers seemed to be happy with it. If you prefer a higher level of spice, please let your server know, and we’d be happy to add more.
One of the main reasons I created this restaurant was to bring the food, drink ambiance and service that I love to the community that I love and live in. I hope you take me up on my offer to contact me at the restaurant so that we can show you what our restaurant really has to offer.
New Restaurant Coming to South Lake Ave. Business District
Update 6-21-2012:
There will be a soft opening the week of July 10th with a Grand Opening on July 16th.
Update: 6-13-2012:
Wood Burning Grill
Wood Burning Oven
Homemade Pasta, Salumi & Dolci
Quality Wine, Beer, Cocktails & Espresso
Looks like the furniture and finishing touches are being applied. We understand that training is in progress and the scheduled date is early-mid July 2012.
Mixology training happened today w/master Italian mixer Vincenzo Marianella at Trattoria Neapolis ?pic.twitter.com/M6G9b4zx
Facebook page has some good info:
A true love for the best of Italy and California
Respectful of Italian tradition with a willingness to experiment. Market driven with a love for cooking over wood. Serious about the craft of making foods like pasta, salumi, and bread in-house while drawing from the best artisans in Italy and the U.S. A strong belief that a dining experience is only as good as the dining experience is only as good as the drink that goes with it.
Drink: A focus from our wine-centric GM on varietals from California and Italy (especially their southern regions) with twenty by the glass and rare bottles from his personal collection. Fourteen beers on tap and more by the bottle from California and Italy’s premier craft brewers. Classic and creative American and Italian cocktails created by a top Italian mixologist. Coffee from one of America’s best roasters and a La Marzocco GB5 straight from Italy.
Employment: If you are looking for work, they are hiring for Front of House and Back of House positions.
Update 6-5-2012:
Trattoria Neapolis, a Southern Italian restuarant opening soon on S. Lake Ave in Pasadena. Owner Perry Vidalakis has hired chef Bryant Wigger to oversee the eatery’s menu.
chef Wigger has worked at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills and Four Seasons Aviara in San Diego.
Coming in 2012, Trattoria Neapolis Coming to South Lake Pasadena Early 2012.
Trattoria Neapolis Coming to South Lake Pasadena Early 2012 – Italian Restaurant & Bar
Wood Burning Grill
Wood Burning Oven Pizza
Homemade Pasta, Salumi & Dolci
Quality Wine, Beer, Cocktails, and Espresso
336 South Lake Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
Here’s the posting from the original sale last year:
Description
Contact John E. Alle to arrange a tour of the property. Download property brochure or visit JOHN ALLE COMPANY website for more information.
* Rare opportunity for owner-user office, medical or retail on South Lake.
* Beautiful high-end finishes with numerous upgrades. Versatile layout for open areas and private offices.
* Existing tenant, Dickson Podley, has lease that expires July 2012 or upon six (6) month’ s notice from tenant.
* Rent is $168,000/year, net. Landlord pays property taxes, insurance and structural or major equipment repair.
Located directly across from Macy’ s on best block of South Lake – between Del Mar and San Pascual. Between Walgreen’ s, Aaron Brothers and Anthropologie.
We believe some of the principals of this business:
Perry Vidalakis
