Sotto Scalini

This restaurant is located on the main floor of an office/​industrial complex. We had just moved into the building in September and were looking forward to trying this restaurant that we were so fortunate to have located so closeby. (If you know the area, you have to drive to get to the nearest dining or fast food establishment.) We had high hopes of a place where we could get some basic, well-​made Italian food — veal sandwiches, minestrone soup, pizza, sausage and peppers, etc. Once our office was settled, we decided to go for lunch — a welcome lunch for our newest employee. With great expectations, we sat down and were welcomed by a waitress who advised us that it was her first day and there were limited options available for the menu. So limited, in fact, that there was really no point in giving us menus. We each ordered a veal sandwich, grilled vegetable sandwich and side salad or fries. The food was OK — not bad, but not great either. At the end of our meal, we were prepared to pay by credit card or debit, but were informed that they were undergoing a change in management and their POS system was not set up yet (this despite clearly posting at the entrance the multiple forms of payment accepted). Again, if you know the area, there are no bank machines that close by. The waitress politely said that since we work in the building, we could come back and pay later. When I did return another day to pay, our waitress was no longer there and there was no record of our meal. At this point, I should have left, but instead recited our order and paid for our meal.
We decided to wait a few weeks before our next visit so they could work out the kinks with new staff and management. During this time, there were a few occasions where we simply couldn’t eat there if we wanted to as they would randomly close for staff training — during peak business hours! Since this restaurant closes after lunch, couldn’t they train in the afternoon?
The month of November consisted of a steady rotation of staff — both front of house and kitchen. During this time, we would grab some lunch take out from a limited (not very Italian) menu consisting of wraps and sandwiches or pasta. Again the food is OK, large portions, but nothing to write home about. They increased advertising — ‘New Management, New Hours’. On a busy day, I had no choice but to run in to get a quick takeout lunch. I ordered sausage on a bun and received it with no condiments (apparently, they don’t have mustard here) and on an odd triangular-​shaped panini-​type bun. The sausage was supposed to come with a side of sweet potato fries, but I declined and they still charged the same price — approx. $ 10. Completely overpriced!
Now it is December and the restaurant is closed the entire month, due to high demand for catering services. That’s great but do you really want to alienate any regular lunch customers that might come in. Seriously? I give up trying to be a patron and will bring my lunch to work everyday. Is this a restaurant or someone’s part– time hobby?