Walking away from the Via Napoli

[Kiwini]

We had ADRs for 12:45, we checked in at 12:35. The lobby was crowded, nobody looked happy, including people coming out of the restaurant.

At 1PM I went up to ask when we would be seated. She looked at the list and told me we were next. I saw on the list that we were next. Then another host came up to the stand, looked at some other list and called a party of 2 off of that list.

We turned around and left. At that point I didn't care whether we were really next or not. Nobody looked happy to have just eaten there. We went over to Norway for a sandwich and it was just right. We didn't stuff ourselves on pizza or pasta, saving our appetites for the Flying Fish (great dinner!) Besides, the grapes in the VN wine were probably sour anyway ;-)

 

[Euphoria027]

Speaking from extensive experience as a host... A host doesn't 'skip' someone on a list unless they absolutely have to. They also will fill every empty table unless there is a reason not to.

I think that you turning around and walking out because you had to wait 15 minutes past your ADR time and then possibly were bumped down one spot (which would have been like... what? 2-5 more minutes) is pretty silly.

 

[SM101]

In any restaurant, reservation times are iffy. They're based on average meal times, but if the kitchen is running slow, people are eating slow or flat out "camping" i.e. hanging out at the table well past an an average meal time, then it prevents another table from being sat.

A 15 minute wait really isn't a big deal, even with a reservation. Let's face it - how many times have you sat at a table after your meal was done, chatting with your companions? You know you've done it...and making someone else late for their reservation is the result.

Regarding calling someone else not you when you were told you were next...yep, annoying, but end of the world? Not really.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Sorry you missed out on VN, we ate there three times last month and the food and service was outstanding.

 

[cymbaldiva]

We had ADRs for 12:45, we checked in at 12:35. The lobby was crowded, nobody looked happy, including people coming out of the restaurant.

At 1PM I went up to ask when we would be seated. She looked at the list and told me we were next. I saw on the list that we were next. Then another host came up to the stand, looked at some other list and called a party of 2 off of that list.

We turned around and left. At that point I didn't care whether we were really next or not. Nobody looked happy to have just eaten there. We went over to Norway for a sandwich and it was just right. We didn't stuff ourselves on pizza or pasta, saving our appetites for the Flying Fish (great dinner!) Besides, the grapes in the VN wine were probably sour anyway ;-)

Sounds like since you had another heavy meal scheduled anyway things worked out fine for you...

i hear Via Nappoli is fabulous - maybe you'll have time on your next trip

 

[catne]

sorry you didn't get to try that pizza...we loved it in September. That does sound like there may have been a miscue when the new hostess took over the podium...or were there two hostesses each working off their own list? I have no idea how they keep track of that stuff. We usually go for the earliest reservations so rarely have to wait more than 10 minutes because they're not totally filling the place right when it opens. I guess I've always been leery of getting "prime" meal time reservations for fear we'd have to wait too long (not really good at the patiently waiting thing, lol.)

 

[mollygirl13]

Dh and I just came back from WDW.

We went to Via Napoli twice. Both times we walked in w/ no ADR's.
We were seated within 15 min of us arriving.

The food, service and atmosphere was amazing!!! I'm SO happy we went there and can't wait to go back in January.

You really should have stuck it out-you really missed out on a GREAT meal. And while we were there, everyone looked happy.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

we were late over 1 hour of our ADR and they sitted us within 5 mins and this was at 1pm. It was one of the best meals we had during our trip, it waws AMAZING great food and GREAT service

 

[DebbiC]

In the past I know some of the top end restaurants would have two lists, one for Concierge guests.

Also most restaurants working off a printed list instead of a computer screen are using dated information, it could be that a newer updated list was printed and they were just finishing off one to begin the other.