It’s Friday nite, and eschewing the usual Chicagoland dining out choice of heading for a fish fry, I check out the LITH location of Moretti’s, hadn’t been there before, had a choice of four different pizza places at that street intersection alone, and Moretti’s – luck of the draw.<\/p>\n
It’s huge, and you arrive in the front door, are greeted (hopefully) by a host\/hostess, to the right is a large bar with dozens of television screens blaring with sports, and ahead are several dining rooms including outdoor spaces overlooking scenic Randall Road.<\/p>\n
The massive menu<\/a> offers everything from appetizers to pizza, hamburgers, sandwiches, wraps, Italian entree dinners, soups, salads, steaks, chicken, fish, desserts, and ‘family style dinners.’ \u00a0(one from column A, two from column B). \u00a0I imagine most people take some time with the menu.<\/p>\n Our server wasn’t present. Oh, she was physically there, but she was “phoning it in” that night, just not really paying attention to her guests. Tracking her down became one of the games of the night – not easy in the cavernous establishment. \u00a0What always interests me is why people go into the “hospitality” business if they don’t find being “hospitable” easy and natural. \u00a0Our server had all the assets to have a great tip night, personable, great smile; \u00a0but she just wasn’t interested in engaging or taking care of her parties – even the larger tables which should generate a nice tip.<\/p>\n We started with the onion rings, “thick, hand cut coconut breaded with sweet coconut and served with sweet chili sauce.” \u00a0$6.99 for six rings. The rings were pretty ok, thick as advertised, a panko-like coating. \u00a0For me, the sweet sauce isn’t the best choice for an accompaniement, a savory version might be more interesting.<\/p>\n The Apple Pecan salad is a chef’s dream turned into a nightmare. Creative, yes. Does it work? No. Baby spinach, candied pecans, bacon, artichoke hearts, marinated apple slices, roasted peppers, raisins, provolone and honey balsamic vinagrette. \u00a0What were they thinking? What was I thinking? \u00a0Ok, I wasn’t, somebody else ordered it, and I’m glad it didn’t come around to my side of the table. This might have worked with fewer and higher quality, fresher ingredients, but as it was\/is served, it’s just a mess. \u00a0A ten dollar mess.<\/p>\n Pizza? \u00a0My personal ‘joke’ has always been there is “no such thing as a bad pizza.” \u00a0I’ll stick to that here, but I learned there are pizzas I certainly don’t care for. \u00a0Despite an appearance to please, Moretti’s pizza is food for the masses, designed and constructed to offend no one, and as such, has no flavor in the indidivual ingredients, nor when they come together.<\/p>\n Corn meal. \u00a0A ‘trick’ in the pizza business to make a crispier crust, a \u00a0faster bake….this dough prep overdoes it on corn meal, and it doesn’t make for a pleasurable experience. \u00a0It does make a crispy cracker-like crust, but the corn taste comes through the wheat flour as well as spills off the bottom. \u00a0Ick. \u00a0Toppings are from any average pizzeria supplier, little bits of sausage and canned olives. \u00a0And north of $20.<\/p>\n Regular readers know my personal test for quality pizza is how it tastes the next morning (now). \u00a0Answer? \u00a0No better or worse. I just had one slice. \u00a0Unusual for me, I’m tossing the rest.<\/p>\n To recap:<\/p>\n Sounds like a recipe for success on the American restaurant scene. \u00a0But if you’re OK with this type of food, at a check for over $50 for a pizza, salad, appy and one beer, you’d be far better off to out a couple of times at any of the fast casual chains offering two dinners for $20 or whatever the current promotion is.<\/p>\n It would seem, to me, that the Ala Carte Entertainment group is primarily in the bar business, and serves food as a sideline. \u00a0They should think about giving up the sideline.<\/p>\n I try to stay on the positive side in my reviews, and generally find something redeeming about any stop; sorry to say I was S-O-L in doing that here.<\/p>\n (Eds note: \u00a0I never read other reviews before I publish mine, but on occasion, look at some after the fact. \u00a0It would appear my feelings about this joint are not all that unique. \u00a0It would appear that the organization needs to work on training and motivation).<\/p>\n\n
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