Amari Bar & Ristorante

Let me start by saying Amari has great food. A previous review mentions that the owner forgets the lean times during the summer months. I heartily agree - there is a problem with the ownership/management. There is a general poor attitude in the air at Amari...maybe they are burned out and should take some time off before they ruin their business. May2008 - My husband & I went to Amari on the spur of the moment. It was a dreary night & Amari was very empty. The hostess was rather dour and not at all welcoming. Our waitress started out "OK" but fizzled after tossing a stale bread basket ( three small slices no less) on the table. The waitress pretty much took our order & never returned again until presenting our check. Someone else brought the food and we repeatedly got up and filled our own water glasses (nope this did not cause any stir with any staff members). We had planned to order coffee & desert but we so turned off by the experience we decide not to spend another dime at Amari. September 5,2008 - Flash forward 4 months. My husband & I decide to give Amari another try as we do enjoy their food (note to owner - this only gets you so far). Again it was a spur of the moment trip to Amari at 5:30 on a Friday night. Parking lot was pretty empty as was the restaurant. Same downer of a hostess. The owner was there & instructed the hostess to seat us at a particular table. We did not like the table as it was wedged between a metal railing, a wall, and another table all at the start of a step. It was in a place where no table should be located - very uncomfortable. We asked to be seated at another table and requested one of two tables within the same section. Rudely we were told by the hostess "No way! You are not sitting there! Not on a busy Friday night" - all while we are standing in a completely empty section. She brings us to another room ( also empty with the exception of one other party). She now seats us at a table that is half way behind the entry door to the room. In a rather snarky manner she says "Is it possible that this table would make you happy". At this point I decided that I was not going to play this "game" nor was I going to spend any money at Amari (ever again for that matter). I told the hostess that it did not make me "happy" and I was leaving. Now the owner gets involved. Wants to know what was wrong with the first table. Then they sort of come to and offer to seat us at a booth in the main portion of the restaurant overlooking the open kitchen - by the way another rather empty section. Not sure why they would not have offered to seat us in a nice section from the get go. This whole exchange is now taking place in the middle to of the restaurant ( thanks for making your CUSTOMERS feel COMFORTABLE and WELCOME). My husband explained to the owner that we were there to have a nice quick meal. We did not want an ordeal & that the last time we had been in the experience was not pleasant and this was a second try. In the middle of the restaurant with staff and customers around the owner says to my husband ( in a super sarcastic tone) "Oh well you can not please everyone!" We left and will never return. Really it is too bad because their food is very good. Nothing is that good to put up with such poor treatment. I would think twice before spending any money or time at Amari.