First Night.......

Tonight was the opening of Domenica, a John Besh venture at the newly remodeled Roosevelt Hotel. The setting was a mix of SoHo chic and Vegas opulence. Waiters dressed to impress in colorful paisleys reminded me of sweet confetti on a chocolate iced cupcake.
So many details are involved in an opening of a new establishment.... perfection of the menu is a must. Even then, if the food is not the way that it is intended when served.... the service should be a buffer.... Especially when the room was filled with industry VIP: Wine purveyors, chefs, hoteliers, and other avid local foodies.
What I experienced tonight was not a good prediction of the future to this fledgling restaurant.
It took 25 minutes after sitting to get a beverage of any sort. Even after every manager of the corporation stopped at the table to say hi, (this does include Besh himself, TWICE). The new executive chef even stopped by to say hi, but quickly excused himself to the go back to the kitchen and cook.... he should have stayed there.... maybe then the food would have been better.
We ordered a myriad of dishes.... two pizza's, a cheese plate, six appetizers, two main dishes and grappa for dessert....
The wine list was a fun collection that was easy to navigate, even for those who are intimidated by wines.
The octopus carpaccio was light and elegant with sweet hints of fennel and orange segments but missing any hint of my friends "salt and pepper". Mind, they were nowhere to be found on the table either. The spinach gnocchi and pea blossom with goat cheese was decent. The meatballs came swimming in a broth, with no spoon to be heard of. The most atrocious dish was the tagliatelle with oxtails. This dish, reminded me of the canned food from WIC that the government used to pass out.... just because it's nourishment doesn't mean it's good.... even if the government tells me it is.... lol. Oh by they way, your local Winn-Dixie's deli has better cuts than what was offered on the meat board.
The other dishes that followed were just blah.... hardly worth writing about. Pizza Hut's Tuscani pasta is more flavorful and delicious.
Their service left much to be desired. I know it was opening night.... but I believe my server should know more about the food than I do. I thought that these guys 'trained' before they opened? Besh's team of 'elite' managers were there and they couldn't even grab a server for us..... a friend of mine dining three tables away said, "Too many Chiefs and no Indians...."
I do plan on going back to give this place another go.... because things are always crazy on an opening night.... but if one is going to be paying for a product comparable to Pizza Hut.... I better be getting some hella flare....