Chicago Pasta House - Moreno Valley

The dining area was cramped and uninviting, with a life-size plastic Santa overlooking the tables. The holiday decorations, consisting of Christmas lights haphazardly attached to the garden grate, felt more like a mobile home's decor than anything festive. The few booths available were tiny, barely accommodating two people comfortably. We ended up at a long table that was awkwardly pushed together. There were no table settings; we were expected to know where to find the stack of plates and cutlery in the corner. It felt like we were playing a game of "I Spy," with little guidance from the staff. As our party arrived, we were subjected to strange rules—apparently, we weren’t allowed to speak above a whisper. The atmosphere reminded me of a Seinfeld episode with the Soup Nazi, where I half-expected the owner to shout, "No food for you!" When the food finally came, it was served with a curt "Who else wants this kind?" Instead of a warm dining experience, we were left wondering if we even had permission to eat. I had hoped that the food would make up for the terrible service, but I was disappointed. The pizza looked like a hastily assembled mishmash of toppings on bread, with a taste that reminded me of mediocre fast food chains. No one checked in on us during our meal, and we saw several guests trying the stuffed mushrooms, only for them to be spit out. When the bill arrived, there was no offer of dessert. Instead, the owner watched us closely, as if he expected us to steal the pepper flakes. Requests for additional items, like forks or straws, were met with an unfriendly demeanor. The night ended with him rushing us out, having already made it clear he wanted us gone. This experience was my first—and last—visit to this establishment. Someone had mentioned their behavior was typical of "Italians," but that doesn't excuse poor service. A general rule of thumb is that when the food is lacking, excellent service is a must. If they didn’t want to accommodate a large party, they should have declined our reservation. I suspect a gratuity was included in our bill, which was fortunate for the owner, as none of us would have tipped otherwise. If you're looking for decent Italian food, I can assure you that this is not the place to find it.