In Parkville, Bar a Beckons

Diners, be forewarned. Inspired by The Courant's favorable review on May 15, a friend and I met for lunch at Barca today (May 16). The restaurant was almost, but not quite full. We departed an hour after we arrived -- my colleague having enjoyed her combination-of-three and my own combination-of-two never having arrived! When the waiter we called over for the check (this took a couple of tries) asked how everything was, lame apologies were offered when he was advised that only half the lunch had arrived, an oversight that had previously been pointed out to the server and that had somehow escaped his notice during our meal. Although I am inclined to give folks a second chance, the service was so off-the-charts bad that this restaurant gets only one chance. Too bad, the ambience and decor were attractive -- but I was hoping to feed my stomach as well as my eyes. A two-person dining experience is completely ruined when only one person is served.

whaa whaa whaa. Jeffy of West Hartford didn't get his lunchy. Whaa. You sat there and waited the whole time? It was busy, and new; you should have kept telling the server, man. But anyway, your "colleague" or "friend" did enjoy his. That's all I need to know. Maybe they just didn't like your attitude. Sounds like a good place to me!

Thanks, Big. Just to clarify, my dining companion enjoyed her food but characterized it as "so so." To further clarify,(a) the restaurant wasn't that busy (it was almost full when we sat down at 12:45 but had emptied considerably by the time we finished shortly before 2),(b) I believe the customer has discharged his/her obligation when he/she places the order and no further actions on the customer's part should be required in order for food to appear at the table in a timely manner (but it's an interesting idea that the fault lies with the customer when that doesn't happen); (c) the appearances by wait staff upstairs where we were seated were few and far between and those who appeared averted their eyes from our table and did their best not to look our way (I suspect because they were aware of trouble in the kitchen that was delaying our meal); (d) if I had behaved as you recommend, there might have been cause not to like "my attitude" but I was thoroughly polite from my first appearance in the restaurant until I departed.

I assume you are the owner because no one else would have posted such an inane response so quickly. "Sounds like a good place to me"????? Based on what? I don't like to pound on the table and pester the waiters in order to be served when I eat out but I guess you do. I would suggest that you find someone, quickly, to manage the front end of the restaurant and someone else to manage the kitchen so the food that is ordered shows up at customers' tables before they depart, without multiple prompts.

Lastly, note that the unwarranted positive review your restaurant received opened with a plea for suburbanites to venture back to Hartford. I actually did that and now you mock me for taking the Courant up on their suggestion? OK, you can have your city customers. Good luck.

I went to a happy hour recently at Barca and had a great time. Didn't have a chance to eat there yet but am looking forward to it. They had food in the bar area to sample and it was all really good. The place had a lot of energy and a feel good atmosphere.

It's too bad about Jeff's service experience. I work with a lot of restaurants and poor service often happens in the first few months of a new restaurant. No excuse for it but it happens. With so many restaurants...so little time & $$$$ that can kill a place even if they have great food and atmosphere.

I lived in Spain & Portugual in college and love the tapas dining concept. I can't wait to eat there.

Jeff, are you a lawyer by chance?

GREAT PLACE! I went with my mom and she loved it. I plan on going again soon =)