Vancouver, WA: Two Minutes Late For A Three Minute Pizza And We Were Turned Away!

Pizzeria La Sorrentina
9811 NE15th Avenue
Vancouver, WA 98665
Phone number (360) 980-1651
Website: lasorrentinavw.com
Prices: $$$$

We drove nearly 30 minutes from our home, arriving just two minutes after their 2PM "closing" time due to unexpected traffic. We were hoping to sample their offerings because, having lived in Naples, Italy for three years and being married to an Italian (my wife's family still lives in Naples and we visit quite often), I love authentic pizza Napoletana and was curious to see just how authentic theirs was.

When we arrived, the oven was still going strong and the two employees were still there prepping for dinner with the door and window open. We stood there for a minute while the woman looked at us without saying a word, so I finally asked her "Are you closed?" to which she responded only with a "Yes". I was a bit shocked because there was absolutely no reason to turn us away and they did not even bother to tell us why they would not serve us at 2:02 PM. 

If this was a sit down restaurant, I could understand why we would not be served and would not expect it. However, having eaten many pizzas in Naples and attended a "pizzaiolo" (pizza maker) course in their this past February, I know that a Neapolitan pizza takes less than 90 seconds to prepare and about 60-90 seconds to bake at 485 degrees Fahrenheit. I understand that they were "officially" closed and may have had things to do, but taking 3 minutes to make a pizza for a customer was, I believe, not too much to expect.

The restaurant business and customer service are all about making customers happy and turning us away so rudely was, in my opinion, uncalled for. Having spent a great deal of time in the business and owned a very successful mobile food operation myself, I would have never turned a customer away in similar circumstances, but that is just me. 

After leaving a tip on Yelp regarding my experience, someone (whom I am assuming was the owner or manager) sent me a compliment with a "You're Funny" tag stating: 

"I'm not going to serve pizza anyone even 1minutes late. Please come during business sir. Thank you"

Part of my responsibility to readers on Yelp, my blog, and other sites is to provide an accurate, honest "opinion" based on my experiences, so I did not appreciate being laughed at ("You're Funny") because I take my responsibilities and commitment to my readers very seriously. A more professional and customer-oriented response would have been much more appropriate in my opinion. For example: "I am very sorry that we had to turn you away, but our employees were busy prepping for dinner and could not take the time to serve you. Please accept our sincere apology and come back to visit us very soon!" would have been a much more appropriate response and they would have likely gained a return customer. Unfortunately, based on our negative experience and the business's insulting reaction to my tip, I will not be returning any time soon.

CombatCritic Gives Pizzeria La Sorrentina 1 Bomb Out Of 10 And A Spot On My "WALL OF SHAME" ... More Bombs Are Better!

One Bomb Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Fucked Up Beyond All Repair"

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Title: Vancouver, WA: Two Minutes Late For A Three Minute Pizza And We Were Turned Away!

Key Words: Pizzeria La Sorrentina, pizzeria, la, Sorrentina, pizza, Sorrento, Vancouver, Washington, Portland, Oregon, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Facebook

Copyright 2018 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved

Oregon City: Mamma Mi Famiglia - Decent Wood-Fired Pizza, Good Service

Mi Famiglia

701 Main Street

Oregon City, OR 97045

Phone number (503) 594-0601

Website: mi-famiglia.com

Prices: $$$$

Another Neapolitan pizza wannabe that just cannot seem to get it quite right. Give up. Unless you are in Napoli, it just will not be the same. However, trying is a good thing and Mi Famiglia did an OK job of pulling it off.

The draft beers (IPA) were cold and reasonably priced ($5) and the individual, wood-fired pizzas decent, although a tad on the small side. True Neapolitan pizza is close to 13" in diameter and served on a big plate. These, although advertized at 12" (before baking maybe), were closer to 10" to 11" on the plate.

We started with a $5 bread plate with four toasted pieces of bread accompanied by some alfredo and marinara sauce. Not bad, but not a great value. My wife had the Four Cheese ($11 - aka Quattro Formaggio) and I a two-topping cheese pizza with salami and fresh basil ($13.25).

The bread plate was overpriced and the pizzas (pizze) not bad for an American attempt at pizza Napolitana. The place is quaint in a surprisingly cute downtown Oregon City with a large, wood-fired pizza oven and freindly, efficient service.

CombatCritic Gives Mi Famiglia 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Six Bombs Equates To:

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Title: Oregon City: Mamma Mi Famiglia - Decent Wood-Fired Pizza, Good Service

Key Words: Mi Famiglia, mi, famiglia, pizza, pizzeria, wood, oven, fired, Oregon City, Oregon, Portland, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato

Translation for Civilians: G2G = "Good To Go"

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Lawrence, KS: Up High, Down Low ... Pie Five Is A No-Go

Pie Five

2500 Iowa Street

Lawrence, KS 66046

Phone number: (785) 551-7170

Website: piefivepizza.com

Prices: $$$$

On September 11, 2001, I was sitting in my office in Saudi Arabia at 5pm when my assistant told me to turn on the TV. As I did, the second plane hit the twin towers and I knew our lives would never be the same.

Fifteen years later to the day, I decided we had to try Pie Five because I had never heard of it and it looked interesting. In this case, my life would in-fact be the same. Great idea, so-so execution. Skimpy with the "all you want" ingredients and small (10") pizzas for $7.50, about the size of my outstretched hand and we all know what Donald Trump says about the size of a guy's hands.

For an extra $3, I got a salad which was decent, but also skimpy on the carrots, onions and tomatoes, and a fountain drink. You can get dessert or cheesy breadsticks ($1 extra) instead of salad if you like for a $3-$4 upcharge.

A cheap meal, do not expect to be too impressed by the quality or quantity. As my Italian grandma would say, it was "mezzo-mezzo" (so-so). Lawrence's KU students will probably love the place because they can eat for cheap and quantity, rather than quality, is more important when money is in short supply.

CombatCritic Gives Pie Four 4 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs are Better!

Four Bombs Equates To:

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Read Chris S.'s review of Pie Five on Yelp

Title: Lawrence, KS: Up High, Down Low ... Pie Five Is A No-Go

Key Words: Pie Five, pie, five, pizza, pizzeria, KU, university, Lawrence, Kansas, Iowa, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Translation for Civilians: BOHICA = "Bend Over, Here It Comes Again"

Lawrence, KS: Great Idea, So-So Execution

Pie Five

2500 Iowa St

Lawrence, KS 66046

Phone: (785) 551-7170

Website: piefivepizza.com

Prices $$$$

Had to try Pie Five because I had never heard of it and it looked interesting. Great idea, so-so execution. Skimpy with the "all you want" ingredients and small (10") pizzas for $7.50, about the size of my outstretched hand.

For an extra $3, I got a salad which was decent, but also skimpy on the carrots, onions and tomatoes, and a drink. You can get dessert or cheesy breadsticks ($1 extra) instead of salad if you like.

It's a cheap meal, but don't expect to be too impressed by the quality or quantity. As my Italian grandma would say, it was "mezzo-mezzo" (so-so).

CombatCritic Gives Pie Five 5 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs are Better!

Five Bombs Equates To:

"Continue Mission"

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Tabelog - Official Judge (Bronze)

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Title: Lawrence, KS: Great Idea, So-So Execution

Key Words: Pie Five, pie, five, 5 pizza, pizzeria, fast, food, Lawrence, Kansas, Iowa, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Translation for Civilians: Charlie-Mike = "Continue Mission"