Cresta Bar & Ristorante

Oh this place needs a reality show's help. Gordon Ramsay or Robert Irvine I've got your next episode!

Cresta has great bones, I know the firm that designed it and they did a great job, its doesn't slightly remind me of the Newport Creamy this used to be in yester-years. The decor is classy gives the air of the restaurant this place could be. It was exciting to have something new in Pawtucket, I work there and there's not much in the lunch department, however Cresta disappointed me.

The first time I went I had the chicken parm which was actually good and the portion was huge for the price, however the service was terrible. It was the first month it was opened so I decided to give it another try. The second time my friend and I ordered sandwiches which was to come with chips or for a little extra fries. I asked for the fries as I had a craving a good fry. When the food finally came out it was a really sad looking sandwich and a bag of ruffles on the plate, a bag yes they couldn't manage to take the chips out of the bag. If your gonna give me potato chips at least make me think they might be homemade or something. But if you remember I ordered fries I was told they were coming. They did come half way through my sandwich and they were frozen fries out of a bag you make at home. They weren't crispy nor were they hot. The service this time was awful too. I must be a glutton or punishment or this just shows how sad the downtown Pawtucket lunch scheme is because I went back. This time I again had awful service but I went for the chicken parm and again it was good.

I think the place needs an overall on the service side and maybe needs to limit their menu, they have the potential they just need to figure out what they are. Are you a classy place with great decor and white tablecloths? Because that's what you look like? Or are you a dive Italian place with some good food and sub par service? Because that's what you are acting like.

Oh Cresta, I was so excited to try your venue, unfortunately, it did not meet any of my expectations :(

Cresta was the ''sponsor bar'' after that weeks Fri night kickball game (yes, fairly upscale for a kickball afterparty, but I was thrilled as I had been wanting to try this bar!).  It was a rainy kickball game and in rolled 60 (or so) wet, tired kickballers, ready to eat and drink!  Unfortunately, the venue wasn't ready for the kickballers (despite the preparations that had been made between Cresta and the league) and after 3 table shuffles and about 45 minutes everyone was seated.  The menu looked great and we got our drinks in a fairly reasonable about of time.  Drinks - check!  Then we ordered and the staff was very nice although I got the impression they had no idea what was coming at them and what was going on.

About an hour and 20 minutes after walking in I happily saw my meal (I was a very hungry Jean J) and took one bite of the Cresta di Gallo and it was not cooked.  Not cooked pasta! It had been blessed with the boiling water for a mere 3 minutes if I had to guess.  C'mon Cresta, if you're going to be able to get something out of the kitchen, at least make it be cooked pasta!  I asked a friend to try as clearly I couldn't have had raw pasta and when she couldn't even ''fork the noodle'' she gave up.  Cresta , we were a party of 60, but you were expecting us!  The waitress offered to make a new one or something else but my patients were shot and I needed to go home and get warm after a wet night of kickball in the rain.

Unfortunately, I did hear that my fellow kickballers after an hour of waiting never got their food and ventured onto a new establishment.  :(

I had high hopes Cresta, but this night was a disaster.

I have to end on a pro...the ambiance is very nice! There's a nice big bar, plenty of tables and a welcoming atmosphere when you walk in.  I hope they can turn the ship around!

Excellent Chicken Parmesan at dinner for a lunchtime price!