Monday, January 11, 2010
A Note on My Ex-Favorite Pizza Spot in Kew Gardens
Several days before Christmas I was about to drive down to Virginia to see my family. They have been here before and loved Dani's pizza and asked me to grab a pie and bring it down with me. So, at noon on Wednesday December 23rd, I went in to Dani's to get what my family asked for. They weren't open yet and several of the employees were carrying boxes and food, etc from their basement to the front door so I stood there patiently, opening the door for each guy coming through for a good 20 minutes. I left to run another errand and came back 20 minutes later. There were three people there eating slices, there were 8 cooked, full size pies on the rack and two full sized out behind the glass. I told the pizza maker that I need one full sized pie to bring to my family in Virginia and he refused! He said he was too busy and that I could only have 4 slices because it was $1.25 per slice Wednesday. I told him I would pay full price and he stated he was "too busy" and would not give me one of the ten full sized pies there and was quite rude about the whole thing. Anyway, I have not had Dani's since and although I miss it, I will try to not support them if they believe they can treat their customers like trash.... The Pizza is good, but isn't that good!
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I'm not surprised... Customer service does not exist in that place. I wish they would hire more customer friendly employees.
ReplyDeleteThe customer service is horrendous. Even if the place is not that busy and you are sitting in there, no one will ask you what you need. Also, sometimes I just stand behind the counter, 8 months pregnant and all without any acknowledgement. I used to think the pizza was good, but the quality is really erratic and more often than not I am disappointed. Also, the fact that they do not deliver is a major dealbreaker.
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
ReplyDeleteI'm new to KG, and have been to Dani's several times-- but not once had a pleasant experience. Twice they messed up and/or delayed call-in orders, and on one memorable visit we had to listen to the mgr (owner?) loudly berate and threaten a customer for several minutes in front of the whole joint. (Admittedly, I don't know the backstory on that one; but is that any way to handle a disagreement with a customer, no matter who is "right"?)
On top of that, the pizza isn't even worth the hassle. At best it's merely... OK.
What other options do we really have though? For the most part I have found Kew Gardens to be a wasteland in terms of food. Austin's Ale House used to be ok but after spending almost 70 bucks on a horrible meal there I haven't been back in almost 10 months. I can't even name any Chinese food place or pizza place that is decent. At best I go to the restaurant part of Dani's or Tu Casa on Metropolitan. Its really sad that I have to drive to Brooklyn on the weekends to get a decent brunch. This neighborhood needs options!
ReplyDeleteIf you want a good case of hearburn Dani's is the place for you. The pizza is decent, but the sauce is too sweet. The creeps who serve up the slices treat you like you are invisible. It's pizza for crying out loud and should be a quick transaction. Factor in the wannabe bloated guido types acting all tough around the front of the shop, and you avoid it at all costs...
ReplyDeleteThey have good slices to go. That should be what people go there for.
ReplyDeleteToo bad you had a terrible experience there but can't say I am surprised. I do not understand Dani's following at all. I live in the neighborhood and refuse to buy Dani's pizza because 1) the front counter guy is really rude, who needs that and 2) the sweet sauce is vile. It tastes like they add tons of sugar to the pizza sauce but I don't know for sure. It tastes terrible. I would never eat in the restaurant section either. The place looks filthy too.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the service. The pizza is just OK. I do love the baked ziti though, but the old lady with grey hair who looks like she might be the owner - I have NEVER seen her crack a smile. The waitresses serve you like robots and are unfriendly also.
ReplyDeleteYou might want to try SINGHAs across the street - not a bad place for a quick personal pie baked fresh right out of the oven and the guys in there are a lot nicer than Dani's.
I think they have great customer service! He wouldnt give you a pie because he wanted to have enough for other people. You can not expect a pie of dannis pizza at request, you gotta work for it! And you got to mean business when you go in there. Do not ask for what you want too early, wait it out, scout out who has been waiting patiently, keep the face glued on the pizza. Then when you think it is time, BRIEFLY ask for what you want in a loud demanding but not rude way. Do not expect a reaction, just wait an you WILL be served.
ReplyDeletegood luck with not going to Dannis anymore, I will be suprised if you last 2 weeks if that.
either youre crazy or Dani himself
ReplyDeleteDani, it only worked for the Soup Nazi because his soup was GOOD.
ReplyDeleteMake a superlative pizza, and maybe you can get people to play along with your game. Maybe.
I won't be one of them though. I can do without your joint because I can make a better pizza at home.
to whoever wrote the post on 1/17 @ 349pm:
ReplyDeletehow can u seriously start ur post by sayin Dani has great customer service, and then go on to give some complex set of rules on how to get a slice of pizza? Its foolish
Dani's has good pizza, at best. U couple that with the arrogant immigrants working there & Id rather go to Singas across the street or L'angolo on metro ave
WOW - The record for amount of comments on a KGB posting! Maybe I should start a blog about Pizza, if "slice" didn't exist I would!
ReplyDeletehahahaha. i just looked at their website. apparently there is a contest for a "date" with Dani! With Prizes!!!! hahaha -
ReplyDeletePrizes:
* $250 gift card at store of
winner's choice
* Dinner & Drinks for 2 at
restaurant in meatpacking district
* Round-trip transportation
They better start upping the prizes!
Hey, you know how "Italians" can be sometimes.
ReplyDeleteTheir customer service in general is not good, but on Wednesdays when they offer the discount it is plain 'sad'. I go to L'angolo nows. They have great fresh mozarella pizza and the owners are always there at the counter. If Dan's trained their employees properly, there would be no problem. Also, Dani's really needs to deliver food.
ReplyDeleteI thought I was the only one experiencing the customer service problem at Dani's. There is one guy in particular who is just plain nasty. I have gone into the place and walked right out after realizing that nasty guy is there. I have had much better luck however with one of them named Ceasar. One time, he was really nice and polite, so I asked his name and I have made it a point to call him by his name every time and have always had a pleasant experience with him. I do agree with everyone though that it's unnecessary for an establishment to be so careless about their patrons in general. The guys at Singa's are so much friendlier. With their new burger and fry stand, it's the place to go for fast food in KG. Great post idea!
ReplyDeletealmost a month, no Dani's pizza, not missing it :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't had Dani's in about 6 months and don't miss it. The pizza is terrible and the workers are complete jerks. The renovated the dining room and it still looks depressing.
ReplyDeleteI've stayed away too. They make you feel like they're doing you a huge favor by serving you a slice or a meal. No smile, no thank you, no warm welcome, nothing to make you want to return. I think Dani's has outworn it's usefulness. Unless they get entirely new personnel, I won't be going back.
ReplyDelete
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