Restaurant Reviews
Parma
Reviewed by pinklady on Aug 03, 2011
What's it like?
We've been trying to get together with friends for this one awhile. Now that they have moved into new digs it seemed like a good excuse!
Welcomed by the owner in seconds of arriving, we settled in at a table in the main dining room. (Very tastefully appointed and looking much like Bouchon in Santa Barbara) The service was prompt, knowledgeable and to a very high standard especially for Fresno. Wine was selected after tasting a couple different bottles and we began the negotiations of selecting what to have. I wonder if it's just me but is it hot in here? Oh, the menu.
Since this is our first visit we decide to go with one of the three pre-set menus allowing for maximum sampling of different items. Whew! I don't think it’s just me (looking around at others in room). Did I mention it was the hottest day this year? No?, hummmm. Three tumblers of water later.....darn its sweltering in here. Really enjoyed the plate of Parma cheese brought to go along with the bread and wine. Before we knew it the appetizer arrived--a beautiful array of delights. more water, please! everyone is visibly wilting in the room. The wait staff graciously acknowledge yes, it is warm; we are trying to fix the problem.
Dinner arrives with three different pastas to partake of: a spinach cheese ravioli dripping in butter and dusted with Parma cheese, a mild bolognese over a flat pasta similar to fettuccini and oh, darn it's HOT in here....so much so I forgot the last one!
By now it is a furnace inside we are all begging them to open the windows and doors for any air. Alas, desert was not enjoyed as it could have been due to the heat.
So, if you take away the temperature problem...the food was outstanding along with the service. We plan to try again. Just not in the summer time.
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Comments
RL (not verified) | Tue, 2011-08-09 10:00
Coming back from a funeral on Friday we stopped at Samba's for lunch which was closed. Ended up at Parma instead. It was our second time there, once at the old location, first time at the new. Had no temperature problems at all. The restaurant was half full which for that center is really good. Service was ABYSMALLY slow. Water glass was constantly empty and very slow to get refilled, salads took 15 minutes to arrive, plates 20 minutes after that. The final straw was handing the waiter our credit card to pay before receiving the bill and waiting another 10 minutes for him to bring the check.
It's probably our fault for trying to grab an hour lunch at a fine dining restaurant. But for anyone who might be interested in their lunches (pasta and salad is 15 bucks and very tasty) there is a complete lack of sense of urgency to get you in and out in a reasonable amount of time. As a workday lunch spot that is unacceptable.
DaleWhite | Thu, 2011-09-29 21:07
Well, I've been to Parma twice this week. I live right next door, so I wanted it to suit my after-work mentality. I'm not a big eater at night, so I stick with apps after 6pm. The quail salad (okay, the ensalada de quail. Whatever...) was excellent. The carpaccio (raw paper-thin beef slices, mushroom slices, raw spinach, onion, olive oil, lemon juice, salt & peppa') was divine. I sit at the bar, and have no concern for ambience. I really enjoyed it...