Tuscan Kitchen - Salem

I went to Tuscan to celebrate a 50th birthday dinner with 9 of my friends. Our server, Michael Norman, was friendly and attentive. The food was excellent and the atmosphere in the restaurant was wonderful!

My husband and I had reservations at Tuscan Kitchen on a Wednesday night around 6. The hostess initially seated us next to the bar, which seemed odd as there were plenty of empty tables in the dining room. After requesting a move, we were seated in the bar area next to another couple, despite the abundance of empty tables available. Eventually, we were moved to a table in the main dining room, but the initial seating arrangements were confusing. While we enjoyed our appetizer and dessert, the main course left something to be desired. I ordered the scallops and found the flavors to be good, but the scallops themselves were overcooked, which was disappointing. Despite these issues, I would consider giving the restaurant another chance due to the great atmosphere and attentive waiter. Overall, there were some disappointments, but Tuscan Kitchen has potential.

Esteban provided excellent service during our meal at the restaurant. However, I was disappointed with the halibut dish this time around, as it had a noticeable fishy smell. Thankfully, Nick, the manager, addressed the issue and resolved it to our satisfaction.

The meal was great. Apps, Caesar Salads, Anna's entrees. The veal chop was amazing, although it seemed they traded mushrooms for the promised herbs. The coconut gelato was hands down the best ever. While the noise level was high, it also translated to a sense of high energy. So: No complaints. Only high praise.

Overall a very good experience. Nice ambiance. Food is nice. Good selection of wines, though limited by the glass. I (we) have been there several times but this last experience needed better service. We were poured water from bottles that were charged to us when we were never given an option. I asked for more water which never came. Also, we were charged for two water bottles when we only had one. I caught it on the bill and had it corrected. When asked for more drinks (wine refills), it took reminders to finally get them to us. When having a cocktail, I asked for more of an ingredient which never came. Wines used to be presented in a formal and elegant manner, but this time it seemed rushed. The service overall was forgetful and very slow. The timing was off with the service too. The waiter eventually told us that she was really busy with others too. Understandable but no excuse and one the customers should not be hearing.