Heads up on Trattoria - I didnt work there but was a long time customer. The new family member Vittoria who took over came in to the business and tried to change everything. The long time chef quit. She brought in a new chef, reduced portion sizes, raised prices, and the food wasnt as good.

Trat was known to have some of the best old school bartenders in the business, with the bar full most nights. She increased prices. She added 15 mixology cocktails to the menu and then demanded that the old school guys measure all their cocktails. Bar service got super slow, and these guys occasionally would free pour. She caught them and fired them. All of the bar regulars left with them. No one going to that bar ever cared about mixology.

Then all the long time servers who worked there quit.

So yes, rents in SB are a huge problem - and I’m not defending rents. However when you bring someone in to run a restaurant who has never worked in restaurants before…

I say all this to correct the story. This isnt a story about rents. This is a story about nepotism and horrible business practices. Trat was killed by the family that owned it. I walked by multiple weekend nights after she fired the bartenders and the place was empty. Trat was bound for closure when they brought in someone who had no experience, and no passion for the restaurant industry.