We have been coming to Sorrento’s for many years and order takeout at least once a week—it is my mother‑in‑law’s favorite restaurant. When it came time to choose a location for our family Easter dinner, the decision felt easy.
Unfortunately, this experience was deeply disappointing.
My mother‑in‑law, who is nearly 90 years old, called early to make reservations—before reservations were even officially open. She later had to call back and was told the time we originally requested was already booked, which seemed odd given the restaurant was closed at the time and reservations had reportedly just opened that day.
On Easter Sunday, we arrived shortly before our 2:00 p.m. reservation and checked in. The concern on the hostesses’ faces immediately suggested something was wrong. We were informed that the party before us had just ordered their meals and that we would need to wait until they were finished before we could be seated. Meanwhile, other large parties arriving after us were being seated, and there were multiple tables that could have accommodated our group. It was unclear why our family was the one forced to wait.
We tried to remain patient. However, this meal was especially meaningful for my mother‑in‑law. At her age, every opportunity to gather the family together for a holiday is a blessing.
After waiting more than an hour, we were told the table ahead of us had received their check and we would be seated shortly—only to then learn that they had ordered dessert. This should not occur when reservations are scheduled in clear time blocks. If seatings are at noon, 2:00, 4:00, and 6:00, those timelines should be enforced. One party’s choice to linger should not come at the expense of another family’s holiday.
When we were finally seated, our group was split into two separate rooms—ten people at one table and four at another. We did not eat together or celebrate together. On Easter Sunday, that separation was painful and entirely unnecessary.
While the waitstaff and hostesses were kind and professional—and we appreciated the complimentary appetizer salads and the quick delivery of our meals once seated—I felt rushed, unheard, and dismissed. Most importantly, we lost the opportunity to be together as a family on Easter, which is something we can never get back.
To add to the frustration, another member of our group is a restaurant manager with extensive experience handling holiday seatings. It is absolutely possible to move tables along respectfully to ensure the next reservation is seated on time. That option was simply not exercised here.
We arrived at 1:50 p.m., were seated around 3:15 p.m., and were rushed out by approximately 4:30—no dessert, no lingering, and no shared holiday experience—while the prior table remained for over three hours.
I never imagined this would be our last Easter meal at Sorrento’s. Breaking apart a family on a major holiday and allowing another party to overstay while we waited was simply unacceptable, especially given the years of loyalty and recommendations we have given this restaurant.