Off The Vine

06/10/2008 Posted by RowleyRegular

I would not suggest this as a family place. The restaurant seems to be very understaffed, w new employee every time you go in. Every time our waitress has said to us something along the lines of "Please be patient, I'm just training." Why is it so difficult to keep help there? One night when we went in it was very busy and it was obvious that there wasn't enough help. The "owner" came over to us when she noticed that our drinks were empty and apologized and stated that our waitress was terrible and that they have been planning on firing her for a long time now. Great way to talk about your help. Then the owner proceeded to stand with her husband and they were getting close and doing things that was not appealing to watch while eating dinner with your young children. I will say the food was good – drinks were amazing. But that’s not enough to keep us going back. Wait staff was poorly trained, inexperienced, and slow.

Pros: Food

Cons: Wait Staff

04/08/2008 Posted by IpswichDR

I really like their lunch options – but their service is horrible & there’s absolutely no organization. You wait in a huddle of people around the deli counter to place your order, then you have to jockey for position to try to get to the cash register. I’ve tried calling the order in ahead of time – but you still have to wait in that same huddle of people (some who have just placed their order at the counter & some who have called in an order). How quickly you’re able to get out of there depends on how pushy & rude you feel like being to your fellow patrons. I once stood there for 10 minutes waiting for a chance to pay – even though I could see that my order was ready & sitting on the counter. I used to eat there once or twice a week – but I’m no longer interested in spending a quarter of my lunch hour just trying to place my order & pay. Hopefully they’ll make some improvements to help their customers get in & get out.

03/23/2008 Posted by tobywinter

90% of the seating here is at high stools at a bar or at high tables. There are a couple of tables in a small walled-off area near the entrance. You can eat here if you don't feel like a climb. This room has an ambience similar to a lunch-room in a hospital cafeteria. Fine for lunch perhaps but not for a 'dining out' on the weekend experience. What a difference a table cloth and a little votive candle would have made. The main room was full of mostly 20 to 30 somethings eating mostly pizza. We should have taken a cue from that but instead we ordered disappointing dinner entrees. But here's the clincher. While waiting for our meals we were given no bread to nibble while we waited so we called the waitress over and asked if we could have some bread. She brought us a basket of non-descript bread slices. When we left we noticed that we were charged $1.00 for the bread. Oyyyy! We had ordered dinners. That was the straw that broke the camels back. Restaurants that make their own pizza can easily roll out some pizza dough to make quick bread sticks or rolls that are far more interesting.

Pros: Easy parking

Cons: Ambience, noise level unless you are in the walled-off room, no bread with meals

02/19/2008 Posted by Whipcreamy

Love this place. I only for for take out at lunch and it is a do it yourself atmosphere. Go up to the deli, place your order, then wait in the cash register line. This is the type of place that is sooo busy that you have to go get things for yourself, but it is worth it! Never been for dinner, but the bar looks inviting. Favorites are: Italian combo sandwich, beef boursin sandwich, veggie roll-up, and clam chowder on fridays!!! Very busy on weekdays during lunch so order ahead of time! ps the owners are yankees fans and they push their employess hard, but don't let this deter you.

11/02/2007 Posted by arnottmom1

I truly enjoyed the great service and food at Off The Vine in Rowley, Masachusetts. There is plenty of parking and the restaurant is very inviting. The service was very helpful and I thoroughly enjoyed the food. I will certainly visit this restaurant again. I recommend it highly.

Pros: Great food and service.

Cons: I wish it was closer to Amesbury where I live.

11/22/2006 Posted by binowt

Left after 15 minutes at a table in the center of the place - no menus, no drinks, no service. Asked the bus girl for our waitress which at least got 5-6 sideways glances as the waitress sprinted from the backroom to who-knows-where. Failed attempts to flag her down resulted in the conclusion that business must really be good for service to be this bad (or, in our case, non-existent). Maybe the take-out is good - provided these folks actually produce food.

Pros: Looks good from the outside

Cons: The total absence of a wait-staff