After walking through these big purple curtains, it looked like any other little restaurant. Big blackboards with their grab-and-go baked goods and coffee selection, brick walls, and one more table crammed in there then they should probably have. As instructed by the sign that greeted me, I waited to be seated. I was greeted by nameless waitress #1 who asked me if I was there for dinner. It was 4:30 and I hadn’t eaten yet today so I joked that it’s whatever meal that would be. But I got “the look” of “oh, just ONE of you?” Now I’m not sure (if any waitstaff happen to stumble upon this, please feel free to enlighten) if people just don’t like one-tops because smaller checks equal smaller tips or what. We tend to take less time and, at least speaking for myself, I tip very well when service dictates – and when the restaurant ain’t full, one butt in the seat is better than no butts in the seats. I would think, anyway.

So, anyway, I’m seated at a two-top around the corner and not given a menu. I sat for probably more than five minutes before I got one (being new to this review thing, I’ll do better next time on these details) – from nameless waitress #2 who would wait on me for the rest of my stay. It seemed like she only realized I didn’t have one because she thought the people behind me didn’t have one either. She asked if I would like something to drink and I asked for water “for now.” I quickly scanned the menu and chose their falafel and tabbouleh wrap. I do love me some Mediterranean fare, but I’m always wary of non-ethnic restaurants attempting things like tsatsiki. My water came but it was another few minutes before they realized I actually wanted food. I tried to see how other people were treated and it seems as if there was a little bit more cordial going on around me, but it maybe not. It wasn’t like they were overtly rude, but I just got the feeling that they saw me as taking up space.

My food came rather quickly – she never asked if I wanted anything else to drink or if I needed anything else. The wrap was good, but bland, as were the beer-battered onion rings. Could be that my taste buds were just on the fritz today, but all I could taste was the red onion from the wrap. Everything else just tasted flat. I had eaten about half my sandwich and took a little break from eating to read some news on my phone – and she came back, reached for my plate and was like “all set?” Um, no. I have half a freakin’ sandwich on my plate and if I were all set, the proper question is “would you like a box?” It wasn’t long before I was actually done (with two or three bites worth left) and my plate was snatched up pronto. I was not offered dessert or anything else.

Nameless waitress #2 came back with my check – $8.40 including tax. I had a $20. “Do you need change?” “Um, yes, please.” “Oh, haha, I guess you would since it’s a $20.” Ya think? And I KNEW she was going to do this – $1.60 is exactly 20% of $8 and it is exactly the loose change I should get from a $20, but I knew she was going to go for the extra .40 or extra buck and bring me six ones and a five. A good waitress does this – I always mentally fault the ones who don’t for the simple fact that the extra money would add up – but there was no real need to in this one as if she had been paying attention to herself, she’d know that the service was not worth a 20% tip so that was likely the most she was going to get. And that was exactly what she got. I shoved my other five ones in my back pocket with the five and was out the door. 

• On a scale of 1-10, I’ll give the falafel wrap a 6. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t good.
• On a scale of 1-10 for solo-dining purposes, I’ll give the restaurant an 8 as there were quite a few two-top tables so that a party of one doesn’t have to take up a table for four.
• On a scale of 1-10, I’ll give the service a 5 based on the following criteria: The restaurant wasn’t full, therefore they should have been happy to have me and not in a hurry to get rid of me. Other diners seemed to be treated a little bit better and get a little bit more attention.

Over all, the Table for One – Boston gives the 303 Café at 303 Sumner in Eastie 6/10 for a total of three stars.

I’m not writing 303 off just yet, though. I’m not averse to trying more of their food as I’ve read that it’s really good- they just might struggle with the Mediterranean fare. I’m also not averse to going in again on some other day at another time to see how I may be treated as party-of-one the next time as it might have been this particular crew. Maybe they were all in a hurry to get their side work done and get out of there. Who knows. But for now, I am sadly unimpressed by the 303. Better luck next time.