I'll go as much as say 2 1/2 stars.  That is based on the good things I experienced. \n \nThe good: The staff was pretty friendly and attentive.  We arrived on a Saturday Night at around 5 with no reservation.  Got in right away and had a great view of the city out on the patio.  The place seemed clean, comfy, and had a great ambiance.  It had a large wine list that had reasonable pricing.  We were greeted, offered drinks and had our picture take right away.  The bread was pretty delicious.  The entire meal the staff was attentive and polite.  \n\nNow the bad:  The food!!!! Not horrible...but not great.  I equate it to an Olive Garden on the wrong side of town. Matter of fact..Olive Garden would have been better.  Ok...so you're saying, what do I know about \"Italian food\"?.  Enough.  I love food...I've eaten all over the world and spent plenty of time trying to eat my way across New Jersey and New York.  Italian food is about simplicity....simple dishes that are seasoned well with fresh ingredients which allow you to taste every little nuance of the dish.\n\nThis food was bland.  The appetizer was ok.  1/2 pound grilled shrimp on a hot stone.  All good except for served with a side of honey mustard.  Save the sauce for chicken tenders.  \n\nMy girlfriend ordered Chicken Scalopini.  The chicken a little tough and it was not seasoned...fine..it has a sauce with it right, but if the sauce is bland then all of it is bland.  Not that it tasted horrible...it just didn't taste like much...couldn't taste butter, wine, salt, herbs, anything really.  The spaghetti that came with it was tasty.  Al dente with a simple marinara.  \n\nI ordered the special which was NY strip steak, \"creamy polenta\", french green beans, and 3 blackened shrimp served on a hot stone.  I guess it was my fault for not keying in on \"hot stone\".  Steak came out cooked (and pre-sliced) to proper temperature of medium.  Although by the time I got through half the steak the other half had been cooked more to med-well, well by the hot stone.  Not to mention that again.....steak was bland! Ok it's steak...taste like meat....but some salt please.  Peppercorn sauce that was served with it was ok...very very peppery....I like pepper so I didn't mind but it could be a bit much for some.  Polenta was more bready than creamy and I think they confused Cajun with Blackened because shrimp were seasons with cajun seasoning but not blackend.  Maybe they assumed the hot rock would blacken the shrimp.  Which it did not...just over cook them.  Green beans were good.  The quality of the special was not worth the $34 price tag....which I didn't see until the bill.  My fault for not asking.  Just guessed since nothing else was over $28 it wouldn't be either.  \n\nFinally....The most tacky thing I've ever seen...which has been mentioned by others.  I paid with a debit card..as most do now a days.  They bring me a machine and have me swipe my own card...the kid says, \"you'll do it and I'll stand right here and watch\".  So as I swipe it asks for tip - 20%, 18% or other.  Service was good so I don't mind tipping....but as he hovers over me, I thought how awkward this would be if service was crap and he's hovering over me as I choose other and commence to put a smaller amount.  Just strange to me.  \n\nAll and all I've been to worse places...but I've definitely been to better.  Food is just to blah...maybe I'll try again...prob not.