Bottega Prelibato

I went to dinner with some friends to Bottega Prelibato a few weeks ago. Its not the first time I had eaten there and I have always enjoyed it. The food has always been good. However after my last experience there I certainly wont be returning.

Before I begin I just want to give some background not that it should actually make the slightest bit of difference as the customer should always be in the right. I have worked in restaurants for many years so am well aware about etiquette, furthermore I have several professional qualifications in wine so actually do know a thing or two.

So myself and my two female friends are there for dinner, I order a bottle of red wine, when the waiter pours a little bit I smell the wine and it smells suspicious I smell it a few times and I still have my doubts and consider the wine corked. I ask the waiter to change the bottle.

Then another waiter comes to the table and with a very abrupt tone says there is nothing wrong with the wine so I should change my choice - I tell him I dont want to change my choice but he doesnt hear of it, the conversation continues but he gets increasingly aggressive (Basil Fawlty springs to mind) telling me I am wrong and that he is a sommelier so he knows best!

I insist finally that I dont want to change my choice and the original waiter hears my request.

I can honestly say he ruined the evening for us completely - he is by far the rudest person I have ever encountered in my life and really shouldnt be working in a restaurant if that is his attitude.

Its a shame for a nice restaurant that our experience has been marred by this one person but obviously myself or my friends wont be returning. There are other nice Italian restaurants in London where the staff know how to treat their customers.
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siobhan
4 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 5
Sunday, June 12, 2011