We attended a birthday lunch on Saturday at La Pentola in Riviera (Pretoria). I am always excited to try out new restaurants especially ones in our area.
La Pentola comes with a rather good reputation and a whole lot of years experience so I was really keen to experience it.
Well to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. The booking was for 12h30 and David and I arrived a little late as I had to work, then we had to drop the kids off but we weren’t the only ones – another couple arrived with us. Everyone had just ordered starters so we quickly chose what we wanted and waited for a waitress – when she eventually arrived she said she had to check with the kitchen if we COULD order starters still? HUH?? Turns out we couldn’t – it was too late – the kitchen closes at 15h00 so we were too late for starters. REALLY?? So I was a little annoyed but we hardly ever order a starter so I let it go. Starters arrived (in dribs and drabs) and we shared with one of Davids friends and it was ok.
We all then ordered the main meal and then waited over an hour it. It arrived ONE MEAL AT A TIME. The steaks were flamed so the veggies were separate and one guy couldn’t waits so ate his steak, waited a bit and then got his veggies. David sent his back because it was cold. Everyone received their meals (eventually) except for 2 guys who received their meals once we were all done. The food was ok – very rich as every meal contains cream and/or butter. I had calamari and the lemon butter was so lemony that I had to separate the calamari from the sauce.
When we enquired about chips we were told “No it is fine dining we don’t do chips”. Fair comment except that when they were clearing up the same waitress tapped me (rather hard) on the shoulder and asked me to please pass her David’s plate. I am sure that wasn’t in the fine dining manual.
We were the only table in the restaurant apart from another one of 2 ladies. So there were a total of 28 people in the restaurant and they couldn’t cope. We waited for drinks, for our food and then got attitude and a ‘Ja things are deurmekaar in the kitchen’ – No? REALLY?
The menu does say you can expect to wait 25-30 minutes for a starter (what salad takes 30 min to make?) and an hour for the main meal. So they cover themselves by warning you which is clever on their part but rather pretentious if you ask me.
I studied Hotel Management and have worked in a fair share of restaurants to know what fine dining is (and what it isn’t). I honestly am not sure how this restaurant can get classed as Fine Dining. I also know that it is not that hard to get a large table right especially if they have booked in advance so you can prepare for them.
We were also confused as to the style of décor? It was sort of shebeen meets 1970 meets Little Italy. What was clear was that this restaurant is a mini shrine to Shane Sauvages ego. The bathroom doors have articles he has featured in blown up on the doors and walls of the cubicles. There is mention of the books he wrote everywhere. There are framed newspaper articles on every piece of wall that isn’t covered with corrugated iron or prints from 1972.
What upsets me the most is that people assume they can get away with a lack of service because they are famous or have some sort of reputation in the industry. It was a Saturday afternoon and they had no other patrons – so can they really risk to annoy a table of 26?
Despite that it is always fun getting together with David’s friends (who actually by now are my friend too) and was nice to see Kylie one last time before her baba arrives.
14 Responses
I hope you guys complained bitterly to management Laura! That is totally unacceptable – as someone from the industry myself I find what you’ve said shocking!
xxx
Phew! sounds very disappointing. Will remember never to go there when I’m in Pretoria.
I’ve always wanted to go, especially because they pair the wine with the food sometimes, but you are now the 3rd person who has said that it wasn’t lekker. Another friend who has been years ago says it’s gone down terribly as it used to be amazing.. Such a shame.
Laura, Lets be honest. I literally live down the road from the said restaurant and in this area ( where I grew up) i seriously cant see how “fine dining” is even applicable. Its as drabby on the outside as it is on the inside, and with my arrogance of being married to a chef, the place just doesnt cut it for me. I would much rather go to wimpy, at least I know there is one dish on their menu i can consume. As for shane – Gordon Ramsay -wanna-be, he isnt well know in the industry’s circle and is not a must have chef.
well it sounds terrible – both the service and food. Thank goodness there were good friends to somewhat rescue the event? 🙂
Tell me: Why didn’t one of you complained? Or left the restaurant?
Maybe “Hello Peter” will sort them out or send them this blog post.
Awful service indeed. Sorry to read this.
That’s shocking service Laura considering you were one of two tables on a Saturday afternoon. There are so many wonderful restaurants that pride themselves on their dishes and service, they need to be careful or very soon they might find a “Closed” sign on their front door.
WOW, yeah I think the more popular a place gets, the less they realize it takes CUSTOMERS to keep them there.
Goodness that’s awful. I have friends that rave about the place but you’re also not the first person I’ve heard saying they were less than satisfied. The definition of fine dining clearly has changed somewhat.
I have noticed – generally – that people in SA are a little too complacent with bad service and take it as it comes, without saying what needs to be said.
I read somewhere that a guy sat down at his table, gave his waitron R30 (or whatever) upfront and said that the balance of the tip would be given at the end if it was deserved.
We tip heavily if it is deserved, we speak to the manager where necessary (without making too much of a fuss) and we tip only 10% where we weren’t happy with our waitron.
Once – a looong time ago – we even waited for 5c change from our waitron because he was so pathetic. We were in a Panarotti’s (a big branch) and were amongst about 8 customers. We saw the kitchen staff put our pizza’s down on the counter and it was only 10 minutes later that our Waitron collected our – by then – cold pizza’s.
That is horrid.
La Pentola has a really bad reputation for shocking service, long waits and mediocre food. I have not been there for about 8 years and I see nothing has changed. Sorry it was a let-down.
So sorry you had a crappy experience – it used to be great many many years ago.
I would have thrown my toys!