****DISCLAIMER YOU CAN CHECK MY PROFILE I NEVER WRITE REVIEWS BUT THIS EXPERIENCE WAS NOTHING SHORT OF HORRENDOUS.
My girlfriend and I had our first dinner in Praiano this evening and were incredibly underwhelmed by the experience we had at this restaurant.
First off, this is a very pricey restaurant which would leave one to assume that that the service and food would be on par with the price. That was not the case. We walked in and asked for a table for two. The manager and the server both looked at each as if who wants to seat these people. After an awkward silence, I chose to try and seat us myself. I chose the corner empty table as there was plenty available (only 3 seated tables in the restaurant at this point). We were told that was reserved as the waiter followed me with no instructions except to mention we cannot sit there because it was reserved. No problem. We sat at a table close by and started to order. The waiter was very cold in greeting us and taking our orders which was the first red flag. If we walked out then we would have avoided the experience that ensued shortly after.
We order the platter of cheese and meat plate to start which was fine but not exceptional by any means. We then ordered (through the manager) our main course which was the lemon risotto for me and the steak and potatoes for my gf. What happened next was pretty appalling. We saw another couple ask to move tables to the one we tried to sit in that was supposedly reserved well no problem for this couple (apparently we did not look rich enough at least that is what we felt). We eventually recieved an order of lemon risotto and then for some reason an order of lamb chops. When I told the server my gf ordered steak, the manager came up and said he heard my gf ordered lamb chops. I was taken aback by the fact he did not take any ownership of his mistake and told him politely no she ordered a medium rare steak and potatoes (no lamb was ever mentioned). Even then he did not really take any ownership and instead said, "oh we take temperatures for both, maybe that was why I thought you ordered lamb". Anyway, steak comes after 20 minutes of waiting and is beyond well done. I again had to get the manager and explain she ordered medium rare. He again did not take any ownership and said, "medium well I thought", at this point I thought I was in an alternate universe where nothing that came out of out our mouths could be understood by this man which was surprising because his English was fine and from the stories he was telling other tables he even lived in England for a time. Again he takes it back this time leaving my risotto to get cold while we waited another 20 minutes to get the steak which eventually was cooked fine. In the time between all of these mishaps, my gf was interested in getting another drink so she asked the manager what vodkas were available and he said he would check and get back to us. Well he never did but he did manage to schmooze the only other two tables that were seated. We were hearing these long conversations about how he has been all over the world and worked everywhere and I am thinking this man has clearly never worked in a well run restaurant.
Both my gf and I are hardworking people who have experience working in the service industry. I know this is a small restaurant but in the states after all of those mishaps, something would have been comped or taken care of by the staff to ensure a happy return. Well we recieved the bill after waiting and twiddling our thumbs more than eating or drinking and nothing was comped. We did get a lot of "I'm sorrys", but again no ownership for the mistakes.
I WILL NEVER COME HERE AGAIN. I implore anyone who is visiting Praiano to stay far away from this hotel and restaurant they seem to be more partial to the more affluent seeming customers. We left feeling not only bamboozled out of a what should have been a great experience but also disrespected and belittled. I paid in cash and walked the hell out as quick as possible. read more
