There are many things I can't believe in life
- I can't believe that I can't believe it's not butter is not real butter
- A Shot of Espresso Contains Less Caffeine Than a Cup of Coffee
- Richard III's body was found in a car park... in Leicester
but Vapiano's location in Paris, on a side-street on Champs-Élysées delivered an equally shocking experience.
After being handed a menu, I set to the kitchen and was ready to order my risotto, despite pointing and using basic french to the server, he still called over an English speaking waiter to explain that they didn't have any rice or risotto, I mentioned I was gluten-free and this was the only thing I can have but then I was told I could have pizza or pasta. I was sceptical especially when he asked me the type of pasta I wanted so I said any as long as it is gluten-free/sans gluten, only for him to continue listing pasta which made me grow even less confident.
Eventually, I opted for a Carbonara, I was still reluctant so I then showed him a translation on my phone and he said "Please don't worry", I showed him this again when he brought the food but this time made it into a paragraph describing how ill I would be, he seemed confused again but nothing twitched on. He then said "no cream? no meat?", he didn't have a clue.
He did say I could leave without paying and I could take my drink for free, still not an apology - I then proceeded to laugh as my drink was also pretty bad, they'd given me the wrong flavour of iced tea which I'd asked for twice and pointed directly at the flavour.
Before you say it - this isn't a language barrier, I speak basic French and used a translate app on my phone, it's plain carelessness and stupidity. I checked with him if the food was gluten-free FIVE TIMES and he replied yes and the person to tell me not to eat it wasn't him, it was the amazing group sat next to me, one of which is also gluten-free who explained to him. He didn't even apologise to me. I've never had a more ridiculous dining experience where I had to check something was gluten-free, using two different languages and be lied to like that. It's a good job I was hesitant and didn't believe him or I could have been on the next Eurostar home.
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