My mother and I went to Apropos for the past Saturday and Sunday nights. Tonight was Monday and I went with a friend. We had great service and great food the first two nights (from Frederic and some of the ladies, not Daria) which were both quite busy. Tonight though, was terrible "McDonalds level" service by Daria, the waitress.
What was embarrassing was I had taken a friend there and had talked the restaurant up immensely for the past two days. Daria initially brought water over but she brought over the large water with lime which is charged for by the restaurant. The two previous nights we had been served the small waters which we did not have to pay for as they are tap water and free. Once asked to serve the small water which is not charged for, Daria still did not bring a "small water" that other tables also had on their table, but she simply brought a large water without lime. Embarrassed at the situation, I waited until my friend went to the restroom to ask Daria about the cost. When I flagged her down and specified my request for the free water and my concern that I would be charged,she seemed very put off, and somewhat flustered, she said that she would not charge for the large water (she also didn't bother to refill it at this time though it was only about 1/4 full). That was the last time she appeared at the table. It seemed like she had brought the lime water without being asked in order to pad the bill, and seemed disappointed or upset when I made her take it off. It went downhill from there. She never came by to fill the water or my friend's coke, never brought salt and pepper (which really had complimented the risotto the past two nights...it wasn't the same without it), and simply never returned.
If I was not with a friend, I would have been more vocal. When Daria did come near the table she did make eye contact with me and she would turn and walk away. Daria seemed to go out of her way to make eye contact just to turn away. When I "waived" at her, she would smile and then turn away. It clearly appeared to both me and my friend, that she was intentionally avoiding giving us service. As an American, even in a non-tipping culture like Denmark, I tip pretty well (as I had the two previous evenings at Apropos). Daria's facial expression seemed miffed when she realized that I didn't tip her a cent.
After I returned to my hotel and told my mother about the situation, she was upset. We called twice asking for a manager, and the second time were told he would be there in about an hour. My mother asked me if we could go back there and talk with the Manager, Jam.
When we arrived Jam wasn't there and the waitresses said they did not know when he would be back so we talked with two other waitresses (one of which had waited on us before) and also Daria. They listened. Then they explained that
(1) it really was "not Daria's fault" because it was "busy" and it was only the three of them on that night. In the area I sat, it was the same area we had been in the past two nights, and this was a Monday night......tonight I only noticed people at 2 other tables in my section and both of them left while me and my friend were there. When my mother and I were there Saturday and Sunday it was actually very busy, yet somehow we received amazing service both nights
(2) Daria admitted never returning to my table (for further service). She stated that she never returned after dropping off the food but in fact, one of the other waitresses standing there said she had delivered the food to the table, and Daria admitted it once I called her on it to her face in front of the other waitresses.
(3) No one offered an apology of any kind, just excuses for Daria.
(4) The waitresses were relatively polite and patient, yet kept defending her regardless of fact and logic.
(5) It was as if when the two other waitresses were there, Daria was demure. When no one was there to oversee her, she was smug and arrogant. She started crying what were clearly crocodile tears.
(6) We spent a couple of hundred dollars over a three day period. I am thinking of relocating to Copenhagen for a few months and had been so excited to find a new favorite restaurant. Now I will never go back. How much money do you think I would have spent in 6 months of living there? My friend already lives in Copenhagen, and also likely will never be back.
(7) If you choose to come here, order the risotto, it tastes amazing. But make sure you ask your waitress's name, and if it is Daria ask to change sections.
(8) If you are in Copenhagen and want delicious food AND great service, skip Apropos and head over to the Union Kitchen in Nyhaven. Daria truly did her employer a disservice, because her subpar behavior and attitude reflects poorly on what I thought was a great restaurant. read more