My husband loves this place for coffee outside on sunny days and goes there all the time. Today I joined him not wanting coffee, but just a small something to eat while he had his. I went in thinking I'd have gelato but it looked a bit melted. Then I spotted fruit in the cooler. I grabbed a large and ripe nectarine, paid for it, joined my hubby outside, and bit into the fruit. A second later a waiter came up and said I wasn't allowed to eat the fruit outside because that was "camping/ picnicking." I said, "but I just bought this piece of fruit in your store." She looked at me with a frown and walked away. I continued to eat the fruit. Note: I am six months pregnant with an obvious baby belly. A moment later, one of the managers came out and reiterated that I could not eat that fruit on his premises. I was halfway through the fruit at that time and my husband was inside buying a plate of pasta for lunch. Not a cheap plate of pasta, either - they make a killing on the small 12 euro plates they sell to lunchers. I said, "come on, I just bought this from you and I'm pregnant. Can't I just eat my fruit?" He insisted that I was "camping." I was too incredulous to say anything in response except that my husband was a repeat customer who loved his restaurant/store and I had bought my silly fruit from him! I put the fruit down. After a moment's reflection I went inside and told my husband we'd go elsewhere for his lunch.
This is a silly policy and the fact that they enforce it so strictly is even more ridiculous. If I'd shown up with a home-packed meal and proceeded to eat it at his table that would have been understandable. But I bought the overpriced fruit from him and we were enjoying a pleasant midday meal. After that experience, I won't be going back. read more