VERY DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE -- SPENT ABOUT $300 FOR TWO PEOPLE AND WAS INSULTED BY OUR SERVER ON THE WAY OUT
I came to Corrientes 348 for a date night expecting an upscale steakhouse experience. Our receipt was $287.84, including an automatic 18% gratuity, and I left an additional tip on top of that, bringing what I paid to approximately $300.
Unfortunately, I left feeling like I wasted my money and wishing we had gone somewhere else.
The evening didn't start particularly well. We were initially seated toward the back next to a screaming child, which wasn't the atmosphere we expected for a date night at an upscale steakhouse. We asked to be moved, and I do appreciate that the restaurant accommodated us.
The food itself was okay, but nothing memorable enough to justify the price in my opinion. We ordered the half Parrillada de Carnes, empanadas and sides. Based on the food and the experience up until the end of dinner, I probably would have given the restaurant 3 stars.
What completely changed my opinion happened as we were leaving.
Our server was Brenda R., and we were seated at Table 24. Brenda made a comment comparing my appearance to someone else. I immediately responded, "That's not a compliment."
At that point, a simple apology would have ended the situation. Instead, she continued talking about the comparison and tried to explain or justify what she meant.
What made this especially frustrating is that I had already given Brenda an additional tip on top of the restaurant's 18% gratuity before this happened. I had no issue rewarding the service up to that point. Then, on my way out of the restaurant, I ended the night feeling insulted by the same person I had just tipped.
It was also embarrassing because the entire interaction happened right in front of my date. Once a customer explicitly tells you that a personal comment about their appearance isn't a compliment, continuing to make or defend that comparison is inappropriate. The professional response is simply to apologize and move on.
I don't know what Brenda intended by the comment, and I'm not claiming she deliberately set out to offend me. But I made it very clear how I received the comment, and instead of apologizing, she continued. Intent doesn't erase the impact of the interaction.
For an upscale restaurant where I spent approximately $300 for two people, I expect considerably better judgment and professionalism.
The most disappointing part is that I would have given Corrientes 348 a better review before this happened. The food wasn't exceptional in my opinion, but it wasn't terrible. I probably would have rated the restaurant around 3 stars and moved on.
Instead, what should have been an enjoyable date night ended with me wanting to leave immediately because of an unnecessary and uncomfortable interaction with our server.
I have the receipt documenting Brenda R. as our server, Table 24, on August 15, as well as the $287.84 restaurant total before my additional tip.
I will be contacting management because I believe they should know exactly how our evening ended and have an opportunity to address it.
Based on my experience, I cannot recommend Corrientes 348. When I spend approximately $300 on a date-night dinner, I expect to leave talking about how good the meal was--not about being insulted by my server on the way out. read more