It took me a little time to get to this review as I really did need to take in the whole experience, though be-it short.
I have NEVER been treated so poorly in any establishment anywhere on the globe, and we have travelled.
I a little back story, we attended a charity fundraising black-tie event and made a bid on a silent auction to attend the F1 Grand Prix Monaco. I'm sure we paid over the odds for the trip, but as it was for a charity, I don't have a problem with that.
Part of the package was a meal for two at this establishment. We were greeted politely, and seated in the middle of the dining aera, but in a thorough-way. We had been seating no more than two minuets and noticed two free tables at the window that were not reserved from what I could see, I stood and approached a member of staff and politely asked if we could move tables, and this is the start of the diabolical service experience, she quite literally glared at me, very stern faced and said simply "not possible" I replied "sorry," not possible, she repeated, offering no an explanation as to why and with a face of stone, very unconfutable, I was quite aghast!
No sooner had I returned to our table, the same lady brought over two "Polly-pockets" that your kids use at school with an A4 piece of paper, with two choices of main meal, they weren't handed to us, simply thrown on the table in front of us, we could believe what we were experiencing at this point. With time only to take a breath, the waitress (term used lightly) proceeded to say "you can have one glass of wine, whit or red, and yes, as bluntly as that! By this time blood was starting to boil, so rude, and sterned faced it was beyond belief!
OK, so there were two choices of main courses on the menu, no vegetarian. We enquired on a vegetarian option, again, the waitress (again term used lightly) replied abruptly "no, only what is on the menu, I begged "excuse me, you mean to say you don't offer a vegetarian option?" she replies, "you can only have what in on the menu." To which I replied, "my wife is vegetarian" she literally stared at me and said, "I will see the Manger" within seconds she returned, and abruptly delivered, "no, only what is on the menu!"
As you can imagine by now, we were done, I expressed our level of dissatisfaction with the whole experience and promptly left the establishment.
Now, my thoughts are this, were we purposely treated as a second class customer and offered such little choice and frosty service, as the meal was part of an arranged experience, but I'm not sure this should make one iota of difference as good money was paid and its safe to say, the whole 4 day experience was fantastic, so I know it wasn't the travel company short changing the establishment. Or is Gioia just a no-go zone for tourists?
They had been paid upfront to provide me and my wife a service, they failed miserably and pocketed the money, maybe this was the intention from the off set.
They missed a trick here, as we left the establishment and found ourselves at the Masion de Marie, a first-class experience, at and highly recommended, were spent a good number of Euro, 80 to be precise on a delectable bottle of 2011 Chateauneuf Du Pap. We are not wealthy or extravagant people, but this F1 trip was a special once in a lifetime experience for my wife's 50th so we pushed the boat out so to speak.
Had the establishment presented their offerings professionally, explained any pre-arrangement with the menu and engaged on an upsell to accommodate us they could have quite easily everted the disaster and made a good number of euros in the process.
I strongly suggest they remove themselves from any prearrangements they may have with tour providers if this is the best they can do!
I don't do reviews as a rule, but this could not be overlooked.
Well done Gioia establishment Nice! read more