I had a new years dinner here with family and friends and as it was taking place on new years eve not only did we have to pre book but we also had to pre pay the meals which was 150 Euros per person which I thought was a bit rude and very steep for 4 course meal in a hotel restaurant. During the booking my partner advised that I am allergic to shell fish and fish and also that I would like my entire meats medium to well done.
The Hyatt regency is really nice to stay in, the restaurant is located above the lobby with large windows looking out to the Rhine and the cologne Dom, when we arrived everything went very well. There was no menu as they cooked only one type of meal due to the volume of guests which in my mind was not a great service, I feel that eating in a 5 star hotel and restaurant one should at least get a menu, plus the wines were also laid out to according to what you ate.
Anyway, after two hours of waiting and a group of very hungry customers, greetings from the kitchen arrived and what do you know I got shell fish, I didn't really make a fuss and just handed it to a friend, then the starter arrived and what do you know it was fish, I told the waitress that due to the booking agreement it was made clear I couldn't eat fish of course she said that this wasn't made clear and there was no alternative they could offer, I asked about salad and she said they didn't have any.
The soup course arrived and woohoo it was fish soup and so the argument started and I am sitting there thinking I paid 150 Euros for a meal which I cant even eat and I thought what a farse! Anyway, she changed it after a long winded argument for something which was so bland in taste, dirty water had more appeal.
After another 2 hours waiting the main course arrived and I was served, under cooked duck which was red in the inside and slightly frozen, it was very clear that this was done as an extra for me as everyone at the table were eating fish. I complained and asked for the manager and my reply was there wasn't a manager on service, then I asked for the chef who refused to come out and see me, then I replied if he wont come out then I will go in, finally a manager arrived and said it was normal for duck to be that red and I said what about the frozen part, anyway, he just snapped the plate from me and walked off saying nothing, I just looked shocked at the rest of my family whom thought it must be a prank been played. No, no prank 30 minutes past and he came from the kitchen with a new plate of food, cod and fried pototoes and I looked at him with shock and said I cant eat fish, he looked at me really nasty and started to fight with me and I just said lets forget about it, if its too much trouble to throw the duck back in the pan then lets forget about the dinner all together, he walked off and he never came back.
Woohoo dessert arrived, I was so hungry I could eat a horse unfortunately there was no meat to be dished up, well not for me anyway, I though no way could they kill a dessert and boy was I wrong, they were so many tastes crashing against one another that it was just a major car crash, strawberry and cherry sorbet with curry ice cream, with a tiny piece of mint cake to very sour berries to coffee cream.
No one at the table could eat the dessert it was that bad! Afterwards I had it, I spent 150 Euros excluding the drinks for a meal I couldn't even eat and I didn't care if they threw me out I wanted my money back and after 1 hour of a fuelled argument in the down stairs lobby I got my money back and then having the nerve to state please do come again.
The food here is car crash gone bad, taste over lap each other and it just doesn't fit. In my personal experience I would avoid this restaurant like a bad rash! read more
