An exceedingly rare walk-out of O Gambuzino!!! NOTHING -- definitely not from all the 5-star reviews! -- could've prepared us for what would turn out to be an unequivocal disaster in Lisboa!
We had just gotten back from a long day of out-of-town sightseeing and were famished. My more-level-headed other-half decided to make a 6:30p dinner reservation. (According to the website, they open at 5p for Happy Hour, but don't start dinners until 6p.) Now, I realize this is a major urban area, and "shenanigans" can happen just about anywhere, in any neighborhood. That said, it was a bit foreboding of a walk to the restaurant with empty beer bottles and litter pretty much going right up to the place; not to mention, a down-and-out couple doing "their thing" (drugs) just a couple of landings away. Hey, as I stated, this is a big city, and the couple didn't bother us one iota, so perhaps it sounds like I'm nitpicking. So be it. I'm simply describing the mise-en-scene.
Anyway, the façade of O Gambuzino's is utterly charming -- like out of a movie set! Just outside, there's a step-up covered area for alfresco dining. Inside, there's an inviting quirkiness with the hand-hewn design/decor. I didn't do my background research on the place, but perhaps they do their own kombucha and ferment their own veggies given all the displayed jars which make up one side of the space. Whatever the case, it was all very attractive and creative.
We arrived at 6:21p for our 6:30p reservation. The place was empty, inside and out; it's Tuesday, so perhaps a slow night. (Needless to say, there was no need for a reservation.) A waitperson greeted us immediately; very friendly and welcoming. She had us choose a table, gave us food and drink menus, then mentioned that the kitchen was running behind and wouldn't be ready for "another 15 minutes." No problem; we're hungry, but far more parched. She says, "But we can still get you some drinks!" YAY!!! "Vinho! Vinho! Vinho!" (Lol!) She then disappeared for what seemed (for us) an interminable 10-minutes before the glasses arrived. It was 6:32p.
She then proceeded to take our orders. Jay's "entrada" was the Vieiras (king oyster mushroom "scallops"); I read a rave about the Kimchi Krapuk (rice crackers with kimchi and scallions), so that was my choice. Jay's "pratos principais" was the Bibimbap; I went with the Tofu Katsu.
The appetizers arrived at 6:47p by another waitperson. Now, during this window of time, not only had we tanked our red wines and set them at our table's edge for refiling; but, I also noticed a person behind the counter plating three "white" chips onto a plate. My thought was, "I'm sure that's not my order." It sat there for a while, unattended. A couple of minutes before what looked like the completion of Jay's appetizer, the gentleman I saw earlier plating the chips, began assembling what was to eventually be my Kimchi Krapuk. Now, prior to the arrival of the appetizers and after the wine and order-taking, our waitress made a beeline outside -- I didn't see it; Jay was facing the entryway and said she was having a nice time chatting out on the sidewalk. Our empty glasses sat empty.
We decided to simply start eating. I'm not sure if this was an off-night or what, but my chips were stale (especially having sat on the counter for so long); it didn't help the texture that wet kimchi and wet salsa topped each, so that by the time I got to the third chip, it was already getting soggy. That said, the kimchi was very flavorful; salsa topping, OK. I also had a bite of Jay's "scallop" appetizer and the bite I had was peculiarly "al dente" and dull flavor-wise. Both dishes were definitely NOT the Master Chef-like quality that reviews seem to exclaim -- I felt in a parallel universe!
Anyway, our glasses still remained empty, our waitperson continued to mingle outside with a friend and handyman (who was using a power-tool the entire time to work on the outdoor tables -- not the most conducive to a peaceful dinner), and 5 guys stood around at the counter (one with eyes glued to his phone) looking bored. I finally decided to make a dramatic placement of the empty glasses on the table next to us before one guy told the other guy staring at his social media that we needed attention -- our waitress was still nowhere to be found. When the wait-guy picked-up the empty glasses, there was not even an inclination to see if we wanted another until Jay mentioned something. Jay asked if our waitress was going to come around and attend to us -- he was nonplussed.
That "broke the camel's back" for me!!! We just got up and asked for our check. They charged us $26 for the two lackluster entradas and two glasses of wine. No "sorry"; no apologies. Completed disinterested and lackadaisical. They were far more content to have an empty restaurant. (There still were no other customers.) Just awful.... read more