It was my friends birthday meal on Friday, 1st July, so it was a bit of a special occasion for the five of us who went. We walked in the door, to find the staff all running around (the small venue was around half full). Nobody approached us, and from over the counter, with the phone to his ear, a member of staff shouted "Yes?" and stared at us. My friend said she had a table booked for 5, and he pointed "over there" in the corner while looked down and finishing his call. I was told by my friend that he was the manager - hopefully not the one in charge of customer service for the rest of his staff! The table was booked for 8pm, which is the time we arrived. We then finally got asked what food we would like a 9:10!! An hour and ten minutes before we were even asked what starters we wanted, despite on several occasions trying to get the attention of a member of staff. In the mean time, two customers had come in, eaten and left. Not only that, but we were asked to shuffle up further into the corner to accommodate two more customers, who then also managed to get fed first. Finally, our starters came, which was luke warm…then the worst part. My main arrived, which was a rice dish. I had a mouthful, then put my spoon back into it again, only to find a black, inch long screw in the middle of my spoon. I felt sick. We called the manager over (we were thrilled we didn't have to interrupt another phone call!), who just stood in front of me looking puzzled like he didn't know what to do. I suggested his building may be falling apart, when he then said he would "have the chef prepare another dish, and leave this one on the table, incase" ("Incase" what I do not know. I hope he wasn't expecting me to still pick at it)! I could have sued them, or worse, choked on that screw and God only knows what it fell out of. Needless to say I didn't continue to eat. I dine out regularly, and I don't need to say that it is the most shambollic, worst run restaurant I've ever been into, and one that even Gordon Ramsey might have trouble sorting out if they were nominated for Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. The manager clearly has no customer service skills, the waiters clearly can't cope with a restaurant that is half full, and the chef clearly cannot cook NOR tell the difference between rice and a black inch long screw. Seriously - AVOID AVOID AVOID!
Torpaido
This restaurant is so good, I'm reluctant to say too much. Freshly-prepared dishes (no generic onion slop here), pleasant decor, friendly and efficient staff, vibrant atmosphere and BYO.