Mare Nostum Review

Reviewed by Katie_in_Santiago from Originally USA, now live in Santiago, CHILE on 5/27/09
Don’t let this happen to you!

I’m writing an account of what happened to myself and 8 of my dear friends in order to share my experience so that others hopefully won’t ever have to endure what we went through on Saturday evening, May 24, 2009.

It was the 35th birthday of one of my friends (his wife and I attend the same church), and so, upon my suggestion, we went to a restaurant called Mare Nostrum in Providencia. They serve Peruvian cuisine. I had been there once previously, a little more than a year ago, and remembered that the food was quite good.

After having finished our meal, we asked for the bill. We were taken aback to find that they had overcharged us $85 mil (for two starters “entradas”). After calling attention to the gross error, the waiter simply replied, “We told you that it would be more because you have 9 people.” We asked to see the menu again. After pointing out that each starter was priced at $10,800 CLP, (we had two), that we would pay what was indicated on the menu. We then asked to speak to the manager several times, but were refused. They simply were not going to see reason.

After having paid the bill, including the menu listed price of the two appetizers that cost $10,800CLP each (we had decided as a group not to succumb to this scam of the exorbitantly priced appetizers with a total cost of $85,000CLP - which is roughly equivalent to $150 US Dollars), we proceeded towards the door to exit the restaurant. We found our way physically barred by 3 of the waiters and one man whom we later came to find out represented the owner of the restaurant. Two of the ladies in our party said “Excuse me,” as they attempted to leave. The man representing the owner pushed them. Luckily they weren’t seriously harmed. However, they were extremely upset and their husbands were very angry. At that point, I proceeded to exit the restaurant, at which point the same man who had pushed the other ladies shoved me backwards in order to keep me from leaving. Obviously very upset for many reasons (not the least of which was the physical harm that this man was perpetrating against women), I told him that he had no right to touch me and that I was leaving. In the end, seven of our party of nine got out of the restaurant while two were still being held inside (including my friend whose birthday it was, and is wife). At that point, we called the carabineros (Chilean police).

Finally, with the assistance of the carabineros, the ordeal ended (some 3 hours later).

Nothing like this has ever happened to me.. I hope that you never have to go through this type of situation either. That is why I am writing so that you will know not to go to Mare Nostrum (Peruvian restaurant) located on calle Concepcion in Providencia.

Member Rating: 2.4
Ratings details: Food: 4.0 Atmosphere: 2.0 Service: 1.0 Value: 1.0

Reviewed by AnnAndDale from Las Vegas, NV on 4/6/08
We were seated in an upstairs dining room void of any décor. The waiter presented us with one golf ball sized roll each. The appetizer consisted of three indistinguishable puddles of sauce on a platter with a chipped margarita glass placed in the middle. The margarita glass had three small shrimp attached to it. After seeing this and forcing myself to taste it, I decided that staying would be a bad choice.

Member Rating: 2.0
Ratings details: Food: 1.0 Atmosphere: 2.0 Service: 4.0 Value: 2.0