Avoid El Pasage Restaurant, Santiago de Compostela
Jun 6th, 2012, 02:48 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Avoid El Pasage Restaurant, Santiago de Compostela
Avoid this restaurant. We went there for a glass of wine. The waiter put out the bottle and told us that we would be charged by the amount that we drank. We had one glass and he charged us for double portions. When my husband questioned the bill, the waiter said that this wasn't a bar and that he did us a favor by serving us at all. The bill was adjusted, but we all had a very bad experience.
Jun 6th, 2012, 04:17 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A few years ago when we were in Tuscany my husband and I were disappointed when we had lunch at a couple of restaurants.
We only wanted one course as this was lunch and we didn't feel comfortable with the wait staff who were not very happy that this is all we wanted to order.
And I also remember that we were not looked upon with favour for not ordering wine. So I kind of know how you felt.
Was the wine good?
Like us you did not understand that certain establishments expect certain things.
I say live and learn.
We only wanted one course as this was lunch and we didn't feel comfortable with the wait staff who were not very happy that this is all we wanted to order.
And I also remember that we were not looked upon with favour for not ordering wine. So I kind of know how you felt.
Was the wine good?
Like us you did not understand that certain establishments expect certain things.
I say live and learn.
Jun 6th, 2012, 05:18 AM
#5
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 26,710
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, restaurants are not bars and there are no shortage of bars in Spain or in Santiago. And bars in Spain are not like bars in the US, there can be family affairs where there are people of all ages gathering.
Jun 6th, 2012, 06:09 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If this is your first European experience then you should know that many (if not all) European countries expect people to eat in restaurants and go to bars/cafes if they only want drinks.
I would not consider a cultural misunderstanding to be a "bad experience" nor would I tell people to avoid a restaurant for this reason.
I would not consider a cultural misunderstanding to be a "bad experience" nor would I tell people to avoid a restaurant for this reason.
Jun 6th, 2012, 05:20 PM
#8
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I hate to say it - but if you walked into a restaurant in NY, sat at a table and just ordered a drink they wouldn't be happy either. Restaurants are for eating. If you are only having a drink do a bar or a cafe. And how much wine did you drink. If the filled the glasses to the top - that's not a normal serving.
Different cultures - different attitudes. You need to learn these things before you go. If not, figure it out when it happens - but don;t blame other people because you had thee misperceptions.
Different cultures - different attitudes. You need to learn these things before you go. If not, figure it out when it happens - but don;t blame other people because you had thee misperceptions.
Jun 7th, 2012, 02:56 AM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Actually, when we approached the cafe, my husband asked the waiter if it was alright if we just had a drink, and he invited us to sit down. He poured a normal sized glass of wine for us and we did not take any more wine ourselves.
Jun 7th, 2012, 04:10 AM
#10
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"We had one glass and he charged us for double portions."
I am a bit lost here. Do you mean that you were originally given a bill for double the number of glasses that you had consumed?
"The bill was adjusted"
Does that mean that the second bill was for the correct number of glasses?
I am a bit lost here. Do you mean that you were originally given a bill for double the number of glasses that you had consumed?
"The bill was adjusted"
Does that mean that the second bill was for the correct number of glasses?
Jun 7th, 2012, 07:51 AM
#14
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A glass of wine in the typical wine bar/tavern in Santiago would be in the €1.65 to €3.50 range, depending on the quality you request, tinto (red or white table wine), crianza or reserva. A young Rioja would be the most common wine poured. €6 to €7 a glass seems a bit much, even for Madrid or Barcelona unless you ordered something expensive. In Navarra we typically pay €1.20 to €1.95 (Ribera del Duero Crianza).
Jun 7th, 2012, 12:54 PM
#16
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why in Galicia did you drink Rioja, have you not tasted any wines from Galicia?
6- 7€ per glass you was really ripped off.
Wine when poured into a glass is not measured, so one glass may be fuller than another.
6- 7€ per glass you was really ripped off.
Wine when poured into a glass is not measured, so one glass may be fuller than another.
Jun 7th, 2012, 01:22 PM
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm sure we've all had traveling moments like this where we just didn't know the local customs and it appeared we got ripped off, whether we did or not. BUT...
The bill was adjusted and you still made a special point to warn people away from visiting this restaurant??? And you didn't even EAT there? You just used it as a bar?
This was a "very bad experience" for you? I take it you don't get out a whole lot. I've had worse experiences a block from my house here in DC.
The bill was adjusted and you still made a special point to warn people away from visiting this restaurant??? And you didn't even EAT there? You just used it as a bar?
This was a "very bad experience" for you? I take it you don't get out a whole lot. I've had worse experiences a block from my house here in DC.
