Message: I spent 6 weeks travelling throughout Italy, from Sicily all the way up to Lake Como. Occasionally, we encountered dishonest taxis, which is expected. We were told our food wasn't ready so we should sit down and wait, then were charged double the price for everything we ordered for sitting down.

La Pergola restaurant was recommended on this forum, and we were surprised to get ripped off there too. We ordered a bottle of wine and it came already opened to the table. This has happened at a handfull of restaurants in Italy, and we were suspicious. We drank the first bottle in 15 minutes and decided to save one full glass and order a second of the same kind, asking that it be opened at the table. Sure enough! They were totally different wines. The taste was so dramatic that it could not have been the oxidation that happened in the 15 minute lapse between bottles. They're probably pouring their cheap house
wines into old bottles and making you pay the more expensive bottle price! We called the management on it. We made him smell the different glasses, and he agreed that they didn't smell like the same wine. Then, he immediately replied that they don't fill their wine bottles! Certainly sounds like a guiltly reply to me! Don't eat at La Pergola because the food isn't good enough to warrant being taken advantage of. Eat at La Punta instead- more beautiful setting, better food, and great service.

After visiting the torture museum in San Gimignano, I was given new appreciation for medieval punishment. It seemed that a large proportion of the torture devices were punishment for dishonest vendors! Seems like no one has learned a lesson.

Caitlin

I'd say one of the"lessons" that might have been learned is to realize that when you ask a bunch of nameless and faceless folks like me for recommendations about almost anything on a board like this then you need to remember the answers you get are subjective, at best. One person's great experience can turn into a nightmare, as it did for you, for someone else. Charging people in Italy more when they sit down for food rather than standing is standard practice.
I'm truly sorry you had less than happy experiences on your trip..it is always painful to hear about and wish there were something more that could be done.

I think it's more a matter of consistency vs bad luck. I base my decisons on a majority of comments, if they are all or almost all favorable, then it seems easy, and usually things work out very well.

But, the specifics of La Pergola aside, anyone can have bad luck, and go to a place on the one bad day in its entire history when the elevator doesn't work, or the chef is out sick, or the manager is on vacation, or the reservation got canceled by mistake, or the computer is down, or all of the above.

I work in a service-oriented office. I know that despite our efficiency, best intentions, and good will, we screw up every once in a while, being human and all. We try to make amends of course--I think that's the key.

However, being deliberately cheated (or feeling that you were) is a different matter--glad that you found at least one other place that you liked a lot.

Gee, Caitlin, how many posts does it take to complain about this? I'm sorry you were ripped off at La Pergola, but I think two seperate posts giving us the same specifics, especially in light of the good tone of the rest of your trip, is excessive. I hope you get over this soon.

BC

bookchick:

My thoughts exactly . . .

Jennie

"how many posts does it take to complain about this?"

I agree. Two posts are a tad excessive. Obviously this place put a bad taste in her mouth.

This is interesting. I just finished reading a memoir of a relative's trip to Europe after WWII and apparently this kind of scam was going in Italy 50 years ago as well.

I wonder why it is culturally acceptable to do this to tourists? Or are we missing something that the locals do to prevent these problems.

Since the waiter was English, I would have offered him money to explain what the system was as he obviously has bought into it. What is the motivation?

Secondly, if you really want to make a stink, copy your posts on Fodor's and send them to the Italian embassy here in the US and to the US Embassy in Italy. I bet, if enough people complain the US Embassy staff might give the restaurant a call- they've done it on past-due payables for me in the past so why not a wronged tourist?

I think it's sad when people get cheated, which is just a nice way of saying you got your pocket picked and knew about it.

I don't like to suggest that the blame lies with the victim and I'm sorry this happened to Caitlin.

However, surely any wine, other than the "house" brand traditionally served by the litre in a decanter, should come in a corked, totally sealed bottle or immediately sent back?

I have always been told to order the house wine since it is usually much cheaper than any other they sell... could it also be because there is a good chance you'll be drinking it regardless of what kind you order???

I don't recall ever being served a bottle of wine that wasn't opened at the table, but I can see how it might happen and now I don't think I would hesitate to ask for an "unopened" bottle if it did! I would never have occurred to me...