| Quality of service | 4/10   |
|---|---|
| Quality of food | 5.3/10 |
| Value for Money | 4.7/10 |
| Overall rating | 4/10 |
Full review by
jay76
on 4th Jul 2008
User Rating : 1
Respect :
0
I had eaten at Alcatraz, Camberley twice before back in 2005 and the food and service was very good. Not excellent but for this type of restaurant it was above average. fast forward two and a half years. We went back on a Saturday night. We walked in and gave our name as we had made a reservation. the waitress looked around the restaurant and then asked us to sit at the table nearest the front door. It seemed as though they hadn't reserved a table for us. As it was particularly cold and windy that evening I asked if we could sit away from the door and the staff appeared unwilling to accommodate us. The restaurant had only two other tables in use at this time. Eventually we were offered a table at the back of the restaurant and we gladly accepted it.
We were not asked for our coats and as there were coat racks right next to our table we hung them ourselves. Our first interaction with our (first) waitress of the evening was her coming over, we did not hear her even saying hello and she informed us that she would be moving our coats to different hangers because they all had numbers even though the tables weren't numbered and we had put them on the wrong hangers, as if we were supposed to know better. Two of our party ordered gin and tonics. two minutes later another waitress came and asked if we wanted to order drinks. The gin and tonics came in whiskey glasses and were ready mixed which was disappointing given the price and the fancy looking bar at this restaurant.
We ordered the mixed bread to tide us over while looking at the extensive menu with one waitress. again after ordering another waitress came up to us and asked if we were ready to order. I
remember the last time there were three types of Italian bread on this dish one of which was a lovely warm wholemeal loaf but this time we got two types, both white, cold and very plain tasting. No drinking water was offered so we had to ask for that. While we were reading the menu and eating the plain bread both waitresses came to the table separately to ask if we were ready to order. It seemed as though there was no communication going on between the staff.
We ordered our main courses (none of us fancied any of the starters) with one of the waitresses and as we were still drinking our aperitifs, asked if the red wine could be brought out with the main course. two minutes after ordering, the same waitress brings out the red wine and asks me to taste it as I'm nursing a gin and tonic. She fills up our wine glasses and walks away. minutes later another member of staff comes to our table and even though I was in mid conversation with my mother, appeared to interrupt to ask how she would like her tuna cooked. I think the waitress must have forgotten to ask my mother that. a few minutes later two waitresses return with the cutlery for fish and steak and seemed to lay it very awkwardly. the restaurant was filling up now and that seemed unnecessary; two staff for two knives. They didn't even take away the mountain of unused cutlery from our table.
So our main courses arrive, in a reasonable time I will admit. My fillet steak was a nice size and had a decent helping of pepper sauce, salad was plain and uninteresting. The tuna with king prawns also looked good although it was more well done than medium rare. Another guest had lasagna which looked very ordinary although I'm told it was tastier than it looked. There was no salt and pepper on the table and we had to ask for fresh black pepper, also there was no fresh parmesan which I think is sinful for an Italian restaurant.
Main course finished and cleared away we went through the double act of being asked if we wanted desserts by both waitresses, which we didn't but two Irish coffees were ordered at an expensive £4.20 each. after that we were left for 20 to 25 minutes in the far corner of the restaurant until we had to flag someone down to ask for the bill. literally within a minute another waitress who I had not even seen all evening came by the table with the bill in the little leather book and threw it down on the table as she walked off towards the toilets. I don't think that is the way you should ask for someone to pay nearly £90 for a meal.
We got up and got our own coats without anyone asking to help and we left without anyone really noticing. It was the first and hopefully only time I insisted to the group I was with that we were not leaving a tip for the truly awful service. This restaurant has the worst service I have ever experienced anywhere in the world.
jay76's review and ratings | 851 words | 2 comments added.
Review by
JohnE
on 22nd Jun 2007
User Rating : 3
Respect :
0
Being British, I don't like to complain, so I only managed to send the first attempt at a starter back. The waitress at Alcatraz in Camberley was very apologetic, and the roasted vegetables which came with it were good.
The carrot tagliatelle which came with my main was also good, as were the vegetables. However, the vegetables (unexpectedly) came with two sorts of potatoes, so the French fries we had ordered as well were a starch too far.
JohnE's full review | 169 words
Review by
aabbcc
on 17th Feb 2006
User Rating : 8
Respect :
0
I went to Alcatraz Italian restauarnt trying to see if what one of my friends told me about it, he said the food was fantastic and the service too.
It was true.
I do recommend a visit to this restaurant
aabbcc's full review | 47 words
