Mondo Food Wine Coffee

3.3 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  3      Service  1      Value  4     

The garlic bread was nice, our main courses (both pasta) were ok but nothing special. The biggest standard out was the very poor service. There was no salt and pepper on our table and when we received our main courses we were not offered any. The drinks we ordered to have with our meals never arrived. After we finished our meals the wait staff did not seem even remotely interested in clearing our plates or offering us a dessert menu or coffee. So we ended up going to the counter to ask for our bill. Not recommended.

Apr 25, 2009 

3.8 Below Average

Food  5      Ambience  4      Service  3      Value  3     

Unfortunately, I have to share some of the sentiments of other reviewers and say that this cafe is mediocre at best. I went for breakfast and while the coffee was good, the bacon and eggs were ordinary. My toast was cold, the bacon was so oily I struggled to eat a quarter of it, and the eggs were uncooked. In relation to service, the gentleman behind the bar was fine, but the waitress did not acknowledge us at all. Won't be back in a hurry.

Mar 07, 2009 

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  3      Ambience  4      Service  2      Value  2     

A group of 8 of us (including 1 child) booked a table there on Friday 27th Feb. There were 3 front of house staff, 2 young girls and a young man, the restaurant was not overly busy and yet took some time for drinks to be served. We needed to call the waitress over each time we wanted a drink. Once when we were ordering a round of drinks (all 5 of them) the cheerless waitress snapped and said we needed to say it slower as she couldn't write that fast, we found her to be very rude.

She sighed each time we asked her something. We chose a bottle of wine and waited for around 5 minutes holding the wine list in the air to be noticed and yet no staff acknowledged our request. Incidentally the happy chap behind the bar totally ignored it as he was busy sending text messages on his phone. Our table was approx 2 metres from the bar, directly in front. I eventually went to the bar and ordered the wine myself, of course I waited until he had read his sms.

Our meal order was taken, a while after a staff member approached the table advising that they did not have any schnitzels, chicken or beef (childs order) also that they didn't have chips or wedges either. Our meals arrived a long time after and when we got them one of the group had ordered the linguine with the mussels, there were two mussles on the dish, one barely open and the other still closed, not a good sign. My wife and I ordered the veal scallopine.

Under the mass of salsa style veg/salad we discovered 3 pieces of meat. The salsa was tasteless and the so called veal which resembled boiled minute steak was as tough I have every tried. We called the waitress over, she asked what was wrong, we explained to her, no apology although she did ask if we wanted something else from the menu, I declined. No apology came from the kitchen or from the person in charge, if there was such a thing. Two others ordered the seafood combination, 2 pieces small fish a couple prawns and 2 pieces calamari, they are still looking for the rocket salad.

When the waitress came back to clear our plates, after we had asked for her to do so, my friend commented about the mussels. She stared at him blankly and said do you want me to take them away? We asked for the bill and left, well actually walked across the road and had coffees and desserts at amarinos. When we paid our bill we had three entertainment cards, the young girl did advise us though that she didn't scratch off their number so we could use it again, not likely I would suggest.

The cafe needs somebody to take control as the three staff all seemed to be doing bits and pieces on all tables. This would stop them all asking if we would like to order our meals etc. Giving ownership to the staff makes them responsible for drinks etc and clearing tables rather than think somebody else will or may have already done it.

Mar 01, 2009 

5.5 Average

Food  8      Ambience  6      Service  3      Value  5     

We booked a table earlier in the week for dinner on Valentines Day. Upon advising that we had an entertainment card, I was not told that we were unable to use it on the night, until we tried to pay for our meal. We arrived as arranged, and were told to sit over on the table against the wall at the back.

When we arrived, there was only one side plate with cutlery set. The service was poor, with delays throughout the night, including the provision of menus, delivery of complimentary champagne (to all) and the taking of orders. Whilst the food tasted great, it was two hours before we received our mains (table of 2). Not surprising however, the delivery of our cocktails/spirits on the house, from the manager happened promptly - without us even complaining first.

Overall, despite the fact that we have been to this restaurant before, we would not return in a hurry and we shared similar frustrations with other customers who were yet to be served when we left. Although our wait was acknowledged eventually, any "acceptable" service was a reaction to their guilt. Disappointing, but tasty all the same.

Feb 14, 2009 

6.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  4      Value  6     

Nice enough decor inside with vibrant colours and newish furniture and a view across to an old heritage building in The Bath Hotel. Couldn’t complain there. Service with a smile yes, but pretty shabby service all the same. We were one of only 3 tables on a quiet Sunday night and, albeit there were only 2 young girls, waitressing but I’d still expect better than a 30+ minute wait between drink orders.

In the end I got up and walked over for bar service which they didn’t seem to mind, some places don’t like you doing that. As long as I get my drink when I want it I don’t care in the slightest about that. The strangest thing though was that after demolishing our small pizza entrée to share the waitress suggested we should keep our dirty side plates and cutlery, which we had already piled up on top of the used pizza plate, to use for the next course.

Given the cold hardened pizza cheese over all of our utensils we politely declined and requested fresh knives and forks. Seems like they were looking to avoid too much dish washing that night. We enjoyed the pizza, however, and I enjoyed the mushroom tortellini dish just fine whilst my wife thoroughly enjoyed her seafood linguini dish with the only question mark being over the closed mussel shells.

Apparently, or so we’ve been told, if the mussel shells ain’t open then you don’t eat ‘em as there likely off and a tummy ache will surely follow. Prices about average for an Italian style cafe. Overall the food was well liked but don’t expect silver service from here. I can’t say we’d be rushing back here but we wouldn’t avoid it either.

Jan 11, 2009