Sottovoce — Restaurant in Autonomous City of Buenos Aires

Hello, I was scammed at this restaurant.

I'm on a 10-day trip in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and I chose the Michelin Guide as my reference for dining in the city.

I went to the Italian restaurant Sottovoce at Avenida del Libertador 1098. They dont have stars, but they are listed and today is monday (not a lot of options).

Upon arriving at the restaurant, I noticed they served a bread and cream couvert on the table without asking if I wanted it or not. I found it strange, as they could be taking advantage of me being a tourist, but I overlooked it.

They offered a complimentary glass of champagne, but when I looked at the bottle, I saw that it was actually sparkling wine. Looking around, with so many tables and people, I doubted the quality of the drink (each bottle only serves 14 glasses). I declined the sparkling wine.

When they brought my drink, it was served somewhat carelessly. They placed it on the opposite side of the table and only served the ice. I found it strange.

The same waiter had a tear in his pants on the buttocks area. I saw something that looked like underwear in the patch that was made on the uniform. I had the feeling that the staff might be poorly paid/exploited as they didn't even have the dignity of a proper uniform.

Shortly after, they brought the dish I ordered, but didn't change the cutlery. So I asked for the dirty couvert utensils to be replaced so I could eat the dinner. The waiter reluctantly complied.

I looked at the plate and noticed that its edges looked dirty. There were hand marks and what looked like beard hairs on the sousplat. Looking around, the restaurant was full, people were well-dressed, so I thought I could trust the food. I overlooked it and continued.

I started eating and felt my hand sticky. I looked at the fork's handle and noticed that the decorative grooves were dirty with food residue. First, I went to the restroom to wash my hands, and then I asked for the cutlery to be changed again. The waiter was rude and impolite during this exchange.

At this point, I had two options: to leave and go to the hotel hungry, as it was late at night and I wouldn't find another place open in time for transit, or to eat what was already served and pray not to get sick.

I ate. With disgust, but I ate. I couldn't even taste to tell if the food was good or not.

I didn't ask for dessert. I wouldn't risk it.

I asked for the bill and noticed that the tip was included in the amount for the couvert, drink, and main course. I told the waiter that I wouldn't pay the tip, and he mocked me, saying there was no tip included. I said the amount was different from what was on the menu by exactly 10%, and I wouldn't pay.

He kept mocking. I got annoyed and paid. But I felt cheated, mocked, and fell into a tourist trap. After seeing the tear in the employee's pants, I even thought it would be a risk to my physical integrity to stay there any longer. It didn't seem like a quality place.

I thought the places recommended by the Guide were carefully selected, but I was wrong. Unfortunately, it led me to this poorly sanitized place where they take advantage of tourists. I lost trust.

I would...

Sometimes a restaurant is as much about the greeting,seating and presentation as much as the food, my intro to Sottovoce was that exactly and mostly negative.

The Hostess recognized I was a foreigner, the restaurant was crowded and full and I was on time: she told me to wait outside and in the midst of many empty 2 tops made me wait for a round table a little bigger than a serving tray right at the front door ( presumably there was nothing near or in the bathroom available). Everyone who entered literally rubbed their front or backside against my table,truly unpleasant.

The headwaiter was personable and helpful took my order brought me a glass Malbec which I had not ordered ( they eventually charged me,or tried, for two Malbecs). I ordered the house pasta as a primi appetizer and the fegato al venetzia " a little less than al punto".

The fusilli was a solid if un extraordinary pomodoro and the fegato overcooked. No one ever asked if it was alright or if I enjoyed it. Both dishes were ok and no better than I can prepare at home. The bread basket was quite good.

The bill once they removed one of the non ordered, non delivered Malbecs was 50000 AR ($50) with tip for one somewhat insulted and over all unhappy foreigner.

It makes me think the Michelin should stick to selling tires and Sottovoce should reassess their whole structure.

Interestingly I had a similar food experience a Cabrera which is another top notch supposedly steak house where they shunted me to their auxiliary location and then served a badly cooked overpriced steak. The issue is maybe that power corrupts as does a...

Sottovoce been on my wishlist for a while, but it never happened. Always very busy and difficult to make reservations. But I succeeded one early Sunday evening. The entrance was, as I am used to as a traveler, a table for one, always tucked away in a dark boring corner or somewhere above were the other guests can’t see you. Like you, as a single diner, might have a terrible disease! Fortunately the waiters upstairs were very friendly and the atmosphere upstairs was just as pleasant as downstairs. I found the wine list somewhat short, but I was able to make a nice choice. For starters I chose something very simple, prawns from the grill with olive oil and garlic. Many restaurants have a habit of ruining this very simple dish, with the shrimps completely dry and overcooked! But the chefs in Sottovoce cooked my shrimps just to perfection! Juicy and succulent, and to my surprise, a lovely little delicate spicy aftertaste! Best shrimps I’ve had for a while! With the wonderful Italian bread I cleaned the delicious sauce from the plate! The main course was a green Tagliatelle frutti di mare with lovely seafood and well balanced sauce. Overall it was a very pleasant dining experience except for “the table for one tuck away in the corner problem.” so many restaurants suffer from. If it wasn’t for that I would have...