Dolci Cafe — Restaurant in Adelaide

I rang & booked last week for 5 people for Sunday to sit in booth no. 4. "That's reserved. We'll put you in the one next to it, banquette no. 5." On arrival I said I had a booking. "Yes, we've put you down there @ table 10". This was a table near an outside door with a cold wind every time someone came in, one of the reasons I'd specifically requested a booth close to the counter. I corrected the waitress & said I'd been told banquette 5. I insisted on booth 5 as this was what had been arranged & confirmed to me. I sat @ no. 5 & within 10 mins, the couple who had been @ no. 4 left - no "reserved" sign was put on the table, nor was I asked whether I'd like to go there now that it was available. Not long afterwards, another couple went & sat there. They had not booked. Further, when my guests arrived, the barista shouted at them, "HAVE YOU BOOKED? DO YOU HAVE A BOOKING?" She then came out from behind the counter & stood within a couple of inches from one of my guests & said, "WE PUT YOU @ TABLE 10!" I then told this extremely rude woman that I'd sorted it out already & that in my initial phone call, I'd been told I'd be seated @ "banquette 5". The person I'd spoken to on the phone was pleasant, my request was specific. I felt the waitress must have tiddle-tatted to the barista about my insistence. Hence the barista's very aggressive behaviour not only towards one of my guests but also me. This was a birthday lunch. Thanks for ruining it. You need to change baristas & send ALL staff to a Customer...

Customer service, whilst trying to focus on the customer, was plagued with staff politics. There was three waitresses working, and whilst one of them had customer service forefront, the other two were more concerned about belittling the other, for reasons perhaps justified but in appropriate in the name of customer service. Bread ordered as an entree after order main meals, upon ordering the waitress said, 'are you happy to pay for that, have you got money, because most people expect it.' I understand being frustrated by aspects of your customers but assuming that all customers will give you the same grief leaves a bad taste in your mouth, and the customers. Talking about bad taste, the Turkish bread was stale and butter was rancid. The main meals were okay, partner had surf and turf which was cooked well, and I had the prawn pasta (old style) which was oily beyond belief. Relaxed atmosphere for outside dining, and can see it's appeal for people who want a quick meal...

I have always enjoyed visiting Dolci Cafe for lunch when in Adelaide, as I used to live in the area and found their meals very tasty. However I was very disappointed on a recent visit. I ordered my favourite, Scaloppini Funghi. When my meal arrived I had to seriously search for the veal. I finally discovered three miniscule cuts underneath a generous serving of mushroom gravy along with many pieces of roast potato. I can only guess chef was running out of veal and decided to use the remnants for my dish. This is usually not the case and I have never had cause to complain in the past. If a restaurant is running low on ingredients, tell the customer, apologise and ask them to order an alternate meal. I am being generous in guessing this was the case, but I cannot believe that protein serve size has suddenly become the norm. Of course I should have made a complaint - I was tired after a medical appointment and they were very busy. I decided to...