RACINE PAKT — Restaurant in Antwerp

Extremely Disappointing Service & Lack of Allergy Awareness!!

I had a very disappointing experience at this brunch spot today. The waitress did not know the contents of the new menu items, which apparently haven’t even been properly released yet. I asked whether a specific dish was vegan and dairy-free due to my lactose intolerance. She wasn’t sure and offered to double-check, which I agreed to.

She came back saying that “sometimes it’s mixed with yogurt, but most likely it isn’t and is just tahini.” Since tahini is made purely from sesame and oil, I understood this as confirmation that the dish did not contain dairy. When it arrived, it had a yogurt-like color, so I tasted a small amount — and it turned out to contain yogurt after all.

I immediately told her I couldn’t continue eating it because I’m lactose intolerant. Instead of apologizing and replacing it, she returned saying that the owner wanted me to pay for the dish, and also pay for the replacement. I was shocked, given that I had been misinformed due to their lack of understanding of the new menu. I still offered to pay half as a compromise.

She said she would speak to her colleague — who turned out to be the cook. I then waited 20 minutes for this conversation. When the cook finally came over, instead of acknowledging the mistake, she first tried to convince me that I should be paying for the dish. I had to explain the situation all over again, even though she had already been informed by the waitress. Only after that did she finally say they would make a new dish and that I wouldn’t have to pay for the incorrect one.

Then I had to wait another 20+ minutes for the replacement. Once it arrived and I started eating, the waitress came over yet again — this time to tell me that a group of six was coming and I needed to give up my table. This made no sense, as it was a four-seater table, another four-seater was available, and there were no reservations (she had seated me there earlier).

Overall, the service was unprofessional, confusing, and frankly embarrassing. The staff didn’t take my intolerance seriously, didn’t know their own menu, and repeatedly put the responsibility for their mistakes onto me. Despite all of this, I still stayed polite and even tipped — though they truly did not deserve it.

I won’t be returning, and I hope they seriously improve their allergy awareness and...

First of all, we where greeted with a "hello did you make a reservation", literally all tables inside and half outside was empty, but still a small problem, but we got a table outside. I shook it of because we were seated in such a beautiful location. Food was good, price ok, service was quite fast and friendly. A good experience.

Then we had to pay. And I've never experienced anything like it. We had a gift card that we got a link to and you download it on you phone from this gift company. The card has a kode and that is it. Nowhere is it stated that you have to print this card and bring the print with you. But now the woman waiter is getting angry and annoyed talking to us as we are stupid or small children that did something bad. It's not her problem, her boss forces her to do it, 85 procent of horeca ask for print stuff like that. I calmly ask her if I can email voucher or send a message with picture to her phone or boss. NO, she wants a print and it's not her problem. And I ask if they have a printer we can use. NO, not my problem she says again.

So now I feel annoyed and getting angry. I refuse to pay again for something that's already is paid for, so the woman, instead of finding a solution, makes me leave my friend and her 1 month old baby wait in the restaurant, while I bike home, turn my printer on, print and bike back, to be greeted by the woman waiter with a big smile and a " ohh you manage "

Don't make things hard for your customers. If you have rules people have to follow. Then give people the information where needed.

Don't lie to your customers. No you don't need a printed version, you need the code.

No. None of the many horeca places I visited in Belgium have ever asked me for a printed version. They just need the PDF or picture or code.

Don't talk to your customers as if they're stupid.

And help your customers instead of refusing any compromise or solution to a problem telling them "it's not your problem".

If it's broken, fix it. Guess we're not the first ones.

We had a lovely time and good food before all this, which is such a shame. Instead of us recommending your place to our friends and family, we now tell them a different story and you get a 1 star...

We have been visiting Racine for Brunch. We chose this place as I had memories of really good food, good price and nice atmosphere. My previous review made it clear. Unfortunately not much of that is left. The atmosphere is still good however, the menu leaves a lot behind. It is no longer a brunch place worth going. The menu is very limited, and when I say very limited, is very limited. And when you compare it with the old menu (which there are still photos online) is even more noticeable. Smaller and more expensive. The portions are also very small. They seat you recommending to take 2 breads per person with a concept to share, however, if you have 4 options... There is not much to share there right? Also, being realistic, you cannot share such a small toast of bread.

Coffee is delicious, but 3.4 for a doppio is difficult to justify.

And the carrot cake, good, yes, but the piece was paper thin and small.

I loved this place but I would not longer go back to it. There are amazing brunch places in the neighborhood and in my personal opinion this is no longer one of them.

I hope they go back to their old offer because it was...