Tinsel — Restaurant in Antwerp

After visiting Tinsel 4 times during my two week stay, my last visit has left an extremely poor taste in my mouth. While the food is good, the service is absolutely abhorrent.

Every time I’ve visited Tinsel, I’d order the Verbana Lemonade soda. On my last visit, I ordered it and it was very watery and flat. I took a sip then stirred it around to see if it was an issue of ingredient distribution but no the drink was poorly made.

I notified the server that the drink wasn’t made properly (based on 3 anecdotal experiences) and that the drink didn’t taste good. This wasn’t just some complaint about disliking the drink, it was that the drink wasn’t made to the same standard the previous times.

I then ordered a hibiscus iced tea as a replacement. When I went to pay, I was given my total including the verbana soda. I then asked the server who handled the interaction to notify the cashier that I sent the drink back after two small sips. Not even 1/3 or half of the drink was finished.

Here comes the issue.

The cashier then told me that they don’t remove drinks off the check because a patron didn’t like it. I told her I had visited this cafe 4 times in a span of two weeks and the drink wasn’t made the same as the last 3 times. It was a poorly made drink.

The way in which this person spoke to me was so demeaning and patronizing. I’m not some run of the mill one time guest, I had come here a few times during my Antwerp trip.

The cashier continues to go back and forth with me, always having a rebuttal and saying the drinks are all made consistently the same.

Not true as I had witnessed them making drinks with no measurements what’s so ever. They use squeeze bottles and just squeeze liquid. That’s not uniformity or consistency, that’s eyeballing a drink meaning there’s room for error.

To go back and forth, with an argumentative approach is just baffling to me and displays an utter disregard for customer service.

I will never return nor do I recommend this establishment to anyone. Crazy how one interaction can truly spoil the perception of a place.

The negative reviews about poor service aren’t wrong and you’d be wise to follow the advice.

Stay away...

Wanted to go here as it looked nice, but when we arrived it was an unorganised queue outside. The girl said it was two parties before us and asked us to wait. We noticed that the tables outside were almost forgotten. People sitting there with no food or waiting to pay for a long time. Several parties left from inside, but no new people got seated. Very odd. All of a sudden a couple arrived from the side, who got a table, prime spot against the wall outside? ? ? We had by then waited very long and we were second in line still. So there is a VIP group who are treated better than others. A lot of minus points. Eventually the girl finally came out and shouted "who is next"? Everyone outside started to say it was them, but hello. Don't you keep track? So now we have to fight who is next in line? What a weird system. The guy before us got a table and we were all of a sudden nervous that it wouldn't be our turn next. When she shouted a second time we made ourselves present and we got a table, finally after a long wait. Waiting is fine, but not knowing if you will get a table is not. Squeezed in between in a tight spot inside. We ordered and I must say I was very disappointed in my avocado toast. One little bread slice with half an avocado with a mountain of water cress for 12,50 EUR??!?!?!?!? It was a kids portion and they must make so much money on this dish. How much is a loaf of bred? Half an avocado? Water cress? Some oil? Haha. We...

This spot was on my list for a while but I to say I’m a bit underwhelmed. As for service (could be because it was busy, but then again staff needs to be trained for this) we listed the things we wanted to order and as we tried to tell the waiter our last item. She had already taken our menus and left our side. I and my friend sat there mouth agape contemplating to leave it out. But I just got up and went to the counter myself ordering it.

Before our food arrived the waiter came by with cutlery that she put on a pile on the table. After awkwardly attempting to place it for us as supposed. At this point we were kind of taken aback at the lack of hospitality.

The food looks very nice and has decent portions. But it was surprisingly under seasoned, maybe it was done on purpose as the table was equipped with salt and pepper mills.

The chai late was mid, the spice blend was unusual. My friend ordered tea. I have to mention here how cute the cups may be it is highly inconvenient when drinking hot beverages. It’s either burning your hand trying to drink out of it or using your sleeve to fend off heat. It is also very inconsiderate of people who are physically challenged and need handles on the cups.

This is out of their control but the constant looks of the people in the shop. Just stifling.

I loved catching up with my friend but we both agreed we wouldn’t be coming back here...