La Bottega della Pizza — Restaurant in Brussels

Edit to respond to the restaurant: I would understand your policy of not taking reservations for outdoor tables due to concerns about last-minute cancellations or no-shows. However, it seems this issue could arise regardless of whether reservations are for indoor or outdoor seating. If this is the rationale, it might make more sense to have a blanket policy of "no reservations" rather than specifying only for outdoor tables, since in winter, the same problem would exist for indoor reservations, and I know you take reservations indoor in the winter. I've made one before.

If this policy is so important that you've been very strict about it for 15 years, it would be helpful to communicate it clearly when guests make a reservation—especially on hot summer days when most people would prefer to sit outside. As a customer, I had no way of knowing this has been your policy for 15 years.

You could consider holding reserved tables for a limited time, such as 5 minutes. Given the traffic in the street, it’s likely you’d have no trouble filling a table if people didn’t arrive on time. Evidently, this policy of not taking reservations outside only because people don't show up is not making much sense. Nonetheless, it's your business. It's yours to run as you wish. What I expect from you as a customer is transparency, fair treatment, and respct. I don't believe one would be unreasonable to ask for that as a minimum.

That's why what disappointed me most was the lack of an apology or acknowledgment of the misunderstanding. You had several opportunities to acknowledge that there was a misunderstanding and that would have been sincerely appreciated because mistakes happen. Instead, you insisted there was no mistake and that your way of managing the situation was appropriate. Your response during the incident, and now to my review demonstrate that the situation was handled in that poor manner deliberately, and that not informing us upfront about the oven-hot indoor seating was a mean to fill an empty indoor table, even if you knew that would not have been our preference.

I am not surprised that you have survived for over 15 years. There's no shortage of clueless tourists and people that accept subpar treatment and disrespect. I still wish for you to do well and, even better, for another 15 and 30 years. I just wish you do it while treating your customers respectfully and professional, and raising the bar for the hospitality industry in Brussels, instead of simply trying to sell one more pizza. That would be a story more worthy of telling about your craft.

Original: I made a reservation for a Friday evening for a special occasion. It was 31 degrees hot. When I got there they offered me a table inside and said that they only take reservations for indoor tables. Mind you the temperature inside was hotter than outside, and, of course, all the tables were free inside. When it’s 31 degrees on a Friday evening you make a reservation to sit outside, because wherever you go tables inside will surely be available and do not require a reservation. They know this very well, but chose to overbook, ended up giving my table away, and when I arrived on time they pretended that reservations are for indoor tables. I’ve been there once before and the customer service was mediocre. This time it was terrible, and I did not appreciate the attitude of the staff, or this deceitful approach of we’ll offer you something different from what you had in mind when you’re here. It was supposed to be a special evening and they certainly made it inconvenient. Luckily, finding a slightly above average pizza nowadays is easy, so, many other options were easily available that evening....

La Bottega della Pizza in Bruxelles comes highly recommended by Italian friends, and it lives up to its reputation in several key areas. The pizza is genuinely excellent, boasting a crispy, thin crust with authentic toppings that transport you straight to Italy. Each bite reveals the high-quality ingredients and attention to detail that goes into every pie. The margherita and diavola pizzas are particularly noteworthy, striking the perfect balance between flavor and texture.

The service is another highlight. The staff is friendly, welcoming, and efficient, adding a warm, personal touch to the dining experience. Their attentiveness ensures that your meal progresses smoothly and pleasantly.

However, the ambiance inside the restaurant leaves much to be desired. The noise levels are extremely high, making it difficult to hold a conversation without shouting. The space, while bustling with energy, can feel overwhelming due to the constant chatter and clatter. For those seeking a quiet, relaxing meal, this might not be the ideal spot.

Overall, La Bottega della Pizza excels in food quality and service but falls short in creating a comfortable dining environment. It’s a great choice for a quick, delicious pizza, provided you’re prepared for a lively, and somewhat...

EDIT REPLYING TO THE OWNER'S WRONG REPLY Why lying saying that I came during the weekend when you had a big reservation? -I came during the WEEK and WITH A RESERVATION. Why come in if I don't like it? It was my first time coming in; for sure, I will not come for a second time. Yes, margherita cost 11euro. I specified in my review that anything that is not margherita or other basic pizza cost over 18 euro.

Please read the review before you even comment on it.

Original review:

Pizza is not bad; the main problem is the service and the ambience. The service is very understaffed and need to pull special stunts to gain their attention.

Even worst is is the ambience: they wanted to maximise the number of tables in a room that is not very big. As a result, all tables are at a distance of few centimetres; I was sitting between a 20 centimetres table and trashes and empty bottles just behind me…me and my bf could barely talk due to all the tables one just next to the others. Deco are terrible too.

In the end, it was very stressful and the pizza did not compensate it.

Price are average for Brussels but towards the expensive side - ~18-20€ for a pizza that is not...