Il Doge — Restaurant in Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve

I have been to il doge regularly in the past 10 years despite an initial terrible experience with a party of 40 people where the owner Vito was very rude. He was showing signs of nervousness and was not hiding that he wanted us gone as quickly as possible. Then I didn't go for years. I went back brought by Italian colleagues. And today, my second terrible experience, again with Vito. We arrived at 12.45pm. Two colleagues had to teach at 2pm. It still seems reasonable to get the starter and the main dish of the daily suggestion in time... But by 1.50pm, the main dish was still not served. So we asked them to hurry, which they did and we had our dishes a few minutes later. But they forgot the pasta with the Saltimbocca. A colleague made the remark and was answered: do you want my tie and do my job instead of me? I couldn't think of anything ruder to say... My colleague answered: are you kidding me? we've been waiting an hour... Then later when my colleague was gone, Vito had the guts to tell us that our colleague had disrespected him... I will never go again:...

I'll make this as simple as possible. Expect to wait 30 minutes-to-never for a waiter. Once one arrives expect no substance. No elaboration on the specials; nothing to excite you; not even a smile. Expect waiting 30 minutes-to-an-hour for your food. While you wait, enjoy packaged crackers and days' old bread with packaged butter.

We ordered the calzone and one of their "specialty pizzas." The calzone: burnt (not an overstatement), little-to-no cheese, undercooked mushrooms, soggy exterior. The waiter thought he could quickly glaze it in olive oil to save its obviously unsalvageable state. The pizza: laden in oil, a pitiful scant of sauce, flaky dough--no flavor.

Expect to never get a follow-up with the waiter. No "how was everything?" No "would you like dessert?"(if one existed). No "would you like another drink?" No "would you like the check?"

Expect to have to fill out what you ordered yourself when it comes time to pay.

Or expect nothing and you shall not be disappointed.

For my French friends (apologize for any mistranslations):

Je vais rendre cela aussi simple que possible. Attendez-vous à attendre 30 minutes, voire jamais, pour un serveur. Une fois arrivé, n’attendez aucune substance. Aucune élaboration sur les spéciaux ; rien pour vous exciter ; pas même un sourire. Attendez-vous à attendre 30 minutes à une heure pour votre nourriture. Pendant que vous attendez, dégustez des craquelins emballés et du pain vieux de plusieurs jours avec du beurre emballé.

Nous avons commandé la calzone et une de leurs "pizzas spéciales". La calzone : brûlée (pas une exagération), peu ou pas de fromage, champignons pas assez cuits, extérieur détrempé. Le serveur a pensé qu'il pourrait rapidement le glacer dans de l'huile d'olive pour sauver son état manifestement irrécupérable. La pizza : chargée d'huile, un peu de sauce pitoyable, pâte feuilletée - sans saveur.

Attendez-vous à ne jamais avoir de suivi avec le serveur. Non "comment ça s'est passé ?" Non "voulez-vous un dessert?" (s'il en existait un). Non "voudriez-vous un autre verre ?" Non "voulez-vous le chèque?"

Attendez-vous à devoir remplir vous-même ce que vous avez commandé au moment de payer.

Ou n’attendez rien et vous ne...

Friendly and welcoming staff, actual Italian speaking people (good for an Italian restaurant). The food is tasty but there isn't that much in your plate, so be ready to focus on the taste because you're gonna be hungry. I had pasta with carbonara sauce and it was a bit above average. Not the best one I've tasted but for the price I consider it good. Ordered a Irish coffee for dessert, tasted average but was pretty ugly. There was no layer and the whipped cream had already melted. The house wine is good (from Abruzzo). The decoration is calm and relaxing but doesn't feel Italian. The toilets are clean, and modern. In conclusion, I'll return someday but not for a big occasion, prolly just to get a...