Aire — Restaurant in Hong Kong

Worst Dining Experience Ever

I must say, it was genuinely surprising to encounter what can only be described as the worst dining experience I have ever had.

From the moment we arrived, the service was subpar. Here are the key issues we faced:

Frequent Spilled Drinks: During our visit, one of the waiters spilled drinks on two separate tables. On one occasion, an ice cube from the spill was left on the floor, creating a safety hazard for other patrons.

Order Confusion: The waitress displayed a concerning lack of familiarity with the menu items, incorrectly correcting my order for "Wagyu Tartare" to "Steak Tartare" and later to "Beef Tartare". This not only caused frustration but also raised serious doubts about whether we were served the advertised premium Wagyu or merely regular beef.

Birthday Surprise Disruption: The waitress was unaware of our pre-ordered birthday dessert and initially asked if we wanted to order dessert. Upon returning to take our order, she directly informed my birthday friend that we had reserved a dessert. This revelation spoiled the surprise we had planned, despite having called in advance to ensure everything was arranged. It was clear that the restaurant lacked adequate briefing to its staff on special arrangements, causing such mishaps.

Water Dripping from the Ceiling: There was water dripping directly onto one of our seats and the table throughout the night, which raised serious concerns about the restaurant's maintenance and overall management.

Delayed and Ignored Customer Requests: I requested to speak with the manager twice after encountering all these issues, both of which were met with no urgency or initiative to address my concerns, as the waitress continued her indistinct conversations with the manager. After waiting a considerable time without a response, I felt compelled to leave my seat and approach the manager directly. During my wait, no one informed me of how long I would need to wait or if the manager intended to come over.

Irresponsible Responses from the Manager: When I finally spoke with the manager about how his staff had ruined the birthday surprise, his tone was impatient and dismissive. He insisted that not singing a birthday song meant there was still a surprise. When I raised additional service issues, he offered no apologies, insisted there were no issues, and questioned our expectations. He then provocatively handed me a name card, implying that I could file a complaint or post it online, suggesting he believed there would be no consequences for his actions. With such an irresponsible and rude manager leading the restaurant crew, it is believed that customer experience is their least priority.

I left feeling extremely disappointed and bewildered by the entire experience. It's hard to understand how a restaurant can let such fundamental issues persist, especially when it promotes itself as a high-end dining establishment and a place for celebration. I would not recommend dining here, as there are far better options available that prioritize their customers'...

As a fan of Pica Pica and Bàrbar, I couldn’t resist checking out Aire, the latest creation from Chef Edgard Sanuy Barahona.

The stylish decor features warm wooden tones, creating a cozy yet vibrant atmosphere. Aire specializes in Basque grill cooking, where fresh ingredients meet rich, smoky flavors.

Here’s what I savored during my lunch:

❧ 𝙎𝙢𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙖 👍🏻👍🏻 This isn’t your average sangria! Infused with applewood smoke, it adds a delightful twist and an aromatic kick to your usual drink. 🍷

❧ 𝙋𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙣 𝘾𝙧𝙤𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚 👍🏻👍🏻 Crispy on the outside and packed with strong prawn flavor—definitely a standout alternative to traditional Iberico croquettes. 🦐

❧ 𝙏𝙪𝙣𝙖 & 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝘼𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙫𝙮 𝙂𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙖 A classic Basque pintxo drizzled with olive oil—simple yet satisfying. Just a heads up: watch out for the spicy pickled pepper! 🌶️

❧ 𝙄𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙤 𝙃𝙖𝙢, 𝙈𝙤𝙯𝙯𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙖, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙡𝙚 𝘽𝙞𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙞 👍🏻👍🏻 You can’t go wrong with this combo! The rich ham, creamy mozzarella 🧀, and aromatic truffle create a delicious harmony.

❧ 𝙊𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙪𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙖 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙎𝙢𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙋𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙤 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Perfectly cooked octopus 🐙 with a fantastic texture, complemented by flavorful smoked potatoes. 🥔 Love this dish the most!

The service was friendly and attentive. While prices are a bit on the higher side — especially for lunch alone —consider bringing friends to share the feast. If you're eyeing their Basque-style grill dishes, go for dinner!

🏷️ 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴...

Venturing into the newly opened Spanish restaurant in Causeway Bay, the spacious environment and welcoming service set the stage for an unforgettable dining experience.

To start with the“Tomato Bread”* a sourdough baguette bursting with flavors of garlic, tomato, and arbequina olive oil. The Ibérico ham croquette was a crispy, savory treat. While the Oyster Daniele Sorlut arrived, the waiter brought along a paper bag which made me feel like the dish was a takeaway, the bag was then opened with the smell of smoky fragrant, the fresh and juicy oysters were paired with the Ibérico pork jowl slice, what a surprise!

Moving on to the Grilled broccolini with galmesan cream, Ibérico ham, and pine nuts picada grill section was a harmonious blend of textures and tastes. The Oyster Ajillo fried in garlic oil & chili, was a spicy and flavorful sensation that left us wanting another round.

The Free cage broken egg with Ibérico pork, Agria potato fries, and potato foam was a satisfying and hearty dish that recalled the taste of childhood.

From the Basque Parrilla section, the Galician cow dry-aged sirloin served with piquillo peppers was a carnivorous delight that you want to enjoy more. The Spanish whole seabass with Donostiarra sauce was hood for sharing, perfectly cooked and full of flavor.

To conclude our meal, the Grilled pineapple with coconut soup and lime sorbet, a refreshing and palate-cleansing dessert that left a...