La Sardegna — Restaurant in Berlin

Reading through some of the previous reviews it seems an experience at this Italian restaurant can be a bit hit and miss. Being close the the hotel I’m staying in I passed La Sardegna several times over the past few days. I noticed it was quite busy over the lunch period so I thought I’d try it out for an early dinner one evening during my ‘Carbo loading’ phase a few days before the Berlin Marathon. My experience was a rather ordinary one. The decor was typical Italian with both indoor and outdoor seating - and it was nice to have a tablecloth. I thought it had quite a cozy feel actually. The gentleman who seated and served me was polite and pleasant enough. The two older gentleman were not interested in engaging with clients though I suspect they could be quite friendly with ‘regulars’. I ordered Bruschetta for an appetiser and it was okay - nothing special. The Porcini ravioli, however, was divine! It was not a big serving but actually enough for me because the bread was a nice accompaniment. Apart from when in USA, I usually only tip for exceptional service, so was quite shocked when I was prompted to add a tip when I presented my card - ‘Wouldn’t you like to add a tip?’ I obligingly added a small one. The real test for me is - would I go back? The answer is no. Do I think they really care?...

I was not happy with the way I was treated, and the food and drink I had was not that good. I was alone and seated at a two-top table outside in very lovely July weather. When I ordered just tiramisu and cappuccino, my waiter was flippant and stormed off. Shortly after a portly woman came and explained I could only sit there for 10 minutes due to a reservation that was approaching. She said I was welcome to sit inside. Cooperatively, I gave up my table and followed her inside where she seated me in the back of the restaurant by the dog. Together with the wait staff and the dog, we were the only ones there. She took away the cloth napkin every table had and left me with a paper napkin. The longer I sat there the more enraged I became at the rude behavior they blatantly displayed, apparently because I wasn't ordering the appropriate amount of food for them. I ate, paid, and left. Oh, and the reservation party never showed. Pretty sure there was none. I...

There are many things about this place that suggest it shouldn't work. The table cloths, the menu is hardly the stuff of literary acclaim, the restaurant itself looks empty half the time, and then you try the food, and everything changes!!!

It's truly the food and then the staff, that set this place apart, in ways that have to be encountered to be understood and then you realise why people come back, time and time again.

Go for the food, especially the tagliolini in parmesan and fresh truffle. Songs should be written about how good it is. The staff truly also set this place apart. Their initial reserve melts into true friendliness as does their ability to swap languages instantly from German to Italian to English to French at the drop of a...