Damini Macelleria & Affini — Restaurant in Arzignano

This is an extremely unfortunate story..One month prior to my wife's birthday I decide to call and book a table for lunch at the restaurant (January 3rd to be specific). I called in advance to confirm that there was a spot for us and to reserve that spot as well if it was available. The person I spoke with confirmed there was an opening, I reserved for the time I requested, I left my name and number as well as the the little piece of information that it was my wife's birthday (even though that's not really necessary). Fast forward to January 3rd, I drive my wife and I 1.5 hours to the restaurant, but when I walk up to the door there's a sign stating that they would be closed all day on January 3rd.. I open the door anyway because I thought that it could be possible that the front shop of the Macelleria was closed and not the restaurant. At this point I'm greeted by a smiling woman stating that they're closed today. I explained that I made the reservation a month prior and was never updated of any schedule changes, and that my reservation was 100% taken correctly. She then proceeds to walk over the reservations book to check for my reservation (at this point she calls over her huge rottweiler "King" (if I remember hearing her correctly) assumably because she felt vulnerable and possibly scared, but wife and I both (thinking that we were about to eat at a Michelin Star restaurant) were dressed very elegantly. At a certain point while she's searching through the reservation book I become impatient, upset and decide that even if she finds my reservation it wouldn't change anything because of course they weren't going to call the entire crew in on their day off just to serve us, nor would I want that. So we left.. This type of behaviour, albeit an accident, is inexcusable for a restaurant of their caliber. Apart from the fact that we wasted 3 hours of our time on my wife's birthday (1.5hrs there, and 1.5hrs back), we were forced to eat at some random low-quality restaurant because that was all that we were able to find at that time that would accept us or had availabilities. I can accept that there was a mistake on their part that was more than likely just an accident, but it's unacceptable and...

Food type is Meats and Grills, Modern Cuisine. Began with Dom Pérignon and set the tone great! Then proceeded to order the 9 course tasting with wine pairing. Every course was complex, thought out, and still had a fun variety between each one. Only one I didn't care too much for, however it was still good. The sommelier was super awesome, her pairings were on point and made sense. Wines were not all Italian, one was a Pinot Noir from Bourgogne for example, big 👍🏻👍🏻 there. Service was on point and excellent as well. Ending with a classic gin and tonic with juniper berries and rosemary was a very nice touch. We enjoyed that very much. Atmosphere is pretty fun: it's behind a wall of amazing wines inside a butcher shop. Setting is like a loungy wine library.

Definitely recommend if you're looking for non-traditional Italian and creative modern with meat focus 1 star Michelin. Honestly felt closer to a 2 star with some parts. Had a super fun time there and we will...

L'Armonia è un fattore fondamentale da conquistare, specie in ambito culinario, difficile da raggiungere e ancor di più da mantenere. Purtroppo da Damini non vi è alcuna sintonia tra la sala e la cucina, tantomeno tra i (carinissimi) collaboratori; almeno non quella che ci si può e deve aspettare quando si varca la soglia di un locale stellato.

DENTRO Gli interni sono bellissimi, la qualità dei prodotti viene subito esposta con una collezione importante e molto vasta di etichette (che ahimé avranno un peso non indifferente su quella da noi scelta).

MENU In una macelleria stellata si va a mangiare la carne, ma la quantità delle portate della degustazione ci ha spaventato (9) data la nostra non eccessiva fame, optiamo quindi per i 5 piatti a sorpresa, ad un prezzo più che ragionevole (70€). Indiscutibile l'eccellente qualità della carne cruda, sorprendenti gli spaghetti "ma'kaira", sensazionali i dolci e gli assaggi della cucina. Giorgio Damini è un grande conoscitore e manipolatore delle materie prime, e i piatti lo dimostrano.

SERVIZIO La grande mancanza di Damini. Premetto che il personale è molto gentile e carino, ma da una stella Michelin -seppur con macelleria annessa- le attese sulla qualità del servizio sono di un tutt'altro altro livello. Non mi soffermerò sulle mancanze perché mi sono trovato bene, ma gli accorgimenti, i tempi d'attesa, l'accoglienza, vanno decisamente migliorati: si fa viva l'assenza di armonia e comunicazione tra sala e cucina, fondamentale per un'esperienza impeccabile. Grande scivolone sulla scelta del vino (in mancanza di una lista) bisogna affidarsi ai consigli della sala, non sapendo però quanto si spende (non viene dichiarato il prezzo), amara conclusione: per una bottiglia di media qualità dal prezzo di circa 20 euro ci siamo trovati 60 euro addebitati sul conto. La carta da libertà di scelta al cliente e penso che sia indispensabile in un locale di livello, anche perché sul menu e sul sito la voce "mescita" è vuota.

CONTO Totalmente fuori linea con l'esperienza vissuta. La stella non giustifica affatto lo spropositato rincaro prezzo del vino. Il costo del menù è invece corretto. Piccola caduta di stile sull'amaro, che pensavamo fosse offerto.

Damini è senza dubbio un punto di riferimento di altissima qualità, ma rischia di vivere di "luce riflessa", trascurando l'esperienza complessiva con una attenzione minore al cliente. La stella non deve essere un punto di arrivo ma uno...