Salendo Wine Bar — Restaurant in Chiusdino

The food was really good but the service was rediculous.

So my friend ordered lasagna and I ordered eggplant parmigiana. Both of us agreed our food was good but it was cold in the centre.

As for the service, I've gotta tell you it was a bit shocking.

When we arrived we were the second table there for lunch. The first person who served us, because there were three people who served us, took our order.

Now my friend had been doing all the driving and she was kind of tired but it was 32 degrees so she wanted a cold coffee. I had introduced her to caffè shakerato earlier that week. Coffee shaken over ice is called a caffè shakerato. So we asked if they served "caffè shakerato". (I didn't ask anything else but that.) The question is somewhat rhetorical because if you have ice and coffee you can serve a caffè shakerato. She said no. And offered no alternative.

The second server that came I asked a somewhat differently worded question. I asked if we could order a coffee on ice with milk and a little sugar. He said yes. But appeared confused.

The third server came out and asked us what we wanted to drink. So I asked him if they served caffè shakerato. He said of course. (Implying obviously they had ice and coffee and could make such a thing. Why on earth would I think they couldn't make it?) And I said, "really because the first server told that me you don't serve them." He assured me that they serve them.

So I ordered one, with milk and sugar for my friend. At that point he told me that wasn't a caffè shakerato. If you add milk to it it is no longer a caffè shakerato and that this wasn't like a Starbucks where they might serve such a thing. At which point my friend and I realised this guy was a f* a*.

So let me qualify who I am. I owned a Italian Cafe in Italy. I speak Italian. I live 40 kilometres from this location. I know exactly what I caffè shakerato Is. It's coffee shaken over ice. Often served sweetened or unsweetened on request. The addition of milk, as requested by my friend, required nothing but opening a jug of milk, pouring a couple drops into the shaker with the coffee. It requires less effort than foaming milk for a cappuccino. I have made them for Italians in my very own cafe. I have ordered them personally and seen them ordered this way, time and time again.

My friend with me has traveled all over Europe by herself. This is her second trip to Italy. She knows the difference between Starbucks and Italian drinks and has completely respected Italian culture and customs.

So when this snide, prejudiced server informed me ordering a caffè shakerato with milk was no longer caffè shakerato, and that this wasn't Starbucks, and then stood there looking at me like we should order something else it felt like someone spit in my face.

I dug my heels in.

Eventually we got the drink... Milk served on the side.

Long story short, there's bad service and then there's petty and...

Posto non consigliato. Dopo la nostra visita a San galgano, decidiamo di mangiare un panino in questo locale, proprio sulla strada per ritornare al posteggio. Era molto affollato, così entriamo per ordinare due panini da portare via. La signora dietro al banco ci dice di trovarci un posto per sederci che ci avrebbero servito solo così. Troviamo una panchina bassa con piccolo tavolino all' ombra e decidiamo di attendere lì. Passano 10 min buoni, finalmente riusciamo ad attirare l'attenzione di una ragazza giovane alla quale chiediamo se su quella panchina possono servirci e ci arrivano le liste. Prendiamo una decisione in 2 sec.. (sempre solo due panini volevamo) e ci rimettiamo in attesa. Cominciamo a vedere gente che va, e che viene in modo sconclusionato dalla cucina, piatti ai tavoli sbagliati, noi che sventoliamo senza risultato le nostre liste..... E passano altri 20 min.... La ragazza giovane ci dice che lei non prende gli ordini, poi passa quella che presumo fosse la titolare (quella che ci ha spedito fuori) e le facciamo sapere che avevamo deciso ma anche lei gli ordini non li prende.... E già ci chiedavamo quanto altro ancora avremmo dovuto aspettare per due panini. Finalmente arriva il proprietario.... Che ci dice che li non può servirci perché non è un tavolo e che possiamo aspettare una decina di minuti che se ne liberi uno.... Facciamo presente che noi volevamo solo due panini da portare via e che c'è gente ovunque accampata, anche seduta sul prato a mangiarsi il gelato.... E soprattutto che avevamo atteso mezz'ora senza che nessuno ci facesse presente che i panini li non ce li avrebbero serviti. È inutile che vi dica com'è andata a finire.... Ho lavorato per 12 anni come cameriera in un ristorante e cerco sempre di capire il personale che spesso ha troppe persone da seguire. Capisco che in fondo sono in ferie e posso aspettare qualche minuto in più.... Ma sentirmi presa in giro assolutamente no, questo lo detesto. La loro fortuna, è che la gente gli casca proprio dentro al locale, in un posto di grande bellezza e turismo..... Se tornerò a San Galgano, so già dove non...

Unfortunately we had a horrible experience here. Although the sign said we could eat at any time, we were denied food as they would close in a hour... so we ordered few glasses of wine and crisps, spending around 15€ when I went to order a second round the lady said she would accept the card only for 20 and above (the law in Italy says otherwise and there was no sign about it). I asked if it was ok for 15 and I was met with an impolite stern answer to get the money cash or leave... which is exactly what we did. Shame cause the place is lovely. But the guys running it shouldn't be at...