La Locanda del Gatto Rosso Caffè & Bistrot — Restaurant in Milan

This story is called: I’m a terrible Manager

Terrible and unpleasant experience we had thanks to the local manager. (Unlike him, the waitress proved to be ten times more professional and respectful). We arrived at the place wanting to have a coffee. The manager approached me and asked: -. Good afternoon, table for how many? To which I replied: -. Five people, please. He then asked: Would you like to have lunch outside or inside? -. Outside is fine, thank you.

Once seated, and after ordering five coffees from the very kind waitress, the manager approached our table again with a very bad attitude, telling us: "You lied to me. I asked you twice if you wanted to have lunch. This table is not for having coffee. I'll give you ten minutes to finish your coffee and leave because this place is only for lunch" (as if it were obvious). The place was completely empty. We assumed that in Milan it's customary to sit down in a restaurant only to eat, something that is not common in Germany or other places.

We replied politely, apologizing for the misunderstanding and explaining that it hadn't been clear to us, asking if we should leave or order the coffees to go, as we didn't want to cause any trouble.

Again, the manager, in an accusatory and disrespectful manner, told us very angrily that he had asked us twice if we wanted to have lunch and that we had replied yes. (This is completely false; he never asked directly, but assumed we wanted to have lunch by asking if we preferred “a table for lunch”outside or inside, to which we replied outside).

Countless customers can arrive at a restaurant without knowing if they will have lunch or if they will end up only having water and a dessert. It's not a decision that is made from the start, something that a hospitality professional should know, especially in such a touristy place like this.

Finally, we asked him if he had a problem with that, that we could leave or order the coffee to go, reiterating that we didn't want to cause any inconvenience to him or the restaurant and that it had all been a simple misunderstanding upon arrival, resulting from the spontaneity of wanting to enjoy a good coffee. The man automatically with a very rude attitude started removing the cutlery and tablecloths, telling us that we had ten minutes to finish the coffee and leave.

Faced with this attitude, we decided to get up and leave. We hope that if the gentleman had a bad day personally or professionally, it gets better and he has the opportunity to treat tourists with respect and kindness. And if his problem is dealing with customers and he is tired of it, perhaps he should consider changing profession, since unnecessarily sharing bad vibes with a family that only wanted to have a coffee doesn't add anything positive, but rather harms the image of his colleagues and his workplace.

I ask those who read this review: Is it normal for you and your family to be treated this way? Are we wrong? Should we accept such disrespectful treatment for a service that is not free, but paid for?

This comment is solely a critique of the unpleasant attention from the restaurant manager. The rest of the staff, the food, and the location are not taken into account in...

Terrible Experience – Rude Service, Dirty Facilities, Overpriced Food. AVOID!

Our family of seven had a truly disappointing experience at La Locanda del Gatto Rosso in Milan. We chose this restaurant for a simple pizza lunch during our visit, but from start to finish, it was a mistake.

We ordered seven different pizzas — and not a single one was memorable. The pizzas were bland, uninspired, and tasted no better than something from a cheap tourist trap. Certainly not what you would expect from a restaurant in central Milan charging outrageously high prices. We paid 150 euros for 7 pizzas and a couple of bottles of water — no wine, no appetizers, no desserts. This is an absurd price for such mediocre quality.

On top of the poor food, the service was absolutely appalling. The waiter was rude, unfriendly, and borderline arrogant from the moment we arrived. Instead of making us feel welcome, he lectured us about how women should properly hang their purses at the table — as if we were schoolchildren. His demeanor became even colder when he realized we weren’t ordering any drinks.

But the worst part came at the end of the meal. We noticed the neighboring table received complimentary candies with their bill. When we politely asked why we didn’t get the same, the waiter bluntly replied: “No tip, no candies.” He went on to explain that the neighboring customers are regulars, visiting 2-3 times a week, and therefore get “special treatment.” In other words, if you’re not a regular, don’t expect even basic courtesy here — not even for children. Only as we were walking out the door did he finally hand us a few candies, but by then it felt more like mockery than hospitality.

To make matters worse, the toilets (at least the men’s) in the basement were absolutely filthy — the floor covered with urine, clearly not cleaned for a long time. For a restaurant charging premium prices, this level of hygiene is unacceptable and frankly disgusting.

There are countless better places to eat in Milan, where you will be treated with respect, served good food at fair prices, and not made to feel unwelcome. This restaurant is a waste of your time and money.

Do yourself a favor and AVOID this place...

An exceptional restaurant that I absolutely adore. The food is incredibly delicious, with a wide variety of options to choose from. Whether you're in the mood for pizza, risotto, or salad, this restaurant has got you covered.

The quality of the food is outstanding. Each dish is prepared with great attention to detail, and the flavors are perfectly balanced. The pizzas are flavorful with a crispy crust, while the risottos are creamy and packed with delicious ingredients. Even the salads are fresh and bursting with vibrant flavors.

One of the things that makes this restaurant stand out is its affordable prices. Despite offering top-notch food, the prices are reasonable and offer great value for money. This makes it a great choice for both locals and tourists alike.

For me, this restaurant has become a must-visit every time I'm in Milan. The combination of delicious food, great prices, and friendly staff make it an unforgettable experience. If you're looking for a memorable meal in Milan, I highly recommend dining at La Locanda del Gatto Rosso...