Antico Caffè Spinnato — Restaurant in Palermo

I went on the Happy Cow app to find a cafe that had food I could eat with my coworkers who are not vegan (I am vegan). This place came up as open and nearby. Their menu seemed promising because it listed some vegan options, but that was not the case in reality. We were seated outside which was really nice and shaded from the harsh afternoon sun. There were some street beggars who came to us asking for money which is why I didn't give the atmosphere 5 stars. The waiters didn't come take our order for over 30 minutes and they took other orders at tables around us that were seated after us. I don't think they spoke good English and they didn't want to deal with us until they had to. Once we got their attention I tried to order the vegan menu items but they told me they don't offer those anymore. I asked if they could make something vegan and they said no. I asked if I could get just a marinara pizza and they said no. Eventually they said they could do a baguette with just tomatoes on it. I agreed. The coworkers who came with me ordered 2 of the same pizzas and 2 beers. When they came out with the food they brought me a shot of espresso with milk in it. I asked for no milk and they didn't understand what I was saying, but eventually another waiter came by and fixed it and brought me just a shot of espresso. They brought out 2 different pizzas and tried to tell my coworkers they were the same pizzas even though one clearly had pepperoni on it and the other one had zucchini. We think this is from the language barrier, but we weren't sure because when they ordered they had just asked for 2 of the same pizzas. They took the zucchini one away and brought out yet another different pizza that has red peppers on it, but no meat. My coworkers gave up and just ate it. It wasn't a good experience for anyone, especially me who was starving the rest of the day because that meal had no nutrition or anything. It was just a loaf of bread with tomato on it. I don't recommend this...

Really cute cafe with two locations in Palermo. This location... I have almost never met a more rude counterperson as the girl who would have taken my order. I left before even ordering because her energy was so negative (!). Crazier, I went to the other location straight from there, and the girl taking my order there could not have been nicer! I stayed and had a coffee with my date and really enjoyed it. What a difference one person can make in whether you go to a place! I will post a great review of the other location... but for here... atmosphere and offerings looked great, but the service, so in your face rude it took my breath away. I wanted to ask something about the menu, and very politely asked if she spoke any english... (I was apologetic when I asked!), and she blasted me first sentence in response with: "No! No English. You are in Italy, you should speak Italian"...I understand absolutely where she is coming from... but the degree of hostility was just really beyond. I backed out and even the lady in line behind me seemed surprised/embarrassed. Again, other location.. same night......

Grandissima delusione! Nel "salotto" di Palermo, il locale per eccellenza Spinnato dal 1860... ci ha lasciati con l'amaro in bocca 😤 Ci accomodiamo all'esterno. Almeno 5 camerieri operativi, ma solo uno in grado di prendere l'ordine. Per cui attendiamo... E attendiamo.. almeno 15-20 minuti... Finché non lo vediamo prendere l'ordine al tavolino dietro al nostro che si era popolato dopo il nostro. Ordine: tre coppette gelato con rispettiva brioche, una "coppa" gelato (di quelle in vetro) quattro gusti e uno spritz che andrebbe accompagnato da patatine, salatini e "tartine". Arrivo dell'ordine: 3 coppette, una sola brioche, lo spritz accompagnato solo da un piattino di patatine e salatini... di tartine neanche l'ombra. Ma soprattutto la coppa gelato è stata la grande delusione: i quattro gusti erano esattamente quattro mini palline gelato fatte con il dosatore che a vederle dentro la coppa in vetro sparivano, anche al cospetto delle coppette classiche di carta dove evidentemente il gelato era stato messo con la più generosa e nostrana "spatola"! Chiariamo l'equivoco del numero di brioche ma soprattutto lamentiamo la micragnositá della coppa gelato! Per recuperare l'insoddisfazione del gelato, viene ordinato un altro spritz ricordando che al primo mancano ancora le tartine annunciate dallo stesso cameriere... Arriva il secondo spritz accompagnato da un ulteriore piattino con qualche patatina e frutta secca: delle tartine nessuna traccia! A spritz praticamente finiti... facendo presente che le tartine erano rimaste soltanto una vana promessa, arriva un nuovo piattino con patatine e salatini e un mini piattino con dei ritagli di pancarrè guarniti di funghetto, goccia di maionese e stuzzicadenti che chiamarli tartine avrebbe fatto torto alla comunque storica e onorata categoria del finger food per antonomasia! In tutto questo, notiamo un tavolino di poco adiacente al nostro che con lo spritz riceve in un sol colpo il mitico piattino di patatine e salatini, il famigerato mini-piattino di tartine e...udite udite, una ciotolina con le olive!!!!

Insomma un'esperienza clamorosamente al di sotto degli standard che un locale storico come Spinnato, in una via iconica come la Principe di Belmonte, dovrebbe di base garantire. Chissà... Forse quando si ha una posizione consolidata nel tempo e dominante in un determinato contesto, ci si adagia e si dimentica l'ABC della ristorazione...peraltro palermitana!

O, magari, si è solo trattato di episodio isolato per noi sfortunato.

Me...