Ristorante al gambero rosso — Restaurant in Pompei

Dreadfully disappointing. Arrived in Pompeii the day we dined there and had seen the fixed price menu whilst looking around the area. Returned 4 hours later and that menu was not offered to us, we therefore assumed it was only available at certain times.

We remained happy to order from the main menu but service was crazily slow and my husband’s starter was delivered a full 10 minutes after my starter. These starters were good or maybe we were simply hungry.

No sooner was my starter plate cleared than my main was plonked in front of me but with the wrong accompaniment. I said it didn’t matter and ate. My husband’s dish did not follow. Eventually after c 25 mins I got up to ask the owner where it was. No apology. His seafood then appeared another 5 minutes later but didn’t look or taste properly cooked so was not eaten. Nor was his accompanying salad.

A British couple on the table behind were having the same problem as us; food slow, courses not served together, wrong items brought or forgotten altogether.

Bizarrely an Italian 4 at an adjacent table all received their food at the same time and had even been allowed to eat off the fixed price tourist menu we had seen earlier but which we had been told was not available to us ! Hard to think the tourists aren’t being treated differently here………..

After my husband decided he was not going to risk his main course we quickly left but were offered no discount, it was left to my husband to state what we were prepared to pay !!

Maybe avoid unless...

First, we came in based on the reviews. The prices are small but also, you get a small plate. There is no changing table for babies and no hot water to wash your hands or the baby butt.

I ordered the Brochetta with grilled veggies ( the veggies were not freshly grilled). Gnocchi was good. The chicken breast was burned by the freezer, was dry, and hard to eat. The side grilled veggies were not fresh. I don't know for how long they were cooked. Asked for natural juice, and we got a bottle of nectar but not fresh juice. We informed the waiter but she couldn't do anything. So obviously, i had it if we had to pay it anyway...

I also had a bottle of wine. I had one glass full and went to change the baby in the bathroom that has no changing table nor hot water. Left my jacket on the chair plus the stroller and other things just so the waiter can see we were still there. Came back and ask the waiter what happened to my glass of wine....she replied..."the glass...." the wine was all over the table...

There were an additional 2.50€ per person fees that the waiter couldn't explain.. Not sure if that's the tip, although you don't really tip in Italy. We didn't touch the bread nor the bread sticks and we informed the waiter but got charged anyways.

I believe most of the reviews are fake, or maybe the North American standards are too high. Although I've been in more than 60 countries so far and Italy is not a 3rd...

Abbiamo scelto questo ristorante seguiti dalle recensioni, quasi tutte positive... Siamo entrati alle ore 13 e quello che credo fosse il proprietario, con fare molto incerto, ci ha fatti sedere ad un tavolo, già entrando si sentiva uno strano odore, al quale però, abbiamo dato poca importanza. Leggendo la carta del menù mi sono subito resa conto che per un locale così piccolo, le pietanze proposte fossero veramente troppe per essere gestite al meglio. L'ordine ci é stato preso quasi subito, io una carbonara e il mio compagno gli spagetti ai frutti di mare, ci viene dato subito un cesto di pane, molto freddo e con un cattivo gusto. Mentre stavamo aspettando la piccola sala si é lentamente riempita e iminuti passavano senza l'arrivo dei nostri piatti. É stata servita prima una coppia che é entrata svariati minuti dopo di noi. Passata ormai un'ora abbondante, riceviamo i piatti ordinati. La pasta ai frutti di mare, come unico sapere aveva il prezzemolo, il gambero non era buono e su 10 vongole che erano presenti nel piatto, 6 erano completamente chiuse. La carbonara mi ha lasciato proprio un amaro in bocca, annusandola si poteva distinguere uno sgradevole odore di cavolfiore, il sapore non era meglio, all'interno erano presenti interi pezzi di cipolla e delle foglie verdi che non sono stata in grado di riconoscere, quello che sarebbe dovuto essere guanciale era del prosciutto cotto, per di più a pezzi enormi (diciamo che nel piatto si potevano contare, erano 4 o 5), gli spaghetti erano tutti compatti (molto collosi), l'unico sapore che si gustava era quello della cipolla e a dir mio, nemmeno molto buona, sono riuscita a mangiarne metà piatto, solo grazie al grana posto a tavola. Per dirla in breve la pasta ai frutri di mare sembrava una pasta al sugo (non buono) e prezzemolo, mentre la carbonara è stata la peggiore mai mangiata in vita mia e dire che quella fosse una carbonara è un vero e proprio insulto alla cucina italiana. Resuci da questa esperienza abbiamo deciso di non prendere il caffè. Il prezzo è stato modico, con 1€ di sconto sul conto finale (atteso anche quello), forse causato dal fatto che metà del mio piatto è stato riportato in cucina. Se non ci fosse stato fatto quell'euro di sconto, non so se avrei messo una stella. Personalmente la nostra esperienza é stata a dir poco sgradevole. Non consiglio affatto...