FRESCO è bottega — Restaurant in Ragusa

⚠️ A True Warning: One of the Worst Dining Experiences in 20+ Years of Hospitality

UPDATED: as you can see from his response to my review, my girlfriend Giuliana Contino’s review and everyone else who has had a negative experience, they have proven us right, with their zero accountability or empathy for customer experience, completely false statements on how long it took for our order to arrive from the moment we ordered it and to be clear, I never and would never ask for “a discount”, I asked for the 20% service charge to be removed as the service was unquestionably the worst I’ve experienced. Always happy to pay above and beyond for great service but when it is not deserved, you can bet I will ask for it be removed … and not to mention the passive aggressive behaviour they have exhibited in their replies to their reviews. Thank you for showing everyone exactly what we said was true 😅

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This is not an attack on the restaurant or its owner. It is a genuine warning to future guests, because hospitality is not just about food - it’s about how you make people feel, and how you handle situations when things go wrong. That’s what makes customers return…or write reviews like this one.

I have worked in travel and hospitality for over 20 years and have dined in restaurants across the globe, from humble street food stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants. Never have I experienced such blatant disregard for customers.

Here’s what happened: we sat down this morning for breakfast and ordered two cappuccinos and omelettes. Simple enough. 45 minutes later, after asking three times, we were still waiting for our cappuccinos. When we politely inquired, one of the waitresses was rude and passive-aggressive to my girlfriend. That should have been the first red flag.

Then came the bill. Despite asking for the 20% service charge to be removed (20% service is pretty high but if it’s a good experience, always happy to that level of service charge) given the circumstances, the owner/manager himself brought it over, unapologetic and very dismissive. When we pointed it out, his response was not an apology, not an explanation and with zero empathy said:

“You will pay your bill, leave angry and upset, and then write whatever review you want.”

That sentence alone captures the attitude here - arrogant, obnoxious, and utterly uninterested in the guest experience.

The food? Average at best. The service? Among the worst I have ever witnessed. The hospitality? Non-existent.

Hospitality is about respect, care, and dignity. This restaurant owner/manager failed on every single front. If you value even the most basic level of service and respect, I strongly urge you to reconsider dining here. There are far better places nearby where your time, money, and experience...

After seeing how the owner of FRESCO è bottega replies to any form of constructive criticism, I doubt anything that I say will truly be taken into consideration when it comes to running the business, but at least I might discourage one soul who might have considered going to this disappointing establishment.

To start off, I should clarify that my party had gone to FRESCO è bottega twice during our few days at Sicilia. The first day was mostly positive, we had gone for breakfast after our ferry trip, and the quality of food, service, and portions were all fairly reasonable. Unfortunately, our second time going was a much more unpleasant experience. To start off with, it's impossible not to mention the pathetic portion sizes for the cacio è pepe. In our party 4-5 people ordered the cacio è pepe ( €14 per portion), and when it finally arrived at our table, the look of sheer disappointment in our faces was more than apparent. I thought maybe there was some miscommunication because of the language barrier, maybe they thought we wanted to split one portion between the five of us. However, sure enough, when the bill arrived there were 5 portions listed. I'll give the chef and his cooks credit for the quality of the pasta and the sauce, they were delightful, but spending €70 for what isn't anything more than 2 portions of pasta should be a crime. Then we arrived to the infamous burger bun scandal. 2-3 of our party members ordered the burger, and (as is typical with a burger) were expecting a bun (which I should mention is shown on their menu), instead what they received was a disconstructed Avant Garde abomination. A patty, with melted cheese on top, no bun. I don't know who these people think they are, but they should take their act to a comedy club instead of running a restaurant. And to top it all off, after our party was mischarged an additional beer (which is completely okay because mistakes happen), after we had gone to get the additional beer removed, one of the staff members had the audacity to tell us that they hoped we enjoyed our free beer. The audacity you must have, to provide such a subpar dining experience, and then act as if the customer is trying to rob you, and not the other way around. Forget the comedy club with this guy, send him to be the lead clown at a circus. It was so bad one of the other staff members had to come apologise on his behalf.

This is all truly a shame, as the actual quality of food was really quite good, and with the nice view of the Marina di Ragusa, this should be a restaurant to look back on fondly, not with disappointment, but until the problems get fixed, FRESCO è bottega is not something I consider a good...

From the moment you step into Fresco, you're greeted and with an ambiance that mirrors the tranquility of the se, every visit feels like a culinary voyage. The menu is a masterpiece of seafood delights, offering an array of fresh catches expertly prepared to perfection. Each dish is a testament to the chef's dedication to quality and flavor. The attentive staff ensures that every need is met with a smile, adding to the overall experience of dining at this exquisite establishment. Whether you're a seafood enthusiast or just looking for an unforgettable dining experience, Fresco sets the standard for excellence in seafood cuisine. Not to forget, the desserts are...