Grotta Santa Caterina da Bagoga — Restaurant in Siena

2 dishes per person…. Let me tell the ALL STORY I am writing to report a deeply disappointing and unacceptable experience at your restaurant. My companion and I were seated, ordered wine, beer, water and one dish. At no point during seating or when we placed our order were we informed that your establishment enforces a minimum of two dishes per person. The only notice of this rule appeared on a screen at the entrance an impractical and insufficient place for a policy that directly affects guests’ seating choices.

After we added a second dish to our order, a staff member approached us in a brusque, confrontational manner and told us aloud and in front of other patrons that we had to leave the table. He dismissed us with the comment, “this isn’t a parking spot,” and then, as if to underline the humiliation, handed us a bench to finish our drinks away from the dining area. We had barely begun enjoying our beverages when we were publicly chastised and effectively ejected.

This is not merely a complaint about an obscure policy, it is a complaint about the way the policy was enforced. Hospitality is built on transparency, courtesy, and respect. If you expect guests to meet a minimum consumption requirement, that expectation must be communicated clearly and courteously at the host station, on the menu, and/or by the staff when seating guests not behind a screen that few will read in full before choosing a table. Moreover, enforcement must be carried out professionally and discreetly. Public shaming and aggressive language are incompatible with any standard of decent service.

I expect a formal apology and to be informed of the corrective actions you will take. If no satisfactory response is received, I will share this experience on review platforms to warn other potential customers about a practice that both lacks transparency and violates basic standards of...

Hands down one of the most intuitive and flavorful meal we had in Italy for a long time! The server are so nice - they are very down to earth, a service with a smile and such wonderful gentle person - both Simone and Angelo. We have no problem asking Angelo any questions, he was very reassuring and provide recommendations without any judgment. It is so easy to communicate with him.

My other half would like to have some steak but he really like his steak rare while I like my well done and we found out that we had to order for two people. Angelo assures me that he will make the steak rare for my partner but medium rare for me but I know myself so I said I cannot do steak and Angelo pleasantly move to a second option. My partner got sliced beef with and it was super flavorful - simple taste - rare sliced beef with seared porchini mushroom. And I got Veal in red wine and pepper - which I would said it is a variation of beef stew (without lotsa pepper). It was heavenly!!! I can taste the pepper aftertaste and you do feel the slight heat as you eat more but everything was very subtle. The meat was fork tender yet never fell apart (which requires skill as too soft means the meat disintegrates or too meat that are still together means that it is still firm.

Bravo to the chef! We are so happy that we had dinner here on the only night we are in Siena!! And thanks to Simone and Angelo for being such wonderful friendly server!!! This is definitely a place to have dinner when you visit Siena!!!...

What happened??? We came to this restaurant with a strong recommendation from someone in Siena, but what a mistake that was. We both ordered gnocchi, which the restaurant brags that they specially made a truffle menu, and this was part of it. This gnocchi was THE WORST gnocchi we have had anywhere, and basically amounted to mashed potatoes. While I sympathize with how busy they are, this is a staffing and quality control issue, not a customer issue. Sadly, this is an embarrassment to the recommendation, the other positive reviews and Italian cuisine in general. This restaurant appears to embrace the philosophy that they can serve anything to tourists, because they don’t care, as they won’t come back. We were polite and kind the entire time, but the servers didn’t ask how the meal was…because, they knew. Sadly, after this, we will probably stick to eating pizza for the rest of our trip and not waste many Euros on substandard tourist food...