Re di Bastoni Pub — Restaurant in Taormina

AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE! My friend and I have decided to have some drinks in this little place, Once at the till we met the most rude person ever and the one that spoiled our night out. We use to pay by debit or credit cards everywhere and so I meant to do in regard of my drinks here. It was ok for me cos I had to pay 8EU, but my friend was told she couldn't pay 2,50 by card cos the amount was to small and other excuses for not taking cards. I offered to pay for my friend's drink in the same transaction and kindly explained that it shouldn't be our problem if they don't take cards for small amouts (no signs/advises anywhere about this) I was dealing with an old, rude and surely uneducated person behind the bar who literally said: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE 2 EUROS TO GO OUT, STAY AT HOME... I said that it wasn't a nice way to treat a paying customer, and that should have been more respectful even considering we' ve already been there once, the day before ( this is one of the fewer pub in this village and the closest from our hotel, but very happy to walk a little bit further to find better places for the rest of my holiday) and that that was the perfect way to lost customers and for that for me was fine as I will be in another place in few days and couldn't bother about it . At this point I have been told GO HOME THEN ... If not already mistreated enough, there was one of the two waiter LAUGHING in my face and in front of a nearby table full of others customers. These people are absolutely not made for a customer facing role and this is the kind of customer service you can expect in this place. Currently living in UK where people could actually be fired for behavior like these... but yea, this is another type of service so welcome to Re di Bastoni pub in Taormina. AVOID AVOID...

As soon I passed and saw the inside I loved it with the colours and presentation more like a chill vibe. I went in the afternoon for a coffee and sandwich, it was quiet and nice to be there and just enjoy reading. For ordering a waiter came with the hat/cap wearing camouflage shorts .. which did not go with the vibe at all of the bar. He was really bad mannered, and kept hitting my friend all the time while passing through with orders, and also slamming the things on the table when presenting the items ordered. The place was well crowded with tables that it was difficult to have some space, which I understand this from a business point of view.

In the evening there was a jazz band playing: having a jazz night and a lot of confusion in the bar, you could hear nothing from the music. Presenting the bill you had to pay for live music €5 per person without being advised. Children shouting and people speaking loudly. If you're doing a music night especially jazz, make sure to set the atmosphere right.

Some of the other waiters were polite.

I went cause I liked it in the afternoon, in the evening it was a totally different story.

Prices are moderate in general. Though it's a pity to have these inconveniences in...

Very dissatisfied with the service. We waited over half an hour for a simple sandwich. It wasn’t even particularly busy. The person at the bar argued with me, saying there was only one person in the kitchen. That’s not my fault—there’s a whole terrace and only one cook? When I told him to stop arguing, he did. But then he purposely brought the sandwich himself, just to prove his point. People like that have no business working with customers. It’s a shame that such individuals are employed in tourism. And the waitress could try smiling once in a while—a smile costs nothing. 🤗

(I'm adding this part after the owner responded. I don’t understand how it can take 35 minutes (based on exactly how long I waited for a single sandwich) to prepare one. I don’t think the problem is with me as a tourist, but rather with you being too stingy to hire more staff, which prevents this pub from living up to the standards worthy of such a beautiful city. Clearly, you know nothing about tourism and...