Alcova del Frate — Restaurant in Verona

Update: As far as the owner's comment that they "don't have the evidence of me being in the restaurant", that's downright dismissive. I didn't know you needed evidence to present for a review, but in any case, please check your online reservation records and you will see my name under 19:30 reservation for two, on July 7, which I confirmed. We came in 15 minutes early but either way, the waiter didn't check in his records and pointed us to a table right away. So that's on your restaurant management. As for your comment on not having anyone matching the description, let me correct myself: the only male waiter that was on call in the hours of 19:15-20:30 while we were in the restaurant - maybe that will jog your memory. I'll make sure to have the exact description of the waiter for jury records for the future. As for your third comment about the attentiveness of your staff, I would agree except that the same male waiter approached the customers left and right of our table asking them for a refill. The only time he approached to fill in our glasses was to empty the sparkling water bottle, and that he did without looking at our table and while chatting with the customer sitting next to us. Frankly, I didn't expect anything from your response since I've seen you never address the problem in your other negative reviews, you just dismiss the customer. Thank you for your time and we'll make sure to spend our money where we feel valued next time.

I’ve never written a restaurant review but after visiting this one, I simply had to - if it only was for better reasons. We have reserved a table after reading some of the great reviews, however this was one of the worst services we have ever experienced. The main waiter (the tall guy) was extremely rude and after taking (and bringing) our drinks and main order (which he brought in complete and uncomfortable silence, not even looking at us when serving), never bothered to come to the table again. We had two desserts and none of the two waiters ever approached us to offer a wine nor water refill, so after having desserts, and sitting there with our glasses empty, we left as it was obvious the whole experience that people rave about is reserved for either someone that the obnoxious waiter deems a more high-end (meaning better paying) client, or a local. To explain, there were three British tourists sitting beside us and the waiter was much more attentive. The restaurant itself had about four tables to serve at the moment so it wasn’t at all packed.

The food and the wine were great, dessert as well. It’s a pity it was all tainted with the appalling service, for 80 some euros, none the least. And the bread we were brought and charged for without...

Worst dining experience we have had during our week in Verona. Truly awful food, directed purely at the tourist market. My wife and I had two courses each. We sent three of them back. That says it all really, but allow me to elaborate.

The 'daily special' an aubergine parmigiana was bland and still cold in the middle. Clearly not fresh, pre-prepared and inadequately reheated. Her second fish course, a Branzini was completely tasteless. I had the 'Paccheri al triplo pomodoro'. The passata sauce tasted like it came from a jar, possibly even a tin. All these dishes were returned barely touched and making clear to the staff the standard of cuisine was completely unacceptable.

To add insult to injury, when they delivered the bill they tried to charge us for all 3 items that we did not eat. An argument ensued when they said they were unable to remove the charges from the bill because the 'big boss' was not there. Even visions of an angry Tony Soprano in the background did not soften my stance. I made clear that we would only pay for the single dish we had eaten and the drinks consumed. They waiter then said if I did not pay in full he would be charged for the meal by the 'big boss'. I reiterated that I was only paying for what we had and that I was happy for him to call the police if he had an issue with my stance. He then made a call to the 'big boss' resulting in the items being removed.

Another interesting observation about this place. The staff spent a lot of their time running to and from another restaurant called Lalocanda Enoteca which is a few doors away. Clearly the kitchen at Alcova del Frate (hence presumably the same chef) also makes the food for this place, so you may want to avoid Lalocanda...

The location is ideal. The atmosphere is idyllic. The waiter was terribly friendly and murderously handsome! The food: Overpriced pasta, beverages, and the wonderful Italian risotto was somehow raped by this restaurant. Assured that the risotto of the day was one great specialty made with the localest and most local wines from the local region that was extremely local. We were assured well. The offspring of all this local production turned out to be a shallow plate, akin to a shallow grave for the poor risotto rice which had been executed and slapped into the most demeaning of culinary graves. The rice was submerged in a murky locally sourced marsh of red wine. Gaining the texture of something your mother in law would throw up after a particularly bad episode of gastroesophageal reflux and tasting of a poorly made Japanese rice wine. I'm not a nutritionist but I could tell there was insufficient nutrition on this plate. Not a speck of local protein could be seen on the plate. It was all rice. And it was overcooked as well. Perhaps the restaurant team could invest in a locally sourced rice cooker which guarantees rice of the highest standards each time. Proceeding the meal we were promptly offered coffee, no doubt locally sourced and overpriced desserts, on refusal of these items, we were promptly ejaculated faster than you could say "locally sourced wine" and there ended our experience of...