Spagalimis Pizzeria Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Christchurch

Soo... This is going to be a scathing (but honest) review on our experience Saturday night just been. To start with, we were told we'd have a private room, I don't know what happened there but we were put in the restaurant. OK. But it was very crowded, and the seats are all so close together and close to the table beside us, you can't leave your seat without asking ppl at other tables to pull their seats in. Just not enough room. And hot! So, first restaurant I've been to that doesn't bring any water to the table, no jug nothing. Something diners expect. So, we ask for a glass of iced water, get some other drinks, we order a Jim beam (sold out! really?! unbelievable but, ok) and $15.50 for a beer wow that's expensive. Takes 15mins for my friend to get iced water. And yet, still no offer of iced water or any water, for the table. My other friends arrive, theres like, 13/14 of us in our group. Other drinks arrive OK. Waitress was lovely. Said she was from hawkes bay. Went to use the toilets, one was locked but unusual, from the outside you can't see it, doesn't say engaged or anything. Went into other toilet, blood all over seat and floor. Use the middle toilet, no soap. Go back to bloodied toilet, no soap. Try door again for other toilet. Still locked. Well if it said engaged we'd have known someone was in there. Odd. Go to counter, tell staff no soap, need to wash hands, specially since I won't be using knife n fork to eat my tea. Get eye rolled from miserable looking woman which I could only assume was the manager. Seemed completely put out. Said how were they supposed to know unless someone tells them! Well, that's what I was doing. She reluctantly, by the seems of it goes to get some soap. We go to follow behind her. She says don't do that this takes a while to fill up. OK so we wait then go in. She doesn't apologise or introduce herself.. I work in customer service, she cldve said like I wld 'hi I'm ange I'm the manager, sorry about that' but no, she was just rude. Her mannerisms and the way she was acting toward us was like me and my friend were being belligerent, annoying or something. Our food was fine, no complaints. The pizzas were good. But the attitude of this woman and the very slow service, very hot, uncomfortable, very crowded environment were not good. And possibly the worst state of toilets I've ever seen in a restaurant or pub/club. Then on leaving I was charged $50 instead of $40 when I had been told the medium pizza I'd ordered was accidentally made as a large, but yet I'd only have to pay for a medium and when telling the miserable front of house woman, she said snappily 'well that wasn't communicated to me'. No thank you at the end of the transaction but hey I didn't thank her either as she was horrible to deal with. Rolling your eyes at a customer making a simple request and of having access to soap when I'm going to be eating with my hands, this is not acceptable service...

I'm still taken back about the horrendous time we had dining at this restaurant last night.

We ordered our meal which came in a reasonable time, but that was the last time a waitress attended our table. We were waiting patiently for a waitress to return for our dessert order. At the time I found it unusual as usually waitress check if you want anymore drinks etc. Eventually we approached the waitress to take our dessert order, she took the order and returned later and said that we only had 15 minutes to eat the dessert as the table was booked.

We were surprised with that news as the service was so slow, one would have thought, that it would have been faster knowing that they had another booking soon after. Also it might have been a good idea to have told us that prior to taking the dessert order, allowing us the opportunity to be able to go elsewhere.

However we complied and tried to not let it ruin the evening. Everyone (table of 7) had finished their dessert, in a record time of 6 minutes, apart from my 11 year old son, whom was struggling to eat cold ice cream that fast, when Jamie (apparently the Manager) came up with her face hot with anger and said that we had to hurry it up.

It was in front of everyone dining in the restaurant which was embarrassing and totally unprofessional. We were all speechless. She continued to blame us, despite that it was her management of poor planning and execution. Which to be honest isn't rocket science is it, if you need people out fast you need to take their orders in a timely manner.

Absolutely hands down the worst dining experience I have ever encountered and worst $400 ever spent. The Manager clearly needs a different occupation, but with how rude she was I struggle to see where she would be a good fit?

I see other complaints about the Manager and the food which isn't a surprise, just gutted I had not read the reviews before booking.

Do yourself a favor and spend your hard earned...

Dear Spagalimis Team,

On Thu 30/01 I visited your restaurant with my friends. Upon arriving on my electric scooter, I was immediately told that I could not bring it inside, without any attempt to offer an alternative solution. I understand that every establishment has its own policies, but I cannot overlook the lack of judgment and empathy with which this situation was handled.

It is well known that bike and e-scooter thefts occur daily in Christchurch, even in broad daylight. Despite this, and the fact that the restaurant was practically empty, I was denied any option to secure my scooter, even when I suggested placing it under the table in the outdoor seating area, where it would not have been in anyone’s way. The refusal was absolute and without valid justification.

For your information, e-scooters are not considered motor vehicles under New Zealand law, meaning they are not subject to the same restrictions as cars or motorcycles. This information can be verified directly on the official NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) website. It is unacceptable to enforce arbitrary rules without legal grounds while disregarding the city’s security concerns.

Additionally, other customers witnessed the situation and voiced their disagreement with the staff’s attitude, confirming that my request was not unreasonable but simply logical and justified.

I did not expect the restaurant to provide parking for my scooter, but I did expect a basic level of common sense and a willingness to find a solution. The rigidity and lack of empathy demonstrated negatively impact the customer experience and, in my case, leave me with little desire to return or recommend your establishment.

I hope you reconsider these attitudes and policies to prevent other customers from facing a...