ARTO Restaurant — Restaurant in Bucharest

After reading numerous 5-star reviews, we visited this restaurant for dinner without a reservation, expecting a high-quality experience.

Ambience & First Impressions

The restaurant had a warm and welcoming environment, and we were promptly seated and given the menu. The menu itself was small, which we found to be a positive aspect, as it helps streamline choices without overwhelming customers.

One of the highlights of our visit was the presence of cats in and around the restaurant. We absolutely loved them and enjoyed spending time petting them, which added to the charm and overall experience.

Food & Ordering Experience

We ordered a prawn salad and sundried tomato/parmesan bruschetta as starters. Both dishes were delicious and well-prepared. For mains, we inquired whether the 700g beef tomahawk was sufficient for two people, but the waitress advised us that it was not. As a result, we ordered a burger and a beef tomahawk separately.

When the mains arrived, the burger looked appealing, though it was warm rather than hot. However, the taste was excellent. The tomahawk, on the other hand, immediately raised concerns—it did not resemble beef. Upon questioning the waitress, she initially confirmed that it was the beef tomahawk but later admitted to placing the wrong order, serving us a pork steak instead. While she offered to replace it, we were quite hungry and decided to keep it, ensuring that we were charged for the pork and not the beef.

Service

Service was generally good but a bit slow. The mix-up with the order was a significant mistake, especially considering that dietary restrictions could have been a concern. While the waitress acknowledged the error and adjusted the bill accordingly, the level of apology and service recovery felt underwhelming compared to what we are accustomed to.

Overall Impression

The food quality was impressive, but the service could use some improvement, particularly in handling mistakes with more attentiveness and professionalism. While we did not request any compensation for the mix-up, a more apologetic response would have been appreciated. We left a 10% tip as we normally do, but given the strong reviews we had read beforehand, our expectations were set higher than what was ultimately delivered.

That being said, the presence of the cats made our visit extra special, and we truly enjoyed their company throughout the evening. Unfortunately, as we will be flying back to London on the 25th, we won’t be able to return...

A disappointing experience – a kitschy place targeting uninformed tourists. This restaurant left us with an overall unpleasant impression. The menu had limited variety and was difficult to read due to the tiny font. The food was mediocre and did not justify the high prices. The waitress was polite, but her recommendations felt more like manipulative upselling than genuine advice.

The most frustrating part was being informed after we had already sat down and started ordering that there was a 50 RON charge for the live pianist – a hidden fee not mentioned beforehand.

The strong smell of toilet air freshener reached our table, made worse by the perfumed incense sticks near the bar, creating an overwhelming and artificial atmosphere.

At the end, we were persistently asked to leave a positive review – which might explain the suspiciously high ratings online.

A place to avoid if you’re looking for a genuine and fair dining experience.

Response to Owner’s Comment / Clarification

Thank you for your response! The posting of two similar reviews (from different accounts) comes as a result of the initial deletion/blocking of the previous ones.

The waitress saw us taking a photo of the menu to enlarge the image so we could read it better, yet she didn’t offer to help or mention the availability of an online version.

Her suggestion of a bottle of wine — at an exorbitant price given its quality — was not listed on the menu. We only realized the shocking price at the end. I will report this to the Consumer Protection Authority, especially since the receipt shows a vague “personalized menu” without detailing the consumed items — a deceptive practice!

As for the smell, the fact that the drainage from the restroom and the strong scent of air freshener can be felt while eating at a table near the toilet area is unacceptable. Let alone the taste…

I did not complain about the music quality, only about the practice of charging guests for the pianist’s presence without any prior notice of it being a concert or an added fee. Another misleading practice that I will report to the Consumer Protection Authority.

The request for a review was made insistently, by showing us a Google symbol and telling an emotional story about how much the review would help her. You can see that most of the reviews focus on her, which might confirm what I am saying.

What I stated is not a matter of personal taste — it’s about respect and the principles of fairness in the...

Very Strange and Disappointing Experience - Lack of Transparency and Poor Service

I had a rather odd and ultimately disappointing experience at this restaurant. I made a reservation via phone and upon arrival was asked if I preferred indoor or outdoor seating. Opting for indoors due to the cooler evening, I was then informed of a mandatory €10 (or 50 lei) per table charge for the live piano music inside. This fee was never mentioned during my phone reservation, which I found to be a significant lack of transparency right from the start. While I understand charging for live entertainment, the fact that this wasn't disclosed beforehand felt like a bait-and-switch, especially when presented as the only option for indoor seating on a chilly evening. The initial confusion about the currency (euro vs. lei) further added to my skepticism.

Despite this unpleasant start, I decided to stay. However, the service did little to improve the situation. My starter arrived incredibly quickly, followed almost immediately by the main course, leaving me no time to properly enjoy the first dish. This rushed service is certainly not what I would expect from a restaurant that seemingly positions itself as higher-end, especially given the prices. While the food itself was decent, it wasn't exceptional. I will say that the live piano music was indeed very enjoyable.

The end of my meal was equally strange. Despite clearly still eating, I was asked if they could take my plate. Once I had finished and positioned my cutlery accordingly, my plates were never cleared, and I was not offered dessert. Eventually, I had to ask for the bill with my finished plates still in front of me.

To top it all off, the restaurant was completely empty during my entire visit (7:00 PM - 8:45 PM), which was quite unsettling.

Overall, while the food was acceptable and the music lovely, the lack of upfront communication regarding the extra charge, the rushed and inattentive service, and the bizarrely empty atmosphere made for a very strange and ultimately disappointing dining experience. I unfortunately did not feel inclined to leave a tip, which is unusual for me. I would hesitate to recommend this restaurant based on...