Grand Café Van Gogh — Restaurant in Bucharest

Extremely Disappointing Experience – Poor Service and Rude Staff

I visited Van Goth Cafe in Bucharest twice, but my second visit was so disappointing that I will never return.

On my second visit, I ordered a dessert and later a bottle of water. Despite the extreme heat of 35°C, the water took so long to arrive that by the time it came, my dessert was already finished. I had to eat while feeling extremely thirsty, completely avoidable given the number of staff on duty.

To make matters worse, a 10% service charge was added to the bill. Tipping is optional in Romania, and I politely asked for it to be removed due to the delay and poor service. One staff member, Andre, responded rudely, asking, “Is there a reason you don’t want to tip?” I explained the delay and inconvenience, yet he brushed it off with the excuse that they were “very busy.”

When I later challenged his unprofessional attitude, he sarcastically asked, “Are you offended that we didn’t give you the drink on time?” I said no, that I was offended by his behaviour, especially as he walked away mid-conversation saying, “I don’t care.” He also refused to apologise, walked off again, and bizarrely said in front of other customers and staff, “I don’t know if it’s because I’m black” (he is not black). This was completely inappropriate and irrelevant to the situation.

Before this, I had asked for the manager, Andre falsely claimed he was the manager, which he is not. Another staff member confirmed the menu states there is a 10% service charge, but also admitted it is not mandatory. Andre should have known this, rather than escalating the situation and making inappropriate remarks.

Finally, Andre dismissively said, “We don’t need this, we have plenty of customers,” which is incredibly rude to say to any guest. All of this simply because I chose not to pay an optional tip. This is not how a professional, customer-focused business should operate. Service should be about respect and hospitality, not pressuring customers for tips or insulting them when they refuse.

Overall Rating Food: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Price/Value:...

Whilst I would give the place 5 out of 5 for the decore as it is amazing. Sadly the staff would be getting less than a 1 if it was an option.

From walking in it started with the whole foreigners but to their surprise my partner was Romanian and spoke Romanian. Maybe don't speak bad about someone in Romanian unless you know they can't speak Romanian. We were then seated. Seating was limited as half the tables were reserved until 12pm and that was 1h30 minutes away but still you can't sit at them for a drink which is slightly mad. We sat at the table and waited and waited, no one came but lots of staff, until we had to ask one of the waiters about seeing a menu and how we order. When it came to order. My partner ordered in Romanian (so shouldnt have been a language barrier), asked for kids temperature. He looked confused so she said to add some extra cold milk to the hot drink. He said she could either have it totally cold or totally hot. But eventually after many times explaining he said OK. Unfortunately the cappuccino that came was totally cold. Luckily for him she didn't want to complain at the time as would have been different had she let me.

If you are looking for a place that looks amazing then this is the place but if you want decent customer service then avoid. Unfortunately there is a mandatory 10% service charge to the bill. So it pays to be rude in some places.

Staff do not even say thank you or goodbye when you go to exit even though they have two staff members on the door as guess they...

As I stepped into the café, I was immediately struck by the wonderful replicas of Van Gogh's paintings adorning the walls. It felt as though I had walked into a living art gallery, and the attention to detail in recreating these masterpieces was truly impressive. The ambiance was nothing short of enchanting, making it the perfect setting for a memorable meal.

For breakfast, I opted for a fruit salad, and it was a fresh and delicious start to my day. The quality of the food was evident, and it was a testament to the café's commitment to providing a satisfying dining experience. The menu offered a variety of options to cater to different tastes, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy.

In terms of service, it was satisfactory. I had made a reservation in advance, but I noticed that there were plenty of available seats nevertheless. While this meant that the café wasn't crowded on a Sunday morning, it's always reassuring to have the peace of mind that comes with a reservation.

Overall, my visit to Grand Cafe Can Gogh was a delightful and tranquil experience. The artistic ambiance, reminiscent of a Parisian bistro, paired with delicious food options, created a perfect start to my day. If you're looking for a serene and artistic escape in Bucharest, this café is a wonderful choice. Whether you're an art enthusiast or simply seeking a peaceful meal, I highly recommend giving Grand Cafe Can Gogh a try. It's a hidden gem waiting to...