Da Filippo by Paulo Airaudo — Restaurant in San Sebastián

After 2 weeks of great food and service in Donostia we were ready for something different. My girlfriend loves loves pasta and she was ready for some Italian food. We found this restaurant online and it was recommended by an Italian bartender. The photos on google and Tripadvisor contained numerous appealing pasta dishes so we were confident in finding great choices.We attributed the poor review score on Tripadvisor to an aberration (big mistake) and booked a table for dinner. As part of the reservation process we were asked to provide a credit card and were told that "no shows" would be charged 100 euros and we were told that ordering at least two plates was required. It seemed oppressive but we gave the restaurant the benefit of the doubt (second big mistake). After making the reservation we received an email from the restaurant. The email said that there were "two tasting menus, long and short".

We arrived at the restaurant on time. There were no other diners. The waiter handed us a long tasting menu. We asked to see the short menu and were told there was no short menu. We asked to see the a la carte menu and were told that a la carte consisted of each diner choosing two dishes from the long menu. We were dismayed and felt deceived. There were only three pastas; none of which appealed to us. We searched the menu and didn't like any of the very few options. We asked the waiter if we could move to the trattoria across the street which this restaurant owned because we were not happy with the menu, without being charged as "no shows" He checked with the manager and told us it was okay. We arrived at the trattoria (also empty) and found another tiny menu (this time with only two pastas neither of which appealed to us). We finally gave up and went in search of dinner elsewhere.

Later in the evening, I a received a notification from my credit card that we had been charged 100 euros by the restaurant. I was shocked and dismayed and resolved to pass by the restaurant on the way home since our apartment was nearby. The restaurant was still open with only two tables occupied. We told the waiter about the charge and he directed us to the manager.

She immediately became combative and reiterated the policy for "no shows". We replied that we showed up on time and were told by email that there would be a long and short menu, and there was no al carte menu and that the extremely condensed choices were not appealing to us. We showed the email and she stated that the "short menu" just meant that we could ask for a condensed version of the long menu and that the a la carte menu meant that we could each ask for two separate plates from the long menu and be charged separately (this is the first time in my life that I felt I needed a lawyer to interpret a menu). She said she did not have the power to reverse the charge and it would be up to the owner, who she refused to call.

I offered to come back another day when they changed the menu or return to the trattoria another day. All offers were refused. She was unwilling to do anything to resolve the situation. I pointed out that the 100 euros that they charged was not worth having unhappy customers that ultimately ruined the restaurants reputation. She said that this was a threat and ordered us to leave. We were ushered out the door by her, the waiter and a cook and the door was slammed behind us.

I honestly have never been treated this way by a restaurant in my life. Most restaurants bend over backwards to make sure their customers are happy. It is not as if we cost them another booking since the restaurant was nearly devoid of customers.

Each night we passed this restaurant on our way out or returning and it never had many diners. Their attitude seems to be that we will cook whatever we want and if you don't like it we will still get you for 100 euros. If you must try this place, don't give them your credit card to make a reservation. There will always be an...

The worst service I have experienced lately. All kitchen's efforts are in vain courtesy of Ms. Claudia's arrogance. I find it absurd that Da Filippo's restaurant fabricated a false explanation in their response. Blatant dishonesty. No incident involving a 500 EUR banknote took place. The bill was settled in cash using four 100 EUR notes, a method I believe is acceptable as the restaurant does accept cash payments. However, Ms. Claudia explained that she couldn't provide change citing the need to reserve cash for other potential cash-paying guests. In this regard, dear management, I struggle to understand why the restaurant's cash flow concerns become the customer's problem. Or is it perhaps a subtle way to suggest to guests to leave the change as a tip? The change, miraculously, did find its way to us in the end. What a relief! Instead of adopting Ms. Claudia's deceptive tactics and inventing a story about 500 EUR, you should address the real issue – the chaotic dining experience caused by understaffing when more than 4 tables are occupied. Yet after reading your answer, I believe that honest communication is crucial for...

Wouldn’t recommend, go back. Any of my Italian friends would be enraged. See below.

Too eager to sell wine bottles.

After desserts and having drunk all our drinks (this is, right before leaving, which was obvious), we asked for a glass of water to use a pill, we were brought and charged a full bottle of miner water.

Same pasta dishes came with completely distinct presentations. Adding to that, they were overly salty.

Extra saltiness compensated with complimentary scoop of yogurt ice cream.

Waiter didn’t know his pasta types. While we were being presented the menu I made conversation by casually commenting bucatini are like “spaghetti with a hole inside”, the waiter told me that wasn’t correct. They do. Never sell product you don’t know/understand.

Other than that, appetizers and focaccia were adequate and ingredients were fresh and good enough.

Small wine glasses for the prize. Small sizes for the type and prize of food.

All these remarks are perfectly acceptable were it not for the profile the restaurant chooses to market...