The Emperor — Restaurant in Cambridge

The Emporer, last time I went there a few years back it was Spanish tapas style and pretty good. Tonight on the other hand... I honestly cannot remember a worse experience than we have had tonight. We booked a table for 4 and sat outside, the cocktails were OK but every single drink we ordered they came over with a card machine and made us pay upfront for everything. Rather than putting it on a bill as you would expect in a restaurant. It wasn't only us, they were doing this with all of the customers. The last time I ate here maybe a year or more ago it was Spanish tapas and the food was great. Now it's a Peruvian menu, for a start it's very limited, which would hopefully make you think that the food would be more carefully put together.. So very wrong. Before we even ordered our food we had a round of drinks and had to pay for it upfront. Then another waitress came back with one more cocktail and insisted that we hadn't paid for the last round which we had. We gave in and paid again for the first round, now looking back at the bank app which we did show them it proved that we had paid twice for our drinks.

We stupidly stayed and ordered food, 4 adults. There was no vegetarian mains so I ordered a starter instead including egg and potato, the rest of the group ordered a mango salad starter, a chicken curry style dish with potato and a burger style thing with chips. After waiting for over 40 minutes they brought out the 2 mains, both cold and the chicken curry dish had an old boiled egg chopped in half and served instead of the potato. We tried to call the attention of the many members of staff but they just avoided eye contact for a while and when they did come over we asked why there was egg on the plate considering it wasn't listed on the menu, the potato was missing and it was cold. They just nodded and walked off. 30 minutes later they brought out the 2 starters. Mine consisted of half an old boiled egg, half a boiled potato and was covered in what I can only describe as 'happy shopper burger sauce' with a lettuce leaf. Stone cold. The other mango salad starter consisted of about 5 chunks of tinned mango, a few slices of red onion and a lettuce leaf. Unfortunately for us they had already taken payment (and more) for the meal. We were not being rude in any way but the staff ignored us after serving and we looked around to see that other customers had also left all of their food on their plates uneaten. The place is an absolute disgrace and now I see why they were taking payments upfront, clearly because other customers have refused to pay for such awful food...

A total lack of respect,customer and service! Our experience didnt start well to say the least, Whilst leaning forward to try and see the selection of drinks in the fridge behind the bar I was told by the bar steward to not lean forward and get my greasy hands off his clean bar! great start I thought!! He then proceeds to disagree with my friend whom had ordered drinks telling him he was wrong and trying to get out of paying for a beer (when the drinks were on the bar in front of him!) He then went on to say he would check on cctv to see if we were being truthfull regarding our order (that was still in front of him!), my friend just paid to appease him, he then proceeds to tell us he doesn't need all this as he has worked a 93 hour week so far!! Also whilst being stood at the bar having a group conversation among ourselves he rudely chipped in and said we all had fat faces!! Well!! When was the last time he looked in the mirror one has to ask?! Also after having just the one swift drink we now realised why the place was empty! I mean who wouldn't want to go to an establishment where you get insulted upon arrival by a bar steward with all the customer service and social skills of Basil Fawlty and also made to feel as welcome as a fart in a crowded elevator?!! Well done that man!!! We obviously won't be wasting our hard earned money in this weird but well located Latino music playing establishment and certainly wouldn't advise any saine individuals to do so either!! As for my hands, they certainly were not greasy prior to touching his "nice clean bar" and after leaving leaving I soon washed them to make sure they were after either!! Well...

If I could give this place no starts I would, deserves nothing but a minus!! DO NOT USE!!! Will overcharge and rob your change!! Went in with hen party. Barman must of thought he could take the mick when he saw a bunch of women walk in, and presumed we were all drunk, over charged us on our order and claimed I gave him different money to what I did. Was first time of the night I had used any cash and only took £20’s out with me so I know what money I had. Told drinks came to £32, I had 2 £20’s in my hand. Didn’t inform me of how much total was, just took notes out of my hand without asking. Then gave £2.80 change, but claims it was a £20 and £10 note. So why have I got change!!?? Told by the manager we are a business and can’t give out money, but then says the barman was being nice when he gave me change and was literally giving out money, according to them!! So be careful if you’re female, coz these men will take the p out of you, highly doubt this is the first time, the whole staff there seem to have their little cover story, so it certainly won’t the...