Cafe Gramofon

TDL   01-12-2008

Avoid this place at all cost! I have been here twice before, and swore I would never go back, but was cajoled by some friends yesterday. The server/cook/owner is downright rude! We walked into the place, with only two other patrons seated at the back (who later turned out to be staff) working on their laptops. The only table for 4 was right at the front door, and it was a cold day, so we asked if we could move two tables together further back in the place, and explained that it was because of the cold from the door. The miserable man who works there/owns the place, refused. Telling us we would be fine at the front table. Refused! We then placed our orders, two of us ordering french toast, and two ordering bagel sandwiches. 20 minutes later, we were informed that they were out of bagels, and he was attempting to have one of his staff members stop at Tesco on their way into work. We attempted to order something else, and he was still trying to convince us that the bagels 'may' show up. We swapped our orders for two identical omelettes. After another 15 minutes or so, we could see the french toast ready and waiting to be served, and he finally starts on our omelettes. Needless to say the french toast had to be sent back because it was cold, and the identical omelettes were anything but. The man is downright rude, knows nothing about service, and on one of my earlier visits proceeded to disagree with me when I told him that the bacon was not crispy enough, despite having ordered it well done. He told me that in America (where he assumed I was from) that they must cook bacon differently. They got my money for the third and last time yesterday. He needs a course in dealing effectively and pleasantly with customers. A recent post says the place is under new management, and if that is the case, the first thing they should do is stop letting that guy interact with customers!

john   10-10-2008

gramofon bistro is now my local fantastic place, ive read some of the other reviews dont really get the 1st one the staff are so helpful and friendly i was in one day and some one asked to get the door closed at the same time there was around 5 or 6 people asking to keep it open as they where to warm so what would you do ? anyway they have always got something going on music jazz comedy and will nearly always make you anything you want if they have it just booked a table for myself and some friends tonight you should try it you'll love it

callaghan1969   01-04-2008

I love the food in this restuarant and it seems to have so many things right but sadly me (and several friends I tried to persuade to go) have stopped going back. One of the reasons is the slightly pushy staff and the very grumpy manager/owner One women in particular became very angry with us when we repeatedly asked for the door to be closed on a freezing february day because she wanted to attract people in. I can understand this but by doing so she made sure we left quickly. The staff also seem quite irritated a lot. They have told us they are worred about money and making it a success. Again, understandable but as a result seem to try to get you to order more expensive things than you want. I have heard this from a few people. The food is lovely but they would do much better to have more casual food by the day and extend the brunch menu to later on a Saturday. Not many peoplke want oyters for Saturday lunch and if they do, they wouldn't come here to be frozen. I hope these are teething problems but I have been here 4 times now and won't go back.