Can't cope with large groups (Est Est Est (Newcastle upon Tyne))

Member Name: Lools_24

Product:	Est Est Est (Newcastle upon Tyne)
Date:	22/01/09 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Location

Disadvantages: Slow service, can't serve large groups efficiently despite a large number of staff

The location of the restaurant is probably the main attraction its right on the Newcastle Quayside overlooking the Tyne and Millennium Bridge.

I had been to the restaurant about four times but had a really bad experience with the restaurant and have never been back since.

I had been previously and the food was simply ok. The menu is typical Italian priced averagely (£8 for pasta/ pizza £12 for a meat dish) . I have always been as a couple and the service was average to slow. Drinks are on the expensive side ad you will be looking at £3 a pint or £4.00 for a small glass of house white wine.

I went as a group of 15 and the experience was awful. It was a Friday night but the restaurant was not really busy as we arrived at 5.30pm. Did not leave the restaurant until 10pm. Although we had pre ordered our orders were lost and it took an hour for each course to arrive

The staff are extremely slow and it took over 45 minutes to get the bill with many requests for the bill. When it came they had over charged the group by £200 and were very reluctant to accept their mistake. It took a lot of persistence and threatening not to pay at all before the issue was resolved and we got an apology. If you want to go as a big group I would say go elsewhere (Piccolino's is just round the corner and caters well for large groups) as this restaurant just cant cope!!

Summary: Pretty average food, but restaurant is let down by poor service