Cafe Buda Restaurant Albir

greg · 10-05-2009, 16:03

Cafe Buda Restaurant Albir Review
Avenida Albir
Playa de Albir
Alfas del Pi
Alicante

Recently went for dinner at the Cafe Buda Restaurante in Alfaz del Pi.

It was late, around 10 pm... Had seen the restaurant many times before but never went in, so this time round decided to give it a try.

The place was interesting, quite big and well kept. First thing I noticed was the cook sitting on a sofa by the entrance watching football on TV. Obviously he was bored and not much cooking going on.

Inside there was another table with a group of 7-8 but the rest of the restaurant was empty. There was seating for at least 100 people... Tables and chairs crammed together.... Somebody obviously had high hopes (or perhaps a big appetite for money)...

The waitress was friendly but lacked any kind of motivation or smile. I asked her if we had come too late (given that the place was "already" empty and that the cook was watching TV). Her reply was crystal clear: No no.. They've been open since 6pm that night, and nobody else had come!

I thought that's such a shame, because the place actually looks nice... We ordered:

Goats cheese salad
Gambas al Pil Pil
Solomillo with truffles
Solomillo a la sal

Bottle of red wine
Two waters and a caipirihna

Price: 90 euros

The goats cheese salad was amazing. Very nice and fresh.... Unfortunately that was the only good thing. The Gambas al pil pil were half cold and smelt rather funny. Then came the solomillos. The solomillo a la sal looked like it had been ripped off the cow, not cut. A very strange looking piece of meat. And the texture was something along the lines of rubber mixed with chewing gum. The other solomillo looked majestic in shape but had a nice layer of coal around it from hardcore heat and inside was about as dry as a piece of cardboard paper. Both solomillos came with a variety of vegetables and fries as decoration. The vegetables were cold and looked like they had been cooked a week ago and kept in a plastic box ever since. Fries were nice but drenched in oil...

The wine, however was excellent...

We got a chupito as an "apology" and left very disappointed.

On our way out, we again saw the cook sitting down watching TV.... I can understand that if business is slow you are bored, but sitting watching TV in his cook uniform???????

It is beyond me how you can run such a business. If the place is not busy then what is the point of packing it to the brim with tables and chairs? If the guests didn't enjoy the meal, then why doesn't the cook or the owner come and beg for forgiveness instead of just sit on the sofa and watch TV? Or take something off the bill? Or stand on his head and ensure that we don't leave disappointed?

One thing is certain, that was the first and last visit I make to Cafe Buda Restaurant!

Val · 10-05-2009, 16:41

Sounds like they have been good but now trade has all but disappeared and they don't care or don't know how to change it. The cook sounds like a joke, need to get Gordon Ramsey to sort him out ! Your menu choices sound really good and such a shame it was very much a disappointment.

When we went to our local Argentine eatery we had similar but not so disastrous, the hot cheese starters were to die for then all down hill from there. Sets you up for a fall

Did you sell them a copy of your book or leave one as an incentive ?

greg · 10-05-2009, 19:57

Yea it was pretty disappointing... And recently it appears more and more restaurants are providing such miserable service.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Val

Did you sell them a copy of your book or leave one as an incentive ?

I should have huh?

adesson · 05-07-2009, 10:15

Such a shame when food gets served such as that !!
What people forget is that most of the business comes from word of mouth and first impressions ...

If / When i get a job i shall send you an invite ( distance pending ) for you to come dine and guarantee satisfaction as you should have no matter where you go ( FACT )
And i am sorry to hear you had such a bad meal and at that price ?

Regards
Ade

greg · 05-07-2009, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by adesson

If / When i get a job i shall send you an invite ( distance pending ) for you to come dine and guarantee satisfaction as you should have no matter where you go ( FACT )

Thanks Ade, I look forward to the invitation

Val · 05-07-2009, 10:38

AH an Absolute Spain members meet venue in the making

10-05-2009, 16:03	#1 (permalink)
greg greg is.... Admin Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,068 Thanks: 11 Thanked 86 Times in 79 Posts Rep Power: 10	Cafe Buda Restaurant Albir Cafe Buda Restaurant Albir Review Avenida Albir Playa de Albir Alfas del Pi Alicante Recently went for dinner at the Cafe Buda Restaurante in Alfaz del Pi. It was late, around 10 pm... Had seen the restaurant many times before but never went in, so this time round decided to give it a try. The place was interesting, quite big and well kept. First thing I noticed was the cook sitting on a sofa by the entrance watching football on TV. Obviously he was bored and not much cooking going on. Inside there was another table with a group of 7-8 but the rest of the restaurant was empty. There was seating for at least 100 people... Tables and chairs crammed together.... Somebody obviously had high hopes (or perhaps a big appetite for money)... The waitress was friendly but lacked any kind of motivation or smile. I asked her if we had come too late (given that the place was "already" empty and that the cook was watching TV). Her reply was crystal clear: No no.. They've been open since 6pm that night, and nobody else had come! I thought that's such a shame, because the place actually looks nice... We ordered: Goats cheese salad Gambas al Pil Pil Solomillo with truffles Solomillo a la sal Bottle of red wine Two waters and a caipirihna Price: 90 euros The goats cheese salad was amazing. Very nice and fresh.... Unfortunately that was the only good thing. The Gambas al pil pil were half cold and smelt rather funny. Then came the solomillos. The solomillo a la sal looked like it had been ripped off the cow, not cut. A very strange looking piece of meat. And the texture was something along the lines of rubber mixed with chewing gum. The other solomillo looked majestic in shape but had a nice layer of coal around it from hardcore heat and inside was about as dry as a piece of cardboard paper. Both solomillos came with a variety of vegetables and fries as decoration. The vegetables were cold and looked like they had been cooked a week ago and kept in a plastic box ever since. Fries were nice but drenched in oil... The wine, however was excellent... We got a chupito as an "apology" and left very disappointed. On our way out, we again saw the cook sitting down watching TV.... I can understand that if business is slow you are bored, but sitting watching TV in his cook uniform??????? It is beyond me how you can run such a business. If the place is not busy then what is the point of packing it to the brim with tables and chairs? If the guests didn't enjoy the meal, then why doesn't the cook or the owner come and beg for forgiveness instead of just sit on the sofa and watch TV? Or take something off the bill? Or stand on his head and ensure that we don't leave disappointed? One thing is certain, that was the first and last visit I make to Cafe Buda Restaurant! __________________ *How effective is your* Marketing?**

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10-05-2009, 16:41	#2 (permalink)
Val Val is sad and misses this place Spain Guru Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3,326 Thanks: 228 Thanked 172 Times in 160 Posts Rep Power: 57	Sounds like they have been good but now trade has all but disappeared and they don't care or don't know how to change it. The cook sounds like a joke, need to get Gordon Ramsey to sort him out ! Your menu choices sound really good and such a shame it was very much a disappointment. When we went to our local Argentine eatery we had similar but not so disastrous, the hot cheese starters were to die for then all down hill from there. Sets you up for a fall Did you sell them a copy of your book or leave one as an incentive ?

05-07-2009, 10:15	#4 (permalink)
adesson adesson is.... Regular Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Uk Posts: 32 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Rep Power: 0	Such a shame when food gets served such as that !! What people forget is that most of the business comes from word of mouth and first impressions ... If / When i get a job i shall send you an invite ( distance pending ) for you to come dine and guarantee satisfaction as you should have no matter where you go ( FACT ) And i am sorry to hear you had such a bad meal and at that price ? Regards Ade

05-07-2009, 10:38	#6 (permalink)
Val Val is sad and misses this place Spain Guru Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 3,326 Thanks: 228 Thanked 172 Times in 160 Posts Rep Power: 57	AH an Absolute Spain members meet venue in the making

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