Kyra's reviews
Review of Robert Gastro
15 Aug 07, 15:43
Quelle dommage! 
My friends and I first happened upon Gastro after a trip to the Clapham Picturehouse, and as a late-night, smoky venue (this was back in May, before the ban), it certainly charmed us. We found the late-night staff to be pleasant, accomodating, and eager for us to practise our French with them. As a total Francophile, I liked this. We ate hearty French bistrot food, a little overpriced but what we expected when dining in this area. They seemed to be staying open late for us and a smattering of other couples whispering sweet nothings to each other in the darkened corners. This place certainly has atmosphere, by the bucketload. So it was to our great disdain that the same friends and I found the experience to be totally different upon our return a few weeks ago for an earlier dinner. The first difference was that the place was packed to the rafters. There was a small queue forming at the front, and we joined it, hoping to be given menus to look at while we waited. We weren't. Instead a very stressed- looking woman, presumably the manager on duty that evening, told us to wait as a table would shortly be available. We watched as it became empty and remained so for 5 minutes or so. We asked if we could sit down, as it was very near to where we stood, but were told to wait until the glasses were cleared. We waited another five minutes as the staff rushed around ineffectually, and then sat down anyway, amid dirty glasses and all. As she came to clear the table and take our drinks order, we still had no menus to look at. Once we had them , we hastily ordered- a starter for me, mains for my two friends. Judging by the despondent faces of the couple next to us who had been trying to get their credit card taken to pay with for the past 10 minutes, we thought ordering everything all at once and asking for it to arrive all together would be prudent. As the restaurant filled up further, the service became more and more erratic. My starter (a below par bouillabaisse) arrived, but not the mains. I waited to start, but after 5 minutes my friends told me to go ahead. They picked hungrily at the bread we had been given and stared at the kitchen doors. After a total of one hour waiting for their food, we got up, paid for our drinks and my starter, and walked out. We were offered no apology or any sign of remorse from the manageress- only a gallic shrug and a nonchalant goodbye. It's a real shame, because I liked it there a lot the first time. Unfortunately, their customer service wasn't up to scratch, their prices are inflated, and I've had better fish soup in a French train station cafe. I won't be going back. Instead, I'll be going to Pizzeria San Marco on Clapham High Street, where we hungrily ended up that evening- a complete and utter gem.
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