2/5 David D. 4 years ago on Google
In
the
past
we
have
always
looked
forward
to
the
special
occasions
allowing
us
to
justify
the
expense
of
this
fine
dining
restaurant.
The
steaks
are
always
of
optimum
quality
and
cooked
to
perfection.
However
our
experience
last
night
was
far
from
ideal.
Following
the
recent
renovation,
we
found
ourselves
inhaling
cigar
and
cigarette
smoke
with
every
bite.
This
is
because
for
some
unknown
reason
they
decided
to
have
their
illegal
smoking
area
(due
to
EU
law,
no
public
spaces
should
allow
smoking)
separated
from
the
main
restaurant
by
two
very
large
doors.
This
meant
that
every
30
seconds
when
a
waiter
or
customer
passed
into
the
smoking
area
(they
have
to
do
so
often
as
the
kitchen
is
in
the
main
area),
our
table
was
enveloped
in
the
thick,
acrid
smell
of
cigarette
and
cigar
smoke.
When
we
complained
to
the
hostess
at
the
door,
she
was
far
from
apologetic,
and
even
said
to
me
that
"we
were
the
first
people
to
ever
complain
about
this".
When
we
asked
to
move
tables
to
somewhere
further
away
from
the
smoking
area,
she
told
us
that
apart
from
the
couch
area
(not
ideal
for
a
large
group),
the
restaurant
was
fully
booked.
However
throughout
the
evening
there
were
many
tables
that
were
empty
(see
picture
attached).
Irregardless,
even
if
she
had
accepted
to
move
us,
it
wouldn't
have
helped,
as
the
smell
of
smoke
was
evident
the
moment
we
entered
the
large
restaurant
from
the
entryway
that
is
furthest
away
from
the
smoking
area.
To
add
insult
to
injury,
upon
investigation
we
found
that
the
owner
of
the
building
was
actually
eating
a
meal
in
the
smoking
room
while
enjoying
a
big
fat
cigar,
and
we
were
told
that
it
was
because
of
his
wishes
that
they
still
kept
a
smoking
area
even
after
the
extensive
renovations
from
last
year.
Despite
this
flagrant
disregard
for
EU
law
and
its
associated
health
risks,
we
still
enjoyed
the
superb
steaks,
and
the
excellent,
attentive
and
friendly
staff
(not
including
the
quite
frankly
rude
hostess
at
the
entrance).
Staff
of
note
were
Radoslava,
Stoyan
and
the
head
waiter
whose
name
we
did
not
catch.
So,
tl;dr
-
excellent
food,
excellent
service
(with
1
exception),
beautiful
decor,
disgusting
and
dangerous
smell.
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