This is just a small bit of advise to travellers in Rome who might want to take dinner at Trattoria der Pallaro in Campo de Fiori. Please check your bill when presented to you and double check the change returned. Also insist on the bill when you leave. Paola the owner seems sweet but she targets older and lone travellers. Just be wary of your cash.
Posts: 52 | Location: Mumbai...India | Registered: 29 May 2008
I've eaten at Dar Pallaro numerous times and never had a problem. Last March, they were charging 22 Euro per person and the four of us were quoted 88 Euro (we rarely get a bill or ask for one, which I suppose is a risk on our part). They didn't even charge us for the girls' two Cokes.
Posts: 427 | Location: Somers, WI | Registered: 24 June 2002
By not giving you a bill the restaurant is not only violating the law but causing you to violate the law. Often regular customers of a trattoria will gladly accept an unofficial bill in consideration of a substantial discount, but it is very bad behavior not to give tourists a bill.
Ktindia, how many times did you eat there? I've looked at the reviews here on slowtrav (though most of them are on the old side) and it seems that there is a per person tariff for the restaurant. It would be great to get a little more info - and anyone who has eaten at the restaurant recently, can you please submit a review? You can submit a review here.
My wife and I ate there about two weeks ago and had a fabulous meal. It was one of the best places that we dined at in our two week trip. It was a great value,too. They have a several course meal (I lost track), including house wine, for a price fix of 25 Euro. My wife and I shared one. The service was fantastic. The waiters were in turbo gear as I suspect the owner kicks their #*@ on a regular basis. HIGHLY RECOMMENED. It was just about a block from our budget hotel, Smeraldo.
Can you give more specifics on what happened, and what steps you took to take care of it at the time? I ate there by myself, and had a wonderful meal with no problems. I asked if there was a service charge, and the extra was waved away - only the per person charge expected.
Since this Trattoria gives a fixed meal at a fixed price...which was 21 Euros as per Rick Steves book...there should not be an added cost.Paola took my 21 Euros and then said the price was 25 Euros...OK prices do go up. But when I gave her the added 5 Euros she asked for 20 Euros again, which she had already pocketed in her apron....No amount of my arguing helped...she kept raising her voice and talking away in Italian, probably calling me names, which made other diners look at me!!..rather unconfortable feeling and I wanted the floor to open and swallow me up.I finally had to pay the extra 20 Euros... but what was worse was that I was never given a bill, which in Italy is illegal. I am told by others that she orten does not return the bill to paying customers...probably uses it again for new diners. The meal was good but certainly not worth 45 Euros which was my final tab!!!
Posts: 52 | Location: Mumbai...India | Registered: 29 May 2008
I think what we have here is a somewhat elderly and maybe even ditzy owner who is a control freak and tries to keep all the transactions in her head. In other words, someone who is very busy, doesn't write things down, and has a short-term memory problem. I don't believe there is a malicious intent to target people who are alone or the elderly.
I recall giving her 50 euro note for our 25 euro meal. She tucked it in her apron and walked away. I thought I might have a problem. However, several minutes later she came back and gave me the correct change.
Debra, will be there in a few weeks and will report back. Though, when we were there 3 years ago, I do recall it being over €19; I want to say €22, so having the price raised to €25 doesn't seem impossible.
We wife and I ate there about three weeks ago. The price fix rate was 25 Euro, including a half liter of wine. They brought us blanco vino without asking. If you prefer red, you need to speak up.
