I%26#39;ll make this short and sweet - these people are scam artists and potential thieves.
1. First, the great drink rip-off - they suggested champagne and we agreed - as we looked around around everyone seated had the usual clear bubbly. They brought us a rose version without mention of price. When we got the bill it was 540 crowns per drink - 1080 Crowns total. We complained, waiter showed %26amp; expressed disbelief. Owner, a very cocky guy who couldn%26#39;t care less, said %26quot;these things happen, come back another day and I%26#39;ll give you a free drink.%26quot; As if. Be warned!
2. The crime. When asked for our coats and scarves, they only delivered the coats and my wife%26#39;s very long, black cashmere scarf was missing. We asked where it was and waiter and Maitre Di expressed ignorance of the fact that they took the scarf to begin with. We asked that the cloak room be searched - no scarf was to be found. My wife began to cry and I said I wanted to look everywhere in the restaurant for the scarf, as no one had left while we were dining and the place was relatively small. When I pressed on this the Maitre Di disappeared for about 5 minutes and returned miraculously with the scarf. We then fled this place forever. There is absolutely no doubt in our minds that my wife%26#39;s scarf was stolen then returned under pressure from us. The behavior of the staff gave away all.
I can%26#39;t express in strong enough words that all should stay away from this place. And, oh, by the way, the food was mediocre at best!
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Will note for Sept trip... thanks!
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Well, it was a few years ago, but I%26#39;m still annoyed at how we were treated at Palffy Palac.
We made a reservation for a special evening there, showed up, and were told there was a private party there, and the restaurant was closed to us.
I pointed out that we had a reservation, and they said, %26quot;Sorry, it was a mistake.%26quot; And the manager shrugged, %26quot;Maybe another night.%26quot; No offer of compensation. The irony was that we had won a coupon for a free dinner there in a raffle. My wife was so angry, she wouldn%26#39;t even go back to use the coupon (even though they%26#39;d be paying for dinner).
I had eaten there before. Maybe it sounds gratuitous, but really, the food was far from special then, considering the prices.
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BTW, that expensive drink trick is used in many places. Never accept an offer of a glass of wine or champagne in a restaurant without asking the price.
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I%26#39;ve recommended this place before and if they are using the %26quot;try this drink%26quot; scam then I%26#39;ll recommend no more. I%26#39;ll treat this like I treated the %26quot;don%26#39;t stay at the Iron Gate Hotel because the locks are no good%26quot; post. I emailed the restaurant to see what comment they have to make. We%26#39;ll see if they respond. I think that%26#39;s fair.
Jason
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Jason - I have great respect with your approach to this. But whatever response you receive from the restauirant will not change or color my memory, opinion or the facts as they happened.
My wife and I have travelled literally around the wporld, to every continent, from major metropolises to remote African villages. We are very savvy travelers.
When I tell you this has never happened to us before, I tell you the truth. The people at Plaffy Palac are on the make - the waiter, the Maitre di and especially the owner, who was one of the most arrogant individuals I ever ever met.
The drinks were a scam and the scarf was stolen only to be miracously returned when I threatened to involve the police and have the restaurant searched.
It would be wonderful to see some admission as to culpability - but I doubt that any will be forthcoming.
As I said previously, Prague seems poised on the verge of greatness but something is holding it back. One of those things is it%26#39;s absolute dependance on tourism for survival and the attendant propensity to prey on visitors to this beautiful city. As long as no one seems interested in correcting that, then I%26#39;m afraid the beat will simply go.
I await with great anticipation the response you receive from the restaurant.
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So sorry to hear of your experience livetotravel.
And, thank you for sharing your trip review. I was anxiously awaiting it. I also saw your hotel review re: Alchymist. Makes me want to reconsider my original choice of Le Palais!
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Livetotravel.
Can sympathise with the scarf episode, but you go to a restaurant anywhere in the world, even in New York, and when you sit down they will ask you if you want an aperitif. Do you really expect this to be served for free?
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Peb7, I think you are out of line here.
Of course, Livetotravel did not expect a drink for free.
Livetotravel was shocked the 1080 crown tab for two drinks. And rightly so.
Peb7, if a restaurant offers you a drink, perhaps you experiened (and untrusting) enough to know that you should ask what you are getting and how much it costs.
If someone fails to do that, do you think it is solely their fault if they get a very expensive drink? At what point would you consider the restaurant in the wrong? If the drink was 1000 crowns? 2000? Or never?
They took advantage of Livetotravel (and others, I%26#39;m sure).
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And by the way, $24 for an offered apertif is just pure insanity. A total scam. And judging from Jason%26#39;s (Sova%26#39;s) measured response, he%26#39;d agree.
Obviously, I felt ill treated by the management there myself, but it was fair to e-mail them and ask them about it (and let them know people are talking about their behavior).
I%26#39;d love to know if there is any response.
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Peb 7 - Brewsta has done a beautiful job articulating what my response would have been. There was enough %26quot;unspoken%26quot; acknowledgement between the waiter and I for him to have known I was not looking for vintage glasses of Lafite-Rothchild, but instead was looking for the average champagne - as I plainly pointed out with my hand when I motioned to nearby tables.
So shame on me for sure - I need not be reminded of how nothing should be left to chance - and I%26#39;m sure I was unguarded because of the surface ambiance of my immediate and beautiful surroundings.
Brewsta - thank you for your responses.
Jason - any word yet form the ownership of PP?
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