Julie Buresch (29 January 2008)

After winning a competition through Original FM for a meal for two at Bar Bacoa Restaurant, I was looking forward to a pleasant evening which had an added bonus of being free. I had booked a table for two for 8 pm and arrived there just after 8. I entered the restaurant/bar area and no one was about. I walked to the reception where no one was about and the dining area was busy, but I could see a good few tables available. Eventually a waiter appeared from the kitchen and called the maitre d’ who apologised and said that there wasn't a table available as yet and asked us to sit in the bar and have a drink while we waited. After a 15-minute wait, when no one came to inform me of the situation, I went back to the restaurant area and waited. I then called the restaurant from my cell phone and asked about my table. Eventually the barman seated us at a table. We were presented with a menu shortly after that, but there were no specials as none were brought to our attention. I had to give my selections twice as the waiter couldn't seem to understand me - he had a foreign accent and his face was visibly sweating. The vegetable soup arrived, I had a few mouthfuls, but left the rest as it tasted like hot chicken stock with a few bits of veggies in it. The bread rolls were proffered once our soup had been served. For our main we had sea bass which wasn't that bad, and pudding - an apple sponge with sauces, but the apple sponge was cold. We had asked for a second glass of wine for my companion who never received it. I had asked to speak to the manager who I'd booked the table with the week before, but he never appeared.