Update: After my review, the restaurant asked me to reach out to them directly to discuss my experience. I did, but it has now been a week & I have yet to receive a response. It is disappointing that they publicly expressed interest in resolving the situation but never followed up privately.
Beautiful restaurant, unacceptable service
I was really looking forward to eating here with my fiancé, but unfortunately the service was one of the most disappointing restaurant experiences we've ever had.
We arrived at 3:30 p.m. & were greeted by a lovely host. We were told the kitchen was closed, but that we were welcome to sit at the bar while waiting for service to start at 4:00 p.m. We were also told we would be able to move to a table & order at 4:00 p.m. Our bartender was quick to serve us & provided excellent service. We ordered a Maracuyá juice & an'El Mentiroso,' which were both refreshing & very good.
Unfortunately, once the restaurant officially opened, everything went downhill.
We were the only customers seated inside, yet we still had to repeatedly ask for service. We were hoping to be directed to a table, but some people were still getting ready for service. We kept looking around hoping we could catch someone's attention. By 4:10 p.m., we had to ask if we could be seated. Around 4:20 p.m., we had to ask the busgirl if the kitchen was open & if we could order. She went to check, & a waitress finally approached our table about five minutes later with a deep sigh, followed by a blunt'Yes?' as if we were inconveniencing her by interrupting her conversation with her colleagues. No greeting, no welcome, nothing. It was extremely rude & unprofessional. I have honestly never been greeted that way in a restaurant before.
During this time, an employee arrived around 3:50-4:00 p.m., sat in front of the TV to watch the game, & was served food by another employee while we were seated & still waiting for someone to check on us. It was honestly baffling.
From that point on, it felt like we had to beg for basic service. We should not have to keep asking someone to come to our table, especially when we were the only table in the restaurant.
The food itself was enjoyable. We shared the Anticucho de Lomo, which was, without a doubt, the highlight of the evening. It was absolutely delicious, although the portion was quite small. We loved the Ceviche Clásico & the Ceviche Barranco. However, empty appetizer plates sat on our table long after we had finished eating. Empty drinks were not cleared promptly, & our water bottle sat empty for over 10 minutes before being refilled.
After our main course, no one came back to check on us, offer dessert, or ask if we needed anything else. Our plates were cleared at 5:25 p.m., & after waiting another 25 minutes, we had to ask someone for the bill.
What makes this even more disappointing is that the restaurant itself makes a fantastic first impression. It was spotless, beautifully presented, & every staff member looked professional in matching black dress pants & black button-down shirts. Everything looked polished & well put together, but unfortunately, the service did not reflect that same standard.
The food was good, but good food alone is not enough to make up for poor hospitality. Service is a huge part of the dining experience, & this felt inattentive, dismissive, & unwelcoming from start to finish. I had heard amazing things about Barranco, which is why we wanted to try it, but based on this experience, I cannot recommend it.
No guest-let alone the only guests seated inside-should have to repeatedly ask to receive basic service, while guests who are watching the game on the terrace appeared to be receiving more attentive service despite only ordering drinks.
Rude waitress, inattentive staff, & a disappointing experience from start to finish. For a $120 meal, I expected far better service. Unfortunately, the hospitality fell well below even basic expectations.
I came by to watch the Mexico v. Ecuador game. Pisco sour hit the spot, & the ceviche Rocoto was superb. A special thank you to Maeva for her excellent service, you are the best!!
Overall, I highly recommend Barranco if you're looking for a hip spot on St. Denis
