"For my starter, I chose the beef carpaccio, which was disappointingly minimal—just four wafer-thin slices of beef. However, the real issue arose with the main course. Both my wife and I ordered the beef medallions, and I do enjoy beef! The menu indicated that all dishes came with vegetables and potatoes. While we received some vegetables on our plates, there were no potatoes. When I inquired about this, I was met with some blank stares before being offered chips. I had to point out the mention of potatoes on the menu, and the waiter hurried off to the kitchen. He returned a few minutes later stating that the potatoes were boiling and would be ready shortly. At that point, we had nearly finished our other food, so we declined the offer.
There was a half-hearted apology, but no offer to adjust the bill. To add insult to injury, they included a service charge, which I refused to pay—something I've never done before. I really wanted to enjoy La Meridiana, but the experience was awful. If it weren't for the comical, Fawlty Towers-like mishaps, it would have genuinely ruined a much-anticipated Mother's Day."
