Miranda Gale

Review of La Pergola” *** Michelin , Rom...

My husband and I have been touring Italy and Croat...

My husband and I have been touring Italy and Croatia for the last two weeks, essentially eating our way through both countries. We ve been to some of the best restaurants, and enjoyed getting to know the Michelin scene throughout. We had hopes that La Pergola was going to be the best and last of our trip, and while the food was incredible expected for a 3-star restaurant the service was extremely disappointing, and honestly, a little sexist.

To cut to the chase, at the end of the night, after the last dessert course and before they dropped the check, we were on cloud nine. The 10 courses had been creative and delicious, and we were enjoying the classic Italian ambience and nighttime view. I was getting cold in my evening dress, and my husband, dressed in a jacket and tie, offered me his jacket to tide me over until we paid the check and left before the last of the client s departed.

It wasn t 30 seconds that I had settled into his jacket s warmth before an employee we hadn t encountered yet hustled up to us to remind us that removal of jackets weren t allowed on the dining room floor. I said surely an exception could be made that we were nearly done (after an 850 meal), and that I was cold. He insisted that no, wool shawls (itchy, to my skin) would be provided for women, men must keep their jackets.

We ve dined in fine restaurants across the world, including the best in Italy, and never have we been treated so pejoratively. We communicated our frustration to our waiter, who handled it with aplomb. Yet, after communicating it to our hostess, she said something to the effect of yes jackets on the floor is our policy, and stood by said talking point in a rude posture literally as the elevator doors closed in front of us.

We ve never been treated as if our presence wasn t welcomed in any Michelin-started restaurant, but after a lack-luster service experience here, followed by this extremely disrespectful showing, we left feeling a lot worse than we went in.