H T.
Yelp
On March 25, I came to Taverna Del Marinaio with my friend. We sat in the 2nd row from the road and asked if the table next to us cleared, we could move there. The guests at that table seem to be finishing up. We just wanted to be closer to the view but we were told there was no room and the kitchen closed in 15 minutes. We took the table in the second row, this was no problem. We ordered our lunch and water, we chose not to have alcoholic drinks and immediately recognized the owners dissatisfaction towards our choice.
When our food arrived, we wanted to take a photo ( as tourists and everyone in the world does nowadays) and the owner told us 'the food is going cold'. A selfie takes 20 seconds MAX. Our pasta was not going to be cold in that time. His need to make a comment was shocking, did he tell each guest how they should eat their food?
After our lunch, we were asked if we wanted to have a coffee and desert, my friend and I were discussing what to eat. Meanwhile my friend was checking her phone for an email. He needed us to order and leave quickly, that was clear.
My friend finally said ' If you allow us to make a decision, let us think about it and we will get back to you'.
At first he agreed , came back a minute later and said 'This is my job, of course I'll ask. If you don't want, you can go.' Then the other lady came and said, "Get out of here, I don't want you here."
While we were trying to explain our problem without understanding what we were going through, he officially insulted us by saying, "Don't pay, I know people like you, you are doing this to avoid paying bills."
Meanwhile, when her husband, who constantly harassed us by coming to the table, gestured to us, we got up from the table demanding the bill and went into the restaurant.
They wanted to get rid of us so badly he even said 'Give 20 euros, go, give 10 euros, go, don't give money'. They asked us where we were from and this is where I knew they had a problem with us from the beginning. We told them we were Turkish and they laughed in our faces. They said they were not surprised at all and that Turks always do the same thing.
It was obvious from the beginning, the comments about the table, kitchen hours, telling us how to eat, and now they were causing a scene in front of all their guests. Do they not realise how bad they looked?
When we pointed out the blatant xenophobia, they told us about their Morrocan employees, as if that changes how they were treating us.
They threatened to call the police and I agreed, I wanted to talk to the police about this situation. We did nothing wrong and they treated us like criminals.
As the insults and shouting continued, we left the restaurant.
We have visited over 65 countries and we work in respectable places in Turkey, although this shouldn't matter. They should treat each guest equally, with respect and kindness.
Italians are known for their hospitality and what we experienced was so heartbreaking.
Although the food is very good, we can say Taverna Del Marinaio is absolute disgrace.
