Mare Nostrum, La CONCEPCIóN

We, my Husband and I, spend at the 1.mai 2009 our evening here. Recommended by our Hotel, we expected a nice Meal. Because our flight home started very early in the next Day, we wouldn't eat and drink so much. So we orderd an Bottle of Water and a Bottle of good Wine, an Brocheta with Scollops and Scampi and for the Main Course a fresh Seabass whitout lots of Sauce(and this was only a piece of fish and 2 half Pototas - not more!!). I think, that was not enough. Nobody serve us the Wine, nobody look, what we need more. After a long time of waiting, we ordered the bill at the Frontdesk und then we have to wait more..... very unfriendly, not interested, but we have to pay 48.000 CH$.

Last night, we endured a terrible experience in a restaurant called MARE NOSTRUM situated in La Concepcion, Providencia. A group of nine of us went with the intention of celebrating my husband´s birthday. For the starter we were recommended a dish marked on the menu as costing $10,800. We therefore ordered two of these - one hot, the other cold - having been told each starter was enough for three people. It was also agreed that each order be made larger to satisfy four people rather than three, obviously at a slightly increased price. On top of these orders we also asked for main courses, wine and desserts. When the bill arrived we discovered we had been charged for $85,000 for the two starters alone. We were all naturally shocked and asked to speak to the manager, who did not appear. We were then watched by up to 6 or 7 waiters around our table and an argument began. This entire situation was obviously unpleasant and we took the decision to pay what we believed was the correct amount and not that shown on the bill. Having left this sum we stood to leave, at which point the ‘boss' arrived and pushed each of us as we attempted to go through the exit. Seven of us managed to get through, with the exception of my husband and I. We were physically unable to leave and so decided to call the police, who came and listened to the story. One friend was so upset that she considered pressing charges of assault against the man at the door. The police told us this was an option though after deliberation we decided against it. After trying to reach some agreement, the boss did not want to reduce the bill and decided to only discount a small amount. Having been in this situation for approaching 2 hours we paid the difference and left, not wanting to waste any more time in such unpleasant circumstances. We have decided to contact SERNAC to complain, as well as warn as many people as possible to think twice about going. We do not wish for anyone to go through what we did on what should have been a pleasant eating experience, but turned out to be the very worst of my life.

May 24, 2009. It was the 35th birthday of one of my friends (his wife and I attend the same church), and so we went to a restaurant called Mare Nostrum in Providencia. The service was a bit cold, but nothing to complain about, until the bill arrived. We were taken aback to find that they had overcharged us $85 mil (for two starters “entradas”). After calling attention to the gross error, the waiter simply replied, “We told you that it would be more because you have 9 people.” We asked to see the menu again. After pointing out that each starter was priced at $10,800 CLP, (we had two), that we would pay what was indicated on the menu. We then asked to speak to the manager several times, but were refused. They simply were not going to see reason. After having paid the bill, including the menu listed price of the two appetizers that cost $10,800CLP each (we had decided as a group not to succumb to this scam of the exorbitantly priced appetizers with a total cost of $85,000CLP - which is roughly equivalent to $150 US Dollars), we proceeded towards the door to exit the restaurant. We found our way physically barred by 3 of the waiters and one man whom we later came to find out represented the owner of the restaurant. Two of the ladies in our party said “Excuse me,” as they attempted to leave. The man representing the owner pushed them. Luckily they weren’t seriously harmed. However, they were extremely upset and their husbands were very angry. At that point, I proceeded to exit the restaurant, at which point the same man who had pushed the other ladies shoved me backwards in order to keep me from leaving. Obviously very upset for many reasons (not the least of which was the physical harm that this man was perpetrating against women), I told him that he had no right to touch me and that I was leaving. In the end, seven of our party of nine got out of the restaurant while two were still being held inside (including my friend whose birthday it was, and is wife). At that point, we called the carabineros. Finally, with the assistance of the carabineros, the ordeal ended (some 3 hours later).

If you do not want to be ripped off go elsewhere. I have lived in Santiago for 8 years and have never had such a terrible time in any other restaurant. After a pleasant meal, the bill arrived and we discovered we'd been over-charged to the tune of $30,000. After 30 minutes debate with the waiters we decided to pay the bill, minus the $30,000 and leave. There we were physically stopped and ended up calling the police. An horrific experience and the general impression from the waiters was that they were out to screw us over being 'gringos'. Almost aggressive in attitude and quite intimidating. DO NOT GO HERE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!

This restaurans was the worst that I'd ever gone !!! The weiters don't make eny effort to explain the options in the menu, they push to you an expensive couvert of 2 small brads and butter. The food is not good, looks sofisticated, but the have souce of eggs, burned mushrooms, crabs with skin !!! In my oppinion, if you want to eat like this, go to the Mc Donald's, at least will be cheaper and you will feel better. P.S: The desserts were not good too...