From my experience there is a rule which you can apply in most countries and which says:

"the more fashionable the place is,  the worse the service".

One could say that in a pizzeria the service is generally average but I know some where you get excellent and friendly service and, yes, this is in central Geneva.

Your other point "is Geneva a transient cit and restaurants do not need to retain their customers?" is unfortunately. They don't give a damn about you as they have plenty other customers who are desparate to get a table. 

The secret: go to restaurants which are not fashionable, where you get good quality food and flawless service. 

Alternative: drive to neighbouring France or Lausanne or have a look at tripadvisor before booking a table.

Richard B, Mar 23, 2014 @ 12:56

I very rarely eat out in Geneva anyway. And that's because, in my opinion, I'm paying through my nose for crap food and crap service. And I know I can do much better myself. I'm actually thinking of starting a supperclub. 

Janet G, Mar 23, 2014 @ 14:33

i have few friends who work in restaurants! their experince and adivce to me! 

Don't go to restaurants in peak hours. (Especially on weekends.) You get the worse food and sometimes they are in so hurry and stress. You don't get what you paid for. Sometimes they even mix the leftover food. Avoid salad, These days many restaurants buy meat smuggled in switzerland from turkey and thailand thourgh germany and you don't know if this meat is hygienic (Even though restaurant mention on their menu card the meat is from switzerland/brazil or New zealand but they lie most of the time)  Avoid to go busy and big restaurants. Service will be most of the time horrible.

 

 

 

brad h, Mar 23, 2014 @ 15:32

I've been to  luigia twice, both were good, food is great. Service is ok

i don't know where did move from, but for example in USA waiter/s @ any resturant  treat like princes .. Of course it varies .. But in general it's good- great service BC they work for their tips! 

While making $3 an hour
Dalal S, Mar 23, 2014 @ 15:59

As a true Italian I strongly believe that Luigia is overrated.  You can find many other places where you eat a delicious pizza and get a fair shake.

TheOmegaMan, Mar 23, 2014 @ 17:31

Thanks for your comments Brad. Out of curiousity, what exactly do you mean by peak hours? Midday to 2pm and 7.30 to 9pm otherwise known as lunch and dinner time?  

Rich, Mar 23, 2014 @ 17:39

You know, I was such in a bad mood last night when we got back home that I forgot to say that it is precisely from this "no reservation policy" that they make all their money. It was packed out with people when we came in, lots os people standing by the bar and we had to wait for 45 minutes to be seated. I guess they kicked other people out also so that we could seat.... And they go on like this all night long. If they accepted reservations, they would only make one shift per night.

eva1979, Mar 23, 2014 @ 17:40

Yes, I was gonna comment exactly the same thing.... I could even accept to be given average food, as long as the service is good and I'm treated with certain respect. However, a restaurant HAS to give good service any time of the day, that's why they get paid for. And of course, no manager can afford himself the luxury of treating customers like a piece of crap / yelling at them / raising their hands to them.

eva1979, Mar 23, 2014 @ 17:59

Yes, I was gonna comment exactly the same thing.... I could even accept to be given average food, as long as the service is good and I'm treated with certain respect. However, a restaurant HAS to give good service any time of the day, that's why they get paid for. And of course, no manager can afford himself the luxury of treating customers like a piece of crap / yelling at them / raising their hands to them.

eva1979, Mar 23, 2014 @ 18:05

I totally agree with you. Luigia is completely overrated. One of your friends is Italian and was just disgusted with the pizza and the coffee. Not to mention his perplexity when he asked the waiter to change his beer (he brought a different brand containing alcohol and my friend can't have any alcohol) and the answer he got was: "well, it's more or less the same thing, right?"

eva1979, Mar 23, 2014 @ 18:06

Your story is shocking, I think the guy simply lost it but he is the manager and its his job to stay calm and customer oriented at any moment. My only advise is to stop going to this place and invite all your friends to do so too ;) social media is your weapon (maybe only one) ..

Luigia is right behind the corner of my house, yet I never eat there. I find the food and particularly the pizza not good (except very few dishes), over rated and expensive for what it is. Service was never really rude to us (ony the 5 occasions in 4 years what I ate there) but the whole atmosphere is not my cup of tea. It is just super super loud, some parents feels this is a place where kids have the right to go out of control and run around, scream, push each other, etc ... and overall this has far to the traditional warm atmosphere of a (family) pizzerias.

You can leave a bad review here on glocals in the business review section, spread the word and not to go to places where you are reated like ***

Geneva does not have a good customer service,.. but that's a case for plenty of other cities or countires too, there are still places where they are super nice with customers. 

alena o, Mar 23, 2014 @ 18:03

Wonder if that waiter would say the same thing for someone with a serious nut allergy. On a more practical note, a good Italian Pizzaria (I'm hoping it still good as I haven't been there in a while) in Geneva is Da Paolo's: http://www.dapaolo.ch/site/fr/

or if you're feeling adventurous and don't mind sitting on a train to Nyon for 13 minutes, La Croix Verte is superb. http://www.croixverte.ch.

Sorry you and your boyfriend had to endure that crap. Really not pleasant. Hopefully one of these places mentioned above will redress the balance.

Rich, Mar 23, 2014 @ 18:19

Once you submit to the "you can wait at the bar and we'll call your name" routine, you're done for.  It's many restaurants' way of looking highly in-demand while making a high profit on your drinks.  It's also a subtle manipulation to make you feel that you should be grateful to get a table.  For a pizza place in Geneva, where most restaurants are half-empty for most of the time, it's beyond ridiculous.

My favourite (but sadly departed) comedian also has a concern about this ....

Andy C, Mar 23, 2014 @ 20:01

Hahahah.... ;)

eva1979, Mar 23, 2014 @ 21:27

Now that you mention it, I remember going to some shitty potato place somewhere in France on a Saturday at midday. Getting there, a long line of people queuing outside makes me think that the place must be just awesome. Wrong. I go to have a look inside and I see - to my surprise and amusement, I must confess - that the place was half empty. The manager was just seating people veeeeeeeery slowly so that he would always have a line outside that would attract more customers. Is this just not the height of absurdity...????

eva1979, Mar 23, 2014 @ 21:34

I think that anyone in the developed world who queues for a potato needs to ask themselves what they are doing with their lives.

Andy C, Mar 23, 2014 @ 21:53

What’s the difference between queuing to eat a certain type of food and queuing to travel on a bus, to get cash from a hole in the wall or, for that matter, to go to the loo?

You want something that other people also want at the same time, so, if you have any courtesy for others, you stand in line.

Ritchie, Mar 23, 2014 @ 23:17

I wasn't suggesting that I would fight my way to the front of the line in a frenzy of potato-lust.  I'm a big fan of queueing; just not for a potato.

Andy C, Mar 24, 2014 @ 00:31

Chuck Norris got a good restaurant service in Geneve, a free parking place in Cornavin and polite manners in public employees. 

Book of Chuck (exodus 3,40) 

amen 

 

carlos s, Mar 24, 2014 @ 08:29

There's no difference or problem at all if, once seated, you are treated like the King of the place.

eva1979, Mar 24, 2014 @ 11:14

Ha ha ha ha

 

"Frenzy of potato-lust"...... clearly youre not Irish.

Charlie, Mar 24, 2014 @ 13:38

Nor are you German

rena, Mar 24, 2014 @ 14:55

Nor Dutch

martin, Mar 24, 2014 @ 15:51

Charlie, Mar 24, 2014 @ 16:07

Sorry but it is not a Swiss way. Luigia is not a Swiss restaurant...

TSATSA, Mar 24, 2014 @ 16:22

And if there was a sudden famine of spuds?

Ritchie, Mar 24, 2014 @ 16:24

This thread reminds me of a joke.

two potatoes and a penis were talking about their awful lives. The first potato said my life sucks, when i get big and fat they cut me up and cook me. The second potato says when I get big and fat they cover me in vinegar & throw me in a jar. So the penis said, when I get big and fat they pull a plastic bag over my head, stick me in a dark, damp room and bang my head against the wall till I throw up and pass out!
Richard H, Mar 24, 2014 @ 16:48

Been there more than 15 times.  I like the food but service is out of control now. After 19:15 you have to wait at least for 45 minutes. If you find a place in the first run, they exactly treat you in a way that you have to leave the table in 1 hour. 

To be honest I never had great epectations. I started buying my favorite pizza and enjoy at home. The restaurant explicitly positions itself as a stop for tourists. 

  

Ural U, Mar 24, 2014 @ 17:32

I have never complained about the food at Swiss restaurants, or the service really, but considering the ridiculous prices they charge for what would be considered "average food", I find it truely insulting that on top of this, we have to deal with bad customer service from restaurant personnel.  

Since this is a country where most of the publicity is made by word of mouth, isn't there a web site like yelp, where people can review all these businesses (including restaurants)?

Businesses here need to learn a thing or two about good customer service, and as long as they don't feel the presure, nothing will improve.  Service and food quality will continue to deteriorate, and prices will continue to go up.  Ofcourse there is always someone willing to pay 100 CHF for cheese and bread, but contrary to the "no confrontation" culture of the Swiss, we should definitely do more of that to start seeing some improvements.

Jean-Jacques B, May 1, 2014 @ 01:42

I once sent back a fondue to the kitchen in les Armures because the chef had overdone it on the kirsch so that it was basically inedible. Waitress was very condescending and more or less impled that as we were tourists, we had no idea of what a real fondue should taste like! Informed her in French that I had been living here for years and was well aware of what a good fondue should taste like. She changed her tune and returned with a proper tasting fondue. One should always stand one's ground when the food is bad. After all if you bought faulty goods in a shop, youl would expect them to be in proper working order woudn't you? 

delseta9_, May 2, 2014 @ 11:08

Luigia is good food but way over priced. Go to the Luigia in Grand Sacconnnex, better pizza and not as expensive.

Yeah, they dont take reservations, so strange the asked you to leave so another customer could take up the table. SOMETHING Weird about this story.

I totally recommend 'L'Incontro' on Blvd George Favon, much better food, better service, and really good Pizza's.

Also great service and food is Da Paulo in Eaux Vivre. and at 40% less price.

 

 

 

 

Dave G, May 2, 2014 @ 12:58

You don't like the service? Don't go back. It's as easy as that. There are plenty of frinedly places around here.

Free, May 2, 2014 @ 14:08

And that’s exactly what I feel about « Les Armures ».  I never set foot in that condescending over-priced tourist trap unless I absolutely have to.

R.

Ritchie, May 2, 2014 @ 15:50

I am not amazed with the bad service, but amazed with the fact that people still go to Luigia after so many bad reviews... 

Cenk Y, May 6, 2014 @ 00:46

This is one of the only restaurants I've had bad food and bad service.

I went there with a friend who was visiting from South America. He really wanted to go there. It was in late Feb and frankly, I'd had enough fondu and raclette at that point so I ordered the lasagne. DON'T do that! It was horrible. The worst food I've had in a restaurant in Switzerland. 

The waiter was super condesending muttering under his breathe and saying he couldn't believe I was in Switzerland ordering lasagne. So I told him in French just that: I've had enough fondu for the year by now asked him why they have it on the menu if they don't want to serve it and can't make the effort to make it edible. He seemed slightly embarrassed and really, it's not his fault. 

Personally, I think he would have done better to have said "look, that's really not one of our better dishes" and suggested something else. 

Mia M, May 6, 2014 @ 10:09

All this food-talking made me hungry. I will never dine to Luigia's, though..

Laura C, May 6, 2014 @ 11:08

Yes I went to the Luigia once... just once... I didn't even get to eat, after 15 mins of waiting for the menu, I went over to the wankers, I mean waiters, and calmly said "Listen, if the menu hasn't arrived after 15 minutes, I would hate to think how long I'd be waiting for food - so I'm off!"  

Yes, the service sucks big-time in Geneva, I don't know what it is - there's just a 'Can't be bothered attitude' with most staff.  In fact it's given me an idea for a funny forum post... will do shortly... "If Geneva waiters were in charge of..."

I tend to just go to Asian and South American restuarants (Peruvian have great food, and they actually give a shit that you are hungry, and that you want a nice night out... and they consider the very real possibility that you will actually come back if you have a nice experience!)  Asians like money, let's be honest, they value service knowing that money is a direct result of that very simple concept, so they don't keep you waiting... especially when you want to get the bill... (is it just me, or do Anglo-staffed restaurants seemingly vanish when you finish your coffee?)

Last comment, to be fair to our bearded, mildly eccentric and often pot-bellied hosts: there is a very good exception to the rule in Paquis... The Swiss Cottage... it seems to be a mix of Swiss and Italian staff... I've eaten there about 5 times, and each time they were very friendly, and very quick.

 

Deano1uk, May 6, 2014 @ 11:31

Your story reminded me, that once I went with my best friend to a pizzeria (not in Geneva but in Nyon, called Quai 23) and it was also terrible. First of all we entered the restaurant and we were waiting to be seated for at least 10 minutes, while there was no crowd and there were tables available but out of politeness we didn't want to just take a seat, which at the end we did because it was ridiculous to stand there like two idiots !
We were not asked what we want to drink, the waiter actually seemed to be avoiding us and totally focused on serving the table next to us (those people came after us!). We were getting more and more angry but we still manage to keep it together ( patience, oh how much patience we had that night !). Eventually we ordered our drinks and decided to go with pizza (my friend is Italian and was excited to try how they do it here). We waited what seemed like forever to get our order, and when it finally arrived at the table it was disgusting ! The pizza was not baked, the inside was raw !!!!!!!!! I though my Italian friend is going to have a heart attack, totally embarrassed that they call it an Italian place so we called the waiter while asking for the check. We showed him the raw pizza and he was like "yeah thats good !" Say what?!!! He called his manager (the guy must have been 19 years old, not knowing shit about anything) started to yell at us that we are making big deal out of it and this is all what he can say. We were so disappointed, payed the bill and left promising ourselves to never go back there.

Do I think there is a bad service in Geneva ? Yes !
Do I think there is a bad service in Nyon? Yes !
Is it like that everywhere in Geneva/Nyon/Switzerland? I sure hope not !

Somebody mention that the service is so much better in the US- IT REALLY IS!
I hope the standards here will change soon, that some of the places in Geneva will get better no matter at what time you are going to eat (I mean common, I can't eat during lunch hours or on the weekends because I'm going to get a bad service?!). This is absolutely not acceptable !!

Natalie W, May 6, 2014 @ 13:42

Does anyone know what the law is here regarding reducing the bill in these types of circumstances?

In the UK you are legally entitled to reduce the bill if the food is unacceptable, in addition to removing any service charge that they may have added.  This works because the assumed contract between the customer and the restaurant is a civil contract; hence the police have no powers to intervene.

If the law is similar here then we can all mobilize to start reducing the bills in crappy restaurants.

Andy C, May 6, 2014 @ 14:43

Nathalie,

Sorry to hear about the service you had at Quai 23. To be honest I wasn't overly impressed last time I was there. In fact I think the staff would have to go on a 3 month intensive customer service course to reach the level of mediocre.

If you (or anyone else reading this) find yourself in Nyon, then go to La Croix Verte (http://www.croixverte.ch) for a decent Italian meal with good service. My other favourite place there is Mumbai Bar which also does Indian tapas which are huge and are superb!

Rich, May 6, 2014 @ 15:24

Thanks Rich! You're the first one on this long list of threads, giving a positive suggestion for a good restaurant instead of complaining about one!

Jack B, May 6, 2014 @ 15:58

Why the heck would you want to waste your energy to mobilize people to start reducing the bills in crappy restaurants when it is so simple not to go there anymore?

I must confess that I am a surpised by the fact that some people seem to go back and back and back in crapy places and then complain about the fact that the service is bad. As for me, I only go to nice and friendly places and I feel perfetcly happy about restaurants in Geneva. Suggestion: check the Restaurants section of Glocals and check the vplaces with good reviews :-) BTW, I had bad experiences *everywhere*! and happy ones too.

Free, May 6, 2014 @ 15:39

I fully endorse the quality of the food and service at « La Croix verte » in Nyon.

R.

Ritchie, May 6, 2014 @ 16:19

USA service is only decent because they want good tips. The minute you have paid the bill, the service ends. I would rather pay more for my food in a country that does not have a tipping culture, and know that my money is going towards decent wages in the first place!

Juliane S, May 6, 2014 @ 16:26

So far the best pizza I have had in Geneva is at Scarface in les Grottes. Lovely food, good service, prices ok by Geneva standards.

Juliane S, May 6, 2014 @ 16:28

While “service” is included in the bill here, tipping is still more or less expected, particularly in places that you patronize regularly.  However, I must admit that a small regular tip sets the tone and is well worth the outlay, ensuring a warm welcome and good service each time I visit the establishment – except, of course, in “Les Arnures”.

R.

Ritchie, May 6, 2014 @ 16:51

Dear Rich,

my name is Natalie - not Nathalie but I forgive you the mistake ;-)
I've never been to La Croix Verte but if you speak so highly about them I sure will check it out. Where exactly is it? 
Mumbai is already my favorite place ;-)

Natalie W, May 6, 2014 @ 17:00

Hi Natalie,

Whoops! Sorry about that. As the man wearing orthopedic shoes said, "I stand corrected." 

The address is Rue Perdtemps 7, Nyon about 100m from Parking Perdtemps and not too far from the station. Bon appetit!

Rich, May 6, 2014 @ 17:10

I totally don't agree with you.
The service in America is perfect even after you pay the bill !
So far never had any bad experience and I sure can't say that about Geneva - just like the others here ;-)

Someone mention why are we all complaining here?
Simply because thanks to this post I won't be visiting Luigia and I will be going to La Croix Verte :-)

 

Natalie W, May 6, 2014 @ 17:08

I'll third or forth La Croix Vert. 

As for American service, it's the other end of the extreme. I once had a waiter sit down at my table with me because I was eating alone and he didn't want me to be sad eating all by myself. What the... ?! 

Mia M, May 6, 2014 @ 17:40

And did he expect a tip for keeping you company?

Ritchie, May 6, 2014 @ 18:28

LOL. Had he been less cheesy I may have appreciate it. But as it was I wanted to give him less than the expected 18ish% tip. I was afraid he would have put me on the cheap tipper black list. I'm sure one exists. ;)

Mia M, May 6, 2014 @ 19:18

How does one work out an 18%-ish tip?  Is it a Federal requirement/recommendation?

I’d have to round it up to 20% or down to 15%, according to the circs.

R.

Ritchie, May 6, 2014 @ 21:19

Who knows! I'm terrible at math so you can see why I had to leave the country. ;) :D

 

Mia M, May 6, 2014 @ 22:24

 

Well, I guess that’s as good a reason as any for upping sticks for a maths paradise where “service compris” reigns irrrespective of its quality or evne its very existence.

Best, R.

 

Ritchie, May 7, 2014 @ 01:20