Osteria Mauro

1   Hero to Zero

What on earth is going on at Osteria? We walked from Alderley Edge to Osteria last week and were warmly welcomed, well looked after and with a roaring fire it doesn't get any better.

Exactly one week later it was as if they didn't want any customers to be there. The service, when you could get it was appalling...though the food was good. Bar staff that don't know if they serve shiraz; chardonnay that was available by the glass last week is now only available by the bottle; waiters who don't want to give you a menu, let alone take your order; and a classic Basil Fawlty manoeuvre to top it off. When I complained about the scum floating on the top of my red wine, the waiter looked at me as if I was not normal. He took the glass over to the bar, poured the same wine into a new glass and brought it back. When I asked him if he had poured the scum laden wine into a different glass, he matter of factly simply said "Yes". I had to stand over him whilst he very reluctantly poured me a fresh glass and thrust it in my direction with all the charm of a prison orderly.

As we were leaving another group of diners complained that the chips they had asked for several times during their meal never did arrive. The staff simply laughed!

You hear a lot of different stories about Osteria. I find the food generally to be good but the whole experience is just so inconsistent. I don't know how they do it in Italy but red wine with scum on top is not something I want to drink let alone pay for.

4   Surprised with the review

I must say that I am very surprised with the review on Osteria and can only presume you had an unfortunate and unlucky experience.

I too visited Osteria many years ago and have been going on and off since. I must say that they did have a shakey spell 6 months or so ago and we stopped going but returned approx 6 weeks ago and found it back to its best, so much so we have been back several times since.

As for the menu, I guess it's a matter of opinion, personally I prefer it as it contains a number of the original and great dishes such as homemade Ravioli alongside some new introductions such as the meatballs which are fantastic!

I would say try it again and others should go and try for themselves.

2   Same decor, different restaurant

Originally visited Osteria soon after it opened 5 odd years ago....good authentic traditional Italian food...

Returned the other day, choice on menu was very unimpressive, the food itself was almost consistently appalling....the service uncourteous.

Same decor, different restauraunt....to be avoided. (especially by Michael Winner!)