Another place added to the boycott list
… and this time, it’s Milano. Yesterday, I got a message from them that read, “Milano Restaurant invites U to watch tonight Germany & Spain on a big screen. No cover charge.”
I thought, wow, that’s cool. Milano’s food isn’t all that bad and their backyard garden is very cute, so I reserved there for four.
We get there around 9:30 to find out that they had seated us at the very back of the garden with the tiniest, unclearest tv in the world hanging overhead. We thought, okay, it’s not a problem, we did book rather late after all. We ordered drinks and asked for the food menu, decided we’ll order pizza, a burger, and an appetizer.
The waiter comes to take our order, and informs us of their brilliant idea on how to capitalize on football. Except, it’s really much sneakier than that of any other outery in Amman, because at least everyone else is very clear on the extra charges.
“There are no pizzas today, sir, only main courses,” he says.
“Ok, fine, we’ll have a burger then.”
“There are no burgers today, sir, only main courses.”
We take a look at the menu and realize that they mean steaks, escallopes, and fillets, all of which of course cost over 10 JDs.
“Alright, if we order a main course, can we at least have a salad or an appetizer on the side?”
“We’re sorry, sir, we only have main courses today.”
Of course, we decide to get up and leave. On the way to the door, we notice that there are many tables that were served appetizers and salads.
We ended up watching the game at Chilli House next door, where we ordered a burger, a cheese coney, pasta, two cokes, and fries for under 7 JDs. Plus, they were super friendly and served us coffee on the house.
I don’t understand these retarded marketing ploys. They trick you in a message to think that they have no minimum charge, and they treat you, their customer, pretty badly. Plus, we would have surely spent a lot more money there if it weren’t for that “we only serve main dishes” marketing ploy. We would have happily had a burger, a pizza, an appetizer, and several drinks over the two-hour length of the game, and their total would have surely been higher than the 20 JDs of two main courses.
Well, whatever. Milano lost themselves some clients- and clients that were more than happy to recommend them to friends and family.
euroarabe
June 30, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
i love chilihouse.
thanks for sharing.
yes amman has become an insane place.
and shamelessly so.
Talal
June 30, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
Here in the good ol’ US of A, Euro 2008 was broadcast mostly on ESPN, a cable channel that is part of most cable subscribers’ basic plan. The final yesterday was broadcast on ABC, one of the 4 major network channels that are FREE TO AIR to every single TV owner in the country. All this in a country that doesn’t even call the sport by its proper name.
I remember when, two summers ago, my dad payed Dhs 350 to get Al Jazeera Sports for the ONE MONTH the World Cup was on.
Capitalism at its finest.
Odai
June 30, 2008 @ 7:38 pm
Sorry for what happened to you that night it’s really “fa2seh”, for me I preferred to watch the game at home after I gave up from calling some places which were fully reserved or places that were so happy in the “10 ” cover charge policy.
don’t forget to post an urban review for Chili House and re-edit Milano’s :D
Ahmad Al-Sholi
July 1, 2008 @ 9:50 pm
well, I am off too.
To hell with Milano….
Ghassan Yonis
July 2, 2008 @ 5:09 pm
yeah, I hate the service there.. I’ve tried them three times, and two out of three were bad!
basem silwadi
July 3, 2008 @ 3:09 am
I think whoever commented about Milano Restaurant was most unfair to himself/herself and to others. I myself called few restaurants that night, i.e. the night of the final Eruopean Cup. All had cover charges, for example the Court Yard at Howard Johnson (Al Qaser Hotel in Shmeisani) was charging J.D. 20/person with only one silly drink. Oh what a rip off.
Milano, had no cover charge and what’s wrong in having a main course? Aren’t we getting something in return. This place had and will always be my favourite since it was started some 20 years ago. I defy anyone in Amman who can just come up with a similar ambiance, good service, and after all unexcelled quality of food as Milano. What’s best, its prices are most reasonable for the wave of craze in prices i wit in Amman.
Milano, don’t listen to some bunch of idiots. I know you are still and will always be the best.
waleed Odeh
July 3, 2008 @ 12:54 pm
I was a client sitting alone on a table next to the person who commented about this main course ordeal. First of all there were 3 screens, one of them was a big one. Then, that table wanted to order appetizers only and the waiter told them it was unfair that the place is packed and we have turned down many many clients for such a small order. On the contrary, the waiter was very nice but the clients were very rude. Plus, I defy anyone if they claim that Milano’s entire menu has any item, besides bottles of wine over J.D. 10.000
So Please ber fair and Milano remains my favourite place. Milano after all does not need stingy clients like you. It seems like you are hardly restaurant goers. You really should go around to other restaurants compatable to Milano and check out what their prices really are? Milano is a safe haven compared to others plus their food is unexcelled.
Ala
July 3, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
well I’ve been there only once, a group from work, around 12, and maybe because of that they took good care of us… can’t say it wasn’t good because it was but hey it was one time and we were a dozen, light up a bit though…
Musa
July 3, 2008 @ 3:02 pm
Basem and Waleed,
Thanks a lot for the great lesson in Milano’s history, its safe haven and its unexcelled food. For a more objective review (one that is not delusional to the point that it would address a restaurant as if it were a human being , you may want to check our Urban review).
Maybe you have not noticed, but the piece above had nothing to do with the ambiance, the food, or even the prices. It has to do with lying and fraud.
The genius who came up with the “main dish only” idea, should have pointed that out, either in the text message, or upon taking the reservations or even upon seating the guests. Otherwise, waiting until orders are made to come up with something as ridiculous as that is nothing more than a cheap scam to leave the guest no choice. PERIOD.
I don’t know about you, but when I go out to eat dinner I prefer to choose what to eat, not to get blackmailed into ordering what some genius thought would be more profitable – regardless of the three crappy TVs.
Waleed,
Since you are sure you were sitting next to the cheap-ass idiots who commented on “the main dish ordeal” above…let us clear out some facts, since it seems you like to follow the same vague (not to say bare-face lying) approach as your favourite restaurant.
-”there were 3 screens”
That is a lie. There were three TVs (calling an old grainy TV with a barely watchable picture a screen is as accurate as saying there is no cover charge). Two of those TVs were stuffed in a corner that leaves you facing a wall. When we asked to be seated facing the bigger TV, we were informed that the empty table for four was reserved. Next time we will make sure to ask for the “the special reservation that comes with a watchable TV”. Oh yeah..there is no next time.
“that table wanted to order appetizers only”
Thats is a lie. We ordered drinks, we ordered a Milano Pizza, and a Ham sandwich. Expecting a couple to show up at Milano to watch a 2-hour final football game to order a plate of Mozarrella sticks and two cokes is highly illogical. Of course asking for logic from whoever came up with the idea (or those who think it was a good idea) would be just stupid.
“the waiter told them it was unfair they have turned down many many clients for such a small order”
That is a lie. The waiter did not mention anything about a small order, or turning away clients. The waiter said “I have no pizza”. I seriously thought they were out of dough. When I tried look for other options (suitable for a 10.00 o’clock meal), he said with an aggressive (not to say asshole-ic) tone ” I only have main dishes”. If you do not think this is 1. Stupid 2. Blackmail 3. Fraudulent, then you are the fool who encourages such places to treat their “clients” with such disrespect.
“the place is packed”
That is a lie. Ten minutes into the game there were at least three empty tables. Whether they were reserved or not, does not make the place packed. For someone who sits in restaurants following the waiter’s conversation with other patrons, one would expect more accurate details.
“It seems like you are hardly restaurant goers”
This may be actually true. Maybe we ARE a little tired of restaurants serving overpriced average-at-best, usually-crappy food AND acting as if they are making us a favour in the process. But thanks to the herds of “khirfan” out there, who gets mistreated and ill-served by such places, yet continue to be faithful to them, this is not expected to change any time soon.
We may have visited Milano about 3-4 times over the past six months, and they may not need our business (although judging by their “main dish only policies”, it seems they are in need of every penny), but it used to be our favourite place to take our out-of-town friends to, and our number one recommendation for dates, or any intimate occasion.
And unfortunately not any more.
Not only did they try to capitalise on an event (just like any other place in Amman) but they also lied about it (in some way or another).
Samer
July 3, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
“Milano Restaurant invites U to watch tonight Germany & Spain on a big screen. No cover charge.”
Musa , it never said in the message that they had 3 screens… It only said “A BIG SCREEN” which they had. I am not sure why you are complaining about the 2 small screens since the person who commented about this did actually say they reserved late and arrived 15 minutes before the game. Maybe next time , if you want to watch a game on a big screen , go their early, it won’t do any harm.
And I don’t see any lie in the message the said as you stated….Please point out any lie
Thank you
raja seikaly
July 5, 2008 @ 2:57 am
Musa,
I have read your comments thoroughly. Actually, I wish not to comment on many negative things you had mentioned on Milano that I and surely the vast majority of our clients feel were unfair. But to assert your little knowledge of Milano’s owner, I totally disagree with you when you said “(although judging by their “main dish only policies”, it seems they are in need of every penny)” Please don’t misunderstand me as I am not bragging, but Thank God I am far away from needing “every penny” as you had claimed. For the hundreds of people who know me and the tens of them who know me well, I lived off well and still living the same lifestyle a lot longer before I started Milano in 1987. Anyway, I thankyou in anticipation for your cooperation and understanding.
Samer
July 6, 2008 @ 12:31 am
Musa,
For your knowledge , the aim of EVERY business is to profit MAXIMIZE and there is opportunity cost for every choice you make.
Next time when you go to a supermarket and want to buy cereal box with a “free” toy in it , ask yourself if it’s really for free? It’s fixated into the price
Yes , you are right , it is smart idea of offering only main dishes , however it is completely normal and it is not “Blackmail” as you state.
Here are just some definitions of blackmail :
“-exert pressure on someone through threats
-obtain through threats
-extortion of money by threats to divulge discrediting information ”
Please next time , if you want to accuse someone of blackmailing, make sure to actually know the definition of the terms you are using.
yaseen
July 6, 2008 @ 10:31 pm
You maximize your profits by doing honest business practices and making the people like you, not by ripping them one time and having them not come back ever again.
Samer
July 7, 2008 @ 12:59 am
Yaseen , that is the point
I do not see any ripping off
yaseen
July 7, 2008 @ 11:12 am
Removing your normal dishes and forcing customers to buy the most expensive thing on the list is kinda annoying, especially that it feels it was done for greed to milk the most of what that day was worth, a smart business practice might have been to lower the main dish prices for that day or something, make people love you not hate you.