Martini Restaurant, Bath, England

Cafe Martini may have been decent before it changed hand some years ago, and although some people clearly enjoy this restaurant I have very little to say about it that's actually good.

I went there for my sister's birthday with my family. Obviously what was supposed to be a great evening. Unfortunately we could not enjoy Cafe Martini. Mostly because the service was indifferent and cold and the food came the same way - two meals were actually frozen on the inside. Lovely.

The menu, at least when I was there last included some interesting pasta and risotto dishes, which are slightly more imaginative than the typical hightstreet Italian. Fairly uninspiring pizza choices and an ordinary range of desserts.

The prices are mostly between £9-10 for a pasta/pizza/risotto based main course. I'd rate this as too expensive for what it is (or at least what it was), but on the plus side if you're looking for a three course lunch they charge about £9.50, which is a pretty good deal. If you're looking for fish, which having reviewed the current menu as I couldn't remember, sounds good, it's going to cost a minium of £12.

The service, well, when I visited it was shoddy at best. The proprietor didn't really want to know, we were hurried to seats and served by waiters who obviously couldn't care less. The following quote is from Folio Magazine; 'Very Italian, diners are greeted by the staff as if they know them, with genuine warmth...excellent food and wine complemented by attentive but relaxed service...' I wouldn't say so myself. When we complained about the frozen food we were looked at like we were mad for complaining. It was taken away and dumped back on our table when warmed up. If they've got new staff then that would have greatly improved the service, so would make dining there more pleasant.

The atmosphere is quite cosy, low lighting and nice furniture, the intended feel is probably of warmth and some aspect of the perfect home cooked meal. But to be honest the room felt stuffy and as if all the diners were sat too close together. But of course this just applies for the room on the left where we were sat.

If this restaurant just changed a few aspects it would be a fine place to have a meal as the basics, ie the menu and the decor, are a good starting point for a highstreet Italian restaurant. But the detail, such as the cooking and serving of the food, need some serious work.

I'm sure some meals taste good, but when you think that some of the menu is just dethawed before being served, compared to a number of Italian restaurants in Bath who cook mostly from scratch, this simply isn't good enough. Bath's Italiant restaurant standards are high, but Cafe Martini just doesn't cut it.