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Dinner detective: Tiggi's
The Dinner Detective4/11/2005
Unlike restaurant reviewers on most newspapers, the Dinner Detective dines out incognito, so recieves the same treatment the public would get. This week, we do some detective work in the Trafford Centre .
THE Trafford Centre's faux-glamorous glitzy look is repeated in
Tiggi's Italian Restaurant, in the Orient section of the shopping
palace, which is beautifully arranged around gold-striped pillars
with comfy sofa-seats at marble-topped tables.
But the appearance of Tiggi's restaurant is about the only thing I
found attractive as, despite excellent food, the service was the
worst I've ever encountered.
My dining companion and I stood by the sign saying "please wait
here to be seated" and spent about five minutes shooting futile
glances at passing waiters and waitresses before walking over to a
uniformed staff member, only to be told to return to wait by the
sign. When our sparkling mineral water (£1.60) and diet cola
(£1.30) arrived, we looked politely at the waiter ready to order,
but he walked away without comment. Minutes later, another fellow
arrived taking our order while looking furtively around the
restaurant as though in fear for his life.
I opted for a garlic and tomato pizza bread (£4.20) to start, which
was delicious and generous with the garlic. My opposite number went
for the bruschetta all pomodoro alla romana (£5.80), which was also
tasty and a decent size. We thought things were getting better
until our starter plates were cleared and we were asked if we would
like pudding. After trying to explain to two people that we were
still waiting for our main courses, the message finally got
through.
When the main dishes arrived, they too were excellent. My lasagna
al forno (£7.95) was crispy, meaty and creamy in all the right
places, while the unusual Emiliana pizza (£7.95) my companion chose
was delicious, topped with lots of parmesan shavings, rocket and
balsamic vinegar.
We finished off the meal by sharing a tiramisu (£3.95), again a
sizeable portion and beautifully presented, albeit with a grunt
rather than a smile, and tea and coffee.
Foolishly I paid the £36.30 bill without checking it, in my haste
to leave. Not only had the restaurant missed off the dessert - they
had also included a 10 per cent service charge.
If I ever went back, I'd ask if that was a joke.
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