Comments on: How I found a table a Collingwood’s Gigibaba

By: Tommy

Tommy — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:28:50 +0000

Never, ever again. If this is what cool dining is all about, then I’m staying home. The service was so bad it actually became funny. Shocking attitude from a group of disinterested and what looked to be totally over it employees.

Greeted with a shrug, seated with a snarl and didn’t quite make ordering our food because we were told off for not ordering drinks quickly enough (within one minute of being seated). We also got into trouble by requesting to sit at the front vacant table for 4 and not on the unlit table for 12 (there were only 4 of us! ) at the back of the restaurant.

After 5 consecutive “excuse me’s” the waiter who was standing next to us finally agreed to grace us with his interest, only to wonder off midway into one of our guests asking him about the menu.

Truly a deeply embarrassing experience for myself and for my guests. No food due to the worst service I’ve received in Melbourne. Literally could stand it any longer.

By: Magnus Cormack McManamey

Magnus Cormack McManamey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:20:38 +0000

Magnus Cormack McManamey
December 22, 2009
I tried to get a meal tonight at this smart good looking dining room. I was greeted by a smug, aging waiter who told us they had run out of food and were no longer serving meals. At 9:30 pm on a tuesday I thought it unusual, but the week before christmas I gave it the benefit of the doubt. We decided to enjoy a glass of wine at the bar anyway. We asked for a piece of cheese and were also declined nor offered anything else. Shortly after, a family also entered and were sat and fed. When we queried this the female maitre d said “They are my friends”. I’m happy to cop “the kitchen’s closed” or a straight “no”, but feeding someone else after you have said that is insulting even as a stranger. Bad hospitality, C you next tuesday Glass of wine was good! M

By: Sas

Sas — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:00:19 +0000

Ha. Me and my family had to execute similar tactics to get a table. I jogged over from uni to arrive by 6pm (first customer in the place) and then reserved the back table for six of us. Luckily the fam all arrived shortly after. Might have been embarrassing otherwise.

Tragic, yet effective.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:44:00 +0000

Wow. I love Gigibaba, and am definitely getting the degustation next time. Must remember not to go with my friend who’s allergic to seafood!

By: steve

steve — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:11:02 +0000

Hi Ed, heard so much about this place. My uncle who’s a sparky would have a heart attck at all those lightglobes though!
You have crossed the great divide of the Yarra! I thought St Kilda-ites never ventured that far into Collingwood territory or has this all changed after six years away?

By: Injera

Injera — Fri, 29 May 2009 07:00:55 +0000

I can’t believe I haven’t been there yet. No excuses! It’s so close to work. Must get there before the city goes into swine flu lockdown…

(Matt Preston’s Wiki bio really does match the rather florid picture, doesn’t it?)