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A Special Birthday Celebration at Kilis Restaurant
Kilis Restaurant: I wanted to make my wife’s 72nd birthday a truly special occasion. I planned an evening out with my wife and two guests, and I wanted everything to go perfectly.
I booked a table for four at Kilis Restaurant on Upper Street in London. We arrived on time, and the waiter welcomed us with a smile. He showed us to a table near the window in a cosy corner of the restaurant.
My first impression was very positive. I liked the setting, the atmosphere, and especially our table by the window. Everything looked promising, and I felt happy that I had chosen this restaurant for such an important celebration. Unfortunately, the evening soon turned into a disappointment.
The Starters Caused the First Problem
We ordered our drinks and then chose two starters to share between the four of us.
The first was the Mix Mezze. It included hummus, tzatziki, a slice of halloumi cheese, one vine leaf or dolma, kisir, a filo parcel and other small items.
When the dish arrived, I immediately started to worry. How could four people share one dolma and one slice of halloumi cheese?
I felt uncomfortable because I had invited our guests, but I decided to say nothing at first.
Then the Homemade Falafel arrived. The dish came with hummus dip, rocket and tomatoes. However, it contained only three falafel. There were four of us at the table.
This time, I could not stay quiet. I called the waiter and pointed out that we had only received three falafel. He explained that the dish normally came with three pieces.
I asked him, “How can four people share three falafel?”
I then asked if he could bring us one extra falafel. A few minutes later, he returned with another one, and I appreciated his response.
However, the experience left me disappointed. When a restaurant offers starters for sharing, the menu should clearly explain how many pieces each dish contains. Customers need that information before ordering, especially when four people want to share the food. At Kilis Restaurant, I did not receive that information.
The Main Courses Arrived
Soon afterwards, the waiter brought our main courses.
My wife ordered the Kleftico. She enjoyed it very much. The meat was lovely, succulent and full of flavour. Her dish was probably the best part of our meal.
One of our guests ordered Chicken with Tagliatelle. She had no complaints about the food. However, halfway through her meal, the waiter returned and asked if she wanted Parmesan cheese on top.
In my opinion, he should have offered the cheese when he first served the dish. Asking halfway through the meal seemed rather strange.
Our other guest ordered the Grilled Chops. The presentation looked attractive, and the dish appeared tasty. Unfortunately, the chops were very tough. My guest also felt disappointed with the small quantity.
My Disappointment with the Kilis Tava
I ordered the Kilis Tava, and I had looked forward to trying it. By this time, I felt very hungry, and I could not wait to start eating.
However, when the waiter placed the dish in front of me, I immediately felt disappointed.
The Kilis Tava looked nothing like the tava I knew or expected. The dish had a flat base with minced meat on top. The meat looked overcooked, almost burnt. It was tough and far too oily.
I did not like the appearance of the dish, but I was very hungry. Therefore, I decided to stay quiet and give it a chance. I ate about a quarter of the meal. Then I had to stop.
I simply could not continue. The food would not go down, and I could not enjoy another mouthful. I pushed the plate to one side. Worst of all, I was still hungry. “This Is the Worst Dinner I Have Had Eating Out”
This Was the Worst Dinner I Have Had Eating Out
After we finished, the waiter started clearing the empty plates. He asked us if we had enjoyed our meals. My guests said that they had enjoyed theirs.
Then he picked up my plate and asked, “What about you, sir? How was your dinner?” I could no longer hold back.
I said, “Do you want me to be honest with you? This is the worst dinner I have had eating out in my whole life.”
I also told him that the restaurant should remove the Kilis Tava from the menu.
I said, “I am sorry, but I am still hungry. I am going for fish and chips when I leave your restaurant.” That was exactly how I felt.
A Birthday Celebration That Ended in Disappointment
This evening was supposed to celebrate my wife’s 72nd birthday. I wanted to give her and our guests an exceptional night out.
The restaurant started the evening well. I liked the welcome, the atmosphere and our table near the window. The Kleftico also impressed my wife.
Sadly, the problems with the starters, the small portions, the tough grilled chops and, above all, my Kilis Tava completely spoiled the experience for me.
I will not eat at Kilis Restaurant again.
Of course, other people may have a completely different experience. However, based on my visit, I cannot recommend the Kilis Tava. I would not want anyone else to order it and experience the same disappointment that I did.
For me, it was one of the worst nights I have ever had while eating out.
What made it even more disappointing was the occasion. This was my wife’s birthday, and I had hoped for a wonderful celebration.
Instead, I left the restaurant hungry and went looking for fish and chips.
