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Hello all,I'm new to this area and being of Italian origin(parents + living there 15 years)I was very happy to come across terracotta deli on northfield avenue.I cannot believe that it has collected such bad criticism, but reading some of the posts and comments I can clearly see that the posts have been left by people who obviously know nothing about quality and good taste!My partner and I (which both work in catering here and in Italy over last 15 years)wanted to try this place out on friday (2/3 weeks ago) but it was fully booked! we wanted to try again on saturday but it was fully booked again!! so we booked for following friday and got a table! The menu is small and changes often which is typical of a small family run "osteria" and is allways a good sign that the food is prepared fresh daily and properly. Also like any good osteria there were a couple of daily specials available.Beeing Italians we started off with their selection of affettati (various salamis, hams....)accompanied by fantastic authentic Italian bread and single estate tuscan olive oil,all excellent quality and fresh! We shared a "primo" (italian firt course, normally a pasta)this time we chose wild boar ravioli which came with a simple tomato sauce and topped with sardinian ash matured pecorino cheese which perfectly complimented the light gaminess of the ravioli filling.For our main course we both opted for the daily special which was  marinated grilled lamb loin with grilled vegetables and a very creamy and rich potato pure.Again very tasty and cooked to perfetion.As for the wine, with our affettati and primo we had a bottle of franciacorta prosecco which was very fruity crisp and dry, a perfect accompaniment to the affettati especially. With the lamb we had a couple glasses of house red ( a very palatable merlot from Veneto).we did not have dessert as we were to full but had a real "caffe'" italian espresso which is definately the most authentic we have had so far in this area.The only thing I would say to the chef is to make the portions a little smaller! but i dont think that is a bad thing!Grazie a tutti a Terracotta e non ascoltare a la gente ignorante e antipatica.Ciao e ci vediamo presto.

paul schettini ● 6118d

Dear sad lonely single latte drinker,You are obviously alot more stupid than you look! I never forget a face, especially one as ugly as yours ( which explains why you go aronud drinking coffe by yourself and then having a bitch because no one will aknowlege you!)Do you in your sad lonely little mind think I'm going to take advice from somebody who complains that their "latte" as you american copycats call it, came sprinkled with coco on top? you are nothing but an uncreative, culturless, sad pathetic little man that drives around alone in a van selling bastardised italian/american coffe!!You still think terracotta is a coffe shop, because you walked in saw a coffee machine and assumed thats all we did! You seemed very confused having a waiter come and bring you a menu to your table! you kept on insisting to order at the counter where people were working and did not even bother to open the menu and just demaded a "latte". you are obviously only used to going to establishments where you queue up, place an order and find somwhere to sit! (a little like mcdonalds)!! All you did that day was make yourself look like an ignorant small  minded arogant twat!Your description of my husband is just a childish attempt of clever name calling, but all you have proven is that you,like on the day of your visited just did not have the bottle to say anything to him!! that must be another reason why you go around by yourself without any one!! There is nothing less attractive than a man who has no guts, balls, bottle... have I made myself clear you little ransid penis! you are a COWARD!! Not very sexy!! The custumer is king?? Yes absolutely right! But if its an ignorant one that is rude and stupid? They can F.....f take their "latte" and the 50 pence it generates!!As for advice on business, I prefer to listen to my husband, as he has had four very succesfull businesses in the past, all of which he has sold and made very good money out of!My business does not need correcting as we have been very busy from day one, and the figures and bottom line are continiously improving and prooving this!!How did you get on finding your part time member of staff for your one man band coffe van joke of a business, that you whare going to pay cash in hand no questions asked??In the future keep that ugly nose of yours out of my business!! and if you have something to say to and about my husband do it to his face, you little coward! you know where he is!I'm going to get off now as I have another very busy day ahed of me tomorrow!  See you tomorrow?? You aint got the balls little fella!!

Judyta Zablocka ● 6337d

Judyta,I don't know whether you are a man or a woman and I don't care. I was the original person who created the post you say you cannot find. Have another look and take some time to read my comments and the comments of fellow posters who also had a bad experience in the place you work in/own.I would dearly love Terracotta to succeed, as an antidote to Starbucks and as verification of the diversity and life of Northfields. In my initial response I criticised the staff and the man who was running the establishment on the day I visited. The waiter brought a latte to me with chocolate sprinkled on top and it was cold. The man in charge (overweight, bearded, is he the owner? Are you?) was rude to his staff in full view and hearing of the customers and was dismissive of his customers. If the staff were bringing me a badly prepared beverage it is because they haven't been correctly trained. Ranting at them only reinforces this point. The manager/owner clearly needs to rethink how he interacts with the staff and customers and the owners need to reassess their attitude to training and customer service. When I buy a coffee I want a great tasting cup of coffee, served by knowledgable, polite staff with an interest in what they are being paid to do. That is all I ask for. If you can get this right and not take offence when a customer has a complaint, your business will flourish. If you fail to take on board customer complaints and react negatively to them, as you seem to be doing in this forum I predict the business is doomed. The customer is king. Get the product right, get the service right and you will succeed. Now stop ranting and get on with correcting your business. Good luck!

Darren Halford ● 6337d