French hysteria @ Pop

Pop - 68 Hardware Lane, Melbourne


I never trust a place where they need someone out the front to try and get you in the door.   It reminds me of the middle-aged women with microphones on Swanston Street trying to get you in to buy cheap jewellery.  My usual reaction would be to keep walking.  However, this is the norm for lunchtime eating on Hardware Lane in the CBD.  


This was a high risk lunch.  A Friday work going away thing, pre-ordering off the lunch special menu.  A Spanish tapas place, with an entirely French staff.  My nervousness was heightened.   


Let's just say, this place was like Faulty Towers.  


- One guy's role was clearly to fill the water notwithstanding our glasses were full. 
- They didn't bother to ask for drinks orders.
- The head waiter smashed his hands on the table at the pass when an order went wrong.
- The head waiter asked a girl whether or not she "knew her own name" after he called out the wrong name to give her a pre-ordered meal. 
-  In beautiful french accent, the young waitress presented bottles of "Cok" to the table.


And the food:
- I think the kitchen ran out of Aborio Rice for the Risotto because I definitely had white rice in mine. 
- The Gazapcho was so tart it made my eyes water.
- I saw my co-worker bounce a gnocchi of the floor and it actually landed back on the table (skills!) 
-  Others raved about the Chicken Salad, and were unimpressed by the pizza.  


Overall, out of 10, I rate this place "Never again."  But hey, if you like Faulty Towers, I'd give it a crack for comedic value alone.