News of Spanish tourists being physically assaulted by the owner of the bar where they had lunch in Porto Palermo and terrorized by him when they left is widely rumored. Only a few hours ago, the gruesome footage of Mihaj Kokedhima was released, which, thrown over the tourist van, slammed into the front windshield.
We would like to say that this is an unheard of case but not true. The restaurant where the ugly incident happened has one of the worst reviews on TripAdvisor. Among the comments left, we discovered that first, the restaurant does not comply with the law as it does not offer a menu to customers. Secondly, the owner Kokëdhima has also clashed with other customers, who fortunately did not suffer like Spanish tourists but remained with the same bitter taste in their mouths.
"Anyone who goes here will most likely be attacked by the owner. The first time we went to the beach, the owner was clashing with a couple who dared to sit in the same sunbed. The boy's nose was broken and he was bleeding completely. The second time, the owner caught up with another couple, who were our friends. Police arrived on time before the owner pulled out the gun. Other friends of ours who have been here have had the same terrible experience. Food was bad and expensive, even though it costs as much as a five star hotel [...] ?
?This restaurant made neither me nor my family feel welcome. My wife, my parents, and my wife (who are Albanians) went to the beach and set up the tent by the sea. We were waiting for the waitress to come and bring us a menu or ask for money. But no, the owner came, shouted at us, threw my mom out of her ponytail, threw away her purse and towel, spit on me, and shot my brother-in-law. The family of my wife who is native was scared. If I were in my country, I'd be back, but I wasn't. There are other great places just minutes away. Don't do this to yourself and your family. Avoid.
While the comments below prove that the menu is not there and that the prices are higher than the market, sometimes especially because the customer is a tourist. The restaurant also introduces the reserve fish as wild fish. In the event that clients confront someone, the situation gets out of control very quickly.
?Awesome service, nice view.
We ordered water and wine first. The summer was not that good. The usual price was 250 ALL, we paid 400 simply because we were tourists. We complained to the bartender, who simply said that it was his second working day. Don't go here. ?
"In the beginning, everything was fine: excellent sea, clean water, fishy flavor, but they have no menu, no prices, and no choice what to eat. Only serve fish in the carrier with salad and wine. The owner has no choice: he wants to sell his fish as expensive as possible. The fish is taken directly from the fisherman (who pays very little) in front of the restaurant and put in the carrier shortly thereafter (you have to wait a while). The situation is getting worse. They bring a bottle of wine to the table without asking and if they refuse, they get bored. In the end, the bill is unjustifiable: almost 3-4 times higher than real prices in Albania. The owner tends to sell wild fish stocks. It doesn't ask you what size you want the fish, it doesn't tell you before cooking it, it says nothing, it just asks for the money. Find another place to eat. ?
?I went to this open-minded restaurant. I didn't read the reviews online, we liked the look and the decor. The waiter was friendly - show us fresh fish. I asked about the price (not the weight) and they told me the price for a fish. The food was edible, but the worst quality I have tried in Albania. The bill reflected a different price than the waiter told me. After reading the reviews, I saw that he often did so. The look and decor are the only positive.
?The staff and the owner are rude. It is not at all like other hospitable places in Albania. Avoid it if you can. ?
?Avoid it at all costs. It's a trap for tourists, they don't have a price list and the cooking is more expensive than usual and most of all, the owner is violent. ?
Given such violations and given the repeated presence of police in the restaurant as a result of the owner's violent behavior, shouldn't something be done? Shouldn't the authorities have realized by now that something is wrong and that action must be taken? Let this be the last time someone pays double the price simply because he is a tourist, one of those tourists we look for so passionately. This is not the first time Mihal Kokedhima terrorizes clients, but hopefully the last.
