Tolone

Today I had a rather unpleasant experience at this place. I ordered a mixed sandwich and they brought me a “mixed smurf.” When I told the owner that wasn’t what I had ordered, she started insisting over and over that “a sandwich is just that, two slices of bread with cheese and turkey inside.”

Internationally, a mixed sandwich corresponds to what in many countries is known as a ham and cheese sandwich or grilled ham and cheese sandwich: two slices of sandwich bread, filled with cooked ham and cheese, usually toasted or grilled until the cheese melts. It’s a basic and widely recognized dish both in and outside of Spain. The very concept of “sandwich,” according to the Royal Spanish Academy, refers to two slices of sandwich bread with some food in between. It doesn’t mention rolls, small loaves, or traditional baguettes.

After the argument, she offered me an Argentinian soft roll with mayonnaise as an alternative, which also didn’t meet my order. At no point did I ask for mayonnaise or any type of bread other than the classic toasted sliced ​​bread, so I declined the option. It wasn’t a matter of improvising variations, but of serving what was requested.

The situation was awkward and completely unnecessary. Instead of acknowledging the possible confusion or admitting that the term can have different interpretations, they simply repeated it constantly, as if the customer didn’t know what they were ordering.

Furthermore, they even implied that we seemed to have only ever been to Estepona, as if only people here knew what a “mixed sandwich” was, suggesting that I hadn’t visited other parts of the world. I found that comment to be utterly disrespectful and highly unprofessional.

I’ve attached a photo of what they call a “mixed sandwich” here, and I’ve also attached an image of what a mixed sandwich actually is, as it’s known in Spain and around the world, to clear up any confusion.

It’s not just about the bread, but about the attitude. I left disappointed, not because of the sandwich itself, but because of the service I received. It’s a shame, because these situations are easily resolved with empathy, education, and professionalism.