Triston N.
Yelp
As a seasoned visitor to London and the variety of eating establishments available around the city and surrounding areas, I am accustomed now to the service - or lack thereof - that seems to be du jour and I am NOT here for it!
In summary?
Our party reserved for brunch weeks ago, so when we arrived, they should have already known we were coming and how to set up the table. But did that occur? Were they ready to receive us?
A resounding NO.
We were seated fine enough, but then we were quickly forgotten about time and time again. We ordered tea, but no sugar was on our table
No cream was set or delivered to our table until we had to repeatedly ask. When I order coffee or tea, the expectation is that cream and sugar be set on the table as well, whether I USE THEM or not. The ONLY thing we had on our table when we were seated were salt and table.
Red flag.
The other issue?
We seemed to have a few servers/waiters that were tending to our table - up to 3 possibly - yet we STILL managed to get adequate service for the entire duration of our stay. I know when I order food, I like to have a set of cutlery to go with my food. Is that too much to ask? Or more succinctly: WHY should I have to ask for something that should already be there?
Two people at the table ordered drinks that they did not like, so asked the staff to take them back and then asked for them to suggest other drinks on the menu. If your staff tells you to disregard half of the drinks on the menu, that is a CLEAR sign that a NEW drink menu should be instituted. Also, when they ordered the new drinks, there was a billing issue - the server took off the bill the new drinks ordered, but left the other ones on the bill - probably because they cost more. If it seems shady/deceitful and like bad business, that's because it is/was.
Furthermore?
Our party was moved to another table, where we were set to order brunch as that was the intention when we made the reservation in the first place. However? We were instructed that no one could order brunch unless EVERYONE ordered brunch. Or to be even more specific, the server tried to force us all to order a brunch even though some people did not want that option. This establishment, if I understand correctly, is a chain, and this was not at issue when we went to the other location, so someone there needs to explain to me - like I am a 5-year-old - how a table can have approximately/allegedly 3 people tending to it, yet cannot be responsible for ensuring that said party is not 'cheating' the system by drinking one another's alcohol that comes with certain brunch orders? Because that was the implication for NOT allowing about half of the party to order the brunch.
The money this restaurant lost by inefficiency and - dare I say - laziness will not be overlooked.
The upside?
The food was very good, well-presented, and tasty. Everyone at the table had great reviews of their food, so if you desire great food, then this is the place for you.
But the service?
Absolutely horrid.
When it came time to pay, it took nearly half an hour in total for us to pay out and this is why.
There were hidden fees on the bill that had to be addressed, donations to charities that were not donations. To the owners of this place, let's be clear: it's not a donation if you don't ASK your patrons about said donation. If you have to explain the donation, where it's going, and why it's on a bill without explanation, you already KNOW what that is - a scam. For this, we brought over the manager and had it removed.
And last but certainly not least that will NOT be overlooked?
Our waitress, who was with us the entire time and looked scared out of her wits because we probably made her WORK more than she ever has on ANY shift there...
- took all of our orders
- cleared our tables
- delivered our food and condiments
- presented us with the bill
with her notepad and pen in the CROTCH of her yoga pants, which she pulled out and placed back in said crotchal zone for hours while tending to us. That is a huge red flag and if I had realized it sooner, I would have said something. It was not until we were paying the second time that I realized what she was doing with her uniform - or lack thereof.
#Tacky.
Tawdry.
If THAT is not disgusting in and of itself, then I really don't know what is. And if I have to EXPLAIN why that is disgusting and unhygienic, then you really should not be in business.
When it comes to tipping, as an American, I tip very well, so I don't need to be educated on the tenets of that. However, what I REFUSE to tip on is subpar service where the restaurant preys on the ignorance of SOME patrons and assumes they can get away with it unscathed.
Computer says NO.
2 stars out of 5.