Anyone want a table at Restaurant Sat Bains for tomorrow?

[Chim Girl]

There is a strong possibility that I'm going to be unable to make the reservation I have for dinner and accommodation at Sat Bains in Nottingham for tomorrow evening.

I'll know for definite tonight if I can make it or not. However, before I call and cancel, would anyone like to take the reservation?

http://www.restaurantsatbains.com

[Sarkmeister]

I assume you are aware that if they can't replace you you will be charged, a lot...

[Melman Giraffe]

Looks to be good value.

[Chim Girl]

IIRC its a £90 per person cancellation fee. Much less than the bill would be if I went there! Not that cost is the reason for cancelation.

This was a surprise birthday gift, happy to pass on at a discount.

[LooneyTunes]

Melman Giraffe said:

Looks to be good value.

It is amongst the worst restaurants in which I have ever eaten. I'd eat at McDonalds rather than go back there.

Of course, given its rise in prominence, others obviously think it's OK.

ETA: should point out that my experience was a couple of years ago so things might have changed since then.

Edited by LooneyTunes on Thursday 17th January 13:06

[Melman Giraffe]

LooneyTunes said:

Melman Giraffe said:

Looks to be good value.

It is amongst the worst restaurants in which I have ever eaten. I'd eat at McDonalds rather than go back there.

Of course, given its rise in prominence, others obviously think it's OK.

I'm suprised! Sat is a well regarded Chef

[Mr Gearchange]

LooneyTunes said:

It is amongst the worst restaurants in which I have ever eaten. I'd eat at McDonalds rather than go back there.

Of course, given its rise in prominence, others obviously think it's OK.

ETA: should point out that my experience was a couple of years ago so things might have changed since then.

Edited by LooneyTunes on Thursday 17th January 13:06

In what ways was McDonalds a superior dining experience?
I'm generally interested to know as Sat Bains is on my list of places to eat in the next few months

[Chim Girl]

LooneyTunes said:

It is amongst the worst restaurants in which I have ever eaten. I'd eat at McDonalds rather than go back there.

Oh dear... What was the issue that caused your disappointment?

[LooneyTunes]

Let's put it this way, it's the only time I've felt compelled to remove the service charge at a restaurant of that supposed calibre. They obviously knew they'd fallen well short of expectations as they didn't even blink or bother to ask why we wouldn't pay the not-insignificant service charge. Not the reaction I'd expected. Didn't even attempt to force us into British social compliance by asking how the meal was.

Food: lacklustre (and due to the speed of service/portion size all left feeling hungry) but "try hard" at the same time.
Service: very slow and inattentive throughout. For example, I've never dined anywhere else where the wait staff think it is acceptable for most of the glasses on our table to run dry and leave them in such a state for so long that the diner feels the need to recover their bottle from the other side of the room. Twice.
Value: felt it to be very poor

Older and wiser, if I experienced the same today, there's no way the bill would have been paid in full. In fact I'd probably have left mid-way through the meal and trotted over to Harts.

As I say there are those who rave about the place - and I hope your experience if you go is closer to theirs than mine! - but personally I'll not be going back.

[mattdaniels]

LooneyTunes said:

they didn't even blink or bother to ask why we wouldn't pay the not-insignificant service charge. Not the reaction I'd expected.

You'll probably think me weird, but I think that is the correct reaction. Service charge is discretionary. I don't expect an at-table dissection of why I have or haven't chosen to reward service.

[mybrainhurts]

Chim Girl said:

http://www.restaurantsatbains.com

Why have they put pics of a crappy concrete bridge and graffiti on the home page of their website..? Puzzled...

[Mr Gearchange]

You should see where it's located.

[dazco]

mattdaniels said:

LooneyTunes said:

they didn't even blink or bother to ask why we wouldn't pay the not-insignificant service charge. Not the reaction I'd expected.

You'll probably think me weird, but I think that is the correct reaction. Service charge is discretionary. I don't expect an at-table dissection of why I have or haven't chosen to reward service.

Oddly, on that menu, it doesn't say it is.

[LooneyTunes]

mattdaniels said:

LooneyTunes said:

they didn't even blink or bother to ask why we wouldn't pay the not-insignificant service charge. Not the reaction I'd expected.

You'll probably think me weird, but I think that is the correct reaction. Service charge is discretionary. I don't expect an at-table dissection of why I have or haven't chosen to reward service.

Valid point, except they'd taken so long to deliver the bill that it was paid for at the desk whilst the ladies sorted coats.

Irrespective of how they'd handle the service charge, I would have expected some general query at some point throughout/after the meal about how we were finding it. There was none.

...and yes, the location is strange. Thought the cabbie was taking us somewhere quiet to be murdered!

[mattdaniels]

LooneyTunes said:

mattdaniels said:

LooneyTunes said:

they didn't even blink or bother to ask why we wouldn't pay the not-insignificant service charge. Not the reaction I'd expected.

You'll probably think me weird, but I think that is the correct reaction. Service charge is discretionary. I don't expect an at-table dissection of why I have or haven't chosen to reward service.

Valid point, except they'd taken so long to deliver the bill that it was paid for at the desk whilst the ladies sorted coats.

Irrespective of how they'd handle the service charge, I would have expected some general query at some point throughout/after the meal about how we were finding it. There was none.

I guess that highlights a mismatch of expectations. Not saying you're wrong or the restaurant is wrong, but its an interesting point. eg. eat in a Berni Inn, I'd expect the table staff to come back and check if I was enjoying the meal. Eat at the Fat Duck, I'd fall off my chair if Heston popped out and asked if the picnic blanket was reduced to my liking. I have never eaten at a Sat Bains establishment but I assume you think he is at the Berni Inn end of the scale?

[Inny]

What a surprise to see a thread about Sat Bains! I live on the otber side of that concrete bridge and have mentioned it to my FIL a few times.

A few times too many for his liking, as he bought his little girl (and me!) a voucher for the place as Christmas present.

Looking forward to eating a Michelin-starred restaurant for the first time. Previously the best restaurant I've eated has probably been World Service in Nottingham.

Hope it's better than McDonalds.

Edited by Inny on Thursday 17th January 22:20

[Regiment]

Looking through the website, the entire restaurant seems very odd and I've never come across a place like it before. Also never heard of a restaurant charging a cancellation fee before, the thought horrifies me.

[LooneyTunes]

mattdaniels said:

Eat at the Fat Duck, I'd fall off my chair if Heston popped out and asked if the picnic blanket was reduced to my liking.

It's usually a little more subtle than that. I've been fortunate to eat at a good number of very well regarded restaurants and, if it's a tasting menu, I generally find there's some rapport built up between the waiting staff and our table which also helps - other places I've eaten have picked up the general atmosphere at the table, what's been left on the plate, or asked during collection of plates etc for each course.

[Rude Girl]

Regiment said:

Also never heard of a restaurant charging a cancellation fee before, the thought horrifies me.

The Fat Duck does too.

[Chim Girl]

Just to update everyone. I cancelled Sat Bains due to circumstances outside my control, they called back later in the day to send good wishes and advise that they would not charge a cancellation fee.

Personally, I have no issue with them charging, it's unlikely they'll get a walk-in customer to take up the places I didn't. I'm sure the restaurant purchased ingredients and had employed sufficient kitchen/front of house/waiting staff to ensure that my evening would have been enjoyable, why shouldn't they recoup that lost cost?