Worst dining experiences
Discussion
Watching an episode of Come Dine With Me earlier, in which the host put sausages in a trifle! 
, got me thinking about the gap in hosting (and indeed cooking!) ability of amatuers vs professionals.
What I want to ask is, has anyone had any terrible experiences in restaurants, or any unexpected food surprises that was more Morcambe Bay than Michelin star?
, got me thinking about the gap in hosting (and indeed cooking!) ability of amatuers vs professionals. What I want to ask is, has anyone had any terrible experiences in restaurants, or any unexpected food surprises that was more Morcambe Bay than Michelin star?
I think I posted this one before in the wrong pizza toppings thread...
A few years ago the bird and I went to visit a mate living in Fiji. For a few days we ended up staying at a beach bungalow place in the Yasawas. A typical white sand and palm trees tropical paradise.
Dinner was served on a long table where every guest was seated (mostly backpackers) & everyone had the same thing - good fun and it makes it easy to make friends. Anyway, one night we got pizza. There is debate between lovers and haters of Hawaiian pizzas. There is no debate with Fijian: Peas, carrots, pineapple and BBQ sauce.
I suppose the experience itself wasn't necessarily the worst as looking at everyone's expressions was priceless (& the location wasn't bad either). But it was revolting
A few years ago the bird and I went to visit a mate living in Fiji. For a few days we ended up staying at a beach bungalow place in the Yasawas. A typical white sand and palm trees tropical paradise.
Dinner was served on a long table where every guest was seated (mostly backpackers) & everyone had the same thing - good fun and it makes it easy to make friends. Anyway, one night we got pizza. There is debate between lovers and haters of Hawaiian pizzas. There is no debate with Fijian: Peas, carrots, pineapple and BBQ sauce.
I suppose the experience itself wasn't necessarily the worst as looking at everyone's expressions was priceless (& the location wasn't bad either). But it was revolting
big_treacle said:
I think I posted this one before in the wrong pizza toppings thread...
A few years ago the bird and I went to visit a mate living in Fiji. For a few days we ended up staying at a beach bungalow place in the Yasawas. A typical white sand and palm trees tropical paradise.
Dinner was served on a long table where every guest was seated (mostly backpackers) & everyone had the same thing - good fun and it makes it easy to make friends. Anyway, one night we got pizza. There is debate between lovers and haters of Hawaiian pizzas. There is no debate with Fijian: Peas, carrots, pineapple and BBQ sauce.
I suppose the experience itself wasn't necessarily the worst as looking at everyone's expressions was priceless (& the location wasn't bad either). But it was revolting
Sounds ok to me A few years ago the bird and I went to visit a mate living in Fiji. For a few days we ended up staying at a beach bungalow place in the Yasawas. A typical white sand and palm trees tropical paradise.
Dinner was served on a long table where every guest was seated (mostly backpackers) & everyone had the same thing - good fun and it makes it easy to make friends. Anyway, one night we got pizza. There is debate between lovers and haters of Hawaiian pizzas. There is no debate with Fijian: Peas, carrots, pineapple and BBQ sauce.
I suppose the experience itself wasn't necessarily the worst as looking at everyone's expressions was priceless (& the location wasn't bad either). But it was revolting
I once punched a waiter at Chiquitos in Leicester Square. Apparently, the fact that we had been waiting for nearly an hour for food was our fault because some of our party of 10 only wanted starters and the rest only wanted mains, but because we wanted them to be served at the same time they would be delayed...He also called one of the women with us a b
h. We left without paying for the drinks we had already been served. Another of the party met us in the lobby which was an inch deep in water from the overflowing toilets, in which, he said, a couple were noisily shagging....I have never visited the chain again.
h. We left without paying for the drinks we had already been served. Another of the party met us in the lobby which was an inch deep in water from the overflowing toilets, in which, he said, a couple were noisily shagging....I have never visited the chain again.Pothole said:
I once punched a waiter at Chiquitos in Leicester Square. Apparently, the fact that we had been waiting for nearly an hour for food was our fault because some of our party of 10 only wanted starters and the rest only wanted mains, but because we wanted them to be served at the same time they would be delayed...He also called one of the women with us a bh. We left without paying for the drinks we had already been served. Another of the party met us in the lobby which was an inch deep in water from the overflowing toilets, in which, he said, a couple were noisily shagging....I have never visited the chain again.
You punched him and were allowed to just walk out of the restaurant? h. We left without paying for the drinks we had already been served. Another of the party met us in the lobby which was an inch deep in water from the overflowing toilets, in which, he said, a couple were noisily shagging....I have never visited the chain again.Hmm.
Original Poster said:
Pothole said:
I once punched a waiter at Chiquitos in Leicester Square. Apparently, the fact that we had been waiting for nearly an hour for food was our fault because some of our party of 10 only wanted starters and the rest only wanted mains, but because we wanted them to be served at the same time they would be delayed...He also called one of the women with us a bh. We left without paying for the drinks we had already been served. Another of the party met us in the lobby which was an inch deep in water from the overflowing toilets, in which, he said, a couple were noisily shagging....I have never visited the chain again.
You punched him and were allowed to just walk out of the restaurant? h. We left without paying for the drinks we had already been served. Another of the party met us in the lobby which was an inch deep in water from the overflowing toilets, in which, he said, a couple were noisily shagging....I have never visited the chain again.Hmm.
Curry chain in london. When we arrived we were told it was buffet only, rather than the normal menu. By the time we had queued, 2 of the 4 dishes on offer ran out. After waiting another 10 minutes we were told no more food was being put out (it was only 1:30 by now!)
We asked to see the manager and he wasn't available. We refused to pay, but left our contact details. They didn't contact us.
We asked to see the manager and he wasn't available. We refused to pay, but left our contact details. They didn't contact us.
HereBeMonsters said:
I've put a few up on TripAdvisor, but am still typing up my Cuban dining experiences. fking hell, I know it must be difficult to get ingredients what with all the Communism and everything, but c'mon. Half the stuff we were served would be banned as pet food in the West.
I'm inclined to think it serves you right for supporting the regime.king hell, I know it must be difficult to get ingredients what with all the Communism and everything, but c'mon. Half the stuff we were served would be banned as pet food in the West.Pothole said:
...Chiquitos in Leicester Square...
I once visited this establishment and went to visit the facilities. As I made my way between the tables I noticed a powerfully built fellow approaching and stood aside to let him pass. We then did the left-right-left 'sidewalk shuffle' swerve that often happens in such situations.I then realised it was my own reflection in a mirrored wall. :O
Truckosaurus said:
Pothole said:
...Chiquitos in Leicester Square...
I once visited this establishment and went to visit the facilities. As I made my way between the tables I noticed a powerfully built fellow approaching and stood aside to let him pass. We then did the left-right-left 'sidewalk shuffle' swerve that often happens in such situations.I then realised it was my own reflection in a mirrored wall. :O
We once turned up 5 minutes (and I mean 5 minutes tops) for a booked table for twelve in Pizza Express in Ealing and they'd given our table away.
But worst ever meal? That was in the "prettiest but worst" pub in my home village that I never went to, but my OH insisted we go there for a meal soon after she started coming down, as it "looked nice". Obviously what would I know having grown up there?
Can't remember all the details but the following stands out:
My OH's starter was meant to be prawn something, but it was a huge plate of shrimp that didn't smell that special.
Her main course was something in a red wine jus, but it was just the something.
The waiting staff were in a state of barely disguised panic despite the fact that the place was virtually empty.
My OH ordered a bottle of wine which on the 2nd attempt got as the bar top.
Eventually she went and got it herself so she'd have something to drink with her main course at least.
The landlord's children were running up and down the stairs adjoining the restaurant, and screaming while doing so, occasionally sallying in to the restaurant itself.
The high point of the evening was the waitress spilling a bowl of carrots round our feet. This in itself was an innocent mistake, but she didn't attempt to clean them up, or get someone else to, so we spent the rest of the meal with carrots round our feet. Both she and the landlord came back over to apologise for the carrots incident, but neither made any move to pick them up.
But worst ever meal? That was in the "prettiest but worst" pub in my home village that I never went to, but my OH insisted we go there for a meal soon after she started coming down, as it "looked nice". Obviously what would I know having grown up there?
Can't remember all the details but the following stands out:
My OH's starter was meant to be prawn something, but it was a huge plate of shrimp that didn't smell that special.
Her main course was something in a red wine jus, but it was just the something.
The waiting staff were in a state of barely disguised panic despite the fact that the place was virtually empty.
My OH ordered a bottle of wine which on the 2nd attempt got as the bar top.
Eventually she went and got it herself so she'd have something to drink with her main course at least.
The landlord's children were running up and down the stairs adjoining the restaurant, and screaming while doing so, occasionally sallying in to the restaurant itself.
The high point of the evening was the waitress spilling a bowl of carrots round our feet. This in itself was an innocent mistake, but she didn't attempt to clean them up, or get someone else to, so we spent the rest of the meal with carrots round our feet. Both she and the landlord came back over to apologise for the carrots incident, but neither made any move to pick them up.
Pizza Express, Pinner branch!
First of all this Pizza Express is more like a house than a restaurant, like a massive house! So we turned up and they took us up bunch of stairs and a few mins walk until we got seated in the frickin' loft, which was basically two small rooms and no one else there. I mean one of the reasons for going to restaurant is to eat something good and be at a busy place outside your house, this didn't tick any of those boxes!
Anyway as we ware in the loft of the place we had no one checking up on us, the waiter came every 20 mins or so, so we had a massive wait to get out order taken, after which another 30mins for our starters. We waited around 40mins our pizzas to arrive but the waiter arrived with more starters He said it was complementary because of the delay but tbh we wanted our pizzas.
Anyway the pizzas came and guess what!? Wrong orders! Two pizza ware messed up and they did a crappy job of fixing them, at the end our bill came and my sister and I both had Taste cards which would have made the bill half price, the manager came and she said sorry and said the bill would be half price, when I said we had taste cards which entitled us to another 50% off she said they ware no use which again was a big bull st.
First of all this Pizza Express is more like a house than a restaurant, like a massive house! So we turned up and they took us up bunch of stairs and a few mins walk until we got seated in the frickin' loft, which was basically two small rooms and no one else there. I mean one of the reasons for going to restaurant is to eat something good and be at a busy place outside your house, this didn't tick any of those boxes!
Anyway as we ware in the loft of the place we had no one checking up on us, the waiter came every 20 mins or so, so we had a massive wait to get out order taken, after which another 30mins for our starters. We waited around 40mins our pizzas to arrive but the waiter arrived with more starters
He said it was complementary because of the delay but tbh we wanted our pizzas.Anyway the pizzas came and guess what!? Wrong orders! Two pizza ware messed up and they did a crappy job of fixing them, at the end our bill came and my sister and I both had Taste cards which would have made the bill half price, the manager came and she said sorry and said the bill would be half price, when I said we had taste cards which entitled us to another 50% off she said they ware no use which again was a big bull s
t.Pothole said:
HereBeMonsters said:
I've put a few up on TripAdvisor, but am still typing up my Cuban dining experiences. fking hell, I know it must be difficult to get ingredients what with all the Communism and everything, but c'mon. Half the stuff we were served would be banned as pet food in the West.
I'm inclined to think it serves you right for supporting the regime.king hell, I know it must be difficult to get ingredients what with all the Communism and everything, but c'mon. Half the stuff we were served would be banned as pet food in the West.Against my better judgment, we took the kids to Conkers near Burton on Trent. The place itself defies categorization, being a wildlife park/nature reserve of some description. In our defence, we did have free tickets.
Anyway, being disorganized, we had not packed the usual rucksack-o-grub to avoid being ripped off, so risked the cafe.
Seemed busy, which I took as a good sign. Ordered some sort of bacon cheese burger from a menu of several burger varieties.
In which circle of hell would any professional kitchen think a burger from a tin, all soft and mushy, should be served to an unsuspecting customer without warning?
I've had burgers like that, but only from a scabby handcart style operation by a beach. But from a proper(ish) fixed operation offering different toppings as though they were interested in the food they were churning out?
Being a regular visitor to the dirty takeaway thread, I obviously finished it (I had paid for it), but I did so with a scowl on my face.
Anyway, being disorganized, we had not packed the usual rucksack-o-grub to avoid being ripped off, so risked the cafe.
Seemed busy, which I took as a good sign. Ordered some sort of bacon cheese burger from a menu of several burger varieties.
In which circle of hell would any professional kitchen think a burger from a tin, all soft and mushy, should be served to an unsuspecting customer without warning?
I've had burgers like that, but only from a scabby handcart style operation by a beach. But from a proper(ish) fixed operation offering different toppings as though they were interested in the food they were churning out?
Being a regular visitor to the dirty takeaway thread, I obviously finished it (I had paid for it), but I did so with a scowl on my face.
Truckosaurus said:
Pothole said:
...Chiquitos in Leicester Square...
I once visited this establishment and went to visit the facilities. As I made my way between the tables I noticed a powerfully built fellow approaching and stood aside to let him pass. We then did the left-right-left 'sidewalk shuffle' swerve that often happens in such situations.I then realised it was my own reflection in a mirrored wall. :O
I've never been to a Chiquitos, and after Pothole's tale, I don't think I'll be trying it in a hurry! Insulting a customer is surely one of the worst things a waiter/waitress could do.
My own worst experience isn't hugely terrible, but I was a bit miffed none the less.
Was in the restaurant of a hotel I was staying at in Aberdeen a couple of years ago, I ordered from the menu 'hunters chicken'...
When it came, it turned out to pork. The waiter's explanation was that they'd run out of chicken, so used pork as a substitute. Fair enough, but I'd rather have been told or given the option first. Spoiled the dish somewhat.
SeldomSeenKid said:
Was in the restaurant of a hotel I was staying at in Aberdeen a couple of years ago, I ordered from the menu 'hunters chicken'...
When it came, it turned out to pork. The waiter's explanation was that they'd run out of chicken, so used pork as a substitute. Fair enough, but I'd rather have been told or given the option first. Spoiled the dish somewhat.
Shouldn't it have been rabbit anyway?When it came, it turned out to pork. The waiter's explanation was that they'd run out of chicken, so used pork as a substitute. Fair enough, but I'd rather have been told or given the option first. Spoiled the dish somewhat.
I am prepared to be smacked in the head with the whoosh parrot
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