Cafe Rouge 2 for 1 voucher

Caterina

Hi MSErs,

Today I had relatives visiting and decided to treat them to a Cafe Rouge meal.

I printed the voucher and called our nearest (Blackheath), who said they do not allow the voucher before 5pm - this is not stated anywhere on the voucher.

So I called the next nearest one (Greenwich) and after a lot of queries back and forth from the waitress who picked up the phone and her manager they confirmed that the voucher is accepted.

In the T&C the voucher states: one voucher per party (up to 6 people).

I took this to mean that if 6 people dine, 3 can have a free main meal - am I wrong in my interpretation? Everyone I asked seems to agree with this.

It was four of us, we had 5 main meals all together (one was in lieu of side salads on suggestion of the waitress when we said we wanted a large bowl of salad to share).

Anyway, at bill time I was informed that I can only use the voucher for ONE main meal, even if I had two vouchers the second one would not be processed. So I ended up paying £78 and they deducted a pitiful £6.95 for the caesar salad (which we had bought as a side dish!).

I complained to the manager but he was adamant that this was what he had been instructed to do.

I asked for Head Office phone number and will take it further, will post here the results. In my opinion Cafe Rouge are in breech of contract, but if it comes out that the manager was right, the voucher is seriously deceitful for customers!

Meanwhile, watch out - this is not the first time that restaurants try to make their own rules around promotions and offers. When planning to use the voucher ring your local Cafe Rouge and clarify all the terms and conditions in advance!

I am curious to hear other people's experiences.

Caterina

aaron772

This is awful make sure you do complain this cant be right, I would take this exactly as you did and if 4 people dine you would pay for the 2 most expensive meals, well thats what it means in most restaurants when they have 2for1's.


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Dont be too quick to judge

Cazza

I would have interpreted it the same way as you. You'd expect them to onlyy make the cheapest meals the free ones, but that interpretation is really cheeky! Are Cafe Rouge franchises at all????

Lima-India

I'm sorry for your bad experience, but I understand it the same way as Cafe Rouge. It's the same with the current Ask, HaHa and Pizza Express 2for1 vouchers. The only one current one I'm aware of that's good for when more than 2 people are dining is the Zizzi 2for1, where it states that as many vouchers as you want can be used for the party - the only downside being it's Sun to Thurs only.
I've been stung in similar situations before - so I always check at the time of ordering what offers I'm intending to use (even if I've phoned up and checked at time of booking).

Caterina

Lima-India I see what you are saying, but I thought the voucher is worded in quite an illogical way: if it is valid only for one free meal, why put the caveat "parties of no more than 6 people"? What does it matter how many people eating at the same table if they only give ONE free meal? See what I mean?

In addition the manager assured me that even if I had brought two vouchers for the four of us, they would not be allowing it as it is (in his words) ONE PER PARTY - this is not stated anywhere on the voucher.

I feel that it is truly deceitful! If it had been stated clearly I would not have begrudged it, but would probably have chosen to eat somewhere else, there are some very nice and much cheaper restaurants in Greenwich!

Caterina

amc1

5 of us went to ASK and used two vouchers (ie. we only paid for 3).

maryotuam

Thanks for letting me know about this problem. I was going to go to Cafe Rouge with 3 friends and print out 2 vouchers but I'll go somewhere else instead as I can't risk being embarassed at the venue.

gatherer

could please tell me how to get the voucher there is nothing about it on cafe rouge website used our last two breakfast tickets on friday could someone please oblige thank you

sinw

report them to trading standards

LilacLillie

Good idea! Ring TS and ask them if they interpreted the voucher wording in the same way as you and us do.
Let Cafe Rouge know you'll be doing it as well.
Good luck!
LL

sinw wrote: »

report them to trading standards

roddydogs

Cant u just print off more vouchers, and if you say a party of six, go as 3 x 2, people sitting at the same table?