Pub meal that wasn't right didn't eat it. Then they phoned police

hollydays

You are being a bit vague I think.
If they served steaks that were supposed to be medium rare,and they were not well -enough cooked,surely,even with a temperamentle chef,you could have said "well although I asked for medium rare,I would like you to take them back and cook them for a little bit longer",if he refused I am still not sure you would have a leg to stand on.As said,bad customer service,take it up with head office.

If they got stuck in the "well I say they are not medium rare" and the chef said "they are" that could have been the problem!

If however they thought the steaks were cooked too much,that is unfair of them to expect another steak to be cooked to their liking.However,what do I know!!

I tend to think leaving without paying was not a good idea.

If I asked for a fish pie and complained it was too salty for my taste buds-would I expect them to make up another exactly to my specification?

But I haven't heard you say the food was terrible or unfit to eat.

Idiophreak

hollydays wrote: »

If however they thought the steaks were cooked too much,that is unfair of them to expect another steak to be cooked to their liking.However,what do I know!!

It's not unfair. It's most often cost-cutting by these places that means they're unwilling to employ a proper chef who knows how to cook a steak properly. They have some little teen kiddie doing it and they come out like old boot leather. This is not the customer's fault. It's the pub's fault. The customer shouldn't pay for a replacement. The pub should pay for a replacement. I've sent steaks back a couple of times for being overcooked...Most often the waitress looks at it, goes "err, yeah, that's nowhere near rare" and off they go. Obviously if it's "hmm, this looks more medium than medium rare.." that's one thing, but I've had some that are beyond well done when I've ordered medium rare or rare (I tend to order rare in these places as they invariably overcook them - on a good day it ends up coming out just right, medium rare )

hollydays wrote: »

If I asked for a fish pie and complained it was too salty for my taste buds-would I expect them to make up another exactly to my specification?

It's a tough one...some people would send it back if it were too salty though...this is, again, slightly different, though...a rare steak and a well done steak are just completely different things, different texture, different taste...it's like ordering the fish pie and them giving you a steak and kidney pie instead - it's still a pie...but not the *right* pie...

Xaviera

Name and shame please

I'm shocked the police got involved!

hollydays

You could be right.
But when I said cooked too much-I don't mean that boot leather thing (urgh i had that once I think they had sat it in the oven to keep warm for a few hours)
I meant more overcooked to a degree,as in not quite to their personal taste.

poet123

I wouldnt have paid either, but you do need to leave your name and address as a sign of good faith.

What did the police say? are they going to pursue the case against your in laws? under what charge? I cant see this going any further.

Name and shame!! then we can all steer clear, that is no way to treat customers (if all is as has been stated)

stevenhp1987

"If the problem is the quality of the food rather than the service and it is so poor as to be a breach of contract, again you are entitled to reduce the bill or refuse to pay. However, if you are going to do this you need to tell the waiter at the time the food is served or if you first taste it. The restaurant is entitled to have the opportunity of putting good the problem."

"It is a criminal offence on your part to go into a restaurant and order a meal with the intention of not paying for it. Restaurants often wrongly believe this means you have to pay for a meal whatever the circumstances. This is not the case. So long as you have a genuine reason for not paying and you leave your name and address, you have not acted in any way dishonestly."

http://www.thesite.org/homelawandmoney/law/yourrights/restaurantrightsthebill

mishkanorman

we once had someone complaining about his steak being too rare, he demanded money off the entire bill for 'the inconvenience' ( I freaking hate that term) he was dining with 3 other people and expected to only pay for starters.

He did receive a discount and wasnt charged for the steak in question purely because its a family pub and the landlord didnt need the hassle, this was obviously a tactic he used quite frequently as he was coming out with all sorts of rubbish about trading standards etc.


some people do just try it on, and if thats happened in the past with the pub in question I can see why they may be taking a firm hand this time round.


mishka

hollydays

So by not leaving your address, where would that leave you?Is the inference its a dishonest act?

geri1965_2

I can't believe they wasted police time over £20.

Pathetic.

rev_henry

Seems pretty shoddy service on the part of the pub not to put it right. I would have thought most places would immediately scurry off to sort it for you. Couldn't possibly comment on rarety of steaks as I'm veggie, but I am always amused when my gf asks for hers very very well done.

As for police, well, they shouldn't be interested or involved as surely its just a civil matter? Although you probably should have left details as a sign of good faith or whatever you call it, but sounds to me like they've nothing better to do if they're calling trading standards on the landlord's behalf.