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'Please leave me alone to look at menu! Overseas restaurant touts' blog discussion

24

Comments

  • I hate it in any sort of shop.
    I like to take my time and will ask for help if i need it.
    "what lies behind us & what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us" Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • flimsier
    flimsier Posts: 799 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    When we went to Rome before when Mrs flimsier was 6 months pregnant, we booked the restaurants in advance on toptable given the recommendations.

    Problem was, if I booked them for 8pm, at about 8.30pm she was ready for bed due to the pregnancy.
    Can we just take it as read I didn't mean to offend you?
  • Azrael_1701
    Azrael_1701 Posts: 450 Forumite
    I find that it can be very off-putting, although not in all cases. I have just returned from Greece a few weeks ago, where this practice is common too, and in most cases I would agree that it makes me just want to walk on. The exception being when I approached what looked like a really nice restaurant(the food was REALLY good...) and started looking at the menu, one of the waiters came up and just started having a chat, he wasn't pushy or trying to sell it at all, just chatting about how things were going. Eventually I said that I would be back later when I was ready to eat (about 8pm), and when I got there he had reserved the best table for me all night, plus a free desserts and drinks at the end of our meal(a nice little surprise). Lets just say that he got a really good tip, and would definitely go back there!
    100% G33K
    :D:D:D:D:D
  • rpb424
    rpb424 Posts: 77 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    I've never heard of a 'Trattatoria' other than as mis-pronounced by Gladys Pugh in Hi-De-Hi! I'm sure that a real 'Trattoria' would never hassle you!
  • Errata
    Errata Posts: 38,230 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    God forbid anyone in their own country trying all ends up to make a living should offend the delicate sensibilities of a tourist!
    If you don't like it, go to Cleethorpes.
    .................:)....I'm smiling because I have no idea what's going on ...:)
  • Chipie_2
    Chipie_2 Posts: 16 Forumite
    Yep they do purposely wait outside food places in France ready to hook people in. It does put me off. I will not be pressured into a decision thank you very much!¬ :p
  • ScarletBea
    ScarletBea Posts: 2,921 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Not a british thing, I'm portuguese and I hate it.
    Do they really think that by forcing themselves on you, you're going to choose to eat there??
    Being brave is going after your dreams head on
  • hawkwinds
    hawkwinds Posts: 22 Forumite
    When you're reading the menu on the door, I hate when they say 'Can I help you''?..ermm no, I've been able to read since I was 5 thanks very much
  • Jaycee21
    Jaycee21 Posts: 471 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    the worst pressure me and the OH have ever been under was in Jamaica, where we stopped on a cruise.

    Now I understand that we are "money" to them, but pulling the taxi infront of us and yes I mean on to the pavement to ask us if we want a taxi when we are less than 100yrds to the port entrance is a bit extreme. They offered us "a little something" to make the day even better, which of course we refused and then did I want my hair braided! I'm very, VERY fair skinned and have short hair, not really my style.

    All the other islands we visited, yes we was asked but when we said no thank you, they just said "enjoy our island and have a great day" No hassle/ offence or anything.

    Just adding my 2 penny worth in :D
    [FONT=&quot]"Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?" - Lucy Maud Montgomery :hello:[/FONT]
    :T:jThank you to all the competition posters, you are all brilliant! :j:T
  • Purple_kitten
    Purple_kitten Posts: 3,182 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    We’ve had it a lot in the UK also, there was a lovely local cafe which had new management, we went in as normal and the waiter proceeded to argue that I should have the beef, even when I explained I don’t eat or want beef I want what I’ve asked for.

    The absolute worst places we’ve encountered are car sales, I know by the nature of the business you have to expect some “hard sales” but we were treated very badly at Car Craft in Thurrock, by an absolute oik of a salesperson, we were very happy to take our sales money and their commission elsewhere in fact it made it feel a lot better!
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