Would you send this back?

[mollymcguire]

Im a chef new in the job in a place with a vendetta from previous owners /staff and im gutted, I take such pride in my work and it took me a long time to gain the courage to go back to it, people keep posting negative things in trip advisor, booking tables and not showing up, and tonight sending back food that wasn't even tasted, I'm only new and under review and it's just so bad, I'm damn good at what I do, it was cooked to perfection, I just am deflated,

For me, and I apologise, this looks like you're trying too hard. It looks like a dish in a wetherspoons type place where it has been attempted to use Michelin style plating. It's good, honest food let it be good and honest on the plate.

As an aside did they order the tomato and pineapple together? I don't think I have ever seen both like that before.

I don’t love the presentation but I wouldn’t send it back (bloody weird to have egg and pineapple but if that’s what they ordered what can you do?).

Where abouts are you? I’m sure a mumsnetter or two will be local and willing to try a meal and review (assuming you understand that’s not a promise to love what you serve, just maybe a way to get a fair chance). If you give a general area someone might send you a PM for the details?

The chips look damn tasty.

I think with it all piled up it's quite off putting though.

Fucking rude to send back without trying though.

I wouldn’t plate it like that tbh. Looks very unappetising. The fact that the chips are entire under the gammon and thevgammon is entirely under the steak isn’t great. But I don’t really see why they would send it back without trying it at least.

No it was untouched! The waitress laid it on the table and they asked her to take it away straight away without even taking up a fork!
So it wouldn't go to waste, one of my regulars at the bar said don't let that go to the bin I'll have it! And cleaned the plate!!
The food cost £8.95,
Pub is a wholesome traditional home cooked food pub, it's not me trying to hard it's just me having pride in my work,
I'd welcome any reviews once honest! But don't judge me on the errors of past, oh and I am the management as well! I run the whole place on behalf of the owners!

Oh and I gave it free of charge to the other customer!!

What happened in the past that means they are treating you badly now? And why did they employ you? Surely the empty tables and bad reviews are only harming their own business? That aside it looks fine. And im hungry now.

Op sorry to have read this. You pour your heart and soul into doing a great job and things like this do hurt. Sounds to me as if the customer didn’t even look at it before sending it back ? If so don’t worry too much about asking what was ‘wrong’ with it.

It does sound as if you might think about starting to look for a job away from the vendetta (which is nothing to do with you or your talents). Somewhere you really can flourish without baggage.

Very odd. Why send it back without tasting/touching it? Very strange.

They employed me based on my past references and skill, to try and change the persona of the place and to improve the kitchen, the actual pub management overall everything really, I come from this background and have done it for years so not a great big challenge to me,
Bad blood come from old staff being let go/ sacked for job related performance, rudeness to customers, not up to spec,

Sounds like there’s something funny going on. Your food looks more than fine.

It's the first time in 3 years I've had food come back, I'm. 20 years in a job I love and I'm proud to say very good at, it's just a battering I'm trying to make this place a success and I know I can, but my professional integrity is taking a hit, I'm just deflated because I know there is more to come, i dread looking at trip advisor,

Looks bloody yummy to me! I'd be happy to be served that.. especially those proper chips.
Don't let it get you down, once word gets round that the place is doing good food people will travel to come find you... it's harder than you'd think to find decent pub grub!

If the customer sent it back without tasting, they need to leave.

Nothing wrong with the food you served. My girls love gammon, and chips and would have wolfed it down.

It looks like you have piled it all up. It doesn't look very appetising to me.

Even if people aren't keen on the way it's plated that's hardly a valid reason to send it back untouched!

The chips don’t look good, burnt and greasy.

I'm sure you are good at what you do but this offering doesn't look appealing at all. That said they should have at least tried it.

I dont think it looks bad at all. Its insane they would send it back and obviously the other diner enjoyed it!

Have you considered writing a response to any derogatory Trip Advisor reviews of the food you have prepared?

There is nothing to complain about there OP. It all sounds very strange and yes, I'd be responding to unfounded negative comments on TA. Especially when the customer hasn't even tasted the food.

I'm pretty fussy when eating out. I've sent things back before (with good reason and politely). That looks really good to me. Especially the chips and the egg. Nothing wrong with your presentation either.

It's not the quality of your food or skill that's the problem. No idea what it is, but it's definitely not you. I'd start hunting for another place to work.

On closer inspection the chips are maybe a bit over done? But they look like they'd taste good and to not taste something before sending it back is just daft.

It is a teeny tiny portion, unless the peas are in a mixing bowl! The egg is over cooked and the pineapple looks like a weird mouldy prawn.

The presentation isn't to my taste. I hate food touching like this. Laid out flat I'd try it though. Chips do look over cooked vs the shitty oven chips most places serve now so maybe that confused them? .

Also what heathen orders egg and pineapple together