Could I please have some sympathy for my very, very sad lunch experience?

[OompaLumpaLabrador]

DH and I hardly ever get any ( child free) time together. So, we decided today to take a could of hours out to have lunch together at the local smart gastropub-wotnot. We even put on our nice coats to wander into town. It was deserted so we sat down and ordered lovely sounding tapas. We sat politely and waited. And waited. And sipped our drinks. And suffered minor smoke inhalation from the rustic open fire. And waited. The staff (so many of them!) wandered about nattering. After forty minutes we politely mentioned we were on a bit of a tight schedule. Turns out our order mysteriously never made it to the kitchen (we could see the kitchen from our table, it was hardly a trek). They were moderately apologetic but still brought over a bill for our drinks. We were very English and left with a polite but chilly smile. My poor husband is American. I don’t think he has the social-cognitive architecture to process this lunchtime letdown. He can’t stop muttering about it. He will probably call his mum for a special conversation about this.

I was so looking forward to a nice lunch together. In the end, we both had an apple and a bit of cheese. I’m really quite sad now. And considering joining Tripadvisor.

Please send sympathy and and similar stories of lamearsed service.

He will probably call his mum for a special conversation about this.

That’s pants. Covid and brexit have worsened already mixed UK customer service.

But you shouldn’t have paid for the drinks! That’s on you!

Yes we would like an update on or examples of his conversations with his mother!

A few years ago we went to a veggie restaurant for my birthday. We’d booked, so they were expecting us. And we were the only people in (2 adults & 2 children). It took 1 1/4 hrs for our food to arrive by which time the children were really ratty.

Tbh we should have left, but we’re not very assertive and kept expecting the food to turn up any minute.

It closed down a couple of months after that (not surprisingly).

But losing your order was crap. What a pita.

He will probably call his mum for a special conversation about this.

I feel his pain. I have to let everyone know if I miss a meal too

Went to a pizza hut up north, sat there, and sat there, other people came in after us and got served. When we finally got our order, it was cold. We complained to the waitress about the lack of service and cold food, the manager came over and shouted at us. He said we must not complain to the waitress. We got up and walked out. Another place, up north again - we sat there waiting to be served, the waiting staff were standing there talking. We asked for service, and were totally ignored. Got up and walked out. Went to another well-known chain, and every thing was fine. I contacted the head office of pizza hut, and they contacted the branch to find out what went on. The letter they sent me, made it sound like it was my fault. Another time, up north again!! I ordered a meal in kfc, ordered a drink with my meal, the drink didn't come. I politely asked where my drink was, the girl who served me was very rude, and said I didn't. I said I did, and walked off. Living up north was awful, never have I experienced such nasty, rude, aggressive people. I hated it, and was so glad when I moved.

I guess DH decided it was still a bit early to cal his mother. I’ve just overheard a recounting of the sad story on Zoom to colleagues in NY. The unsaid undertone, and I suspect the beat to which all this weekend’s conversations will march to was ‘Can you imagine, I mean, can you actually imagine, that happening in the States?’His favourite topics for bemused whinging include English water pressure, strange cleaning products and apple varieties he misses from home, but our terrible local pub has provided a rich new seam. Poor DH.

I still can’t quite work out how we stayed first long and why we dutifully and unquestioningly paid for our drinks.

Urgh I’ve boycotted PH due to their crapness. Joined queue for lunch table (second), told they are full and not opening upstairs for at least 45 minutes, order takeaway they then open upstairs and seat the first people before we get it. I ask if we change to table and told no there’s loads of people in the queue ahead of us. The queue we just left because you told us you weren’t opening. I say but we have only just ordered you can change do a table number. No. Fuckers.

Your poor DH....

He will probably call his mum for a special conversation about this.

This proper made me laugh though 🤣🤣

This happened to DH and me once at one of our favourite places. However they absolutely couldn't have been more apologetic and even now about 5 years on they give us a round of drinks on the house whenever we go in.

OP, you know why you unquestioningly paid for your drinks. You’re British, and your husband… well, he’s been corrupted. When is he handing in his American passport?

I haven't had a good meal out since
Covid. Overpriced, crap service, order on an app etc

We need a word for word account of the conversation with his mum.

I’m sorry lunch was ruined op. Could you order a nice take away tonight?

You sound really sweet by the way.

I’m seething for you, customer service in this country is atrocious. This is so disappointing, you have all my sympathy that really is a sad lunch story!

I don’t think he has the social-cognitive architecture to process this lunchtime letdown. He can’t stop muttering about it. He will probably call his mum for a special conversation about this

This made me chuckle out loud

‘Can you imagine, I mean, can you actually imagine, that happening in the States?’His favourite topics for bemused whinging include English water pressure, strange cleaning products and apple varieties he misses from home, but our terrible local pub has provided a rich new seam. Poor DH.

He needs to channel some of his righteous indignation into action. He's clearly been overly Anglicised. What he should have done was allow you to sit there in polite English annoyance whilst he got all 'woah there, buddy, I'll hit you with a roll of aluminum foil and get my attorney (and mommy) on to you unless you bring me some chow. Make my lunch great again!'

He has clearly gone native. No American worth their salt would have sat there for 40 minutes and then agreed to pay for the drinks. They’d have assertively called over the waiting staff and asked what was taking so long.

What have you done to the man?

@StormOfSekhmet

Went to a pizza hut up north, sat there, and sat there, other people came in after us and got served. When we finally got our order, it was cold. We complained to the waitress about the lack of service and cold food, the manager came over and shouted at us. He said we must not complain to the waitress. We got up and walked out. Another place, up north again - we sat there waiting to be served, the waiting staff were standing there talking. We asked for service, and were totally ignored. Got up and walked out. Went to another well-known chain, and every thing was fine. I contacted the head office of pizza hut, and they contacted the branch to find out what went on. The letter they sent me, made it sound like it was my fault. Another time, up north again!! I ordered a meal in kfc, ordered a drink with my meal, the drink didn't come. I politely asked where my drink was, the girl who served me was very rude, and said I didn't. I said I did, and walked off. Living up north was awful, never have I experienced such nasty, rude, aggressive people. I hated it, and was so glad when I moved.

Yeah we're all like that. Every single Northerner.

There's no other explanation (or common denominator )

Definitely best you stay in the lovely South

@StormOfSekhmet

Went to a pizza hut up north, sat there, and sat there, other people came in after us and got served. When we finally got our order, it was cold. We complained to the waitress about the lack of service and cold food, the manager came over and shouted at us. He said we must not complain to the waitress. We got up and walked out. Another place, up north again - we sat there waiting to be served, the waiting staff were standing there talking. We asked for service, and were totally ignored. Got up and walked out. Went to another well-known chain, and every thing was fine. I contacted the head office of pizza hut, and they contacted the branch to find out what went on. The letter they sent me, made it sound like it was my fault. Another time, up north again!! I ordered a meal in kfc, ordered a drink with my meal, the drink didn't come. I politely asked where my drink was, the girl who served me was very rude, and said I didn't. I said I did, and walked off. Living up north was awful, never have I experienced such nasty, rude, aggressive people. I hated it, and was so glad when I moved.

Yeah we're all like that. Every single Northerner.

There's no other explanation (or common denominator )

Definitely best you stay in the lovely South

That was pathetic service.. and yes, in the USA, good service to the customers,is always top of the list,. But have a nice day anyway, !

Once our hiking we sat sometime on the sun terrace at an restaurant abroad hoping to get a drink but the waiter never came our way: think it was just outside of their official opening hours. We got fed up of him studiously ignoring us and left after enjoying a leg rest.😂

MY DH is from Singapore and also bangs on about poor service amongst other British short-comings.

This evening we have been invited to a neighbour's house for drinks - the invitation says 6pm and I know he will be putting on his coat at 2 minutes to 6 because despite 33 years of trying, I have failed to convince him that no-one arrives on the dot of 6 and the correct thing to do is to leave it till ten or quarter past. He thinks this is rude and nothing I can say will change his mind

I really hate the minority of UK service industry that's like this. As if it's a privilege for you to receive the bare minimum of getting what you paid for.
In some places I've been it seems to have not occurred to the staff that

• you haven't got all day to eat lunch during the week
• If you have young kids they're not going to sit quietly for 45 mins so if there's a wait for food perhaps inform the parents or bring the kids' food first
• If you've been waiting ages then the food arrives, that is not the ideal time to then wonder if the customers will need cutlery and wander off to find some while the food sits getting cold in front of a hungry customer
• customers might need to actually see a server in order to get their attention if they need something
• at the end of the meal you might want to pay and leave so it's not out of the question to come and check if we want the bill

Also, don't put steaming hot food directly in front of a sitting baby or toddler when there's the whole rest of the table to put it (dc burnt her hand on a pizza put right next to her)

I'm generally a grateful and not at all arsey customer but efficient and polite service should be the standard, surely.

OP i assume your dh registered his dissatisfaction by tipping 20% instead of 25%?!

@StormOfSekhmet

Went to a pizza hut up north, sat there, and sat there, other people came in after us and got served. When we finally got our order, it was cold. We complained to the waitress about the lack of service and cold food, the manager came over and shouted at us. He said we must not complain to the waitress. We got up and walked out. Another place, up north again - we sat there waiting to be served, the waiting staff were standing there talking. We asked for service, and were totally ignored. Got up and walked out. Went to another well-known chain, and every thing was fine. I contacted the head office of pizza hut, and they contacted the branch to find out what went on. The letter they sent me, made it sound like it was my fault. Another time, up north again!! I ordered a meal in kfc, ordered a drink with my meal, the drink didn't come. I politely asked where my drink was, the girl who served me was very rude, and said I didn't. I said I did, and walked off. Living up north was awful, never have I experienced such nasty, rude, aggressive people. I hated it, and was so glad when I moved.

Are you trying to be offensive? I'm sure you could experience pretty much the same shitty service down here in the south.

I'm not trying to be offensive, I really had a bad time there.