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.

Stayed in a chain hotel a couple of weeks ago for a visit to the NEC. Went to eat in the attached restaurant and ordered a medium-rare steak. Arrived promptly and was actually medium-rare but tough as old boots. When the server came back for a table check, asked him to cut my steak. He struggled manfully for a minute or so, failed to actually separate any meat and then asked if I would like him to see if he could find a sharper knife . . .

@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.

Where's "up north" exactly?

[quote SquirrelFan]@ErrolTheDragon But American cider is so so much more than apple juice! It's got a depth and richness that cannot be described! Even "cloudy" apple juice here doesn't hold a candle to it. If you want alcohol, ask for "hard" cider.[/quote]
The 'cider' I had in the US was exactly like cloudy apple juice in the uK, but for the tang of disappointment caused by it's inappropriate name.

One Christmas when we had first moved (and I was newly pregnant) DH and I decided to go for a pub lunch. We walked about 3 miles along a footpath to the next village ....and none of the pubs were serving food. We then walked 2 miles back along a main road to a gastro pub. When we went in they had neither of the drinks we wanted (not strange requests- I think DH wanted a guiness!) and had no food. At all. Not even crisps.
I might have cried!🤣
It was 16 years ago and I still feel a bit aggrieved by it!!

‘Can you imagine, I mean, can you actually imagine, that happening in the States?’

The wait staff get very little to no money so have to live off tips so no, it wouldn't happen there.

Love your post op! We had American family over and took them for lunch, we went to a museum with a lovely restaurant but the waitress said sorry we are not serving lunch just now the chef is on his lunch break!
To be fair it was a few years ago things must have moved on but believe me they had many many many wtf conversations about this and to this day still mention it…

Beachside cafe with no other options around.

Sat in and waited for ages for our meal. While we were waiting the entire staff sat down at another table and scrolled through phones and had some food of their own. We were .

Then the meal came and was pretty sub standard. My DS was given cold scrap end of fries - all he had wanted were fries. and they were literally cold and looked like they had not been bothered to make fries, just scraped up whatever had been left in the basket.

After that we paid and my mother who has a range of health issues and is obviously mobiluty impaaired asked where the toilet was. The owner said the toilets were only 'for customers'. We laughed thinking he was joking. He blanked us. We said we were customers. He directed us to the public toilets down the beach.

When we got back to where we were staying (DH's cousins) we told them about it and they said that cafe was utterly notorious locally and locals refuse to go to it because of the owner's rudeness. But bang smack next to a holiday camp so a fresh set of people several times a year who have not experienced it before.

This is SUCH a British thread.

Someone complains about bad service and we all join in with tales of bad service and very little sympathy for the OP or her traumatised DH.

I recently watched a youtube video of Evan Edinger of, "tell me you are British without saying you are British" OP your husband might enjoy it, it included things like staying in a queue and just scowling at queue jumpers, and maybe an under the breath tut.

Being able to drink scalding hot tea.

OP

Can your DH drink a glass of pop without half of it being ice?

Oh my own story of bad service is, well I have to say that I've not been there for years but one of the waiters at the casino was so bad it was almost worth going to see how bad he was.

He was called Dennis and we nick named him, 'the menace'.

The type of things he would do, well once I was with a friend, we were both seated in the restaurant part, and Dennis came over to take the order, I ask what red wine they have, Dennis doesn't know, it just comes out of a tap at the bar, I say I will try a glass (being brave I know) so he writes that down, my friend starts to order a drink but he notices someone at the bar so runs off to serve that person and then someone else was at the bar so he forgot about us.

You could order red wine and he would bring you a beer.

He worked there for years (could still be there) and I have no idea how he was still employed.

We actually had a sad experience last night. Drove 90 minutes down to Manchester to see Hairspray. Didn’t book anywhere in advance as we didn’t know what the traffic would be like.

Got there with enough time to consider a restaurant meal so managed to get seated in a little Italian round the corner from the theatre. Soaked wet, pouring rain, lovely welcome, sit ourselves down thinking “phew.”

Twenty minutes later no-one has even taken our drinks order. Rushing past us, serving the couple who arrived after us, ignoring us.... So we just got up and walked out. Don’t think they even noticed. At least DD got to use the loo. We just thought if it’s taking so long to even acknowledge us how long will the food take, then the bill would probably take ages and we didn’t want to be rushing into the theatre at the last minute.

Their loss - Cafe Nero was still open so we sat in with nice panninis instead - saved us some money.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

‘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!'

😂 I can hear this so clearly in my head

@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.

Well there is one common denominator in all your experiences.

Might be best to stay home in future.

@wavingwhilstdrowning that's ok. "Up North" didn't want you anyway....

Oops sorry @wavingwhilstdrowning I didn't mean to tag you in that!!

It was meant for the northerner-hating @StormOfSekhmet

Where's "up north" exactly?

Yes, do I need to be offended as I'm in Yorkshire or are we talking about further North or even Scotland? We need to know!

@OompaLumpaLabrador - not entirely relevant (and pretty dated) but this might make your DH chuckle. Just love Julie Walters!

vimeo.com/144208621

@MrsJBaptiste

Where's "up north" exactly?

Yes, do I need to be offended as I'm in Yorkshire or are we talking about further North or even Scotland? We need to know!

Don't be silly, the poster clearly went to Watford and though she was 'op north'.

@TheSpottedZebra

British Apples are amazing!

Well, what are left of them after the industry was decimated and now we can only get months-old shite of 4 varieties from France or New Zealand () that has been kept in a chiller until all the flavour and texture has gone. But if you get local apples jot from the supermarket, they are lovely.

They are indeed. I live in a major apple growing county and love the crisp freshness. Recently tried Heritage Kidds Orange - tastiest apple in a long time.

I used to live on the Easy Coast of USA - not a decent apple to be found. (Even in the uber posh food delis where you could actually buy proper European cheese)

That must have been so annoying OP! Hopefully you will laugh about it in the future. DH and I still laugh about some bad experiences we’ve had. Not that it helps at the time when you’re hungry and waiting to be served!

@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.

What are you on about? I loved living up north. Everybody is a lot friendlier and will actually say hello to you

@OompaLumpaLabrador

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.

Your poor dh. His life sounds so difficult. Tbh he sounds like a right moaner.

I was thinking the same! Why mention that these restaurants were in The North? It's a big place you know. This is actually quite offended me.

Sorry quotation fail there. I was referring to the post on the first page.