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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think Loch Fyne has turned into a total cheeky rip-off and ask if you've been lately?

68 replies

LRDtheFeministDragon · 11/05/2012 19:59

I used to go as a treat and their sharing platters were really nice. I went today, they have a new menu, and they have a 'best of Loch Fyne' platter for 22 quid to share as a starter, or one as a main. So quite a pricey dish, same as their lobster main. We were told what was in it - langoustines, oysters, mussles, clams, 'and lots of other shellfish'. Lovely.

We got it and it was mussles (much less in total than the guy on the next table had as a main dish of moules marinieres), two oysters, four small langoustines. That was it. So we had an oyster each, a couple of langoustines and .... mussles. Which are cheap as seafood goes.

My main course was scallops. I don't expect to get lots of scallops, but it was 16 quid and there were four of them, minus the corals. For a main course.

We did say (nicely) that the sharing platter didn't actually have what they said on it, and were told 'chef has been warned by upstairs not to put more than three clams on'. We pointed out there had been none. They said sorry but didn't take anything off the bill.

I'm a bit gutted TBH. We paid just over 60 quid for two courses each, no wine. That's a lot of money for us.

AIBU? Has anyone else been recently and did it seem like a rip-off?

OP posts:
claudedebussy · 11/05/2012 20:02

def a rip-off. not been myself. but 4 scallops for a main isn't enough.

thenightsky · 11/05/2012 20:05

I agree. We went a few months ago to the Nottingham one and had the same starter as you. Very disappointing for the price.

I'd be reluctant to go again to be honest.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 11/05/2012 20:09

It was a bit shit, wasn't it nightsky! I know the Nottingham one well - I grew up near Nottingham and my parents still live there.

Did you happen to see if they'd kept the old (normal) sharing platters the same? I'm really sad if they've stopped doing them.

OP posts:
sunshinesue · 11/05/2012 20:09

I remember my husband spluttering "fucking thieves" when he recieved his scallops main course there a while ago Grin

trailingvine · 11/05/2012 20:09

Haven't been since I went for lunch to celebrate my engagement a couple of years ago and spent a romantic night listening to my (now) husband's internal organs dealing with a dodgy mollusc.

BBisTitanium · 11/05/2012 20:11

We used to go as a night away from
Ds treat... Same issue with scallops plus ordered the fisherman's platter share starter and my absolute fav part of it kinglas salmon i think its called we call it klingon for a laff had been replaced as they'd run out... Fine but they hadnt told us, and got a bit shirty when we complained. We haven't been back we found a local brasserie style restaurant, DP had scallops in a white sauce with bacon nom i had a bit and we counted 8 scallops with roes! So we have found our new haunt! I find the service lacking in LF when you consider the cost too!

SugarBatty · 11/05/2012 20:11

Ooohhh disappointing to hear! We go to the leeds one and milton keynes when visiting family.

I hope this was a one off stingy shellfish related incident!

Principality · 11/05/2012 20:11

That's a shame OP.

We went to the St Albans one in March for my birthday and it was lovely. We had hake (i think) and it was really nice.

I've been to the st albans one several times over teh past few years and not had a bad expereince yet... but i am not a seafood fan, just the fish.

SugarBatty · 11/05/2012 20:13

X posted! Obviously not a one off...

LindyHemming · 11/05/2012 20:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kerala · 11/05/2012 20:16

YABU about "turned" I went years ago and thought it was a real rip off and this was when I was earning quite a bit and going out to eat a lot (oh happy long gone days). We all ordered fish which was expensive but we thought fair enough but they hadn't pointed out we need to order and pay for veg, chips, potatoes etc. So basically £17ish for a hunk of fish Hmm.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 11/05/2012 20:18

Thanks everyone. It sounds as if they've decided they can rip people off with the shellfish. Sad

DH had steamed bream for a main and it was lovely - so it's not as if they can't cook. I just objected to paying that much and not getting what they said/getting so little. I just wanted to see if it'd been a one-off but think I will write a complaint now.

OP posts:
dreamingbohemian · 11/05/2012 20:22

Hiya LRD -- would you believe I used to be a waitress at a Loch Fyne? Grin

If you feel up to it, write a letter to HQ -- at least when I worked there, they were really good about compensating people.

The scallops ARE a total ripoff. I used to warn customers about that (not in those words obviously!)

Ithinkitsjustme · 11/05/2012 20:34

I haven't been since last Summer. Was so impressed then that we left a huge tip. The service and food was absolutley fantastic. I really hope that they haven't changed as I want to go there for my birthday at the end of the month Sad

LRDtheFeministDragon · 11/05/2012 20:40

dreaming - I'm sure you were lovely!

I feel really bad for not tipping now. But I was so pissed off that he didn't bother to even pretend he wasn't lying about why it was so small.

I have filled in their (saga of a!) complain form.

Ithink - I used to love it too. Sad The waiter said when we were choosing how he loved the sharing platters, how he'd spend 'an hour and a half' eating them with his family. He was really enthusiastic but, sadly, lying like a lying lying thing!

OP posts:
OooohShiny · 11/05/2012 21:00

I thought you were talking about the place...have never heard of the restaurants.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 11/05/2012 21:03

Sorry! Not the place, no. It's a chain of fish restaurants in England (but maybe not Scotland, judging by this thread!).

It used to be just down the road from Browns when I was at university and people's parents would come and take them out as a treat to one or the other so I'm a bit nostalgic about it, but also like fish so wish they hadn't become shite.

OP posts:
mrscumberbatch · 11/05/2012 21:11

Ahh I thought you meant the place in Scotland. There's a fabulous marina at Loch Fyne (Portavadie ) and so I was surprised that anyone would get rubbish service there.

Just go to the REAL loch fyne in future... the travel expenses may be a bit higher but it's worth it Wink

BellaBearisWideAwake · 11/05/2012 21:13

There's definitely a Loch Fyne restaurant in Scotland, it's on the banks of loch Fyne!!

BellaBearisWideAwake · 11/05/2012 21:14

I mean, part of the loch fyne chain

LRDtheFeministDragon · 11/05/2012 21:16

I'd love to go to the actual Loch, it sounds really nice. Smile

If I'm too cheap for 60 quid, though, I don't think it's going to happen soon ... Wink

OP posts:
thenightsky · 11/05/2012 21:19

I'm going to the actual Loch Fyne in two week!

shushpenfold · 11/05/2012 21:19

I LOVE Loch Fyne...Sundays 'kids eat free' menu's and the adults have the 2 courses for £10 - yummy and very good value. The a la carte, I agree, is a total rip off!

mrscumberbatch · 11/05/2012 21:22

thenightsky are you going for the Scottish series?

LadyBeagleEyes · 11/05/2012 21:26

I've only ever heard of the actual Loch, I didn't know it was a seafood chain.
I live further up on the West Coast and the sea food is to die for. All the pubs and hotels do fresh seafood just of the boats.
Mmmmm big fat Langoustines in garlic butter.