To complain about fish pie because it contained king prawns still in their shells?

[MeDented]

Well, it was actually DH. I'm so glad I decided against fish pie. Menu just said chef's selection of seafood inside fish pie. DH took a mouthful and found himself crunching shell. He 'fished' around under mash to discover huge king prawns still in shell, tails and everything. Now I don't eat prawns but I would have thought it's ok to serve prawns like this for a starter, where they are 'dry' and you can rip them open with fingers but how are you meant to eat them like that swimming around in hot sauce as part of a pie? Restaurant said they always serve their fish pie like that although they did make DH new pie without shells (but I had finished my lunch by the time it arrived - annoying!)

YANBU - of course fish pie should not contain shell-on prawns. Restaurant is totally wrong.

Not unreasonable at all. How odd.

Thank goodness, I was wondering if we were mad and had only ever eaten some 'kiddy' version of fish pie!

That's just wrong. I love king prawns in their shell, but would not expect them in a fish pie.

To make matters worse we both had sticky toffee pudding for dessert. DH sensibly chose custard but I like ice cream with hot puds.... But it arrived with a dollop of CHOCOLATE ice cream. That is just wrong too isn't it. Surely everyone would put vanilla unless stated otherwise?? I didn't complain but wished I had custard!

That is odd - both the shelled prawns and the chocolate ice cream.

Ice cream with hot deserts is all wrong so serves you right

It's like cold custard. I mean why would you?

YANBU that's just weird on both counts!

Lol I like cold custard - straight from the tin ;)

Cold custard rocks.

Very odd. YANBU.

We sometimes order king prawn curry that has shells on the prawns, but the waiters double-check explicitly that that's ok when we order and remind us again when served. I would not expect that in a fish pie, but if they did it that way, I'd expect to be told verbally on ordering, or for there to be mention of it clearly on the menu.

Chocolate ice cream is also strange.

Hmmm I'm wondering if I should email them and tell them I ave asked around and everyone thinks they are odd and not in a good way. It's a lovely restaurant otherwise so I would intend it as constructive criticism, do you think they would find it helpful?

Hidden seafood shouldn't still be in its shell and every one knows vanilla ice cream is the side ice cream to pudding!

Stupid chef.

That's more than odd, its really very stupid.

Its a bit like not peeling a banana or beans on toast being an actual tin on the toast.

I wouldn't go there again

What a weird place!
They are wrong on both counts, chocolate ice cream? . They are mad & I would have a conniption...well no, I would have had custard (because really, sticky toffee with ice cream) but I'm sure it is written in stone somewhere that chocolate ice cream is by request only because it's rank

Ew YANBU! It's like popping a whole crab into a pasty or something!

I don't know about the e-mail.
What's the attitude when you go there? The initial reaction hints at it maybe not being well received 'well, we didn't write it on the menu & no other chef would do this ever but you should have known when you ordered'.
Depends how much you like it.

Lol couldn't see an email address on their contact page so have sent a private message via Facebook! I have told them I have now conducted an extensive survey (joking) and I hope they receive my comments as the constructive criticism intended rather than a moan.

I had a king prawn curry once like this. WTAF? Disgusting having to get my hands in the hot sauce to rip apart the shell - boak.

Definitely weird, and definitely email them.

The only argument against emailing them is incase you appear strange, but given the context I wouldn't worry too much :)

You weren't at a silted-up sea port on the Wirral, were you OP? My parents had a very expensive hotel at Parkgate once and were intrigued to find their chocolate ice cream contained prawns. At first they thought it might be some sea-related delicacy but after questioning the waitress they found out that a bowl of prawns had overturned in the freezer and landed in the ice cream, which was just beginning to set. But that was about 1962 so hopefully they've changed menus a bir since then.

"had a MEAL IN a very expensive etc.". They didn't own the bloody thing.

Lol no. Up in Scotland...and thankfully the prawns and chocolate ice cream were at least 2 separate dishes!

Where in Scotland?

Broughty ferry. I don't want to name the restaurant itself because it is lovely, I just wanted to check this was odd and we we weren't too unsophisticated!