Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think the vegetarian who was served and ate chicken by mistake in Nandos is overreacting?

362 replies

musicboxwoundbyakey · 30/12/2013 14:51

Sorry Mail link

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2531093/I-feel-like-not-body-anymore-Vegetarians-outrage-going-Nandos-served-chicken-mistake.html

She asked for grilled halloumi cheese pitta and was served chicken. Which she ate half and didn't realise as she was talking to her friend.

She tried to make herself sick and had to sent home from work the next day as she was so upset and feels her body is not her own anymore.

How you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between cheese and chicken is a little beyond me. The cheese would be gooey and runny and chicken would have chewy - and they both have completely difference tastes??

It doesn't mention this in the article but the server always comes over and says - "chicken burger with medium sauce" etc so surely they probably said chicken pitta to her too??

But maybe iabu because she has never had meat before for religious reasons.

OP posts:
HombreLobo · 30/12/2013 15:04

Halloumu is squeaky rather than chewy, i wouldn't want to eat meat that was that texture.

Barefootgirl · 30/12/2013 15:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

BornToFolk · 30/12/2013 15:06

Nandos is actually really good for vegetarians. There are a few choices of main and the sides are tasty and varied too. However, DS was served chicken twice (they brought it once, I sent it back and they brought it again...Hmm) instead of the veggie kids main.

I'm always really wary of food in place like that and have a good poke through to check it isn't actually meat. It happens fairly frequently. I've been given meat calzone and DS has also been given meat in Las Iguanas and Tampopo. It seems to happen more to him than me, not sure why!

umiaisha · 30/12/2013 15:06

I am no longer a veggie, but exactly the same thing happened to me a couple of years back (Westfield White City - Vegetarians beware!)

I had a whole chicken breast in the pitta, plus all the halloumi. They were very apologetic and we got our meals for free.

SilverApples · 30/12/2013 15:06

For the dimbots.
farm5.staticflickr.com/4147/4998262405_e250c09837_o.jpg

RandyRudolf · 30/12/2013 15:08

Cosy I went for a Chinese a while ago and their vegetable spring rolls contained shrimps/prawns Hmm

A vegetarian friend of mine found bits of meat on her pizza a while back. She complained to the waiter, they apologised, end of.

I think the press is slow over the festive season so they write about anything.

SilverApples · 30/12/2013 15:09

BFG, I can't remember what chicken tastes like, I haven't eaten meat since around 1974.

Nancy66 · 30/12/2013 15:11

But if not eating meat is that important to you then why would you go to a meat-based restaurant? At the very least there's going to be cross contamination as I bet you anything that meal and veg food is all cooked in same pans/grills.

Original poster
musicboxwoundbyakey · 30/12/2013 15:11

It happened to a friend of mine in McDonalds.

She complained and got an apology and they obviously replaced her order.

And seeing all these examples on here just proves that it's a very common thing to happen sadly.

I do think this woman has every right to be upset but how she has decided to deal with that upset is why I think she is being unreasonable.

OP posts:
candycoatedwaterdrops · 30/12/2013 15:11

I understand she was upset and angry but she had to leave her job early because she was still distressed?? I'm sorry but that is fucking pathetic!

CosyTeaBags · 30/12/2013 15:12

Hmm I think spring rolls are best avoided in general then eh.

Also, did anyone else just think it was possible that the waitress gave the lady her friend's order, and vice versa? In which case, the customers may be equally at fault for accepting the wrong plate... not sure if that's how it happened, but it's possible.

Feminine · 30/12/2013 15:13

silver what is the picture for?

SpikeyChristmasTree · 30/12/2013 15:13

I also wouldn't know what chicken tastes like, or any other meat for that matter.

SilverApples · 30/12/2013 15:13

Don't know Nancy, perhaps she was just trying to be mainstream, with a friend and assumed that a vegetarian option was exactly that.

SilverApples · 30/12/2013 15:15

'silver what is the picture for?'

It's a picture of grilled halloumi, which looks a lot like grilled chicken breast to me.

This is chicken.
www.onceuponachef.com/images/various/6a0115721bb963970b013481996702970c-pi.jpg

Feminine · 30/12/2013 15:16

Oh, thanks.

It doesn't to me.

But I take your point. :)

LaurieFairyCake · 30/12/2013 15:16

Happened to my poor dh at Daylesford cafe - a meat stock based soup. I spotted the tiny shredded bits of ham in it.

He was violently sick. It was definitely psychological and he felt awful all day.

I felt really sorry for him, it ruined our day out. The waitress was very apologetic as we'd specifically asked if it was vegetarian.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 30/12/2013 15:17

This has happened to me - not in Nando's but in Burger King. I noticed and complained after the first bite and did feel pretty crap afterwards - but I think she is over-reacting a little.

PeazlyPops · 30/12/2013 15:17

I don't agree that she'd know the difference. I'm a lifelong veggie, and I tried paneer, and panicked thinking it could be chicken.

I assume chicken is chewy, like halloumi.

CosyTeaBags · 30/12/2013 15:18

I have thrown up after accidentally eating meaty soup, yes it's psychological. But it's the texture of it sticking between your teeth... aaaargh!

Original poster
musicboxwoundbyakey · 30/12/2013 15:19

Also, did anyone else just think it was possible that the waitress gave the lady her friend's order, and vice versa?

That's what I don't understand and it's not made clear at all.

Every time I've been to Nandos the server will always come over and say - chicken burger with medium sauce and spicy rice.

So I think it makes a huge difference what the server actually said. The fact that it isn't mentioned almost makes me think that the server probably said it was chicken ....

OP posts:
FrostedButts · 30/12/2013 15:20

Erm, I am a meat eater and have a hard time telling halloumi from nasty overdone chicken (that is why I don't eat either!) so tbh with a drink I wouldn't notice till halfway through either. She has every right to be upset about it, why should she have to scour her food for meat before eating, and why should the only alternative be to take her meat eating friend to a vegetarian place?

RandyRudolf · 30/12/2013 15:20

She'd never eaten chicken before so she wouldn't know the difference. She may have thought the cheese tasted a little different but blamed it on the sauce.

bruffin · 30/12/2013 15:20

At least she got an apology.
The Hilton served my ds nuts despite him telling them several times that he is allergic to them. It was 3 weeks ago and i have contacted restaurant manager, been on their facebook page where they gave an email address and trip advisor and still no hint of a reply.

CiderBomb · 30/12/2013 15:20

I must admit I too thought that she had overrated when I read the story, how can you possibly confuse chicken and cheese? Silly, attention seeking woman.

Swipe left for the next trending thread