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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

wibu or was the manager of this restaurant?

248 replies

Itisraining · 15/10/2016 18:48

Recently went to local restaurant which we go to regularly so know the manager who has a reputation for being a bit tricky. The whole group ordered from the lighter bite menu. I ordered a macaroni cheese with garlic bread (which I have never ordered before). When we came to pay, I noticed I had been charged for the large portion from the main menu(£6.50 more expensive)
When I questioned it,
the manager said, "you didn't say you wanted the small one"
I said "I didn't say I wanted the larger one either and the other one says it comes with garlic ciabatta and I said the one with garlic bread"
Him, " they are both garlic bread, madame and you didn't say which one you wanted, did you not notice that it was the larger one?"
Me, (staying very polite) "No, I have never ordered it before and why did you assume, I wanted the big one when we all ordered from the lighter bite menu?"
You, "you are an adult"
Me, "But surely if there are 2 sizes, it is up to you to ascertain which one?"
Him, getting very exasperated and irritated, "you need to see this from my point of view, oh forget it, i'll charge for the smaller one, I can't be bothered to argue" He strops off.
Left feeling quite troubled. This is somewhere we give a lot of custom to. I now feel awkward about going back.

Was I wrong to question the order? For me it was clear that the one I ordered was the small one with garlic bread NOT the one which was labelled with ciabatta.

OP posts:
andintothefire · 15/10/2016 19:29

Even as a crusty peice of bread, surely it was clear if it was garlic bread or a ciabatta

Maybe I've misunderstood, but I thought the OP was saying that the option with ciabatta was not on the "lighter bites" menu (or part of the menu) that she was ordering from. So she didn't even know that there was a large option with ciabatta until the bill came. In that situation I wouldn't query the fact that I was expecting garlic bread but actually got ciabatta.

It does seem as though the restaurant caused the confusion to me. I find it odd that they would have the options separately rather than an obvious large/small option side by side (in which case the OP could have specified the smaller option).

Original poster
Itisraining · 15/10/2016 19:30

I complained away from my friends at the till so no one else could hear me so no not smug at all.

OP posts:
PlumsGalore · 15/10/2016 19:30

If there were two sizes why didn't you say "lighter bite mac n cheese please" I would have, and have done. No confusion.

Nurszilla · 15/10/2016 19:31

stone because it's delicious.

Hth.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 15/10/2016 19:32

YANBU if you were clearly ordered off the lighter bites menu. How were you to know that it was the full size one? Sometimes there's not much difference! They screwed up.

Dafspunk · 15/10/2016 19:34

Not the point at all but lol at mac cheese & garlic bread being a 'light bite' Grin

Orda1 · 15/10/2016 19:35

Of course you weren't being unreasonable. Everyone saying otherwise is just being difficult for the sake of it.

I don't believe anyone would have handled the situation differently in real life.

limitedperiodonly · 15/10/2016 19:36

YABU for using the word 'ascertain'. I hate that, along with 'purchase' and 'said' as in: 'I questioned said manager about said macaroni cheese'.

Ausernotanumber · 15/10/2016 19:37

You got the large and were trying to get away with the smaller meal. Totally unreasonable.

Garlic bread and ciabatta are not remotely the same!

Original poster
Itisraining · 15/10/2016 19:37

I didn't know the big portion existed.

OP posts:
WillWorkForShoes · 15/10/2016 19:38

YNBU. The waiting staff know the menu far better than you. They should clarify. (I used to be a waitress - a shit one, but a waitress nonetheless!)

Different restaurants have different ideas on what constitutes a big portion. You can't tell always tell which is a small or large portion.

I think the manager was rude.

DesolateWaist · 15/10/2016 19:38

Hmmmm. Well I think that the waiting staff should have checked. Personally if I had realised this at the time of paying I would mention it but wouldn't argue the toss if I had eaten the whole thing.

Also what is meant by I have never ordered it before? How do you think people who are new to a place cope?

Original poster
Itisraining · 15/10/2016 19:40

limitedperiodonly

I never used 'said' in that way.

OP posts:
Orda1 · 15/10/2016 19:40

Ciabatta is bread though... If she didn't know the other specifically came with ciabatta as opposed to bog standard bread why would she question it?

Would you seriously question the waiter when it came out that you were expecting a less extravagant form of bread?! Seriously!?

Thornyrose7 · 15/10/2016 19:41

YANBU

The restaurant staff were at fault as they know the menu. It should be a standard question if there are two sizes.

mycatstares · 15/10/2016 19:41

Yabu. You say you want the smaller portion. Nobody orders a main menu dinner and asks for the large size of it.Hmm

However you think you were being perfectly reasonable so carry on.

DesolateWaist · 15/10/2016 19:42

I didn't know the big portion existed.

I do see your point. The waiting staff should have checked. However you seem to be implying that it should be obvious because everyone else was having sandwiches etc.
Also you are a big girl and it's up to you to read the menu.

GabsAlot · 15/10/2016 19:43

sorry in the end didnt he say he wojld jut charge for the smaller one?

his attitude might be a bitoff but he done the right thing

Ausernotanumber · 15/10/2016 19:43

I would have said the lite bite mac n cheese. Surely that's normal so that you are clear you're ordering off a specific menu

hyperhypermum · 15/10/2016 19:44

Whatever happened to "the Customer is always right"? Sounds like there may have been some misunderstanding on both sides, although if the rest of the party were ordering from the light menu it would've been reasonable to assume OP was too and, if not, why not check? I think that in the interests of goodwill the restaurant should've let it go. Don't go there again OP!

Sara107 · 15/10/2016 19:45

Think I would object to paying £13.50 for macaroni cheese tbh, unless the portion was the size of the table! I would specify the size when ordering, but I also think that the waiter should have checked what size you wanted. And why do they describe the garlic bread as bread on one part of the menu and ciabatta on another if it's the same thing? Sounds like they are just trying to make the large portion sound a bit fancier and worth the price! If you are regular customers I think the manager should just accept you wanted the smaller portion. It's unlikely he is losing money on the meal, and repeat custom is important for most restaurants.

DesolateWaist · 15/10/2016 19:45

Whatever happened to "the Customer is always right"?

You've never worked retail have you?
This has never been true.
What if op was presented with, ate and was charged for a steak when it turned out she claims to have ordered a burger?

SirChenjin · 15/10/2016 19:45

YANBU - and I would bet that you're not the first person who has been charged more. It's up to the waiting staff to clarify when they take the order to ensure that no-one is over or under charged.

BoffinMum · 15/10/2016 19:47

I get this grief so often in restaurants I have stopped eating out a lot of the time. YANBU.

e1y1 · 15/10/2016 19:51

YANBU - he runs the restaurant, it's up to him to check what menu you were ordering off/what portion you would like.

You don't decide the portions, nor the prices.

Wouldn't bother going back.