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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:
dustarr73 · 15/10/2016 20:35

Op has never had it before,therefore she had nothing to compare it too.She didnt know there was 2 versions o the same dish.In that case teh waiter should ask.Its not rocket science.

SirChenjin · 15/10/2016 20:35

Because the OP didn't know that macaroni cheese was on the main menu - she ordered it off the LBM

diddl · 15/10/2016 20:37

"Was the menu you were given the "light bites" one, or were those choices just part of the main menu?"

I'd like to know that also as it does seem rather pertinant!

MaddyHatter · 15/10/2016 20:41

I would like to know which menu you were given also.

That being said, i would err on the side of YANBU, the person taking the order should have asked you to clarify which you meant.

I wonder how many others they've stung that way? Cheeky way to make an extra £7 if people don't challenge it!

SoupDragon · 15/10/2016 20:44

Op didnt specify the small mac and cheese cause she didnt know the bigger version existed.

This! Why on earth would you specify size when you have no idea that there is any other version??

SirChenjin · 15/10/2016 20:45

Why is it pertinent? The OP has already said that she didn't know that it was also on the main menu, so unless the restaurant requires every customer to read the whole menu before they order it's still up to them to clarify

bbcessex · 15/10/2016 20:46

I don't see how OP is expected to clarify which mac n cheese she wanted when she didn't know there were two. ..

If there is more than one, completely up to the server to clarify... in particular if the rest if the party has selected from the smaller menu.

So surprised anyone would think differently.

EweAreHere · 15/10/2016 20:48

If everyone else at the table had ordered from the light bites menu, as you say, I don't think YABU. The server surely noticed, and should have spoken up if they weren't sure.

LilQueenie · 15/10/2016 20:51

depends. yanbu if you actually asked for macaroni with garlic bread but maybe unreasonable if you just said macaroni.

diddl · 15/10/2016 20:51

"Why is it pertinent?"

Because if Op was only given a light bites menu, it's obvious that that's the one she ordered from.

If not, it would have been handy for her to clarify which section of the menu she was ordering from.

That said, staff could also have asked!

Oysterbabe · 15/10/2016 20:51

I would never order mac and cheese when I can make it at home for less than a £1. Most pasta dishes are terrible value.

dustarr73 · 15/10/2016 20:52

And all these saying she should have paid.7 pound is a lot to some people.it was the waiters mistake they should swallow the shortfall.

Bogeyface · 15/10/2016 20:55

As someone who used to work as a waitress and restaurant manager I would check, I would expect my staff to check and if they didnt then I would suck it up.

If there are 2 meals that are basically the same, just different sizes then I would confirm which one the customer wanted, especially if they are on completely different menus. Why on earth would the OP say "The smaller mac and cheese please" when she didnt know that there was a larger one?! Or does everyone on here specify their required meal size every time they order something in case there is any confusion Hmm

YANBU

IJustAteTheKidsFoodAgain · 15/10/2016 21:00

I blame the manager, but I would also like to know if there was two menus or one large one including the light bites. But if there are two versions of the same meal, it seems idiotic of the manager not to check which one? Either way they will have made a profit on a bit of pasta and sauce, however much they served.

MrsPeterDoherty · 15/10/2016 21:09

When and why did macaroni cheese become mac n cheese?

misses point of thread

SuburbanRhonda · 15/10/2016 21:11

I agree the OP wouldn't have known that there was a small version and a big version.

But surely, OP, when £13.50 worth of macaroni cheese arrived, presumably on a main course sized plate, and clearly bigger than anything any of your friends had ordered, you would have queried it? Surely it was obvious it wasn't a "light bite"?

Bogeyface · 15/10/2016 21:14

The OP had nothing to compare it to as her companions all ordered sandwiches and panini. So how would she know that it was a big portion, or not?

Bogeyface · 15/10/2016 21:14

Although £13.50 for a plate of pasta and sauce is a fucking outrage!

RubbishMantra · 15/10/2016 21:18

Well, I definitely wouldn't return. They might flick bogies in your food.

  • Disclaimer, I did not do that when a customer was exceptionally rude to me. Oh no. Not saying you were rude OP, but people have differing perceptions of rudeness. And the manager sounds a tad diva-ish.
e1y1 · 15/10/2016 21:23

The manager was being very unreasonable in calling you an adult when it is clear that you have limited experience of restaurants.

Oh.Dear. Hmm

DesolateWaist · 15/10/2016 21:28

When and why did macaroni cheese become mac n cheese?

Quite. It's macaroni cheese in this house or you can fuck off.

MistressMerryWeather · 15/10/2016 21:32

The manager sounds like a bit of a twat TBH.

If they have two versions of the same meal they really should ask people to specify; especially given the price difference.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Ifeelsuchafool · 15/10/2016 21:33

Definitely NBU. Staff's job to clarify what size is required when two sizes are available as perfectly possible diner hasn't seen that two sizes are available. £13.50 for a plate of macaroni cheese and slice of garlic bread is enough reason not to go again! And why would OP question the fact that the, "garlic bread" turned out to be ciabatta? Ciabatta IS bread, though not all bread is ciabatta, granted. Confused

GoBigOrange · 15/10/2016 21:40

YANBU OP.

A waiter or waitress (or manager) should know their menu well, and not assume anything about a customers order. When the same dish is available in two different sizes, or with different sides, clarifying which the customer wants is absolutely basic. It is not the customers responsibility to trawl through the menu to make sure what they want to order is not at risk of being confused with a similar but different dish.

I reckon he could have been trying to make a few extra quid serving the big size rather than the small, plenty of people wouldn't quibble.

MistressMerryWeather · 15/10/2016 21:40

God, I could murder a big bowl of macaroni and cheese right now.

Was it scrumptious at least, OP?