To think we shouldn’t have had to pay?

[MamToTeens]

Took DH, 2 DC and BIL out for lunch today. After ordering, it took 10 minutes for the drinks to come (not too long considering, but they were literally cans that we could see from the table). We then had to wait another hour and a half for food! There were 2 cooked meals and 3 sandwiches. The cooked meals were burned and the bread was stale, basically inedible. We are a bit but couldn’t manage much. We were then told that it was cash only, even though it hadn’t been clearly advertised (argument was that it was on the door, which was open so we couldn’t see the sign). It was around £60 for the 5 of us, so I couldn’t afford it with cash. We walked out without paying and they threatened to call the police. Haven’t heard anything yet. AIBU to have refused to pay? And will they be able to do anything when they don’t have names or anything?

Well you have committed a theft at the restaurant. They are entitled to inform the police. You won't have a leg to stand on, not liking the food isn't a defence in law

@WotchaTalkinBoutWillis the server made the mistake of bringing starters and mains at the same time. No one wants to eat two courses at once? They could of at least taken the food that would sour under a heat lamp off of the plate such as mayo and salad - they didn’t so I refused the food. I am not eating or paying for disgusting food. Ever.

I wish we could hear this tale from the managers point of view

Same!

@damnthatanxiety I live in one of the most expensive cities on the planet. They wasted 1.5 hours of Ops precious time sitting and patiently waiting, so the underpayment on the drinks is entirely justifiable. The time of OP and her family is valuable and precious. Businesses should be run professionally and with a customer focus. If they don't they deserve to be out of pocket and out of business. Those of us who work really really hard for our money and our time off value both the money and the time, and expect better. I would never dream of asking my customers to pay for a a substandard product or service.

It's not hard to run a business that offers fresh food and non stale bread. If there were a post on here about a DH who offered the DC a stale bread sandwich we'd all be (rightly) up in arms about how bloody useless they are and how it's not acceptable. It's the same when you pay for it. This is not a cut and run, this is a shit show of customer service, a non fulfilment of contract and a no brainier re waking out with a clear conscience.

Brits are just way too polite

Somewhere out there is the truth - think the manager of said cafe has it!

The OP originally said that 5 of them ordered 2 hot meals and 3 sandwiches. Now this has changed to starters coming at the same time as mains?

I smell a significant amount of BS since DM posted the story- talk about digging yourself out of a hole...

15:53Tistheseason17 They are two different posters.

Thanks. A detour on the OP!

They cooked your mains. Brought it out to you and you decided you didn't want it yet and sent it back.

What were you expecting them to do with it in the meantime as you all sat eating your starters, did you expect them to bin the lot and make a fresh lot of dinners up for you?
Seems wasteful.
Massive cheeky fuckery not to pay.

What utter rubbish. If I order starters, I expect them first, then the main meal later. I would not accept them at the same time unless the restaurant stated food comes as it is made.

We once went to a restaurant where we ordered starters and mains. Mains came first, we sent them back saying we ordered starters and they said they'd 'keep our mains warm'. I was clear I expected a fresh dish as the kitchen or waiter messed up and my main is not something that keeps warm well. Starters finally arrived, were good and then mains came and mine had just been kept warm. It was rubbery and inedible. I sent it back and received a fresh dish.

I think it is ok to leave in this situation tbh. If they waited so long just for food, how much time and faff would haggling over the bill take!?
If the restaurant has overreached their capabilities, then that's their own greed.

Thief!

Why not go into PC World and take a laptop while you're at it?

And yet still people continue to post tripe and ignore the facts that don't fit with their map of reality.

'They cooked your mains. Brought it out to you and you decided you didn't want it yet and sent it back.'

Yeah shocking, expecting starters to be served first and main course to be cooked freshly and served separately.

Whoever would do such a thing?

You a massively CF

Not a CF, just a common variety thief

Bored with idiots now.

So @MamToTeens have you addressed this yet? Or are you just hoping to get away with your non-payment?

When you left, did you leave any personal or contact details or did you just leave? If you left details then IMHO this is no big deal. You incurred a cafe bill that you couldn't pay at the time, and you dispute the bill anyway. You can either reach an agreement with the cafe or they can take you to court.

It's only a crime if you intended to leave without payment before you placed your order. But if you left without leaving any details, well that makes you look an awful lot more suspicious.

You are massively unreasonable. As for the police? They could have phoned them with your name address and every detail about you but they won’t do anything about it at all if you have already left.