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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Just been at a relatively new tapas restaurant for our anniversary

35 replies

oldandscunnered · 16/04/2022 18:47

Have been to a few tapas restaurants both locally and abroad. Have to say this was one of the worst. Took my son and his girlfriend. She has mussels - one of them was unopened. We let that go but is that not something they should check? The rest of the food was pretty rotten - including a black hair in the paella, not eaten, sent back. We complained and they took some money off but we still ended up with a £70 bill. Manager said they were recently opened and learned from these experiences. Do you think I should email? We were too embarassed to take it any further in person.

OP posts:
Cascais · 16/04/2022 18:48

No

CoralDaffodil · 16/04/2022 18:50

No, you mentioned it got a response and some money off. What else would you want to achieve by mentioning it again?

pictish · 16/04/2022 18:50

No.

ImInStealthMode · 16/04/2022 18:52

What other than an apology and a discount are you reaching for that you think emailing will achieve?

I've had Moules dozens of times and they're not always all open, just put it aside and move on. I wouldn't expect a restaurant to check every one before they're sent out Hmm

Dearmariacountmein · 16/04/2022 18:52

Really! An unopened mussel isn’t a big deal. You just don’t eat it.

Hair in Paella not great but so many opportunities for hair to make it into food.

When you say the food was rotten - what was wrong? Was it just badly cooked or actually rotten.

How much did you get off?

When I was a restaurant manager (in a range of establishment types) I’d have done nothing for the mussel, I’d have expected you to have alert us straight away to the hair and offered a recook - if you left it to when you’d eaten I’d have take a token off.

For the rest of it you would have to be very specific in your complaint - it’s rotten is just vague.

Moochio · 16/04/2022 18:52

You've already complained get over it

Thatswhyimacat · 16/04/2022 18:53

It's pretty standard for mussels to include ones that haven't opened?

minniep · 16/04/2022 18:54

An unopened mussel is totally normal

shabbalabba · 16/04/2022 18:55

🤣🤣🤣🤣🙄 no

maddy68 · 16/04/2022 18:58

It's usual to get one or two unopened mussels.

There was a hair. You complained got money off.

Sorted

pictish · 16/04/2022 19:01

One unopened mussel (usual) and a hair is not the end of the world, you complained at the time and were discounted accordingly. What else do you need over it?

Whadda · 16/04/2022 19:03

It’s you and your son’s anniversary?

An unopened mussel isn’t grounds for complaint. I hope you didn’t embarrass yourself acting like it was.

A hair in food is, and it was dealt with appropriately at the time.

Matter closed.

What would you want in response from an email?

Original poster
oldandscunnered · 16/04/2022 19:04

I literally ate about three mouthfulls of food. We all hardly at any of it. Lesson learned I expect - won't be going back.

OP posts:
lilahbelle · 16/04/2022 19:04

I've had one or two unopened mussels every time I've ordered them! That's completely normal and not something to complain about.

The hair...meh, not great but I wouldn't have got worked up about it. You complained at the time and got money off the bill. Sorted.

Dameputtingonabraveface · 16/04/2022 19:07

Just leave an honest review. If the food was not great and you found hair in your food then include that but also acknowledge that the restaurant tried to rectify this through a discount. Unopened mussels are just something that happens when you order or cook them, not the restaurants fault. Be factual in your review- also acknowledge what was good. The fact it was your anniversary is irrelevant, lots of people eating out are celebrating in some way and unless you are a regular or special customer or arranged special treatment in advance you are a the same as everyone else eating there.

returntoUK · 16/04/2022 19:08

This sounds like an awful experience. You should have walked out and only paid for drinks.

LetitiaLeghorn · 16/04/2022 19:15

Ugh, a hair in my food. I couldn't eat the rest of it. I'd have to return it completely and ask for my money back. And I wouldn't return. I won't even go into a swimming pool because of hair, so I just can't cope with one in my food.

ImInStealthMode · 16/04/2022 19:17

Come to think of it, somebody rifling through every bowl of Moules checking for unopened ones would pose an unnecessary risk of getting hair in the dish. Ironic.

beastlyslumber · 16/04/2022 19:33

Pubes in the paella is grim. And 'Pubes in the Paella' would be the title of my trip advisor review.

Whadda · 16/04/2022 19:37

@beastlyslumber

Pubes in the paella is grim. And 'Pubes in the Paella' would be the title of my trip advisor review.
How did you jump straight to pube?
whynotwhatknot · 16/04/2022 19:38

How much off was it

they probably should have discounted the paella dish and mussels if your werent happy

Dumbledoressister · 16/04/2022 19:39

@beastlyslumber

Pubes in the paella is grim. And 'Pubes in the Paella' would be the title of my trip advisor review.
WTF? She said hair.
user3193 · 16/04/2022 19:40

ONE UNOPENED MUSSEL 😂🙄😳 people like you are the reason I left hospitality.

They apologised, gave you a discount and have said they are still finding their feet as a new restaurant. Accept the above and let it go.

beastlyslumber · 16/04/2022 19:41

Erm... not sure how I got to pube, actually! Maybe just carried away with my alliterative genius.

MarmiteCoriander · 16/04/2022 19:48

No- I certainly wouldn't expect the chef to sift through a 5kg catering bag of mussels to check for closed ones!!! Hmm

Hair in food is poor hygiene and maybe they will wear hairnets going forward. You complained and got a discount- what else are you hoping for OP?