Just been at a relatively new tapas restaurant for our anniversary

[oldandscunnered]

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.

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

Er, what?!

Not in a restaurant. Jesus.

Unopened mussel doesn't mean rotten mussel, some take longer to open simply because they didn't get enough heat. They don't all open simultaneously.
Don't embarrass yourself complaining about this
Nothing wrong with finding an unopened mussel

Hair in a restaurant dish is grim and you had every right to complain, however it seems like they handled it well

70 quid for 4 people is pretty cheap.

I can't see what you expect them to do differently, the handled the complaints made by trying to correct them and offering a discount. How differently would you like them to have dealt with this?

Hairnets should absolutely have to be worn by chefs, I wear one at work but have occasionally found hair on my clothes and there's always a slim chance one makes it through a hair net.

I'd also like more information about the "rotten" food, was it genuinely going off or just not to your taste? I also wouldn't expect them to sort through cooked mussels to find any closed before serving, I'm more than capable of putting them to one side.

If you feel you need to leave an honest but fair review. The restaurant wasn't to your taste but they dealt with any issues well.

I'm surprised how much acceptance there is here for poor quality food! I would have not wanted to eat the food either OP, but I agree with those saying you've already complained, the time to say anything further re the £70 remaining on the bill would have been when you were there, but if they have a feed back page or are on trip advisor etc., that's a good place to share your experience.

No.
Having some of the mussels not opening IS COMPLETELY NORMAL

When I worked in a pub someone complained there was a hair in her pie.
Both Chefs were bald and it was a closed lid pie so didn't go in during the cooking of the pie or whilst carrying the pie to the customer.
Funny enough the hair was the same colour and length as her hair!

@EarringsandLipstick

Don’t be so dramatic

Unless everyone in the supply chain from processing through to the kitchen through to wait staff and guests is bald as an Olympic swimmer and never comes into contact with anyone with hair that could get caught on their clothes then of course there are loads of opportunities.

You’d have to have everyone working in hazmat suites to completely mitigate the hair risk. And, (anecdotally) most the time hairs are dropped into the food at the table.

You have already complained so leave it there and don't return.

[quote Dearmariacountmein]@EarringsandLipstick

Don’t be so dramatic

Unless everyone in the supply chain from processing through to the kitchen through to wait staff and guests is bald as an Olympic swimmer and never comes into contact with anyone with hair that could get caught on their clothes then of course there are loads of opportunities.

You’d have to have everyone working in hazmat suites to completely mitigate the hair risk. And, (anecdotally) most the time hairs are dropped into the food at the table.[/quote]
Are you insane?

Absolutely, if I pay to eat in a restaurant, I expect no hair in my food, as a minimum.

I don't regard it as some high standard, I even manage to avoid having hair in the family meals I prepare for my family 😑

Never had a hair in a restaurant meal.
Your post is beyond hyperbolic.