Birthday dinner ruined - restaurant refused eat free offer!

[Heatherstory]

NC’d for this.

Birthday meal out at a local restaurant - they do an offer where the birthday person eats free as long as 1. It’s their actual birthday date and ID is provided to confirm and 2. There’s a minimum party size of 5.

It’s an all you can eat concept where food is brought to the table rather than you go and get it, a great deal as the food is lovely and the offer saves £30.

When we asked for the bill, we mentioned it was my birthday and I said I’d get my ID out of my bag. Someone came over (not the person we asked for the bill) and explained we were not eligible for the offer as only 4 of us had the all you can eat. My 2 year old DD was with us and obviously had a small meal (which we were to pay for).

My DH asked to speak to the manager - the person who came over said that he is the manager and refused to budge. We reluctantly paid.

We’ve checked the offer wording and it’s clearly stated it’s based on 5 dining (doesn’t specify it has to be the all you can eat) which we fulfilled.

It really soured the evening and we will not be returning which is a real shame as it’s a lovely restaurant, but they have been so underhand with this.

So you are doubling down on your skeevy behaviour by leaving them a rotten review. Are you always trying to get something for nothing like this and making a prize tit of yourselves?

But from your reckoning, you could do this and still get the offer... Surely you realise that would be an absurd way of trying to claim your free meal if a person did choose to take 4 toddlers or small children to the restaurant?

So you only paid for 4 having the buffet?
That’s ok then.
You could have taken someone else and got it free but would have spent the same amount.

You have let this ruin your meal, not the restaurant.
If it’s good then it’s your loss to not return and I doubt they need your business anyway.

A 2 year old is not part of any significant count. Yabu. Get over it.

So as well as being a bit thick you’re vindictive as well. If you tell the story in your review as you have written it on here, anyone reading it would be on the restaurant’s side anyway.

I think you knew the child wouldn’t be included but thought you’d chance it anyway and they’d be forced to oblige. Otherwise you’d have asked upfront.

Show yourselves up then, I really don't think they'll care. By your logic they should pay you a tenner for the privilege of dining there as well as a free meal ( 4 x toddler meals)

One of the reasons restaurants have promotions like this is so that four adults that accompany the birthday person may never have been before, like the food and go again independently. This is how I discovered an amazing Italian restaurant that we go to now, just as a couple. A child does not have agency for that.

OK so their wording arguably should have been 'five adults' but it's a given really. You wouldn't expect to turn up with a load of kids, pay for kids meals and then stuff your face.

Honestly OP, have a word with yourselves. The restaurant owner isn't the twat here.

You and your DH sound very spiteful, the way you talk about it being "suitably worded" and appear to be delighted at the fact it "won't disappoint". There is no "matter" to be settled and you are embarrassing yourself more with every post.

Use your head space for more significant things in life, and move on.

A friend opened a new pizzeria in our town and offered a deal with a free pizza with every drink ordered, opening week. Many many assholes came in and ordered pizza and tap water and expected free pizza. How stupid and ludicrous snd entitled do you have to be? Insanity

I bet it's in the small print somewhere. It usually is, so as to avoid the risk of freeloaders like you. Even if it's not, it's kind of stating the obvious that a kid's meal for a fiver won't count.

of course, I'm sure the "suitably-penned review" will point out that one of the meals was a kids one...

Actually I'm on your side OP. Like others I would initially assume adults only BUT then I would check the small print and if it didn't specify that then I'd have assumed the same as you - would probably mention before ordering though.

You misunderstood the offer and let it ruin your birthday. Total overreaction.

oh give over. I’m sure they will be devastated 😂

Common stop being that person.

Why would you expect paying £5 for a 2 year old wills count towards giving you a free £35 meal and now you’re on mumsnet getting worked up instead of enjoying your birthday.

Please don’t do this because you’re too cheap to pay for your meal. It’s ridiculous and unreasonable to include your 2 year old who you paid £5 as part of the free meal if you have 5 people.

Jeez are you both so cheap and have so much time in your hands? You’ve spoilt your birthday and now want to leave a bad review for the restaurant, if you do I hope the manager reminds to defend his decision and push back against you and your DH.

Exactly this.

Really they are tightarses not cheap OP who wants a free meal because she paid £5 for her 2 year old 😂

Hahahaha you sure have too much time in your hands 😂😅😆suitably toned review 😅

Now MIL is also involved, are you going to start a petition in parliament?

I wouldn’t expect a 2 year old to count. I would have also mentioned having the offer before ordering.

There’s no point letting this ruin your birthday.

Exactly this.
They need to make a profit.
You can't expect them to do all that work for a loss ... even if it is your birthday.

This is obvious. So OP you are massively U

💯

It is pretty obvious that it would be based on the full price meals.

However I think as a compromise they could have charged your 2 year old full price and then given you a free meal but that of course would only have saved you £5.

This. Stop this you are making yourselves look like fools. We all seem to understand that any offer doesn't include children. Also you should have checked before you started the meal.

You sound hoprrible and entitled.
Wow, so you paid £5 for a kids meal, well done you. But these offers are usually based on 4 adults paying, not 3 adults and a kid who pays a fiver.
You were a CF in this scenario and when your husband posts his elaborate review, people will only see that you wer ein the wrong, not that the restaurant was in the wrong.
Next time go to a restaurant you can afford?