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.

This is the problem though, it’s shouldn’t HAVE to state in the T&c’s because it should be blatantly obvious! 🙄

When did we start having to have everything meticulously written down for people to understand?

It does not make the world a better place!

The lesson here is always check that any offer applies before committing to purchase (or eat/drink/otherwise use a service).

Accepting the OP's word, it doesn't sound like the T&Cs were as clearly worded as they could have been, but it's logical and fair that four adult meals or four on the 'all you can eat' deal would need to be purchased to get a fifth free.

On any multi-buy offer, there is almost always a caveat "cheapest item free" so at most I would have expected the child's meal to be free with this deal.

Personally, I would just accept this - I certainly wouldn't let it spoil a birthday.

A forensic examination of the T&Cs might yield grounds on which to pursue it further, e.g. with Trading Standards, but for the sake of £30 it hardly seems worthwhile.

Is your DH going to give the full facts in his review, that your toddler's meal only cost £5.00 and not £30? You've scoffed at the scenario of one adult with 4 toddlers. What about a couple with 3 children who order 2 adult meals at £30 each and three children's meals at £5 each. Would you still expect the restaurant to give the discount?

We always check whether discounts apply before ordering food, e.g. Blue Light card, child eating free etc.

You and your DH sound like twats tbf.

You want to slag them off and then go back there? Enjoy the spit that will probably be in your food! If you are so confident that they deserve a malicious review, tell us the restaurant so we can all look!

Op do you really not understand why kids aren’t included? Its math.
if the child was included then THEIR meal would be free. You would save £5. You would not get your meal free. Same as deals in the shops. Cheapest free.
maybe they will give you a coupon, for the £5.
Next time go with a party of 5 adults and enjoy the discount, it sounds like a good one.

I hope you damn well don’t get a voucher!
Talk about being entitled, people like you are the last thing any restaurant wants.

And there we have it…

Let me guess, your next step is to go to the local newspaper looking all sad?

Working in a hotel has been eye-opening in terms of the things people will do to get a freebie, so this is one of the more usual and commonly-seen tactics.

The clear indicator that this was a freebie grab is that OP didn't produce ID and refer to the offer on ordering - because she well knew that she would be told the toddler didn't count in terms of the offer.

The restaurant won't care about OP's review, because, like here, the vast majority of people can see exactly what was happening.

If the restaurant is part of a chain then consider taking your complaint to their head office.
If it’s an independent business then consider writing to the owner and outlining your concerns……..the pricing aspect on their menu does require clarity to avoid further misunderstanding. By being adult and respectful you might get either your money back or something by way of an apology……perhaps a discount voucher.
Going public before attempting a resolution is not always a smart move. Admittedly, there’s been an oversight on their part but why damage their business simply because you want to?

Don’t be that person. The industry is struggling as it is and it will make you look foolish.

Was it Aroma?

They don't need to state it as it is very obvious to all but the very thick

Write your review. People will see how entitled you are and hopefully support the restaurant in droves.

Agree with the review and hopefully you'll get a voucher to make up for it.

You met their written t's and c's, 5 people dined. Id assume that meant 5 people, as that is what it says.

It should be their problem they didnt make them clearer.

I agree. I always check the 1* reviews for restaurants before going there. If they're mostly about the waiting time, the prices or written by scroungers who didn't something they wanted then it's actually a great sign. It means the food is good and the place takes itself seriously as a business.

I would only ever skip a place due to bad reviews on food hygiene or if multiple people have gotten sick there.

How will you use a voucher given that you state you will not be returning?

And dear god woman, it was your birthday that was 'ruined', can you not leave your own review?!

Did you pay the full (adult) amount for your child - presumably £30? If not then YABU. Highly so - quite entitled really.

Also, I think it’s prudent - and polite - to check first before you order, that you want to use their offer.

Surely it's normal to present a voucher or ask about a special deal at the beginning of a meal not the end?

Seems both you and your husband are nasty greedy people. Oh and pretty stupid too

Going against the flow bit I think they need to make it clear it is adults only.

We regularly go to a restaurant that has similar offer. And we've done the birthday thing and been with our family including children (older than 2). It's been honoured with a children's meal.

I'm guessing they get a lot of families going in for birthdays, so I think it needs to be clearer what the offer is.

83% think YABU - but you and your DH think, because you both lack basic common sense and thought a toddler should count, you are entitled to leave a bad review...

It’s beyond me why OP would even want a voucher to go back to the restaurant where it’ll be such an awkward atmosphere.

To me it sounds like going somewhere and getting your / their wires crossed, not ideal but certainly not worth letting it ruin your birthday and then in return you ruin their reputation on trip advisor.

if they’re anything like the place my daughter works at, they’re probably really struggling.

You are being utterly unreasonable - of course a child’s meal doesn’t count.

So you have already said its a great restaurant,good food and service but you are never going again.
But are going to leave a negative review but hope for a voucher?
Seriously leave it. You thought you had found a way of gaining at the restaurant cost and failed. Just get over it

And everyone who reads that review will think he's as ridiculous as everyone here thinks you are. Honestly, if I knew the restaurant and was local, a review where some chancer complains that their attempt to take advantage of a generous offer got thwarted, makes me sympathise with the staff and owners. Especially given that you complained, made a fuss and are now being so petty as to whine online. And you are so hypocritical to be all pretend concerned about the difficulty restaurants face, while trying to find a loophole to scam a free meal.

Yes because people don't understand common sense it appears