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.

It obvious that a kids meal wouldn’t have counted.

This.

c) also does it specify only 1 free meal per 4 paid for meals, or just there have to be 5 people dining - if so technically if you had 5 people whose birthdays were all the same day, they would meet the criteria.

@latetothefisting there’s only one way to find that out 😂

Oh come on.
If you turned up with 4 children that you paid £5 each for, you really think your meal should be free if it's your birthday?
That's just ridiculous

You’ve addressed the issue with management and they’re not budging and now your husband is going to post a negative review in the hope to get some form of compensation in the form of a voucher.

I always find it strange when a poster repeats back to the OP exactly what the OP has written.

This! We went to Wagamamas recently (DDs choice) and I noticed they had a blue light card sign up. DH has a card, so we asked if we could get discount as it was a Sunday and I wasn’t sure when it applied. Had we not checked, and waited to the end and they said no, I’d have accepted it for what it is. As it was, we got a bonus discount.

You've never worked customer service, have you? Some people make themselves notorious by their nuttiness. No list required.

And yes, people who own similar businesses in the same area do tend to talk. Restaurants, shops, whatever. You'd be surprised how much comparing of notes goes on.

It's not the kids ages that is relevant here but the amounts of money paid for each meal. Pay for 5 £30 meals and birthday person gets their meal free.

When your DH does his review, remind him that it’s spelled “disgusting” and not “discusting” and remember to tell them that you were “literally fuming”.

Love a good Google review.

Come on, OP. What a thing to let spoil your birthday.

That ALWAYS means 5 paying the full amount. Not 4 plus a baby.

It should have been obvious it meant 5 adults. For one thing, the majority margin is made on the drinks. They would not make much margin on a 2-year-old's drinks! I don't know how you imagined they could feed four adults a restaurant meal out of £90.

please don’t, you are in the wrong here so don’t punish the restaurant or embarrass yourselves.

the restaurant needs to be able to be profitable.

This won't be a big deal to them. They can just reply that you didn't meet the terms of the offer, so didn't qualify. You won't come out of it looking good. I've seen such reviews and they don't put me off. That sort of thing is a customer issue, not a venue problem.

I would absolutely assume that it was five people eating the £30 eat all you want meal in order to get one of that meal free. You can’t just count anyone sitting at the table, however little they are having!

You mean I'm not the only one that reads the one star reviews just for a laugh?

I probably would have checked before ordering, as I wouldn’t have assumed that a toddler counted.

I used to regularly go to a restaurant where the birthday person ate free on their birthday, and it was stipulated that you had to let them know at the time you ordered. But to me that is just common sense which is why I would have let them know.

You sounds lovely, OP! I hope you had a good birthday anyway and that the restaurant compensates you with a voucher.

Yes, and they would normally make money that way as very likely would end up with 3 couples most times. It still should be clear on the advertising though.

Don't let thirty dollars spoil your day.
Don't stop going to the great little restaurant just because you assumed that a two year old would be counted as an adult guest when you opted out and bought a kiddie meal..

Next time purchase an all you can eat for the child if he is to be the fourth/fifth person?

I mean, technically they should have specified, but I think most reasonable people would understand an offer for 'a free buffet meal if five people dine' to mean that the five people must order the buffet meal.

If you'd been five adults but one of your party had just ordered a salad, you wouldn't have expected the free meal, surely?

I wouldn't call it underhand and I certainly wouldn't let it sour my birthday or stop me going to a restaurant I liked for the sake of 30 quid.

They could have been clearer, you could have mentioned the free meal when you ordered if it was that important. I expect they'll have a sign next time you go!

That is really nasty. You were so obviously taking the piss with your £5 toddler being your 5th diner. If you want to take advantage of an offer, and let’s be honest you really did want to take advantage, it is usual to check when ordering.

Surely if there is an offer you ask about it before you eat?

Imagine this ruining your birthday…

When I see batshit reviews like this, I click ‘not helpful’ and it makes me more likely to want to visit.

You broke the golden rule by not ringing up in advance and stating that you were planning to use the special offer and that you would be 4 adults and one child. Any issues would have been picked up then as they know what their deal involves.

i say this because I recently hosted a family meal and by discussing everything in advance I was able to iron out a few things, including the fact we would be eligible to have our table for an hour longer because of the size of our group, so it worked in my favour to discuss in advance so there were no misunderstandings on the day.

Yabu and a little greedy and grabby.

By your reckoning, a table of 5 could go and 4 of the party could dine on a side or starter each but the birthday member could have all you can eat for free? Or as a pp posted, 4 kids meals and an adult then use the offer?

I feel sorry for the restaurant. It feels like some people are constantly trying to get something for nothing, and the second something, that is supposed to be a nice perk, isn't water tight worded, or there is any room for slight ambiguity they pounce

Do your pathetic, spiteful little review.

Hopefully the restaurant doesn't think sod it and get rid of the offer.