Afternoon tea difficulty

[TheAverageJoanne]

Well it's ATBU. Booked afternoon tea for a few friends on Saturday for a birthday. One person only eats cheese on sandwiches but she'll have chutney and things like that on them.

Unfortunately they are being rather difficult. When I requested cheese sandwiches when I booked she had to check with her manager who said it would be OK. They phoned today saying they could only provide cream cheese & cucumber, but not plain cheese! I pointed out plain cheese was available on the children's menu but they weren't able to change the sandwich selection, only for allergy or food intolerance.

AIBU to not leave them a tip, grumble on Trip Advisor and complain to them? We want it to go ahead. I'm going to make some and take along in a sandwich box for this person, too. She doesn't eat meat or fish.

This is a prestige hotel that charges a lot btw.

Only eats cheese sarnies? FFS just opt for the veggie option and be done with it!

I would be incredibly surprised they don’t have a vegetarian menu. Have you actually asked as opposed to simply asking them to swap fillings?
And if not, why have you chosen to book one of the few places that don’t have a vegetarian option when one of your party is vegetarian?

This.

They ate BU not to rustle up a few cheese buttiex but your friend is an embarrassment. I’d be so mortified to go for afternoon tea with someone who only ate cheese sarnies

and jeez don’t take a Tupperware with your own cheese sandwiches. I’m cringing so bad for you OP.

I’ve never had a cheese sandwich with afternoon tea.

There isn't one. I've just checked. Seriously. I've read it three times. There's a range of sandwiches for meat eaters, three different choices, but only cream cheese and cucumber for vegetarians. None of that is vegan. Which isn't relevant to us but will be for others. So those fusspots who don't like cream cheese are stuffed!

Just tell them she's rather tall for her age and order the child's menu ....

Awww are you? That's kind of you.

I think if someone will only eat cheese sandwiches, it’s a bit pointless them going along to an afternoon tea which serves a selection of sandwiches, none of which are cheese. The menu is not suited to her diet and tastes. So you either cater to her and pick a venue which serves cheese sandwiches or she puts up with missing the parts she doesn’t want to eat and perhaps has some extra cake while someone has her unwanted sandwiches. The hotel clearly doesn’t want to make an adult personal cheese sandwiches for whatever reason.

You know what? I think we'll leave the embarrassing fusspot at home and eat her share!

Do they not do sausage rolls as well or other meaty savoury choices, so she will miss out on that course of the meal too?

I'm fussy but there is usually only one sandwich I don't like

So I swap with someone.

I can see why they don't want to change it completely

They might not let you do that if they see you.

You could (for all they know) be bringing potential allergens into the restaurant

(M&S won't even let you bring sandwiches from their shop into their restaurants for that reason)

A vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat meat, not someone who will only eat a cheese sandwich.

You shouldn't take her if she's going to be so dramatic.

Not eating everything and not eating ANY sandwich filling but cheese are worlds apart. You seem intelligent enough to know that. And also to know someone can be vegetarian and fussy.

OP, why didn’t you just say at the start that your friend is vegetarian? You would have got some more supportive responses, I think.

They should provide a vegetarian option - though unfortunately many only do vegan now, and whilst I do enjoy most vegan sandwiches I would like the option of a cheese or egg one as well as its usually vegan cheeze and then vegan margarine instead of clotted cream for the scones….. It’s then it stops feeling like an indulgent treat… do push back it will benefit many of us!

But that’s the regular menu. Usually there’s an entirely separate vegetarian or vegan one. (Most standard desserts won’t suit vegans either.)

Im amazed. Usually hotels/restaurants that do afternoon teas are happy to swap out a filling if you give them notice. Here you could vote with your custom by not going. But if you insist I’m not sure what you can complain about as they’ve made their position clear.

There isn't. I'll phone and speak to someone tomorrow about it.

Yes, do. They surely accommodate vegetarians/vegans. If they don’t then most places will so maybe consider switching venues.

So much angst caused by the humble cheese sandwich..op hope your friend gets her sandwich😋

Afternoon tea isn't a good choice if you have folk with dietary needs.
I once tried to find somewhere that could cater for a vegetarian diet, a vegan diet, a renal diet and a diet suitable for a Muslim gentleman!
We went for a bar meal in the end - much easier!

OP have you actually asked the hotel if they have a vegetarian menu? Or are you just relying on what is on the website?