TGI Fridays — Restaurant in New South Wales

My daughter booked several days in advance for my birthday. Got a phone call on the day a few hours before our booking stating there had been a mix up of the bookings. That they were moving us to the high chairs near the bar. My daughter informed them that we had her 90 year grandmother and 4 year old son. It was implied that she had only made the booking that day when in fact it had been made 5 days earlier. They assured her it would be fine and that my mother would be able to sit in the bar stools as they have backs on them. My daughter wanted to cancel the reservation but I said it will be OK. Thinking it would be too late to make a reservation elsewhere for 9 people at such a late time. I have been to several TGI Fridays in the USA and had been wanti g to go there for a while. What a mistake that was. When we arrive about 10 mins before the reservation time. I was informed that there was a problem with the booking. I said your joking we received a call a few hours ago about the same thing and assured us there was a booking here they just weren't sure where they were going to put us. She asked if we could give her 5 mins so that she could talk to the manager. We did that and they informed us then that they did have a table for us which was now in the corner and would seat all 9 of us. We were then told we had to wait for it to be sorted. We waited another 10 mins for this to happen. The service was terrible we didn't know who was serving us. We finally got someone to order our meal with and was promised a jug of water. That arrived but no glasses we then had to ask again for the glasses and a 2nd jug of water as 1 jug wouldn't stretch to 9 glasses of water. We also drinks at this time. The meal came out in intervals taking approx 30 mins. You couldn't talk to the other end of the table as the music was so loud. At one stage it was turned down only to go up again after the next song started. My grandson could not stand the loud music and cowered into my daughter with his hands over his ears. His nuggets were disgusting dried up and he refused to eat them. Also when delivering one of the meals the waiter spilt the fries over my mother. We had to remind them for a replacement for them. Only to be charged for a whole other meal at the end. We did not see any waiters during the meal to see if any further drinks or desserts where wanted. Needless to say we didn't bother. My meal was average. Our other relatives and l friends stated that they do not feel it was worth the money. We didn't know if we were waiting for a bill at the table so we just went to the front desk and told them. We could have walked out as nobody was watching or cared. We asked to pay separately as in couples and we were allowed to do that. That is when we found out that we had been charged for an extra meal. As I said I have been to several TGI's in the States and your service compared to there's is absolutely atrocious. Especially if that is what you say you are basing your service on. I will not be recommending your...

My partner and I came in on a Friday and requested a table for two. Even though we were walked to our table it took me to say “we need another chair before any staff did anything. Strange experience, that’s a first for me but okay, I digress. No chair was available so a high chair from outside was brought instead and we understood there were no chairs available and accepted it. Although, after ten minutes I asked if a table or booth or at the very least when a chair is available could we have my partners replaced or be moved because it was truly ridiculous seeing her sitting higher than anyone in the room with such low tables, and I had no idea how she was going to be comfortable eating from this table. However, I will never forget the young guys response who was the manager as we found out later. “ I’m sorry we have no chairs and we are keeping the tables and booths open for customers that may walk in.. (Not will walk in, reserved for, or yes if one chair is available we will bring one).

I shit you not. (Excuse the French)

Even though couldn’t fault the food, our waiter/manger had a poor night with us at least, because after that encounter we ordered drinks to improve our night but waited way too long to receive them. We gave the staff the benefit that perhaps it was busy which it was to the staffs credit, but after roughly 40 mins gone and seeing others who’d just make a drink order get theirs meant I had to speak up again to which the waiter says he is sorry he forgot.

At this point we just moved ourselves to a table without asking, figured my partner should not have to be uncomfortable while we’ve been patiently and politely waiting. The waiter didn’t say anything to us about moving so all seemed fine and apart from a couple of walk ins no one else came to sit on the side of the restaurant we were seated, so that was disappointing that non existent customers were valued more than the ones inside and that it took resolving the matter ourselves to make our night enjoyable.

Lastly, we could have taken our revenge at the end when we were finished and walked to the register because no one seemed interested in takin our money at the counter, maybe they thought we were new customers waiting for a table. We could have left without paying and come back and they would not have noticed, as no one was at the front and our waiter was too busy at the bar to not notice that we were at the register but we stood there waiting and entertained ourselves.

We didn’t kick up a stink we just knew we weren’t ever coming back and had ourselves a good laugh about the memorable experience.

Appreciate you...

I attended the restuarant with a large group of people for an 18th birthday. Having been there before, I dressed knowing there was going to be a chill. I should have worn my snow gear, the restuarant was freezing with the constant chill blowing in from outside through the open bifold doors. My partner and in-laws were seated for 30 mins and still no one had come to take our drink order. I approached the bar to order drinks and it was only then a waitress offered to come and take the order. During the 10 min wait for our drinks, I witnessed the bartender sending drinks out, a waitress asked the bartender what the drinks were. Obviously the bartender couldn't remember so she proceeded to dip a straw in the alcoholic beverage and taste it before sending the waitress off. Another 10 mins after getting our drinks we were told not to use the QR codes to order (mind you were knew what we wanted to order 5 mins after entering so by now we were hungry). The waitress took our order and said she would put all entrees down as mains so we wouldnt have to wait as long for our mains to come out but make a note to the kitchen that entrees should come out first. Garlic bread that was ordered for the whole table came out shortly after. It was as if the kitchen put melted garlic butter on bread and sent it out cold. Family members at the other end of the table got their entrees first, that was fine. Half an hour after we made our orders what we suspected to be our entree was seen on the bench ready to be served to our table. Numerous meals were placed there after and served quickly. After it sitting there for 10 mins at least our mains were served. I told the waitress we hadn't received our entree she said "its just here, thats what I told you when I was taking your order". Actually, it wasn't but anyway.. we mentioned that the entree was sitting there for 10 mins so its going to be cold now, can we please have a new one. They obliged and sent it out back only to return a couple of mins later with another cold entree. Pretty certain it was the same dish. My partner and in-laws were almost finished our meal when we saw our family members at the other side of the table only just receiving their mains, that is after chips were dropped and left on the floor being walked through. Having not the best service the first time being here, my partner and I gave them the benefit of the doubt, but after this experience, you can garuarantee it's...