To preface our experience at Lonestar Upper Riccarton last night:

I called prior after looking at the menu to make sure eating at your restaurant would be suitable for me.

On the phone I spoke to the same person who served us last night. On the phone I was told there was no problems and we could have nearly everything.

On the night we arrived and were greeted and told to wait in the bar. Which I found odd. There were no servers in the bar. We weren't asked if we wanted drinks or snacks while we waited for the other guests and there was no one else in the bar. It was dark and cold. No atmosphere and felt pointless. I asked why we couldn't be seated at the table already and was just told "we seat people in the bar and take the party through together". Seems pointless.

We were sat at a smaller table which we were shoulder to shoulder with each other and felt crowded.

The server I spoke to came over to me and showed me the vegan menu. His attitude was already in a negative and he started pointing out all the things I couldn't have which was everything on the main vegan menu after stating on the phone I could have almost everything. I then said could you please tell me what I can have then? Which was 2 things - Cauliflower and Coleslaw. So I asked for those.

We were moved tables and then things continued down hill. We had an extra long wait to be served for a drinks order and were bought a water jug with no glasses. I had to get our table glasses and was given a scowling look by the server when he saw me with them.

I had to ask for a server to come and take our order.

When the server came to take our order he seemed even more agitated.

He took my husband's order and then I felt he must not have heard me when I previously said I would have the Cauliflower and the Coleslaw so I asked if he needed my order again and he said yes.

I then saw that there was a Salad on the menu board that wasnt on the vegan menu which looked more appealing than just Cauliflower bites and Coleslaw the salad had capers/almonds etc so I asked if I could have that he said yes though he was talking over me I wasnt confident he had listened. I asked if I needed to let him no my allergies again as I was worried for my own safety. He again said 'yes vegetarian and gf.' I said 'no I am vegan, vegan isn't the same as vegetarian' he then spoke over me again and said 'yes vegan vegetarian and gf.' I was uncomfortable and said 'ok thank you'.

Our entrees came out. The garlic bread was enjoyed by all. My partner (also vegan) had his bean dip entree come out with a side of sour cream. Again with my lack in confidence in the service I asked the other members of the table to smell the sour cream as I suspected it might not be vegan. When the server came out we asked and he said yes it was so my partner went to have it and the the server said no wait and ran to the kitchen. He came back and said it wasn't vegan.

Why were we bought out non vegan sour cream with our vegan meal? Also why wasn't the sour cream replaced with vegan sour cream?

There was a wait for our mains My main was bought out first and on top of it were edamame beans. ( my allergies are: peanuts, soy, coriander and fenugreek)

I went to tell the server what was wrong and again he spoke over me and said "yes that is the vegetarian cheese". 1: why is he speaking over clients, 2: is it vegetarian cheese or vegan cheese??? I said no there are edamame beans on the Cauliflower they are soy. I am allergic to soy.

Part 2 will be posted by another profile "Hemi Mccarthy".