Sakonis — Restaurant in London

I was pleased to see that a Sakonis had opened in Hatch End as I had visited the one in Wealdstone occasionally. A friend and I decided to try it last Friday lunchtime. First, there was no menu in the window - that's inexcusable as most people would like to see what a restaurant has to offer before crossing the threshold. Nevertheless, we ventured in and found some menus on a table by the door. We picked them up to see what was on offer – all quite reasonably priced, which made me even more surprised that it was not displayed in the window. A waiter approached and we asked him whether they did a special set lunch. He said they didn’t. Another very bad mark, as the branch in Harrow does, as do many of the other restaurants in the area. The waiter left us to look at the menu for a few moments and then made his way back, presumably to seat us, but instead he stood next to us chatting on his mobile phone. After about half a minute in which he totally engrossed in the phone conversation, I looked at my friend, he looked at me and we decided to leave. My parting shot to the waiter on the phone was ‘we don’t want to disturb your call – we are going’. He responded with a broad smile. So we never got to taste the food. But we didn’t need to go far as a few doors down was the Mosfilo Greek restaurant, where we got the usual warm welcome when we stepped in, the usual friendly service and a menu for the lunchtime specials, which included a mini-Meze that was simply superb. What is it about new restaurants on the north side of Hatch End? I had a similar experience at the Izgara just after it opened – a friend and I went there and asked for a table, there were quite a few free ones but the waiter who greeted us (or not – he didn’t say a word or even smile, let alone say ‘good evening’) was carrying an iPad. He turned aside and started fumbling with it; after about half a minute of silent screen-stroking we decided to leave. Then there was the newly-opened Delisserie in Hatch End, when a friend and I tried it out and were ‘greeted’ by a scowling but well-dressed waiter, who never said a word when we asked for a table for two (and there were a few) – he didn’t say a word either but started fumbling with a notepad so we left. To be fair, after I posted a review on that occasion and had some correspondence with the manager, I was told that they had identified the person concerned, who should never have been ‘front of house’ and I did try it again afterwards, when the friend who was with me on that occasion and I got a very warm welcome, and presumably the scowler was now in the kitchen scouring. Just to put your mind at rest, I don’t have a skull and crossbones tattooed on my forehead or a ring through my nose, and I didn’t turn up in torn jeans and a dirty T-shirt. I am reasonably well-spoken, as are the friends I eat out with. It’s just that when I go into a restaurant I like a friendly welcome when I arrive and I also like to feel that they want me to come in and spend some money on a meal. Maybe...

THE WORST SERVICE IN THE WORLD - stay clear!!

I ordered via telephone for a very simple order for collection for my wife and I. During the order process the lady I spoke to took my name and telephone number. I drove from Watford which took approximately 30 minutes to go and collect my food, on arrival I was greeted by the person standing at the counter telling me that they had no pau bhaji which was part of my order. When I asked why I wasn't called to advise me they said, just!!!

I called my wife to see if she wanted something else instead, and after speaking to her, we ordered a Bombay Sandwich, which we then had to wait for around 12 minutes while all my other food got cold. Not once did anyone apologise while I waited for the food, nor did they think to keep my other food warm. When I got home, my wife took her so called Bombay Sandwich out of the packaging, only to see there was no potato and literally 1-2 strands of cheese. My wife called the restaurant and spoke to the same lady who took our order. When my wife explained the sandwich arrived the way it did, she put us on hold to say the "chef" said she had put potato inside the sandwich. This comment made us feel like we are lying and trying to get a freebie! To top it off she also asked us to send a picture via WhatsApp to prove it. Once we sent the picture, she told us we were lying as there was cheese on the sandwich, please take a look at the attached picture and tell me what you guys think!!! Rude and Arrogant, I am not in the habit of calling and complaining for free food, and I can honestly say I will never EVER visit this horrible establishment again. When we requested a refund we were told we cannot have one, and we can have a credit note. I refused this as I do not plan on eating or ordering again. Forgot those days where the customer is always right and simple and good old customer service exists. I can honestly say I have never been treated this way in any restaurant, not...

Really disappointed with the service we received on 10/03/2023 at the Sakonis in Hatch End. Avoid this restaurant at all costs, if you are a slow eater or want to enjoy a leisurely meal. A friend and I were there for lunch and a catch up. We ordered a drink and a dish each. Before we had finished the waiter asked if we wanted to order anything else to which we said we were not ready to order anything yet. Within a few minutes, he was back again to ask if we wanted anything else. Again, we said No as I was still eating. So he told us that we had to vacate the table within 5 minutes as it was reserved for someone else. My friend and I looked around the restaurant to find almost half of the restaurant empty. He was back within 5 minutes with the bill and to tell us that we had to leave so we asked why the people who had reserved the table could not be sat elsewhere. To which he replied that that was the only table that was for two people so we pointed out to him that there were so many other empty tables. He told us that we had been there for an hour and a half and that was the maximum that we could have the table for and started emptying the table and asked if we wanted to take away the food we had not yet eaten. I have Parkinson's and cannot rush my food. We were absolutely disgusted with the way we were treated. He literally threw us out of the restaurant. Not only had we not finished our meal but we wanted to order more, we were not aware of the fact that there was a time limit on how long you could be sat at a table. I have eaten there numerous times but have never been treated in this manner. In fact I have never been treated like this anywhere. Absolutely, disgraceful Sakonis!

We decided to go to Minori to have desserts and hot drinks. As we entered there, we asked if we could go in just for desserts and we were warmly welcomed at sat at a table. We received an excellent service and were allowed to...