Complain and you’ll be told it’s their turn to talk.

Latest when my very reasonable friend drew parallels to McDonalds, every good Maitre d’ would have realised their mistake. Instead, she was told to be quiet because now the manager needs to speak. And without so much acknowledging what my friend (or me before that) said, she went on about that rule book we knew nothing about.

Been for lunch and made a dinner reservation in person. Expressed my wish for a specific table next to the window. In evening I asked again but been told they don’t serve dinner in that section, drinks only. Dinner started wonderful on a table in main hall. Catch up with an old friend, felt in celebration mood, went for starter, main, a good bottle of wine. About an hour into the meal been told this table is booked and hurry up because you are running out of time. I protested, but the waitress would have none of it and my friend pointed out that we still have another 50 mins, which sounded reasonable. The waitress came back after 10 mins, telling us we actually have 30 mins left, and then back again to tell us time is almost up. It was unbelievably ridiculous. I told her I knew nothing about a time limit on the table, wouldn’t have gone for starters and mains and bottle of wine. She triumphantly exclaimed I should have read the small print in my confirmation email. Told her I made the reservation in person and wasn’t told. She countered that these are the rules and I have to obey. Hmmm….You treat me like a child, I become a child. I said no. Just like my 4 year old toddler who trained me well. Just no. Waitress got mummy, erm, the manager. Manager told me she had a table for us for drinks and I was half ready to be reasonable. I told her I don’t want to shout across a large table at my friend, it was already very loud in the restaurant. I don’t want to sit on a high chair and nor on a low settee either bearing in mind our fashion choice. She reassured me it was just like the table we were sitting on, and helas it was all but that and even worse when she made me walk to the newly offered table. So I said no, returned to my table where our mains were getting cold while the sharade was playing out. I explained again same thing I told the waitress, manager telling me again about the rule book, email confirmation etc. I was fairly irate by that point and regretted having spent any money in that place at all. Celebration mood all but gone. My friend tried the grown up method only to be told that it is now the manager’s time to speak. I think the turning point came when my friend leaned back and in astonishment said Ouff. International language for Are You Realising What You Are Saying Here? We were told straight away all good, apologies for the inconvenience, stay. And not seen another person coming to our table until we waved for the bill.

It would have been so easy for them, it hurts. Latest when the manager came to throw more insult on us, she could have actually said that our favourite table by the window is now available and they’ll carry everything over for us. We would have been wowed by such considerations, instead they lost two loyal guests for good.

The restaurant was packed on a Tuesday evening. Looks like they don’t need our business anyway.