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Advertising from restaurants, especially ethnic restaurants, is a
very important source of revenue for local newspapers and magazines.
Many of us have seen prominent ads about local establishments
alongside glowing write-ups from whoever is available within the
publication for a personal visit.
Most times such write-ups are seen as somewhat over-egged but there
are times when they can do a serious disservice to readers. Recently
I have read several local reports for the Riverview Restaurant at
The Holiday Inn, Surbiton just outside London and all have
contained similar enthusiastic wording. I was, therefore, rather
looking forward to my first visit just before Christmas, albeit as
the guest of a bunch of schoolteachers.
The write-ups talk about Head Chef Bhaskar Banerjee and his passion
for his food which is prepared "with love and grace" such
that it "makes each guest's mouth water". Don't you believe
it! My lunch experience at this restaurant was probably one of the
worst in a long career of restaurant visits and I cannot think of one
good thing to say about it.
Firstly the two male and female staff amongst some 100 plus diners
seemed totally at a loss. I asked for wine only to be offered red or
white but no idea of grape or label. I was then served with what was
supposed to be pate but was in fact a weird terrine which smelled bad
and tasted worse. Then came the main course. My fish was a burnt
offering and my colleague's turkey had been re-heated so many times
it was almost orange and seared to the plate.
To add insult to injury the waitress then proceeded to pour the
remaining contents of two plates down my back as she was collecting
the plates and then knock the coffe cups over, all without a real
apology or even a cloth to clean myself with. With no manager in site
I had to be satisfied with filling in a "customer comment"
form which I am certain I will hear no more about.
This leaves two lessons for 2010. I most definitely do not recommend
The Riverside Restaurant at Holiday Inn and I realise advertising has
to be sold for local media but please do not whitewash restaurants
and thereby mislead the all-important reader. |
