Laughable Service

[random]

I went for dinner with my gf on Saturday night, the restaurant we went to is on the river and I have not been there before although I do live near to it, it is called 'D river at river'.

The restaurant itself is very nice, great surroundings, nice building, ferris wheel etc, friendly staff when we arrived and mine , was the only farang face, even the singer was decent. Anyway we ordered food, I never fancied Thai food on Saturday so I went with the safe option of fish and chips. Anyway the Thai food came first and I tasted it and I have to say it was good, then the fun started when my fish and chips arrived

The chips were pencil thin oven chips, I ate one and was surprised at how cold the managed to get it despite them having to cook it, I wondered if the had mastered some sort of reverse microwave oven that makes things cold quickly, these cold pale chips were laying next to two pieces of fish that may have been kicked to death, well they were battered. The batter was crispy, the two pieces were small, and to make matters even worse both pieces of fish were topped with a cheese slice (yes the cheap slices) and covered in chilli powder.

I called the waitress over and told her the chips were cold and could she get them heated please. I expected her to take the whole plate but she chose to scrape the anaemic cold chips off my plate and onto another plate, most of them landing on the table and then picked up and put on the plate, she left me with my two excuses for fish and the salad that was also on the plate.

So I thought I would use the time productively and started to eat the fish, since both pieces were about half the size of the cheese slice I guessed I would finish them before the chips reappeared, I banked on them taking a couple of minutes. Anyway 5 minutes later still no chips and I would have asked for them apart from the fact that I had 3 fish bones stuck on my throat from the battered fish, after coughing them up we managed to ask the waitress for the chips, she told us they are coming (in thai, my gf is thai). Anyway after asking once more after 10 minutes she decided to go to the checkout and ask for the manager, she was told the manager is not working and that the chips were coming.

So 20 minutes after leaving the table my fries reappeared, of course at this point dinner had well and truly been finished and my appetite was no more so I said I no longer wanted them, and since they had provided food and service worse than anything I had encountered in 5 years in Thailand I also was not prepared to pay for the fish and chips. The staff agreed and then brought the bill with the fish and chips still on it, so off they toddled again to remove it.

When we left and got to the car park my gf asked the car park attendant the name of the manager, he gave us the name and told us she was in the office if we want to speak to her

Anyway we just left at that point, I had not paid for the excuse for a meal, but had paid for the thai food.

I guess there is a moral in here somewhere, maybe the moral is to order thai food in a thai restaurant, or don't let your ships out of your site as it maybe a long time before you see them again, and if they say the manager is not working (seemed fishy as it was a saturday night, at least one thing was fishy) check with the car park attendant as he is either more in the know than the other staff, or less in the know on the policy to deny all knowledge that she is there

Edited October 4, 2010 by bonobo
removed derogatory slang term

[wintermute]

Are you seriously surprised that a restaurant that specializes in Thai food in Thailand does western food poorly?

Also, your little "septic" American bashing side comment was amusing maybe your overall attitude and view at life is crap which reflects in your immediate treatment by others.

[lannarebirth]

So you didn't have to pay for a meal you found unsatisfactory.That's excellent service,although apparently poor cooking.

If you want my advice, next time you go to a Thai restaurant, order Thai food.Most of them are really good at that, as they know what it is supposed to look and taste like. I doubt if 1 in 20 Thais has ever laid eyes or teeth into a fish and chips meal.

[wintermute]

There's a place where you can get fish and "chips" done right. It's called London, England maybe you should take the first plane out to there and never look back.

[Wallaby]

I'm with the OP. I couldn't care what style of restaurant it is, if fish and chips is on the menu then they should know how to cook it.

Nice touch to clarify what chips are to the septics. Of course, met with the usual response of those with a humour transplant.

[otherstuff1957]

^ True! Most Western food in Thailand is overpriced crap. If I want to eat non-Thai food I either cook it at home or go to a Farang-owned restaurant....

A little bit off-topic, but the only reason I like to run down to Pattaya once in a while is the availability of relatively cheap, good Farang food!

[sillyman99]

You ate for free and still you whine, try that in a Farang pub in Pattaya.

[random]

apart from winternute totally missing the point of the post and clearly misses that at no point so I complain, I make a joke out of it, I also eat at a Thai place the other side of the river 'the view' that does western food very well.

for wintermute, i wonder how you manage to glean from my post that my attitude and view on life is crap? I have a great attitude and treated the situation with the humour it deserved, my gf made the decisions to speak with management etc, not me. I was not reated this way based on attitude, I was treated this way based on the incompetence of the staff.

i clearly state the place was nice, the Thai food was good, however the service was shocking, and was not shocking because of anything i did, it was shocking because they were shocking, pure and simple, and the western food was awful and cold, this is a fact and not based on my attitude.

Are you suggesting the chips turned cold because I ordered them.

Edited October 4, 2010 by bonobo
removed flame

[longstebe]

Ah well, that would just go down as a place not to go back too.

Hate them skinny chips.

I don't think the OP meant any harm to our American friends, just a little piss take that's all.

I usually get my Brit fix in a Brit pub.

[dantilley]

There's a place where you can get fish and "chips" done right. It's called London, England maybe you should take the first plane out to there and never look back.

Go all the way to London just for fish & chips?! There's a good place on Thong Lo called Fat Gutz, thread about it (and other good fish & chips establishments) here.

[random]

You ate for free and still you whine, try that in a Farang pub in Pattaya.

Where did I whine?

And I didn't eat, I paid for the food that was eaten by my gf, my food was inedible.

[wintermute]

I'm with the OP. I couldn't care what style of restaurant it is, if fish and chips is on the menu then they should know how to cook it.

Nice touch to clarify what chips are to the septics. Of course, met with the usual response of those with a humour transplant.

You're an aussie right? Do you guys even have your own culture that's unique from Britain?

[random]

There's a place where you can get fish and "chips" done right. It's called London, England maybe you should take the first plane out to there and never look back.

Go all the way to London just for fish & chips?! There's a good place on Thong Lo called Fat Gutz, thread about it (and other good fish & chips establishments) here.

Yeah that place is close to my office, I believe 280 baht for fish and chips

[sillyman99]

Are you suggesting the chips turned cold because I ordered them. arsehol_e

Yes.

If you hadn't ordered them, you wouldn't have had a free meal, what are you complaining about ?

If I was a Thai I'd screw everything up for Farangs, then sit back and watch them complain on internet forums chuckling to myself.

Edited October 4, 2010 by sillyman99

[lannarebirth]

it was shocking because they were shocking, pure and simple, and the western food was awful and cold, this is a fact and not based on my attitude.

Are you suggesting the chips turned cold because I ordered them. arsehol_e

FYI and for future reference, Thais don't place much importance on whether or not a meal is seved hot or cold.If that's important to you you should say so when ordering.

[random]

Ah well, that would just go down as a place not to go back too.

Hate them skinny chips.

I don't think the OP meant any harm to our American friends, just a little piss take that's all.

I usually get my Brit fix in a Brit pub.

Normally i would eat Thai, but I thought I fancied something else, and since it was on the menu I guessed they could cook it

[onnut]

After being here for a few years and actually working in the service trade I also would never had ordered the fish and chips at a plaice (pun intended) like that. You could say though that it was not so bad service because you never got charged in the end for that meal, even if she did take the chips back and not the whole dish.

The manager was obviously scared of losing face so probably told the staff to say she was not there, not good for the restaurant but that happens.

these type of Thai restaurants do make some good Thai food and have good service most times, just order Thai food! 9 times out of 10 it only leads to disapointment if you order western food at these establishments and when you are hungry it seems worse than it is.

[random]

Are you suggesting the chips turned cold because I ordered them. arsehol_e

Yes.

If you hadn't ordered them, you wouldn't have had a free meal, what are you complaining about ?

I didn't have a free meal, I didn't eat it, maybe you need to read the op again as your log in name is really fitting you at the moment

[random]

It is amazing how a simple thread can bring out all the forum <deleted> that can't read, or if the can read they can't understand the simple content of the post.

I am not complaining, I found it funny, I never complained at the restaurant, my gf did, i simply pointed out that I could not pay for a meal that was not edible. Maybe some of you would have just ate it and paid, well that says more about you than it does about me, I am not in the habit of eating <deleted>.

[random]

After being here for a few years and actually working in the service trade I also would never had ordered the fish and chips at a plaice (pun intended) like that. You could say though that it was not so bad service because you never got charged in the end for that meal, even if she did take the chips back and not the whole dish.

The manager was obviously scared of losing face so probably told the staff to say she was not there, not good for the restaurant but that happens.

these type of Thai restaurants do make some good Thai food and have good service most times, just order Thai food! 9 times out of 10 it only leads to disapointment if you order western food at these establishments and when you are hungry it seems worse than it is.

Nothing wrong with the Thai food, nothing wrong with the surroundings, the staff messed up, the food was cold, it was not brought back and the way it was taken away was not good. My story was not whinging, it was light hearted, i make it clear that is was simply my food and the service and not the thai food or surroundings.

[sillyman99]

It is amazing how a simple thread can bring out all the forum <deleted> that can't read, or if the can read they can't understand the simple content of the post.

Or they want to wind you up, cos its so easy.

I bet you wish you hadn't started this thread now.

Edited October 4, 2010 by sillyman99

[random]

It is amazing how a simple thread can bring out all the forum <deleted> that can't read, or if the can read they can't understand the simple content of the post.

Or they want to wind you up, cos its so easy.

Edited October 4, 2010 by bonobo
post deleted as the poster can't seem to keep from flaming

[sillyman99]

Nothing wrong with the Thai food, nothing wrong with the surroundings, the staff messed up, the food was cold, it was not brought back and the way it was taken away was not good. My story was not whinging, it was light hearted, i make it clear that is was simply my food and the service and not the thai food or surroundings.

Look mate, if you hate Thailand why don't you leave ?

[onnut]

After being here for a few years and actually working in the service trade I also would never had ordered the fish and chips at a plaice (pun intended) like that. You could say though that it was not so bad service because you never got charged in the end for that meal, even if she did take the chips back and not the whole dish.

The manager was obviously scared of losing face so probably told the staff to say she was not there, not good for the restaurant but that happens.

these type of Thai restaurants do make some good Thai food and have good service most times, just order Thai food! 9 times out of 10 it only leads to disapointment if you order western food at these establishments and when you are hungry it seems worse than it is.

Nothing wrong with the Thai food, nothing wrong with the surroundings, the staff messed up, the food was cold, it was not brought back and the way it was taken away was not good. My story was not whinging, it was light hearted, i make it clear that is was simply my food and the service and not the thai food or surroundings.

I know what you wrote, and thats why I wrote back the way I did. I never said the Thai food wasnt good or that you were complaining. just my thoughts on Thia restaurants and the cooking of Thai and western foods and what is best to order. you put your experiance down on to TV and I replied in a nice way on my thoughts on this. I thought my reply was quite nice compared to others . maybe you took what I wrote out of context!

[Tonto21]

Hi random

You don’t say how long you’ve been in Thailand, from your opening statement it would appear you’ve been here long enough to know better, no disrespect intended but to order non-Thai food from somewhere you’ve not eaten, or had recommended to you for their western food IMO is akin to putting your hand in a fire and think you won’t get burnt.

I know it’s very frustrating, I eat for the most part Thai, but there are times I just want something to eat I have to cut with a knife first. When I get the need for western food I always go to restaurants I know or places highly recommended for western food, I don’t go to a Thai establishment, no matter how nice and expect, “pudding peas, chips and gravy” Your just asking to get yourself wound right up!

I think a prime example of optimism is sitting in a Thai café/restaurant and watching westerner tourists order an American or English breakfast, the look on their face when it turns up or start to eat there cold egg!

I think the rule of thumb, if you want to eat farang, be sure they can cook it first.

[sillyman99]

nice compared to others . maybe you took what I wrote out of context!

Nah, he's just a troublemaker.

[random]

After being here for a few years and actually working in the service trade I also would never had ordered the fish and chips at a plaice (pun intended) like that. You could say though that it was not so bad service because you never got charged in the end for that meal, even if she did take the chips back and not the whole dish.

The manager was obviously scared of losing face so probably told the staff to say she was not there, not good for the restaurant but that happens.

these type of Thai restaurants do make some good Thai food and have good service most times, just order Thai food! 9 times out of 10 it only leads to disapointment if you order western food at these establishments and when you are hungry it seems worse than it is.

Nothing wrong with the Thai food, nothing wrong with the surroundings, the staff messed up, the food was cold, it was not brought back and the way it was taken away was not good. My story was not whinging, it was light hearted, i make it clear that is was simply my food and the service and not the thai food or surroundings.

I know what you wrote, and thats why I wrote back the way I did. I never said the Thai food wasnt good or that you were complaining. just my thoughts on Thia restaurants and the cooking of Thai and western foods and what is best to order. you put your experiance down on to TV and I replied in a nice way on my thoughts on this. I thought my reply was quite nice compared to others . maybe you took what I wrote out of context!

sorry my reply was not meant to be rude, I never took it out of context, i guess that was aimed at the 2 <deleted> that entered the thread and I was aiming my comments at them via your nice post. apolgies

Edited October 4, 2010 by random

[mca]

I was in a Thai place in KK that serves pretty decent Thai grub and on my last visit noticed they'd added some western dishes. My interest aroused (and definitely having should have known better) I ordered the "western sausages"

Images of a selection of Cumberland and Licolnshire bangers, perhaps some bratwurst or bockwurst, floated naively and stupidly through my mind.

Proudly served? 3 of those small chubby hot dogs split at the end like a flower and 2 slices of tomato.

As mentioned by others. Written in stone. A mantra to be chanted at every menu perusal.

THAI RESTAURANT, THAI GRUB!

[random]

Nothing wrong with the Thai food, nothing wrong with the surroundings, the staff messed up, the food was cold, it was not brought back and the way it was taken away was not good. My story was not whinging, it was light hearted, i make it clear that is was simply my food and the service and not the thai food or surroundings.

Look mate, if you hate Thailand why don't you leave ?

Edited October 4, 2010 by bonobo
see reason for previous edit

[random]

I was in a Thai place in KK that serves pretty decent Thai grub and on my last visit noticed they'd added some western dishes. My interest aroused (and definitely having should have known better) I ordered the "western sausages"

Images of a selection of Cumberland and Licolnshire bangers, perhaps some bratwurst or bockwurst, floated naively and stupidly through my mind.

Proudly served? 3 of those small chubby hot dogs split at the end like a flower and 2 slices of tomato.

As mentioned by others. Written in stone. A mantra to be chanted at every menu perusal.

THAI RESTAURANT, THAI GRUB!

The View does some decent western food, it is a Thai restaurant. In my 5 years here I have ordered western food a few times in thai places and the food has generally been ok, this time however it was awful