Shoddy service

By Paul Fulford on May 4, 2008 12:40 PM |

Why do waiters bother to ask how you want meat cooked when it emerges from the kitchen far from the state you requested?

It happens frequently at restaurants and happened again last night. I asked for calf's liver rare and it was cooked medium, perhaps even well done.

Is the information not conveyed to the chef? Is the chef incapable of accuately cooking meat? Or are plates left too long under on the pass sweltering below the hot lights?

Whatever factor was to blame, it was shoddy service and a good piece of offal was spoiled.

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9 Comments

Clifford said:

Given that your blog is named 'Restaurant Spy' why do you not reveal the name of the place that served you overcooked liver?

Paul Fulford said:

Two reasons, Clifford. The point was meant to be a general one about restaurants that fail in this respect.
Plus I reckon I'd need to give the restaurant in this case the right to reply which gets a bit clunky on a forum like this.

Clifford said:

Paul, it was a pretty specific complaint!

And why would you feel the need to give a right of reply, especially as you claim to 'give a verdict on the region's restaurants'? Not Mail policy is it?

They can add a comment like anyone else. Works well on Birmingham Plus.

Paul Fulford said:

It was meant as a general observation inspired by a specific experience. It is a situation I encounter if not frequently, then certainly more often than I think should be the case.

The right-to-reply issue with sites like this is an interesting one. Maybe I should name and shame. I certainly do so in my reviews each Thursday in the Birmingham Mail.

But I think I would only do so when the complaint is specfic to a resturant rather than an attempt to make a general point.

tony said:

well, you were happy to name and praise Kababish in Moseley a few postings ago, so it seems like one-way traffic.

Paul Fulford said:

As I've said previously, the complaint about overcooked meat and offal was a general one - it's something I've encountered at numerous restaurants.
The blog about Kababish was about a specific place.

Paul Fulford said:

As I've said previously, the complaint about overcooked meat and offal was a general one - it's something I've encountered at numerous restaurants.
The blog about Kababish was about a specific place.

tony@hutch.com said:

..yes, but your rant was specific about a restaurant that you chose not to name, and the points from Clifford apply in that case.

Paul Fulford said:

The point about over-cooked meat and offal was general based on a specfic incident. But I'm going to post a blog on this issue.

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Features Editor Paul Fulford gives his verdict on the region’s restaurants.

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