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2017-12-18
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Last Friday, I booked 208 for a company luncheon for twenty-one people and our orders were based on a set menu. I’ve been going to 208 for many years, so I was surprised to find that the food quality and service had become rather miserable.Upon arrival, we were met by a server/host who appeared perturbed by the presence of a large group. I can understand how it might be difficult to figure out who ordered what, so I attempted to assist him in identifying whichdishes our party ordered, walking t
Upon arrival, we were met by a server/host who appeared perturbed by the presence of a large group. I can understand how it might be difficult to figure out who ordered what, so I attempted to assist him in identifying which
dishes our party ordered, walking through each dish and identifying the relevant person. The restaurant seemed ill-equipped to handle us—one server for twenty-one people is clearly insufficient. The meals trickled out of the kitchen in small batches, resulting in plates of cold food while we waited for others to be served. The whole meal was painfully slow, lasting about 2 hours. At one point we were sitting there and one of my staff had to pour water for the group. When asked for bread plates, as the sharing loaf was awkward and out of reach for most people at the table, the waiter refused. After asking him a second time, and having to justify our request, he begrudgingly brought us two plates. Again, there were twenty-one of us at the table. Later, one person had to track him down and ask for two coffees. A simple request for sugar took 10 minutes after we received them which by that time, they had gone cold.
I could forgive the poor service and the server's sour attitude if the food hadn't been so mediocre. Actually, I’m being gracious when I say that—it was really just bad. I’ve come to expect much higher standards from JIA Group. The sausage was way too salty, the quinoa and asparagus lacked flavour (the serving was far too big for one person) and the presentation was just appalling : a brown mound served an in enormous bowl, each enough to feed two to three people. We also had two gluten-free guests which we notified the kitchen in advance. When they were served tiramisu with gluten we were a bit perturbed, but not surprised given how the whole meal went. The waiter did, at least, attempt to make up for the deserts by bringing us two gluten free sorbets which were admittedly delicious. In fact, I have to say the deserts overall were great.
All of the bathrooms were also out of order—which is really absurd, but given our entire experience it really just became comical and made us wonder what happened to a once great restaurant.
Let me remind you, this was supposed to be a celebratory luncheon, one that takes place only once a year. Our employees look forward to it. So you can imagine what a disappointment and embarrassment it was on my part, as their employer, for their special afternoon to have gone so wrong. The experience did however have one unintended silver lining; my employees bonded over their shared dissatisfaction of their meals and relished in teasing their boss about his foolish mistake, so I at least owe 208 some gratitude for that.
张贴