I ordered the soup, thinking it would be tomato soup as I saw it come by.
Got it brought by a genuinely friendly girl, and the free water and slice of bread that came with were nice, but unfortunately the soup was super spicy. I hadn't realised it was more of a chilli soup.
As the waitresses generally seemed so lovely and it was a relaxed place to be, ..and I tend to be quite an introverted dweep that gets in far too many awkward situations already, I didn't want to make a fuss at all, didn't mention it, but I just didn't eat the soup - I tried but my lips went numb, my throat was burning and later even got heartburn from it. Ok, I wouldn't be the type to order a Vindaloo at an Indian restaurant for sure now, but this pepper/tomato soup was definitely above medium spiced and that sucks when you don't expect that and can't afford much more than a soup, and really felt like it at that.
The waitress noticed I hadn't eaten it, apologised for it being too spicy, and I admitted I should have asked beforehand how spicy the soup would be (though I just can't imagine restaurants serving a dish so hot, like when there is only one soup on offer, not everyone has dead tastebuds, and if they do like it hot, they can add the chilli/spice it up themselves afterwards. The basis should simply be edible by anyone, or at least have a milder soup/dish alternative on the menu. I've been a chef myself, the taste wouldn't necessarily be dull without it, on the contrary).
She very kindly offered a replacement for it, anything on the menu. I asked "are you sure I can just get a replacement?", saw everything else on the menu was more expensive etc, and said "oh just some falafel balls then, 1 or 2 is fine in a takeaway" (as lunch hour was almost up), I didn't want a whole full meal but if it was offered, I wouldn't mind just a part of that meal, if spare.
Then I had to wait another 30 mns though, so I was late, only when I went to the door did she come with a takeaway offer, which honestly was given with a graceful lovely smile. At the till however, she charged me for a full falafel meal!! Which is nearly twice as much! I asked her about this, said it was meant to be a replacement and I didn't ask for a full meal, she said she wouldn't charge me for the soup but would 'have to ask the full price for the falafel'.
..(They actually didn't even give the full meal: ONE ball and not even all three dips as described on the menu. Yet still charged the full price. What even?)
No matter how relaxed the atmosphere can be in that place and how busy they are, a decision like that is just bad form. I would have paid for the throat burner soup and gotten myself some falafel balls at Aldi 'round the corner for a euro.
Back to a crowded Starbucks next time for me in this already limited horrid corporate Sandyford area, where at least we can decide and order at the till without feeling like a total unassertive twat with heartburn. read more