Mistakes happen. Human beings behave unpleasantly, and sometimes decent businesses have very off days. It’s how they deal with the fallout that determines whether or not the customer returns. Over a week ago, the local manager of a Diep takeaway branch put me off ever returning again. Here’s what happened.

Taking a break from the relentless recital of bad customer service, I thought I’d highlight some spots where I’ve had positive experiences. Although there’s a serious problem with customer service in too many Irish restaurants, I’ve no doubt that I was very unfortunate to have five bad service experiences, across six locations, in eight days. [...]

The service has never been great here. On our first visit the waiting staff, serving nobody in particular, seemed exceptionally busy, and a little bit scatterbrained. My sister Barbara had almost finished her (delicious) Chicken Schnitzel burger by the time she got the plain mayonnaise she’d asked for – three times. Getting the staff’s attention [...]

I’m a liar. I’m a misogynist. I’m repulsive. I’m invisible. And I like eating food off dirty tables. Actually, I’m none of those things, but that’s the way I’ve been treated in a series of Dublin restaurants and takeaways since I returned from India. The Parade of Bad Service shows no sign of ending, and [...]

Gourmet burgers. Already, before I finish this sentence, one of two things is happening: 1. You’re suddenly feeling hungry, and juicy, or 2. You’re discovering that you have something called hackles, watching with a sense of distant horror as they rise, spluttering at the indecency of something so prosaic as a burger – a burger! [...]

The sign couldn’t have been clearer: the wine was reduced from €10.95 to €7.95. Handy, as I had exactly €10 and not a cent more to bring a bottle to dinner (luckily, Aldi had provided a free dessert). I got to the counter in O’Brien’s off license, where the sales assistant asked me for €10.95. [...]

We have regular whinges about bad customer service here at CheapEats, so it’s always nice when we can point out the good. Last week, I spent four successive days swearing that I wouldn’t be hungover again until September (I was marking the end of summer). With so much alcohol residue coursing through my veins, the [...]

I’m done with not complaining in restaurants. When the cream in a friend’s recent Irish coffee was horribly sour, she was reluctant to send it back – it was just so embarrassing. So I did it for her. I thought I’d figured out the trick: don’t take the problem personally. They didn’t pour in rancid [...]

Last year, Jean posted a middling to bad review of Gotham Cafe on this site. Both of us were very  impressed by Gotham’s response. Almost immediately, the management got in touch with Jean and were very apologetic, inviting her back for another meal at their expense. CheapEats was reasonably new at the time and had [...]

Some friends and I had a strange experience in a restaurant recently, and I thought I’d mention it here to see if anyone else has come across this kind of thing.  It was a Friday evening, and five us of were having dinner.  As we were all 1) a bit skint and 2) keen to [...]