Irish restaurant hits back at customer’s ‘false and exaggerated review’

An Irish restaurant has hit back at a customer’s ‘false and exaggerated review’ about ‘dry chicken, warm hot chocolate, and overcooked steak’ by sharing a CCTV image apparently showing the diner’s empty plates to social media.

The owner of Oscars Cafe Bar in Dublin took to Facebook earlier this week to share his response to some scathing criticism left by one customer who felt they had a ‘disappointing experience’.

They also shared a CCTV image which they claimed showed the reviewer’s empty plates following their meal in a bid to ‘defend their reputation’.

The owner of Oscars Cafe Bar in Dublin took to Facebook earlier this week to share his response to some scathing criticism left by one customer who felt they had a ‘disappointing experience’.

In a review posted on Google on Monday, one diner moaned about a warm hot chocolate, dry chicken and steak that wasn’t pink.

They said: ‘I was recommended to come here for a meal from a gentleman at the Jameson Distillery. Really disappointing experience.

‘Wife had a hot chocolate, it was served warm and not hot. Her meal was a chicken burger. The chicken was dry to the point where she couldn’t eat it. I had steak and eggs. 

‘Waitress asked if it should be pink or not. I said pink. Nothing pink about the steak… When the waitress asked about the food and I informed her, her response was that chicken breast is dry so it’s to be expected.

‘I know I’m not the chef, but I do cook and I said that it shouldn’t be this dry, her response was “maybe you should come work here”. Of course she was joking, but that’s not what I wanted to hear.

In a review posted on Google on Monday, one diner moaned about a warm hot chocolate, dry chicken and steak that wasn’t pink

The owner also shared a CCTV image which they claimed showed the reviewer’s empty plates following their meal in a bid to ‘defend their reputation’.

‘She offered no explanation for the steak, but did confirm she told the chef pink. She said she’d tell the chef my feedback, but I just paid the bill and left after the disappointment and responses from the waitress. 

‘I can excuse bad food because every chef has a bad meal once in a while, but bad service I can’t accept in these circumstances.’

Yet despite claiming his wife’s meal was so ‘dry to the point where she couldn’t eat it’, the owner of the restaurant took to Facebook to show a CCTV image which apparently shows the diners’ empty plates being carried away after their meal.

In their response, the owner of Oscars said: ‘Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, albeit a review that we feel is grossly unfair. 

In their response, the owner of Oscars (pictured) said: ‘Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, albeit a review that we feel is grossly unfair’

‘I am sorry to read you are of the opinion that the hot chocolate wasn’t hot, the chicken burger was dry and your steak was overcooked. 

‘However, your table was checked on a number of occasions and no issues were brought to the attention of a staff member.

‘When your meal was finished you brought these matters to the attention of your server. She was unsure of what to do as all that was left on both your plates was the enamel. 

‘I’m sorry her joke caused offence but I can only assume she was as lost for words as I am right now. Our manager Dhillen subsequently spoke with you. 

‘As the meal had been eaten in its entirety, he offered a 10 per cent discount on your overall bill. You graciously accepted this discount.

‘Sir, we are happy to receive constructive criticism at any point. However, feedback that is littered with exaggerations and downright lies will be treated with the contempt it deserves.’

The restaurant shared the review and response on social media along with a CCTV image.

It was captioned: ‘Before we get attacked for “shaming our customers”, all we are doing is defending our reputation. 

‘A false and exaggerated review such as this causes a lot of upset to our entire team, from the kitchen, to servers, to management.’