A pub owner in Wales has hit out at a ‘Cheap Charlie’ who wanted to bring their own plate to an all-you-can-eat carvery so they could take some scran home with them.
Shaun Griffiths runs The George IV Inn in Powys, Wales, where he flogs a whopping 800 carveries a week to hundreds of happy customers.
However, he was left gobsmacked by a recent two-star review from one less-than-impressed diner, who said that while the food and service were both great, they were unhappy that they couldn’t bring food home with them.
The reviewer wrote: "I booked a Sunday lunch, if I had known when I booked a table I wouldn't have booked as I don't always eat my meal and I like to take it home. They said on the menu they don't do take away boxes which is fine but I had a plate which I brought with me and it was still a no.
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"Good food but this is a let down and I won't be going back, just a heads up to anyone if they do like to take food home with them."
Much like most pubs and restaurants that offer an all-you-can-eat option, the pub clearly states on its website that it does not provide or allow takeaway boxes and all food must be eaten on site.
Shaun was left reeling after seeing the review and was quick to fire off his response.
"Thank you so much for your review warning other Cheap Charlies that they cannot come to our All You Can Eat buffet and bring their own plates to overfill ours and then take the rest home,” he wrote.
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“That is not the type of customer we want, nor one that will enable us to stay in business and thrive. If just one or two of your type heed your advice then you will have made our lives so much easier!
"Your comments about our food and service being very good is much appreciated though, and they will help attract the type of customer we want!
"I'm saddened you could only score us 2 stars out of 5 when all our other reviews are 5 star because we try extremely hard to offer high quality food at a reasonable price and openly print on our menu that our price is for eat in only. Let me explain how an all you can eat carvery buffet works.
"1) Go to the buffet and ask the carvery chef to carve you up to 3 different meats. 2) Fill your plate with our huge selection of fresh vegetables, roasted potatoes, honey roasted parsnips, homemade stuffing and even cauliflower cheese if you wish.
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"3) Add as much rich delicious homemade gravy as you wish. 4) Add your sauces such as horseradish, cranberry or apple.
"5) Take your plate with as much food as you can eat at the table, to your table and enjoy.
"Please note there is NO point 6 which states you take much more than you can eat at the table and have a free meal at home later with a plate you have smuggled into our restaurant under your coat or elsewhere that I dare not think of.
"If, as you state, you don't eat much then go to one of our neighbouring restaurants that serve plated Sunday dinners and you will be much happier as their portions are more akin to your small appetite and then you will not have the dilemma of what to do with your leftovers as there won't be any!
“On a side note we do provide foil for those customers that maybe want to take some scraps home for their dog. We hate waste here at the George IV Cwmtwrch."
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I doubt this customer was expecting this kind of beef when when enjoying a pub buffet!
Topics: UK News, Food And Drink
Claire Reid