Shït service... Do you say something...?

I told her bollocks

Kinda spoilt an otherwise lovely evening.

well, did you actually use that vocabulary? Therefore you are the master of your demise, just move on. Otherwise yes I'd have complained politely and concisely with an clear reason why I was disappointed.

I do yes. If they're arsey about it and we have a disagreement I then just leave. They usually offer a refund etc and I tell them not to bother, I want them to know I'm properly offended if it's that bad

You can complain without being a **** about it.

She said that in her area of Napoli that all the pizzas were like that…. Thick dough, reminiscent of a pancake.

You may not have liked it, that's your prerogative... My friends family is from Napoli though, he warned me in case I ever go, they do their pizza's a bit differently there... Much thicker dough, which wouldn't be to my taste...

Doesn't mean you need to sound like an arse though!

Yes I do speak up, recent meal out with friends the food was fine but the service was a bit haphazard and the billing was shocking. Gave them a tutorial in how to serve/scan a room and not blame a system error on trying to charge a party of 7 for 12 main courses.

Where was it?. I live in Brighton and it's hard to get a really good pizza. Actually eating out is a minefield these days with lack of good staff, rising costs causing businesses to cut back on choice or quality. I feel sorry for them tbh. I now go a few select places that I know will be consistently good and if I'm gambling on a cheapish place I'll rarely bother saying anything but if it's a proper restaurant and expensive I would give polite feedback.

If it was properly shit service, or badly cooked maybe…but not just because I didn’t like something. I just don’t go back.

I've only once had to complain about food and i did so after returning home and spoke to the head chef.

Large T bone, not trimmed in the slightest. Not only large amounts of back fat, but gristle too.

He thanked me for my honesty. I wasn't nasty or patronizing about it, only suggested in the lightest terms that they should look more towards what is involved on proper French trim rather than how it came from the supplier.

I certainly would never use the word bollocks to the manager, just highlight my disappointment and if they offer a discount(Free deserts or such) that would be idea solution.

If nothing is offered then I simply wouldn't return.

I only phoned because i was with a party and didn't want to cause anyone any embarrassment and the fact I wasn't paying the bill.

If you cant be polite in your criticism you should be questioning yourself.

I wasn't arsey...and trust me, I can be a real arse when I choose to be and in this case I was being honest.

I spoke to the waitress in German, seeing she was from Frankfurt. Said that the dough was like biting into a pancake. The boss lady was seriously pissed that someone would complain. Made me think that she wasn't used to anyone saying something. Had already ordered a bottle of (not the cheapest) wine, water, starters, so it wasn't as if we were being cheap.

Have been to Napoli many times and never had a floppy pizza.

Made me think that perhaps a large majority of their clientele had never had a decent pizza or were perhaps too engrossed in their new nose piercing/hair (Cheesus.. Brighton sucks in all the dregs that Shoreditch can't deal with.... It's like Basildon, but for freaky hipsters....)

@myti si signore

Only went there as it looked authentic from the outside. Probably should have gone to Fatto a Mano.

She said that in her area of Napoli that all the pizzas were like that…. Thick dough, reminiscent of a pancake. I told her bollocks

So I take it you've had a pizza in Napoli?
Anyway, sounds arsey.
For the record the worst pizza I've ever had was in Florence (said nowt, just paid & went, won't be back anyway), & the best being in Gibraltar.

If food is poor, I'd complain. If I just don't like it, but it's cooked and served right, that's on me.

If service is crap, they don't get a tip.

Yes, I'd complain if something was wrong, but not if I'd just ordered something badly. But you can do it without being aggressive or rude, along the lines of 'I'm sure you take pride in the food you produce and want diners to enjoy it, but I'm afraid this is cold / a little underdone / etc. for my taste, would you mind.....'

I find it a little harder when it's the service that is bad, particularly when the reason is understaffing and the cooks or waiting staff are rushed off their feet and hence service suffers. But unless it's remarked on then the manager / owner / franchisee is either unaware or gets away with it. Even that's harder now with squeezed margins, increasing costs, and difficulty in recruiting, and makes me feel bad. In some cases I'll complain and hope for free desserts or a bit knocked off and then overtip if it's going to the rushed off their feet waiter, it's not their fault after all.

And - AVPN International Regulations

https://www.pizzanapoletana.org/en/ricetta_pizza_napoletana

1. The Neapolitan pizza is roundish, with a diameter max 35cm;
2. The Neapolitan pizza presents a raised edge (the famous "cornicione"), swollen and free from burns, 1-2 cm;
3. The Neapolitan pizza must be soft and and fragrant

@ dyna... Last time I complained about my food was back in August when I was in the UK and ordered a steak. It came out despite asking for it to rare. Came out with the consistency of the sole of my shoe... Last time I had to complain about that was in France.

Not been there. I like Fatto a Mano though the pizzas can still be pretty sloppy but that is the way of most of these types of places. Too many toppings usually.

makes me feel bad. In some cases I’ll complain and hope for free desserts or a bit knocked off and then overtip if it’s going to the rushed off their feet waiter, it’s not their fault after all.

I'm not one to kick up... But when i do its with reason.

Said to the waitress that the pizza wasn't awesome. Boss lady comes in and was already offended and on the defensive. Waitress offered desserts and I said that we'd take them if they were in the house. Boss lady comes back saying that we were taking the piss....

Sod it. I'm not in Brighton often enough for me to worry.... Will leave a review on Google.

Just surprised by her attitude.... Although experienced something similar with the steak. Just made me think that Gastro in the UK wasn't used to being pulled up.... FYI, Been on the continent for the last 15 years.

I believe the correct response is ... "it was fine". Anyone in the UK should interpret that as "it was frickin awful".

it was fine

£63.50 Bill.... £65 paid.

why are you partially quoting when that isn't what I said?

I'll have no problems complaining (albeit in the right way) if food isn't up to scratch, and won't feel bad about it.  I was saying complaining about service when it's clearly understaffing that's really the problem is tougher, and nowadays harder still when costs are up and up and so I have sympathy for why an owner or franchisee needs to minimise staff (or simply can't recruit on the wages they can afford to pay)

Just made me think that Gastro in the UK wasn’t used to being pulled up…. FYI, Been on the continent for the last 15 years

Hmm...sounds like a dig at UK eateries in general then.
We've been in Spain 3 times this year & walked out of restaurants three times through crap service.
Same everywhere maybe?
Get over it. It's a pizza FFS.

Pizza = Fast Food not gastro ime.

Hmmm, spend a lot of time in France, girlfriend is French. We both laugh about the food and service in France….it’s so appalling it’s amazing.
We also spend 2 months in a year in Spain….hit and miss really.
We’re over in the Lakes at the minute, just had dinner and a few beers, apart from it costing me a months mortgage, the food and service were good.
In general I’d advise them the food wasn’t up to standard. I’d be polite and not want anything in return.
But having spent a fair bit of time touring Italy, the Calzone is from Naples. This is the floppy sour dough based pizza. And that’s what I’d expect from a Naples based pizza place….for example….

https://www.sugarlovespices.com/calzone-napoletano-classic-neapolitan-calzone/

So it sounds like the service was actually pretty good, you just didn’t like the food?

Shittest pizza I’ve ever had was what seemed/tasted like a cheap supermarket margherita, with a couple of slices of mushrooms on. ‘Pizza funghi’, in Zeffirelli's in Ambleside. £15.

She is right that’s Napoli style and you acted inappropriately. Absolutely no need to speak them like that.

I can be a real arse when I choose to be and in this case I was being honest.

Yes, isn’t it when you’re had alcohol and off weed?

Suggest OP goes to a Karen’s Diner. Let us know how that goes.
https://www.bemorekaren.com/

i do, but in a nice way.

The last time I complained was about a calf's liver I'd ordered. It came looking great but inside was cool and still purple. Chef came out to tell me that's how it should be. I requested that it be further cooked. It came back a few minutes later, it was lovely.

I love offal, but not raw.

A bunch of us did once, on my birthday. We were at a Chinese restaurant that we’d been to before, and was pretty popular. We’d booked a table, ordered, got drinks and were waiting for starters, which eventually came, but meantime other customers were coming in, orders taken and were getting starters and then main courses while we were still waiting.

In the end a group consensus decided that the restaurant was just taking the piss, we all got up said we'll pay for what we'd had, and walked out, just as the mains started to appear.

We'd been waiting over an hour after the starters had come. we went to another place in town, had a great meal in the time we'd waited at the other place.

I felt bad, but all my friends, and there were eight of us, possibly ten, (it was quite some years back), all said don't worry, the fault was entirely down to the restaurant.

I believe the correct response is … “it was fine, in parts”.

FTFY.

The owner seemed properly perturbed that I said that the pizza was shit.

dyna… Last time I complained about my food was back in August when I was in the UK and ordered a steak. It came out despite asking for it to rare. Came out with the consistency of the sole of my shoe… Last time I had to complain about that was in France.

I’m not one to kick up

🤔

I only go to a few regular places, the odd time somethings a bit off, slow if busy maybe, but there's so much credit in the bank from good experiences. Doubt I d say anything unless it was really bad. I really feel for hospitality businesses they 've had a torrid time and it's getting worse.

Loyalty is 2 way, I like to think they look after me. I used to work in catering it's really hard work.

The boss lady was seriously pissed

Being drunk in charge of a restaurant is a serious offence (buddy🇺🇸)!

Like @dyna-ti I'll complain if the foods not well made (regardless of whether it's to my taste) Part of the reason I go to restaurants is that I get food prep and made by folks who know what they're doing, so over seasoned, under/over cooked depending on how bad might get a mention. I'll never complain to the server, always the manager and I've tipped at restaurants where service has been excellent but the food not that great.

but complaining that Neapolitan pizza base is doughy is sort of like complaining that the tartar you ordered appears under-cooked.

I think even the word "complain" is a bit strong in this context. You would complain if the food is undercooked and liable to give you food poisoning, or if it's mouldy. You don't complain if it's not to your liking. You'll often be asked how the food was, which is a fair opportunity to give some honest feedback and it's up to them if they take it on board, they don't need to agree with you.

Whether it applies to anyone in this thread or not I don't know, but I find we have a very odd culture around restaurants that appears to be a throwback from darker times. It's as if many people go purely for the experience of having personal servants to boss around, inflating their own sense of self-importance. You get to know a lot about people and how they treat others when you go for a meal with them. There are people I've been with who I've not looked at in the same way since.

If you don't like the food just go somewhere else next time.

OK.... In the fresh light of day I can see that my op was a bit aggressive.... Yeah... Probably the alcohol, but at least I could vent on here and not ruin the evening out with the GF.

However, I was polite in the restaurant. Said that the reason half my pizza was left uneaten was because the dough wasn't cooked through. You couldn't even pick up a slice without it breaking off. The boss last didn't really want to hear it.

And yeah... Steak at some gastro pub. And another steak in France (2018). Each time asked for it rare. Each time the steak was over done...

MrsJ sent back her fish in a restaurant that had been lauded to the skies by Hairy Bikers. It was the first time in <mumble> years of knowing her that she's ever done that. The chef insisted that the fish was not undercooked and was supposed to be that way, so she had fish and chips instead. The waitress was actually OK about it but we won't be going back!!

I once waited over an hour for food in Wetherspoons* ( fish and chips).
When it came out it was clear it had been sat under the hot plate for a while. The thing was rock hard. I called the server over, and as I tapped the rock hard fish on the plate , I told him “ I can’t eat this shit mate”.
He agreed with me and said “ to be honest , I wouldn’t eat the food in here either”.
I thanked him , got a refund , and got a kebab on the way home.

*keep it classy 😂

Made me think that perhaps a large majority of their clientele had never had a decent pizza or were perhaps too engrossed in their new nose piercing/hair (Cheesus.. Brighton sucks in all the dregs that Shoreditch can’t deal with…. It’s like Basildon, but for freaky hipsters….)

This is the bit that I think makes you sound the most of an arse

If food or service is poor I will say something but I will also say if the food or service is good

Raw pizza dough can be tasted. If it tastes of raw dough then its not properly cooked and I would say so. Thats not a question of not understanding how they like to prepare things. Its objective not subjective if the dough it not cooked properly

If food or service is poor I will say somethig but I willalso say if th efood or service is poor

Good to cover all bases 😂

I spent a few years in hospitality, no one minds a justified and constructive complaint...it's the entitled arses that think they are better than everyone else that we despised.

Typo now corrected 🙂

I do sometimes say something if it's not right, but since a very unpleasant experience in France I have a strict rule not to eat anything more in that venue after any contretemps.

At the roadside pizzeria somewhere between Les Arcs and Annecy many years ago the waitress misunderstood my order and brought the wrong thing. We discussed/ argued for a while and then she stormed off. I ate some if my mates' food and we were just about to leave when the bitch brought me my order - seafood pizza.
Stupidly I ate it, or at least some of it, and spent most of the next 3 days both ends burning and enduring searinglyn painful stomach cramps. It was awful, properly bad.

Lesson learned.

So it didn’t happen like you claimed last night and the pizza was uncooked? Yeah I’d mention that but still in a civilised manner.

Shittest pizza I’ve ever had was what seemed/tasted like a cheap supermarket margherita, with a couple of slices of mushrooms on. ‘Pizza funghi’, in Zeffirelli’s in Ambleside. £15.

Odd, Zeff's is one of my favourite restaurants. Their pizzas are usually top notch.

It’s as if many people go purely for the experience of having personal servants to boss around, inflating their own sense of self-importance. 

Something I've noticed ☹

I once waited over an hour for food in Wetherspoons

Ironically, if you do eat in wetherspoons try the pizza, as far as I know it's the only thing the make fresh. Slightly hit or miss but I've had a couple there which were pretty good.

Two pages on a pizza topic and nobody mentioned their wood-burning oven and artisan triple-fermented dough?

The thread title asks whether you say anything concerning "shit service", I certainly would because cockups occasionally occur - orders are misunderstood, misplaced, forgotten, etc,

But shit food I wouldn't, no point really, I would never go back again to an establishment which served me what I considered to be shit food.

I would, and have, however, returned to establishments that have previously provided me with pisspoor service, if I have really liked the food, level of hygiene, ambience, etc.

Rarely, very rarely, it has to be health threatening. A family member is more than a little picky which makes eating out with them awkward/irritating/embarrassing.

However I picked up one pizza, opened the box a few metres down the road and turned back. I politely made an offer: demostrate it's safe to eat by eating it yourself and you can keep my money, refund, or refuse to refund and I'll take it to the public health people for analysis. It simply wasn't cooked and smelt dreadful. They chose to refund. The closed sign went up not long after.

I cooked my own pizza on the wood burner two days ago. 😉 Deep pan pizzas on the wood burner are ace - bubbling top, crispy base.

Edit: and do you tip when everything is great? My last meal out was with a multinational group and an institution picked up the tab so it was paid with a credit card. No-one left a tip. The food was great, the atmosphere more than pleasant, the staff enthusiastic. No tips, it felt really odd... .

"Edit: and do you tip when everything is great? My last meal out was with a multinational group and an institution picked up the tab so it was paid with a credit card. No-one left a tip. The food was great, the atmosphere more than pleasant, the staff enthusiastic. No tips, it felt really odd… ."
probably why most places here in the UK add 12.5% gratuity as a matter of course. I often wonder how much of it gets through to the waiters, so prefer to tip in cash, sometimes in addition to the 12.5%, sometimes asking for that to be removed...

probably why most places here in the UK add 12.5% gratuity as a matter of course

Do they? Some do but far from most.

Yes, they do!

The last time I ate pizza at an Italian restaurant was many years ago in the Toon.

The pizza was plain and came with 6 or 8 slices of salami (whatever they called). Basically just dough with salami toppings. Very basic. Not impressed at all and I never go back to any Italian restaurant since then. Not cheap too.

Bottom line if they don't sprinkle MSG on the food that's a complete fail for me LOL!

MSG! Don't leave home without it!

Why complain? It's not going to improve the food at all or immediately because the cook's skills in only up to that level. S/he has performed to his/her best and that cannot be improved in a short time. Either replace the meal with something else that s/he can cook better or just go somewhere else.

Food that cannot go very wrong for me are: Indian (spice take care of the taste), Chinese (only HK chefs I prefer), Fish & Chips (if locals like it I like it), Persian (only if their people visit) and Classic Burgers (only selected few). Tried food from my country once ... 4/10, I will never go back again put it this way and I am embarrassed to eat there. Food my country is easy to cook but also very easy to get it wrong.

I'm with SR - I think many do nowadays, and most do once it becomes a larger party for exactly that reason, that it's easier than seeing who wants to boost the CC bill, who wants to leave a paper note, etc.

We were in Brighton a few weeks ago and had pizzas in Fatto a Mano. They were superb. Would definitely go back. Very good staff too.

Odd, Zeff’s is one of my favourite restaurants. Their pizzas are usually top notch

Agreed, I have eaten there for years. 2 years ago the pizza was a bit salty on one visit, but still great.

probably why most places here in the UK add 12.5% gratuity as a matter of course

I don't agree with this though, it may be becoming more accepted but in my experience only once in every 4 or 5 places we visit...so no way 'most'.

No doubt I'm going to the wrong places.

Odd, Zeff’s is one of my favourite restaurants. Their pizzas are usually top notch.

Have you been in the last couple of years? It was awful. Like it hasn’t moved with the vegetarian/vegan food revolution of the last 10+ years. Cheese soufflé was just cheesy scrambled eggs, MrsTH’s ‘stuffed avocado’ was half an avocado with some chopped onions in place of the stone, and her margherita pizza was identical to mine, sans ‘shrooms.

I guess they are playing to a captive audience with the cinema, as if they relied on word of mouth, based on recent form, they’ll be out of business sharpish. We only went based on my memory of it from long past visits. Parents, who have a flat up there, haven’t been for years as it’s crap compared to the competition

probably why most places here in the UK add 12.5% gratuity as a matter of course

Round here the norm is only to add service to the bill if its a group

probably why most a few places here in the UK add 12.5% gratuity as a matter of course.

There FTFY.

Yes, they do!

I’ve only seen this a handful of times and yes I do check.

OK, 'cos I'm bored I've just checked a few and I'd say most of the major chains do - Prezzo, Pizza Express, Beefeater, Strada, Cafe Rouge, Zizzi, Ask...... which is where I've done most of my eating out since having kids. The indies may be less likely to.

I never go into chain restaurants if I can help it and there is only one amongst the dozens round here anyway

the joy of kids I'm afraid, keeping them away so you posh grown ups can have nice meals out 😉

In fairness since they got older we do use more indies..... and then since my daughter turned 18, we're back to a different set of chains; specifically ones like Las Iguanas, Turtle Bay, Cosy Club, so her and my wife can cane the cocktail menus!

@sc-xc thought I’d find you on a pizza thread 🤤

which is where I’ve done most of my eating out since having kids. The indies may be less likely to.

As an aside, I took my 9 year old to a family run Italian last week and they couldn't have been nicer. Cracking pizza for her, free soft drink, job done.

Oh for sure, there's a local Italian we used to use before it closed and they were great. It's just that if you're in another town / on holiday then knowing what you're going to get and avoiding kiddie meltdowns due to hanger is key to family harmony.

Had a nice pizza at Pizza Express the other day .
Well if it’s good enough for royalty……..

OK, ‘cos I’m bored I’ve just checked a few and I’d say most of the major chains do

That explains it. I rarely do chains not even when the kids were young.

Odd, Zeff’s is one of my favourite restaurants. Their pizzas are usually top notch.

Have you been in the last couple of years? It was awful.

I haven't (I should've said so in my earlier post, sorry). If they've gone downhill that's a real shame.

Tipping in the UK is a bit weird. Unlike the US, we have to pay our staff a living wage so it's not necessary. An automatic x% 'gratuity' on top of a large bill, that could be the cost of an entire extra meal.

I don't like it, it feels disingenuous. Like, you're artificially making your prices look cheaper than they are. You want to charge an extra 12.5%, that's fine but just add it on to the price shown on the menu, don't go "surprise!" on the bill at the end.

Italian restaurants are so often disappointing in Britain. They often look inviting and the staff are friendly but the food is often mediocre. Since TJ is lurking on this thread it needs to be said that the best pizzas I've eaten in Scotland are just three minutes from his house. Cheap too.

Pierinos? Best Pizza around here IMO.

I've seen pizzas returned because the base was burnt (from a wood fired oven).
I had a pizza from pizza express with the base so thin it has a huge unintended hole in the middle.
I had a pizza once which was wet from all the 'water' that I suspected the toppings were stored in and hasn't been drained very well before being tossed in the wood fired oven. I politely asked if this was normal to have a wet pizza and they asked me to say where I normally got my pizza from, so I said the Aldi freezer department for 1/15th of the price and they never have water on them after a trip to the oven.
Most my pizzas are are now air fried after being snapped into quarters over the edge of the kitchen work surface in 5 minutes 😭

most of the major chains do – Prezzo, Pizza Express, Beefeater, Strada, Cafe Rouge, Zizzi, Ask

The major chains are not “most restaurants”.

Razzos is where I meant TJ. Used to go to Pierinos years ago but have heard they are good too

Most my pizzas are are now air fried after being snapped into quarters over the edge of the kitchen work surface in 5 minutes 😭

Is that the emoji of every Italian/chef/anyone who’s had a pizza, once they become aware of the preceding story?

You couldn’t even pick up a slice without it breaking off. The boss last didn’t really want to hear it.

It's not how I like my pizza but it is the style of the region and seems to be what the Italian pizza places in Brighton mostly serve and I'm guessing that's based on demand. So complaining about that is off imo. For a thin and crispy pizza you can pick up in a slice I find it has to be homemade.

Made me think that perhaps a large majority of their clientele had never had a decent pizza or were perhaps too engrossed in their new nose piercing/hair (Cheesus.. Brighton sucks in all the dregs that Shoreditch can’t deal with…. It’s like Basildon, but for freaky hipsters….)

Cheers for that. Now you just sound like a Richard. Brighton is an amazing place for food but like anywhere with thousands of places to eat it can be hit and miss and the really good places are booked out weeks in advance on the weekends.

Down on Brighton a day early for a party.

Went to an Italian and honestly the food, specifically the pizza, was crap….

Do you speak up and say so?

The owner seemed properly perturbed that I said that the pizza was shit.

She said that in her area of Napoli that all the pizzas were like that…. Thick dough, reminiscent of a pancake. I told her bollocks and she was seriously upset. Even the waitress (Turkish, but from Frankfurt) was on our side.
If she had said fair enough, but she was on the defensive from the off…
WTF. Kinda spoilt an otherwise lovely evening.

Which pizza restaurant was it? - I live nr Brighton. If it was crap I would have certainly sent it back - if they make some sort of "different" pizza they should have told you.

Next time you are here make sure you go to Fatto a Mano

The major chains are not “most restaurants”.

Correct, but based on a quick google, somewhere around 20% of restaurants in the UK are chains; it's not from the same stats but there are ca 35K 'full service' restaurants in the UK, and from another stat ca 10% or 700 chain restaurants closed during covid (so = 7000 total)

If the assumption is most chains add an optional charge, and some of the indies as well, I stand by my 'many' and dispute your 'a few'.