Comments on: Bentley’s : Slow Oysters. [Not a review]

By: Carpy

Carpy — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:44:27 +0000

I have to note that my experience at Bentleys in January this year was fantastic – it was my birthday and the service and food (I also sat at the bar) could not have been better. The staff were, in fact, so good that I commented as much to Mr Corrigan (who was at the restaurant at the time) on my way out.

By: catty

catty — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:11:55 +0000

I disagree with Heavensent – if one of my staff (and because I’m so successful I have a staff of manymany ) were not performing, I would definitely want to know what they were doing during the precious minutes that I am paying them and I would want to know who was the offender. As per Kang’s response, I wouldn’t fire them (that’s a little harsh) but bring to light that this has brought negative publicity (though all publicity is good publicity) to the restaurant.

Sad that you had a bad time Kang, but the oysters are good aren’t they!!

catty’s last blog post..sleeping and eating, the virtues of (sunday) living

By: Kang L.

Kang L. — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:23:28 +0000

Heavensent,

It is not in my interest to get anyone sacked, and I do not believe that I am putting anybody’s job at jeopardy. I would be very surprised if he gets the sack on the back of one bad review. And besides, there could be several Tims working in the same restaurant, I did not name and shame anyone, besides, Tim could even be a pseudonym, the point is, there is no naming and shaming going on here. I am merely reporting on the bad experience.

I think we need to give Richard Corrigan abit more credit than that, if he reads this review, he will look at it – intelligently – and decide on how to improve the service. As I said in my write-up, I expect Mr Corrigan and the staff at Bentley’s to look into improving service.

Look, as a restaurant reviewer, it is my role to report on my experience. I try to fully disclose and be as objective as I can about what I say. If I was the restaurant owner, I would look at the negative feedback and take it constructively to improve. In this case, the service was not good, hence, I expect the restaurant to look at this write-up so as to improve service.

All I am doing is providing my honest opinion about my experience at the restaurants. I am not attacking anyone. I am reporting what happen. Besides, I did not mention time/date I was there, didnt even know the person’s last name, but what I do know is that I was served badly, and I am merely writing up on that experience. There is nothing wrong with that, and that is the objective and the heart of a restaurant review. That’s what makes restaurant reviews useful, because it gives the public an insight into what an experience at the restaurant is going to be like. Read some of my other reviews, if the experience was good, I say it was good. In this case, its not good, so I say its not good. From the restaurant’s perspective, it is a way for them to get feedback into what/how to improve their restaurant.

I hardly believe they will use one bad review and try and sue someone for it. What does that say about our society then, if I have not the freedom to talk about my experiences at the restaurant freely?

Let’s spin it around shall we, if you were Richard Corrigan, and you read one bad review about your restaurant, what would you do? Would you go straight ahead and sack your staff? Or would you talk to them and look into ways of improving service?

I would hope that you would choose the latter.

By: Heavensent

Heavensent — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:06:03 +0000

What a shame you had such a disappointing time at Bentley’s. I have been many times and experienced good food and good service. The oysters are fantastic, so it really is worth going and finding out for yourself, because the £10 deal is a bargin. I think it is unfair that Kang has chosen to name the barman in question, because if Richard Corigan reads this opinion then he would without a doubt dismiss him. We have every right to expect good service given the 12.5% service charge and the cover charge of £2, but we do not have the right jeopardise someone’s job and humiliate them. He didn’t make you feel as important as the offshore banker so you have decided to attack him via your blog, well lets just hope that he keeps his job and doesn’t get sacked and sue you for defamation of character. Or lets just hope he doesn’t have a family to support.

By: Krista

Krista — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:13:02 +0000

Why is this not a review? Seems like a review to me! Krista’s last blog post..The Wine & Spirits Level 2 Exam

By: Kang L.

Kang L. — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:39:31 +0000

Jonathan – That’s quite disheartening, there are some glowing reviews around and I would have thought that they would at least put out high quality meals, but I guess its not the case. Perhaps Richard Corrigan needs to step in to shake things up alittle.

Kavey- Personally, I will not return to Bentley’s, I really felt disrespected, and its a really sinking feeling especially. The Bentley’s staff culture is one which screams snobbery and pretension, and that can only be a negative thing.

H.Gravy – hehehehe… dammit you keep reminding me about the lobsterfest!!! I will make a trip to Belgo soon enough, lobster salad here i come!

The Duo Dishes – Indeed! Great oysters, yes… but the service just left a bad taste.

H.worldfoodie – Horrible indeed!

Lainie – Exactly! and we had to wait so long for them to produce the wrong bill, one thing is for sure, I am not heading back to bentleys again.

By: Lainie Petersen

Lainie Petersen — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:06:12 +0000

Terrible story: Bad service is horrid, but to then give you the wrong bill? Lainie Petersen’s last blog post..auraTeas’ Formosa Shanlinxi High Mountain Oolong (review)

By: Helen Yuet Ling Pang

Helen Yuet Ling Pang — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:09:37 +0000

What a horrible experience. I wonder if I would have stayed so long? Helen Yuet Ling Pang’s last blog post..Tsuru (Japanese) - London, England (7.5/10)

By: Archerfiah.org

Archerfiah.org — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:33:37 +0000

delicious Archerfiah.org’s last blog post..ISSF World Cup Shotgun · Minsk, BLR Schedule

By: The Duo Dishes

The Duo Dishes — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 17:50:26 +0000

A bad meal experience can definitely ruin a meal. We do love oysters though, and it looks like they were tasty. The Duo Dishes’s last blog post..What To Do With This?