Top restaurant posts scathing response to bad TripAdvisor review
Manager of The Buntingford Kitchen, owned by former Apprentice mentor Paul Clarkson, responded in cutting style to a diner who slagged off his posh diner
A TOP restaurant took revenge on a diner’s scathing TripAdvisor review by posting an equally cutting rebuttal warning them not to come back.
A manager of the Buntingford Kitchen - whose owner Damian Clarkson once appeared on BBC’s The Apprentice as a mentor - said the moaning customer had “too much time on their hands” adding: “I can only sympathise with whoever has to dine with you”.
The attack came in response to a review complaining about poor service and high prices at the eaterie in Buntingford, Herts.
Reviewer ‘turtol’ moaned about having to pour their own wine and slammed waiting staff for not memorising their order.
Turtol wrote: “We found the waiting staff let this venue down.
“For the price I don't feel we should be having to pour our own wine (carafe just left on the table).
“Staff took plates away whilst still eating.
“Finally staff should know who ordered what dish and really didn't like the ‘whose having the soup?'
“We are glad we tried it however won't return.”
Rather than issue a grovelling apology, guest relations manager Iain Duncan accusing the complainant of having “too much time on their hands”.
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He wrote: “I think your inability to lift a carafe of wine is what seems to be called a ‘first world problem’.
“Having been in the industry almost 30 years I am a big believer that the customer is always right.
“Until now, and on the basis of your review I can only sympathise with whoever has to dine with you.
“Tripadvisor is a valuable social tool and users broadly fall into two groups.
“Those who seek good experiences, find them and share them with others.
“This can include criticism but is generally constructive or courteous, and in my experience welcomed by the establishments.
“The other group do from my experience simply want the world to know, where they have been, what they have done, and how much better it should have been.
“Keyboard or armchair warriors perhaps with too much time on their hands.
“Looking at some of your other reviews which include KFC and Domino’s Pizza, which are in a somewhat different style, rather diminishes the value of your comments.
“On a personal note, it seems you have given 5 star reviews to places that I wouldn’t but then again each to their own.
“On one thing we do agree, a return visit would be unnecessary and I wish you well.”
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