£17 For Toast & Terrible Service in This Famous Cafe
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- £17 for toast & terrible service in this famous cafe. French toast at £17. £8.50 per slice. Rip off Britain rides again. The service in cafe / diners lately is very poor and takes the dining experience to an all time low. Hope the service picks up everywhere. #terribletoast #famouscafe
Hi everyone, my name is DJ (Darren John), welcome to my food channel. Whether you enjoy a Michelin Star ⭐ restaurant or a burger from a street food stall review, this is the channel for you. I have held down almost every job in the catering industry and would like to give my opinion on various cuisines from my home town of London, to Europe & beyond. 🗽 #djsfoodtravels #travelandfood #reviewingfood
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10/10 Darren for refusing to pay the service charge!
If you want to leave a tip that should be up to you the customer, not the business.!
Over here few places add a service charge. Seems to be increasing as a trend. Restaurants usually add one for large groups and it is printed on the menu. However the "machines" (debit card machines) come up with several tip amounts on the screens. No tip is fortunately one of them. I tip in cash if I have it on me, else the machine. However I tip what I want. The better the service, the better the tip.
I didn't even know the service charge was optional.
The obvious side effect of Brexit. European hospitality staff replaced by Indians. Everywhere service is going downhill.
This was a really good video and very interesting indeed. More of this type of thing please, testing out these chains and high end places for service. Good stuff 👍
I never pay the service charge, unless the staff do their job really well. But most only do the bare minimum. Stuff em. They screw you for enough money anyway.
At least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask. Criminal.
Hate people working in the service industry who clearly dislike serving 😮😮😮
Agreed
Minimum wage dosent make you carefree and happy….youll see happier slaves..
@@griswald7156 agreed, I'm in kitchen work and my hours and wages equate to minimum wage because I'm contracted. It's a good job I never meet the customers face to face because I am not licking arse for my shitty wage. I enjoy serving good food, that's it.
@victorymansions I be worked in a kitchen and I know you suffer..the hierarchy in a kitchen is tough to take., but if you’ve no options you do it..I’ve had a manager kick me then laugh..
Pathetic…….all style and no substance ……..but doesn’t that sum up the whole world now anyway. I live in the countryside in Yorkshire and when I go into a town or city now,I take a rucksack with food and drink and sit in a quiet park. I am no skinflint, but these modern day ridiculous prices? NO THANKS . Especially foreign owned,because as someone else remarked, most of them hate us anyway. Racism??? THEY invented it .
I visited a kebab shop tonight and the Indian guy there couldn't have been nicer. Thanked me on arrival for choosing the place and on leaving again thanked me for my custom.
In between, he advised which sauces would work best with the kebabs I'd chosen and asked how I handled heat because a couple of the sauces were very spicy. Also told me truthfully he wouldn't recommend falafel for a friend who's gluten intolerant because it was bought in and he couldn't guarantee it wasn't exposed to gluten during the manufacturing process.
He liked what he was doing and obviously liked people. I'll be going back.
Jesus, that woman who came round with your bill, looks like she lost a fiver and found a penny.
Lol
Shocking customer service.They obviously don't value their customers. So wrong.I wouldn't have paid the service charge too.
Hey up mate there's no reason for rudeness
Everyone should just refuse to pay a service charge full stop.
typical foreigners.....prob on full benefits fiddling and contempt for darren....VOTE FARAGE
Why would they value their customers, they just get tourists that come once. So they don’t care, max price minimum service.
The look of contempt she gave. That’s not how to welcome people into your establishment. It’s almost as if she hated you. Most unwelcoming.
She does…I assure you!
Darren
They advertise open at 7 then mug you off til 8:10
The service was appalling and the coffee dangerously hot
But you gave it a fair review
The server at the end appears unfazed by you asking for the service charge to be removed
Please do more of these and expose the shambolic level of service in this country
Well done
Agree
The waiter did acknowledge you and he smiled and nodded ,this is a thankyou ,that was obvious ,why are finding faults
@@MattygroovesYes, he did
Ah, but the politicians would have you believe the country would crumble without these immigrant service industry workers.
Website says 8am.
That waitress should be FIRED. Zero charm, zero engagement, zero personality, she'd put off people/customers from going there or returning.
Burning hot drinks/food is usually a sure sign that it was microwaved.
Once you go microwave for hot drinks you can't go back. It does work but you have to know your settings
This is a tourist clip joint. No Londoners would eat there.
No, they have branches all across the UK
Chains seem to be soulless, nothing warranted the value you paid
The worst part is that they don't even know they are being rude and unprofessional. This is the way of the world now. Basic manners and courtesy... nah. Uneducated.
I agree with you really bad service , no your not being finiky ,your doing honest reviews , the good and the bad , not living in london we have no idea of how things are ,this really helps people who pay a visit to your area. Doing a great job ,keep it up x
Boycott Cafe Concerto everyone
That was extremely poor customer service, cold and contempt. I would have no hesitation, in raising a formal complaint to their head office.
That waitress, almost treated you like dirt, she showed no respect whatsoever, she’s obviously in the wrong job?
You can tell the 'type' of people on service showing absolute disdain, so fing obvious, so happy you did not pay their shitty service charge.
Absolutely agree with you that you had no service. Those three servers gave nothing of their humanity; they might as well have been robots; perhaps the last was the worst. When it comes to hospitality, little thing MEAN A ALOT. Bless!
You can understand why every other table around you is empty, good grief 😮
Loving this new complete review format and with the two cameras DJ, the subscribers are creeping up as well. What ignorant staff, they should not be working in hospitality or anywhere where the general public is concerned.
Well done removing service… what ignorance from the staff… zero manners
Appreciating these videos Darren, a far more objective approach to food reviewing and importantly giving us, the potential customer, fair warning of where or .. where NOT to spend our hard earned cash.
Noticing the dropping standards in hospitality everywhere sadly, it’s like they can’t be bothered but it’s they who are losing out on their own income. Everyone knows how important tips are to waiting staff … you’d have thought they’d try just a little bit even? 😵💫
Stick to what you know, DJ. Small family run side street outlets. They respect your custom. Thanks for taking us along. Appreciated
Oh Darren your so right with all this one.. I loved it when you asked them to remove the service charge, too right the miserable gits.. Nice one mate show what's going on in the trade.. 😉👍🏻
Wow! Shocking service and ridiculous price. One to avoid.
She didn't even ask why the service charge was removed. This is the reality of hospitality in London now, if you don't tip with cash the establishment keeps all the money. It's effectively a surcharge. I had a situation in a pub where I tipped cash, and the look on the waiter's face said it all. They really don't benefit from tips paid electronically.
Brioche French toast in Claidges £24. Coffee £9.50. A few quid more but it would have been a whole different world in class and quality. A full English with toast and coffee etc £45. No comparison mate. Go there next time!! At least the staff have been trained in hospitality - and can speak English. You are not asking for too much - I keep clear and would rather stump up the extra for the service. Can also recommend the Waldorf (Hilton) in Aldwych. Had a very pleasant stay there last week. Staff couldn’t do enough.
I agree with you, but do resent that the middle class is being pushed into the lower class. Society is regressing on a very fundamental level. It's scary!
What has happened to customer service!!! that woman wow!!! would not want to be her enemy. and the man was no better,. Disgusting service so glad you removed the service charge. You should have complained about the coffee that's horrendous . Thankyou for informing us of not wasting our money and time going there. Very gloomy!!!
Here in Canada a lot of the restaurants are pricing themselves out of business. Most seniors on fixed income can't afford to go out for a meal anymore. Too many restaurants are advertising fine dining ad charging ridiculous prices with no customers wwhen they could be serving reasonably priced home cooked style food that doesn't leave the customer still hungrywwhen they leave. Prices are too high and the portion sizes are too small at most places. For example chicken wings at most pizza places are about $8/lb but when the same wings are being sold at a restaurant the price soars to $18/lb. A little profit is understandable but that is price gouging at its worst and that doesn't include the tax and tip.
My theory is that this rudeness is a spin off from social media. Most people in customer facing hospitality are young and they treat real world social interactions like they treat online ones. Are they interested in you? No, because you are old and therefore basically you are invisible. Watch young staff interacting with people of their own age and even more so the opposite sex. Charming. But if they don’t want to ‘friend you’ they mentally swipe left.
You've given me a lightbulb moment 😮 thankyou. definitely feel invisible sometimes or 'strange' if I dare to interact or be friendly (shock horror)😊
Arab run company chain, couldn't care less what the average British person thinks.
Yes absolutely - they put online the generous opening times online, and then they say oh no. Café bomba!
Darren your content is getting better and better first class I look forward to everyone you upload
In a decent Spanish bar the "camarero" will hold two jugs; one hot milk, one cold and ask how you want it. Caliente (hot) does not mean scalding and the milk does not drown the coffee as in a latte in the UK. Wanting a Spanish type coffee I ask for a flat white which comes with double the coffee and less milk, and the classic "cortado" is now being sold by Cafe Nero and some restaurants where you get just a little milk. In Paris a Cafe au lait will cost heaven and earth because only tourists ask for it but if you ask for a "noisette" you will get a Spanish type cortado and a smile from the waiter and you will pay a fraction of the price of an au lait.
The same boomers who voted to end freedom of movement in the EU stunned that all the trained waiting staff suddenly disappeared 😂
That’s a poor excuse when over 3/4 million people came into the country last year! That chain has always had poor service before brexit.
I live in the U.S. and I can overlook some bad service issues and still tip, like if they are busy or something. But 😳 Wow, that was So Bad! It's like they didn't want your business and could care less if you keeled over from a Heart Attack and wouldn't call an Ambulance if you did. That was Messed Up! No wonder they didn't have any other customers that I could see!!!
Tourist trap in being expensive shocker 😮
It's a UK chain
good man darren not paying service charge because truth being told you never got any unbeleaveable like the new format keep it up my friend
Sadly, it's the often the tourists who just pay those ridiculous prices. And, unfortunately, mainly the Americans who blindly pay the Service Charge without questioning it OR even worse, leave a tip ON TOP of an automatic service charge ! 🤔 😮😮😮
Ooh that was cold. I would have felt rather unwelcome as a customer. Better off at a down to earth greasy spoon.Thanks for trying all these places out.
That coffee glass looks more like it should have a tea light in it lol
So many great cafes in Central London where the food & service is great... and you can still eat for half that price or LESS !!! Normal people who work, know them - sadly its the tourists who get ripped off in the main! 😢
Glad you didn't pay the service charge.
She was worse than the bloke.
They don't give a damn about their customers obviously.
Everyone should avoid this place.
It's only when the cafe is empty they MAY serve people better.
Total shocker
Sack them all apart from the kitchen staff.
Enjoyed this video. Thanks
Been there, DJ, the food was good, but the service was horrible. I have observed the same as you lately and I am we're going to end up with a heck of lot of waiters/waitresses without manners. It's a shame because good service is part of the experience.
Service staff arent paid well or trained well.
High turnover of low paid young people.
What incentive is there to do a good job?
Dont blame you for not paying service charge, they just gave the impression that you were inconveniencing them by being there.
Yeah what a liberty
I totally agree with you Darren I wouldn't have paid the service charge either I properly wouldn't have gone back when they said we aren't open till 8 lol 😂
Me neither mate 👍
" didnt get any " priceless love it
Omg absolutely ridiculous prices! And miserable/terrible staff! And I have to confess I've never heard of that coffee chain, but after that I don't feel like I'm missing out!😂😂😂
that woman looked very churlish; would be better working in a GHOST HOUSE to scare the people in the Haunted House at the Fairground.. Never ever go back there ever again.
Shocking absence of people skills!
What a face to customer service at the first contact, no way you can feel comfy there.
I can better that. I went to a self service all you can eat buffet restaurant last week. I say again you serve yourself and they added a service charge!! How on earth can that be. I questioned it and the member of staff said oh well sir we remove the empty plates and the cooks refill the food on the buffet. I said a five year old could remove the empty plates and i am not responsible for staff refilling the food. The guy said do you want me to remove the service charge? I said of course i do. I have never heard anything like it a service charge when you serve yourself. Perhaps i should give myself the tip. He removed it with a look on his face as if he had eaten six lemons. Needless to say i have crossed that place of my list.
That’s about $36 AUS Dollars! No way!!! Coffee and toast with not much on it!
At least you smile over it Darren. Good on you! 🥰☀️🥰xxx
🙂🙏🏼
No VAT on top. VAT is included. I’m glad you took the service charge off.
Londoners are now strangers in our own town....we are not well received or wanted
They don’t have to work for the customers not like a small independent that needs that customer and some not all work dame hard to give good or excellent customer service we’re change don’t need it
london is a great place for those who have recently arrived...by various means.....
Loving the reviews Darren. We had afternoon tea there last year and the service hasn’t improved by the look of it. It was one of the most expensive afternoon teas I’ve had, every cup of tea and coffee was changed extra. Would not recommend it for the cost or service.
Well done Darren for contesting the service charge well done
You are bang, right. The whole experience counts. I totally agree with you. The service looked horrendous
What do you expect when this is no longer our country?
When a letter box is serving you dont expect a smile or manners but yet again what do you expect .
That service was bad, really bad. What's wrong with people. They're in the wrong job, or they hate their job😢😮
I work in hospitaliy....and so many places are letting us down recently......esp. in bigger places and chains 😢 Look the part but need more personal training! Goodness if you serve happy everyone is happy....the day goes a lot quicker 😂😂😂
That's the West End. It's always been a rip off
Geezers you sure received good service when the bill showed up😂
Hi Darren, We live in the Sheffield area and haven’t experienced such poor service as I have just witnessed with you. I think the worst service we have ever experienced was on a touring holiday in Italy. We dined for lunch at a restaurant in Venice and the service was cold, dismissive , and of course being Venice the prices were virtually second mortgage for a couple of 10 inch pizzas and two soft drinks. The waiters were more interested in the service of people in designer clothing and expensive’bling’ than us. We were definitely made to feel like second class citizens even though our money was as good as anyone else’s. Anyway, carry on with the excellent videos. Top notch !!
Should have gone to Claridges mate. Would have cost the same more or less and service would be exemplary
Damn, for the price of that coffee I can sit down on a terrace here in the east Netherlands, and enjoy a grilled cheese or half a baguette with brie/walnuts/honey and a coffee.
I could see how popular they are . What rubbish you get in Londonstan.
Darren these vlogs where you are finding things wrong are brilliant cos now we won't go there when we're in London next week
Spot on review, I would never set foot in a place like that, but it was interesting to see that I'm not missing anything. and I am saving myself from all the upset that going there would cause me.
You have convinced me never ever to visit the West End (or London) for that matter. I prefer life in the sticks!
They couldn’t hardly speak to you and for the service charge you did right give me no service. I give you no service charge well done 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 but I’m afraid it’s the way Britain is going now.
If i had not known better i would have thought you were in one of those novelty cafes where they give you bad service for a joke to see how u react....
Was in Tesco yesteday - checkout lady with a face like thunder, almost no communication, customer in front said 'you look tired' - she replied 'I'm too busy, I don't talk to customer' ... WTF
Well done mate, a honest review, thank you 👍
OMG! Ive served the public since I left school and currently own my own butchers shop, i would be sick disgusted to serve customers like that. I love to interact with them, maybe have a chat & a wee joke with them, what the hell is their problem? Dont like your job? Then quit and give someone else the chance! If those latest bunch ive seen on your channel worked for me, theyd be told to buck up or ship out!🤦😡 Nice work Darren!👍♥️
Aye mate anyone working with me would be straight out of a job
Could have gone to a weatherspoons for a full English and a drunken day for that price
A smile costs nothing
Well it obviously costs a lot more than 17 quid in that cafe.
So, it isn’t just here. What a shame. I’ve stopped returning to places like that. There’s a 4% fee added if you use a credit or debit card here. Rediculous! I had a business forever and grew up in my parents. Credit card fees are a cost of doing business, like your electric bill or anything else. No… let’s pass it along (began during covid). You have the overpriced food, sales tax, tip (the options now are 18%-28% on auto click) and a 4% fee for using a card. Hardly worth it!
Yes I think you should be showing the entire experience of eating out! Absolutely! Im glad to know I’m not the only one who sees this and says I can make better at home . Why bother?!?!
IMHO this is symptomatic of London as a whole. Recently I went into a fairly ordinary pub, was charged nearly £8 for a fairly poor pint and upon paying was presented with the option of paying a service charge. No charge was available but hidden compared to other options… we’ll all just stay at home and places will close
It’s a tourist trap. Customers come and go. Once in a lifetime visits. There tocollect your cash
RIP of Britain how true is that statement
Hi Darren.....Very sorry, but I have never come across your channel before. However, I was immediately attracted to watching your review when I heard you say that from this video onwards, you intend to pay more attention to the overall [dining] 'experience'.
I am a CX [Customer Experience] and Customer Service expert and have been helping a wide range of businesses implement 'Customer-centric' / CX strategy, practices and behaviours for almost 15 years. And I can definitely tell you that the 'customer experience' is absolutely essential in determining customer buying behaviours and preferences.
So, as you rightfully stated, even if a meal is fantastic, but the service etc sucks the total 'experience' will be seriously damaged. Indeed, over 80% of customers these days buy on the ''experience'' - and this actually transcends not only product itself but also the price. [we are willing to accept a less than perfect product and pay more for it - if the overall experience is exceptional].
No industry sectors are possibly more affected by this than the F&B/Hospitality industry as well as FMCG/Retail & Luxury Consumer markets. [although CX impacts virtually every service-oriented business - from banking and insurance to hotels and airlines]. This is why so many organizations are focusing on CX nowadays.
A really good example of this is Starbucks who have clearly identified what their 'customer expectations' are and how to deliver on them. [I would invite you to read my article on Starbucks by clicking the following link - www.linkedin.com/pulse/does-customer-experience-need-continuously-laurie-p-smith/].
I was also very pleased to notice in the first few minutes you mentioned about the cafe's opening time issues [not opening at the times shown on their website and then delaying it further]. You were also clearly less than impressed by the wait staff. [a distinct lack of training - or poor recruitment policy I suspect!] But as you again rightfully state - this had a very negative effect on you and your 'mood'.
In response to your final comments Darren - you might be interested to know that there have been more business failures in the past 5 years, than in the previous 50 years! [and this includes some very well-known and respected 'brands']. Customer buying behaviours, preferences and aversions [VOC] have changed dramatically in the past few years.
Today, a business simply cannot afford to be complacent and lazily believe that what they are doing meets the customer's needs. [there is a massive disconnection in the level of service most company's think they provide and what their customers think - and demand!]
As a business, you constantly and continuously need to review what you are doing - and learn [understand] as much as you can about your customers. Very recently, AirBnB CEO Brian Chesky took a whole 6 months off to actually go and stay in his company's properties. He wanted to 'experience' them for himself. [this practice is known as a 'friction hunter' - looking for anything that causes a problem for the customer, no matter how small it is].
The global marketplace has become incredibly commodotised and customers today have infinitely more choice than at any other time in our history. In addition, customers have access to unlimited amounts of information - and instantly, via their mobile phones and wearables etc. Your video will be viewed by potentially hundreds even thousands of people - do you think that having watched it viewers will want to go to Caffe Concerto?!?
So, no Darren, you are NOT being 'finicky' - you are simply sharing your 'customer insights' with us. Remember - we live in the 'Age of the Consumer' and customers today have all the power. We are not persuaded by glossy online adverts and promotions anymore. We are much more influenced by peer [other customer's] reviews. So, what you are doing is extremely valuable.
And I can promise you Darren, that Caffe Concerto will absolutely fail IF they do not listen to people like you and change! If you don't believe me - simply look at the most successful companies in the world today and I can guarantee, they all apply a 'customer-centric' business model! [eg: Retail - Amazon, a US$3 TRILLION business, Hotels - Ritz-Carlton, Technology - Apple, Airline - Southwest, only airline on the planet never to file for bankruptcy]
So I think it is an excellent idea that when you make your videos that you not only consider the food but also the overall 'experience'. Indeed [and I hope you don't mind my suggesting this?] I encourage you to think about the following:
1. The 'first impression' you have when entering the restaurant etc. What is the decoration and environment like, is it welcoming and friendly or does it make you feel uncomfortable? What are the other customers like? For example, do they seem 'posh'? Or are they 'mixed'. [if you drive to the venue, you can do a 'carpark test' - is the car-park well-maintained and easy to access and navigate. Are the cars expensive - this will tell you that the food will probably be pricey!
2. Service - Are the staff attentive, helpful and polite? Are they 'well-informed' [if you ask them a question, do they know the answer!] Is the service reasonably quick and efficient - or were you made to wait? Is the eating area clean and presentable - is the cutlery, glassware clean and laid out properly etc.
3. Well trained staff. Know how to greet and interact with guests properly, deal with any problems or complaints - are alert and there for you if you need them without being intrusive
4. 'Personalisation' - Are the staff sincerely friendly, keen to help you and make you feel 'special'? Do they ask for your feedback or if you need anything? [good staff can be really chatty and willing to do everything to make your meal pleasant]
5. 'Flagship moments' [the 'wow factor'!] Was there anything that especially stood out for you - in a positive way!
Anyway Darren - keep up the good work and feel free to contact me if you have any thoughts or need my help? By the way - I have subscribed to your channel. All the best, Laurie
Thank you for sharing Laurie, and welcome
If you don't want to be a Waiter don't get a job as one.
I was always brought up to say please and thank you .... and say sorry which is so hard to many these days .... keep up the good work DJ on these reviews, we need old school normality ❤
That was disgusting service Darren. The faces she pulled at the end there was no need for that! 😡. 🥰☀️🥰xxx
I think it's time people see another angle of how staff behave
@@DJsFoodTravels Absolutely! So felt for you especially as you were so nice. 😍☀️😍xxx
Atleast Dick Turpin wore a mask 🎭
Was he around in the really bad Covid times?
They don't need to up their game...they need to change it completely! I wont be going here..cheers Darren
How does VAT work on food then please? As surely the owners already paid VAT on the food when purchasing their food, so that is passed onto the customer..
🤔hmmm... Just stating the obvious here... There doesn't appear to be any other clients! 😮
Will they just keep on putting up their prices to cover the costs? ... Just carry on treating the
occasional client without any attempt at hospitality, until there are no more clients coming,
go bankrupt and close up, cry a bit, and then go looking for another job? 🤯🥳
Infuriating to see just how bad your experience was DJ. I took my sister out for a birthday breakfast at the Ivy Tower Bridge recently. The service was impeccable and the breakfast special was £16 for fresh juice, pastries and a full English.
Manners cost NOTHING. 1 THING that Really boils my piss is the LACK OF BASIC MANNERS BY PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS THAT DEPEND ON CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR WAGES. IF A RUDE WAITER OR WAITRESS NEEDS TELLING , THEN I TELL THEM WETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT !!
SOME PEOPLE NEED TELLING!!
She looked well pissed off!
Q did they add the service charge after the VAT it has been known to pay service on tax
Customer service is basically bad these days especially with Electricity and gas companies Citizens Advice with my experience lately has been Incompetence throughout
These places need to go out of business. Stop paying these stupid prices.
Slightly OT but if you do alot of these videos, I'd recommend getting the Hollyland Lark M2 wireless mics. Great sound quality and super convenient. Have a Google.
th-cam.com/video/JH8ZdCt4o8I/w-d-xo.html