Well that was the first time I've ever been yelled at or guilt-tripped by a member of the kitchen staff for having the audacity to ask to actually receive the food that I'm being charged for.
Mine was a simple order: a burger with rocket and jalapeños, and a Diet Coke. The Coke came quickly. The burger came a while later, but without rocket or jalapeños. Since my colleague had ordered the sour cream chips but received salt and vinegar, he went to the desk to ask about that, and I asked him if he could bring back some peppers for me as well. He was told that they were out of the sour cream chips, and that my peppers were definitely there, under the burger. I disassembled the burger and found none, then took my plate to the counter to show them. I was greeted with "is that all I'm going to get from your table-- complaints? Did you even like the burger?" I said that my colleague had been told that my peppers were on the burger, and that I just wanted to get some, and that I wasn't trying to make anyone feel bad. "We're doing our best here! I'm sorry if there are no jalapeños on the burger! I'm sorry!" (All of this was shouted at me, mind-- so 'sorry not sorry'). I said that if I'm going to pay €0.75/topping for extras, that I should receive them, but this wasn't heard by anyone but me because he was shouting over me the entire time. Finally our waitress took my plate and piled my burger high with rocket and a sizeable portion of peppers, and I went back to my table.
The burger was good, and I did enjoy it-- thanks, shouty guy, for asking. The chips were also very tasty, and the ambience of the establishment was overall quite cheery and enjoyable. Except for the part where I got shouted down for politely asking for the food that I was being charged for. That part sucked majorly. Dutch service at its pinnacle.
I don't think we'll be back, which is sad, because it's a nice little spot only a couple minutes walk from the office. read more