EXTREMELY BAD service when you mention using the MEERKAT 2 for 1 discount. I have been a frequent customer to Tiffin Truck for 2 years now with various friends, and used their 10% student discount up till a few months ago when I discovered I can get 2 for 1 starters, mains or desserts here Sun-Thu under Meerkat Meals (powered via Tastecard). Each of the four times I've used, the attitudes of the waiting staff have soured and the service has worsened considerably. I also recently got a BAD CASE OF FOOD POISONING from their food, though admittedly that was only once in the many visits I've made to this restaurant.
My most recent visit today (Tue 12/3/19) was the WORST experience I have had eating at any Cambridge restaurant. When I asked for the bill, I showed them the Meerkat Meals app page and that's when things went downhill. The server frowned very badly, looked at the page skeptically, then told me that the Meerkat Meals discount ONLY works at their restaurant if I also order starters to make it a 'two-course meal'. I told them that the Meerkat deal does not work this way, and that on previous occasions when I came, they have always (after a lot of grumbling) allowed the deal to be used on JUST mains. Anyway, their restaurant signed up to this deal and can't vary the policy as they choose beyond the express terms and conditions on Meerkat Meals. After more grumbling, the server went back to talk to his 'manager' (who I swear is just another server - having come many times and seen a relationship of equity between many of the servers, including these two).
The 'manager' server came back and argued the same, saying I ALSO needed to order starters before I can use the Meerkat Meals deal. I showed him the app, stating that the 2 for 1 deal for Tiffin Truck was on starters, mains OR desserts, but he kept insisting. He then suggested (or insisted, more like) that we can ALTERNATIVELY use our 10% student discount. We refused, knowing the meal would turn up significantly more expensive. After a lot more grumbling and him going back talking to other servers, at last presented the bill discounting one of our mains. He THEN added that this is only one-time favour that they're doing me.
Obviously, they do not value frequent customers at all or keeping any sort of customers who use the MEERKAT MEALS deal that they, as an independent restaurant, DECIDED TO SIGN UP TO. If they want to vary the terms and conditions of their participation in Meerkat Meals, they can do so, but I won't pay more to satisfy the whims of Tiffin Truck's servers who spout 'management policies' on the spot.
So my advice is EITHER DO NOT VISIT this restaurant for its HORRIFIC SERVICE or, if you have tougher skin like me, use the MEERKAT MEALS DEAL together at Tiffin Truck for a very good bargain for good food. It is very unfair for them to treat frequent customers worse than they would first-time ones, and to gradate their service according to your use of discounts that their restaurant chose to sign up to. Perhaps if enough customers use the deal, they won't single out customers who use Meerkat Meals and treat them THIS BADLY. read more