As your all aware, I am not in any way, a blogger. At least until something gets to me on a level so deep that the only way I am ever going to get it off my chest is to write it down. Hell its a therapist's answer for a reason right?
So OK, admittedly its been a year (?) since I last wrote an entry (maybe even longer) and over that time I have had a lot of things thta have upset or stressed me out or even pissed me off. Today I'm afraid dear Reader it's going to be a rant day.
As you all know I am third generation Chinese restauranteur, its not something I ever saw myself get into, in fact I was and still am, determined to get as far away from it as possible, and I'll tell you why. Catering is a long and established profession that caters to you, the public and quite frankly your all shit, ok that was a little harsh but hear me out. The publics general attitude to catering is one of disdain, a waitress is treated, a lot of the time, as someone who is beneath you, they are there to serve you and in a lot of cases, for you to abuse. Now I'm not saying that all of you do that but a vast majority of you do, whether or not you realise it. In short, we're not, a lot of us are in this business to make ends meet because it is the only job we can get in an economy that has let us down and we have no other recourse but to work in this unforgiving industry. It won't ever occur to most of you that the person serving you has a degree or their studying for their PHD etc, and in the same breath you yourself want to come in and expect to be treated like the king or queen your not. I'm sorry but its not going to happen, I'm not gonna lie to you, you come into my restaurant and expect to be treated like something your not? Bu bye. I'll treat you the way you treat me as ANY decent human being would, and if you abuse my staff and expect that you have a right too then I'm sorry but all bets are off.
Why is the catering business unforgiving? Well I'll tell you, its an unforgiving sector because of you, yes you. There are no second chances in this trade, you have one bad meal then you don't go back, nevermind that it could just simply be a one off. Don't forget, a reputation takes years to build up and seconds to ruin, and with online review sites like Tripadvisor, you are now given a tool in which to vent your wrath. You take it personally, why? What possesses you people to take it personally? I have news for you...It's NOT PERSONAL. But it won't ever occur to you, I mean why should you care right? But if a death occured in your family your given allowances, us? Not so much, because bottom line is you don't care. "Oh this meal was awful, I'm never coming here again", sound familiar? As I said Tripadvisor has given you the public a tool in which to ruin other peoples business'. I don't think its occured to many of you just how many people are dependant on that one business. That one review that you wrote? You've just taken away at least £100 worth of business, that £100 that you've have effectively taken away is money that pay's my staff, money that they need just to make ends meet, and you know its not just restaurants, you do it for shops, hotels, and cafes, all because of that one single meal.
Case in point, I've just read a review that said the customers chips were cold. Now pardon me but if you were any decent customer, 1) you wouldn't be ordering CHIPS in a CHINESE restaurant, I mean really...What are you thinking? Chips don't exist in China for a start so why would you go into a Chinese restaurant and order chips and expect them to be brilliant? 2) You never complained to a single member of staff, which leads me to think that chances are you ate them all and just want a whinge and HELLO Tripadvisor. At least give the staff a chance to rectify the matter but did you do that? Like hell you did. See what I mean by no second chances?
So here's my tip, the next time you have a bad meal in a restaurant give them a frickin second chance because at the end of the day chances are its just a one off, don't be an idiot and take it personally because really? Its not. So thank you WalkerDavies for that wonderful review about chips.....Truly it was MOST helpful....
