Al Murjan

My advice is to go elsewhere for afternoon tea. The server couldn't have been less interested in taking our order after impatiently hovering over us whilst we chose the type of afternoon tea we wanted. Then once we had ordered asked us if we wanted the champagne afternoon tea instead.

The tea was made from fresh tea leaves and was very nice. The same couldn't be said about the sandwiches though. We ordered afternoon tea for three and not only was the bread dry and the flavours bland but there were only enough sandiwches for one. We had to order some more (as half a sandwich each wasn't very filling) for which we were charged the same price again.

The scones, jam and cream were good and the cake selection ok but again not very many. We may sound greedy but there really was a small amount of food especially for the price.

Coming back to the service again, the server surpassed herself when we paid. They had a problem with their card machine and so decided to swipe our bank card 9 nines resulting in our bank blocking it because they thought it had been stolen.

The server told us there was a problem with our card (which there wasn't as we had checked with our bank) and practically threw the card machine at us and said we had to ring their card machine supplier - why? and when the server rang them she handed the phone to my husband and just said 'speak'. When he refused to do this as it was nothing to do with us, our card or our bank, she became even shirtier and proceeded to have an argument with the card machine supplier in front of us.

It then took another hour whilst the server disappeared and the till operator kept faffing about in the usual syle of involving lots of other people whilst periodically coming back to us saying it was our card that was the problem.

We complained to the manager and it was only after he got involved and tried the direct line that surprise surprise the card went through. There was no apology and they were continually rude saying it was our fault. It took longer to pay than it did to eat the meagre portions of afternoon tea. It ruined the afternoon tea which wasn't that great anyway.

So if you want overpriced, poor value for money food together with rude staff then this is the place to go. If not, I'd avoid it like the plague. It's a shame as we had afternoon tea there a few times a couple of years ago and both the food and service was excellent. They need to up their game.
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Natasha
Thursday, June 05, 2008