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Wild Onion - rudeness.

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  • 30-01-2007 7:49pm
    #1
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,631 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I used this place regularly until a few weeks ago. It's quirky and different. Decent food too. Real U.S. feel to it.

    The service is a little sassy and in your face which is ok as it's an American run joint. Ruth is a likeable lady.

    Anyhow some toast was sent back by one of the lads recently as it wasn't toasted, and the grumpy bloke (her partner Bob the cook) roared "for **** sake" followed by "asshole" very loudly. He threw it in the bin.

    It was really embarrassing and we paid the bill vowing never to return.

    This type of abusive reaction is unwelcome and unwarranted.


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    #2
    yankinlk
    Registered Users Posts: 2,731 ✭✭✭yankinlk


    Haven't been there in a while - but I love that place. You description is spot on. Maybe old bob was having a bad day?

    the way that place is setup the cook has no where to hide - the kitchen area isnt seperated by any partition or door.

    imagine what cursing you are missing in a regular resturant? at least you can be sure he didnt spit in your food!


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    #3
    Raiser
    Registered Users Posts: 4,929 ✭✭✭Raiser


    ....way to treat a paying [formerly keen] customer......Will pass on the crap business ethos, poor socialisation of the prop. and give the place a miss - thanks for the warning OP ;)


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    #4
    hobie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,338 ✭✭✭hobie


    where abouts is it? ..... :confused:

    postcard.JPG


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    #5
    Delphi91
    Registered Users Posts: 1,501 ✭✭✭Delphi91


    hobie wrote:
    where abouts is it? ..... :confused:

    postcard.JPG

    Top of William Street, turn down towards the Round House. At the Round House, keep left, heading for the Market. It's just there on the left hand side.


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    #6
    ninty9er
    Registered Users Posts: 9,366 ✭✭✭ninty9er


    In your face is more the word, something like that really wouldn't put me off considering you get so much on your plate and it's not a pile a ****e either


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    #7
    Liam Byrne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,163 ✭✭✭✭Liam Byrne


    Maybe the guy has been watching too much Gordon Ramsey.....?


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    #8
    bazz26
    Registered Users Posts: 51,140 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    It could have been worse.

    The chef could have done a similar thing to what happened in the movie "Road Trip". Where the skinny guy in the diner sends back his French toast only for the fat chef to stick it down the back of his pants for five minutes before giving it back to him. You know then scene. :D


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    #9
    ellenmelon
    Registered Users Posts: 488 ✭✭ellenmelon


    toootally not defending what he said, but having worked in a place where most of the food preparation was done in full view of customers, we often had to grit our teeth when something small like what you described happens..and then somedays you just want to spit (not literally!!!!) (and sometimes do), not cause of what has happened, its just the straw that broke the camels back so to speak. often when we get pissed off, its that that one thing we have to cook again screws up the flow you have going when you're trying to do two or three things at once. its not personal, just makes you want to go "aaaaaaaaaaaargh i hate working with food!" lol.
    i wouldnt totally give up on the place..maybe a letter or phonecall to them (there is no need to say who you are, they'll be happy for the feedback) and then try again in a couple of months.
    if you've ever worked in the food industry you'd understand where im coming from... :)


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    #10
    hobie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,338 ✭✭✭hobie


    Top of William Street, turn down towards the Round House. At the Round House, keep left, heading for the Market. It's just there on the left hand side.

    O-Key-Doke .....

    I must pop in for a coffee and a Dunkin Doughnut .... :)


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    #11
    4tothefloor
    Closed Accounts Posts: 81 ✭✭4tothefloor


    Henry Ford III wrote:
    I used this place regularly until a few weeks ago. It's quirky and different. Decent food too. Real U.S. feel to it.

    The service is a little sassy and in your face which is ok as it's an American run joint. Ruth is a likeable lady.

    Anyhow some toast was sent back by one of the lads recently as it wasn't toasted, and the grumpy bloke (her partner Bob the cook) roared "for **** sake" followed by "asshole" very loudly. He threw it in the bin.

    It was really embarrassing and we paid the bill vowing never to return.

    This type of abusive reaction is unwelcome and unwarranted.

    Oh boo hoo, I suppose you've never had a bad day at work and are politically correct and mannerly at ALL times? :rolleyes:


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    #12
    bucks73
    Registered Users Posts: 2,905 ✭✭✭bucks73


    Thats no excuse to curse in front of a customer. If it was me that was called "asshole" I wouldnt even have paid.

    I dont have much of a problem with the "f*ck sake" as everyone can have a bad day but actually calling a customer "asshole" is too much. I know if I called a customer of mine that, I would be out the door.


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    #13
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,631 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Anyone can have a bad day I agree but abusing the customer loudly and within earshot of all was terrible.

    I used to be a regular there, but not any more.


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    #14
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,631 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    Anyone can have a bad day I agree but abusing the customer loudly and within earshot of all was terrible.

    I used to be a regular there, but not any more.


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    #15
    ellenmelon
    Registered Users Posts: 488 ✭✭ellenmelon


    just wanted to say also, that so far no one else has said "thats happened to me" so maybe your experience is a one off? (the limerick city board isnt indicative of limerick as a whole, but there would usually be someone here that could relate to a post.) so give other people a chance to form their own opinions of the place. there are FAR worse places in limerick for customer service where bad customer service is the norm. wild onion is somewhere that has good food and is value for money and in my opinion limerick is somewhat lacking in that regard.


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    #16
    Liam Byrne
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,163 ✭✭✭✭Liam Byrne


    Henry Ford III wrote:
    Anyone can have a bad day I agree but abusing the customer loudly and within earshot of all was terrible.

    ...particularly when they're by no means at fault.......I mean, the OP wasn't the one who was meant to toast the bread, was he/she ?


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    #17
    hobie
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,338 ✭✭✭hobie


    I rem a family story about a famous helicopter manufacturer's Executive Restaurant and a rare steak .....

    the steak was sent back ..... not rare enough ...... :(

    head chef picked up a fresh steak .... threw it on the floor .... picked it up and turned it over and threw it on the floor again ..... :cool:

    into a hot pan ..... 2 seconds each side (not a second more) ..... :rolleyes:

    back out to the eager patron ......

    A little later a report came back to the kitchen ..... the steak was delicious !!!! :)

    There's a solution to every problem ..... :p


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    #18
    old boy
    Registered Users Posts: 2,658 ✭✭✭old boy


    ive tried it a few times, not 2 bad, overpriced tho


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    #19
    Jumpy
    Registered Users Posts: 7,606 ✭✭✭Jumpy


    Henry Ford III wrote:
    I used this place regularly until a few weeks ago. It's quirky and different. Decent food too. Real U.S. feel to it.

    The service is a little sassy and in your face which is ok as it's an American run joint. Ruth is a likeable lady.

    Anyhow some toast was sent back by one of the lads recently as it wasn't toasted, and the grumpy bloke (her partner Bob the cook) roared "for **** sake" followed by "asshole" very loudly. He threw it in the bin.

    It was really embarrassing and we paid the bill vowing never to return.

    This type of abusive reaction is unwelcome and unwarranted.


    Far too nice man. No way should you be expected to pay after that.


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    #20
    Raiser
    Registered Users Posts: 4,929 ✭✭✭Raiser


    Well their Website is at:

    http://www.wildonioncafe.com/menu1.htm

    At the end of the page Bob and Ruth make the following suggestion "If you'd like to send an Email to Bob or Ruth, go ahead now."

    The email address is

    eat@wildonioncafe.com

    I have drafted one but am unsure as to whether or not to send it in ????



    Dear Bob and Ruth,

    I am writing this mail to compliment you on your Restaurant, I especially like the flags displayed outside and the high standard of your tasteful furnishings within.

    Your menu seems varied and interesting not to mention very tempting. I must ask however; being the civilised and quiet type of individual that I am - If I should visit your establishment and have the temerity to voice an opinion that is at variance with that of the management, will I be verbally abused before being handed the bill as has been suggested here? : http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055048036


    Yours Sincerely,

    Fussy Paddy

    Disclaimer: As far as I am concerned all suggestions regarding the conduct, or any actions (verbal or otherwise) of the management of this establishment are merely unconfirmed and anecdotal hearsay - I do not intend on any contribution of mine in this thread to reflect unfavourably upon these individuals in any respect.


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    #21
    Jumpy
    Registered Users Posts: 7,606 ✭✭✭Jumpy


    Send away. If he still paid up then they havent learnt their lesson.
    Might be a bit of a cold shock to see others opinions on this type of ****e.
    They are American FFS, they of all people should be aware the downsides of bad customer service, keeping people happy in restaurants is almost like a religion over there.


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    #22
    ellenmelon
    Registered Users Posts: 488 ✭✭ellenmelon


    people are saying "you shouldnt have had to pay after what happened!" correct me if im wrong, but i dont think the OP complained at the time because he was embarrassed. in my experience, if you dont want to pay after a bad experienc, you go to the cashier/head waiter/supervisor/whatever and say so. and say that because you were unhappy you dont want to pay and by not paying that will make up somehow for the bad experience.
    he didnt complain (he came on here to, but what does it really achieve?) so he paid..

    as for the email raiser...i dunno. i wouldnt mind some sort of email being sent, i just dont think linking to boards is the best idea at the moment? what with the other legal stuff going on..better to be safe than sorry?


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    #23
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,631 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    For what it's worth I would have been quite comfortable to have walked out and not paid, but the guy who was verbally abused reckoned he'd not lower himself to their level.

    If the owners didn't realise something was dramatically wrong, then tough luck.

    I reckon they've lost business as a result of their appaling manners, but perhaps they just don't mind/care?

    Either way it's no big deal.


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    #24
    chrislimerick
    Registered Users Posts: 10 ✭chrislimerick


    hi i spoke to some one who works there and told that person about this thread
    they smiled and found it funny and said if you go there you would know its his sense of humour :) and was sure he did not mean it to be offensive


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    #25
    talkingclock
    Registered Users Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭talkingclock


    someone should customers made aware of the fact that it is just merrily if the chef is calling them an "a55hole" after a complaint...


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    #26
    bazz26
    Registered Users Posts: 51,140 ✭✭✭✭bazz26


    chrislimerick wrote:
    hi i spoke to some one who works there and told that person about this thread
    they smiled and found it funny and said if you go there you would know its his sense of humour :) and was sure he did not mean it to be offensive

    Not sure how a customer hearing the chef calling them an "asshole" after making a complaint could be interpreted as anything other than offensive.

    Sounds like they are trying to back track to me.


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    #27
    Henry Ford III
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 17,631 Mod ✭✭✭✭Henry Ford III


    chrislimerick wrote:
    hi i spoke to some one who works there and told that person about this thread
    they smiled and found it funny and said if you go there you would know its his sense of humour :) and was sure he did not mean it to be offensive

    Oh I see. How silly of me ;)

    p.s. I was a regular there.


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    #28
    grasscutter
    Registered Users Posts: 164 ✭✭grasscutter


    I would just like my 2 cents on this.

    I have been going in the Wild Onion for 4-5 years and feel the food produced by Bob and his crew is some of the best you could find on a lunchtime menu in Limerick city. The menu is well priced (<10 euro for most things), freshly prepared and the portions you get are massive. The odd time I have had cause to complain they have always been courteous and listened to what I have suggested. Ruth has a unique style about serving but that just adds to the magic of the place and she always welcomes you the minute you walk through the door. Compare this to when you go into other places were you are lucky to get 2 words out of the staff.

    On the subject of the undercooked toast my guess is you were probably less than courteous asking for the toast to be replaced. I bet if I asked Bob about it he would probably give a completely different version of events. In 4 or 5 years I have never heard Bob loose the head over anything.

    Get over it and stop sl*gging them off on an internet board.


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    #29
    talkingclock
    Registered Users Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭talkingclock


    You know the chef by his name. how impartial is your view?


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    #30
    ellenmelon
    Registered Users Posts: 488 ✭✭ellenmelon


    talkingclock wrote:
    You know the chef by his name. how impartial is your view?

    it wouldnt be that hard to find out his name..in fact its mentioned on this thread and i think they have a website?


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    #31
    sioda
    Registered Users Posts: 4,457 ✭✭✭sioda


    Everyone who eats in there knows Bob by name. I still adore the place. Defo one of the best eateries in town


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