DISRESPECT: The SAUCE of The Problem

DISRESPECT: The SAUCE of The Problem Great Prawns and Livers. Awful service, steak, sushi and people. When we got to Adega that Friday evening, we understood that they were very busy, however; the Manager (Michael) was nice enough to give us a table upstairs where it also was a bit quieter. It was Live Music Night downstairs so we welcomed the quiet table in the corner upstairs. We were taken up to our table by Waiter A (Whose name we honestly can’t remember), who did confirm that he was not our waiter, Chester was, but proceeded to take our drinks orders anyway. We received our drinks order pretty quickly by Waiter A, then he ran through the specials with us. I settled on the T- Bone Steak and Prawns special with Chips and my wife chose one of the Sushi platters. We confirmed with Waiter A to bring our starter choice first – the chicken livers – to share, which he did. The chicken livers were honestly amazing, definitely up there in my top three best choices. And once the Main Meals arrived, that’s when things started to go South. I ordered a Medium steak, the one I received was well done, difficult to cut through. The prawns however, were great, also some of the best prawns I’ve eaten. My wife’s sushi was pretty bad, it was not badly presented and tasted stale, she couldn’t finish it. And that says a lot because my wife lives sushi and can eat a ton of the stuff – this was the first time she has ever not finished here sushi. We asked for serviettes which never came. Still no sign of Chester, until we stopped him on his way downstairs. He had just cleared a table and both his hands were full of dishes. We asked him to bring us some of the Adega Peri Peri house sauce, which by the way we always buy a whole bottle of everytime we eat there. Chester’s response was, “here take this one” and his eyes were showing us the batch of sauce that he had just cleared off someone else’s table. Firstly, I was in such disbelief but I took the sauce, simply to show the Manager (Michael) that this was what his waiter believes to be correct and hygienic. Amongst this utter disrespect (I think the shock of the fact that Chester had just given us someone else’s half- eaten sauce off their table took over me), my wife went downstairs to tell the Manager (Michael) what happened. She received no apology from Michael, it did not even phase him which made the situation even worse. He simply asked another waitress to bring us a fresh batch of sauce from the kitchen, which by the way, NEVER ARRIVED AT OUR TABLE. We officially felt as if the night was ruined and there was no going back and I could no longer remain quiet about it. I found the Junior Manager who was willing to listen, polite and very apologetic. He then got the Manager (Michael) to come to our table and listen to our complaint. Michael apologised but his only solution was, “Can I perhaps get you a doggy bag to for your steak to take home with you?”. Are you kidding me??? You want to give me the horrid steak that was too hard and awful eat – part of the reason as to why I’m complaining to you, to take home and continue eating the next day with the exact same amount of displeasure? How is this logical and good customer service in any possible way? By that time, I was over the whole experience, I asked for the bill, which the Junior Manager brought to me. He was still genuinely apologetic for the whole experience and I refused to tip the non-existent waiter Chester who ignored us for most of the evening. After eating at this restaurant for close to 12 years, this was the first time I’ve been disappointed and to the point of disrespect and disgust. I will not be going back to Adega in Bedfordview because this experience has left a bitter taste in my mouth; and no, that was not just the bad tasting sushi or steak.