Disappointment, disbelief and disgust

<p>My experience with the Tokai Italian Kitchen was one of disappointment, disbelief and disgust at the lack of professionalism on the part of the Manager.</p> <p>I ordered two pizzas (one for each evening for two consecutive nights) to celebrate my 82nd birthday with my friends. I paid R160 upfront for both. I was assured they would be delivered at 6pm on each evening. By 6.15pm the first there was no sign of any delivery.The message on the restaurant's answering machine suggested that no one was there. We actually went to the restaurant to find that it was closed and had been all day. I later learned that the Manager had closed it that very morning for 6 days. The chef had gone to Angola.</p> <p>The manager had neither the good manners nor the couirtesy to contact me and ask that I make alternative arrangements and that my payment of R160 upfront would be returned. He later said he did not have my phone number-incorrect as it was given when I placed the order. Six of us had no supper.</p> <p>That same night I rang up the Newlands Branch where the Manager was very apologetic and helpful and would see that the order for the second night would be carried out as originally requested. True to his word, the pizza arrived.</p> <p>I spoke to the Manager from the Tokai Branch who happened to be there and suggested a free meal to make up for his negligent service. To this he agreed, but made no effort to communicate with me after that. I contacted him six days later when he had reopened his branch.</p> <p>To cut a long and unpleasant story short, he denied that I had asked for a free meal and said it was his idea-not true! I suggestedI suggested instead that the paid-for second pizza could be delivered that night with a bottle of white wine for some goodwill. Being elderly, we don't like going out at night.He was very upset that it had cost him R350 to deliver the first pizza from Newlands to me. I told him that it was solely his problem due to his mismanagement.</p> <p>The conversation was going nowhere.He said goodbye and put the phone down on me.The pizza was delivered with a bottle of wnie, for which we were grateful.</p> <p>Not a great 82nd birthday!</p>