Pathetic and appalling service from John Dory's Walmer Park

I was a huge John Dory's fan in the past but recently John Dory's is failing their customers based on the amount of negative reviews including no interest from the business in responding to their customers concerns.

I had visited the John Dory's at Walmer Shopping Centre in Port Elizabeth. I ordered a thermidor kingklip which just tasted like mushroom and pepper sauce. I could have made a better thermidor sauce that that in my own house. When I questioned the waiter to ask why the thermidor sauce tasted like a cheap mushroom and pepper sauce. The waiter advised that this is the new recipe that is now used in all John Dory's. To me this is just lazy cheap and pathetic for creating something as big as John Dory's and then start using cheaper ingredients to save cost whilst increasing their food prices still.

I went again today the 12th June 2024 to the same branch for half price sushi. Apparently the sushi is only sit down and not takeaway. Yet on the previous two occasions I had ordered take away with no issues. The waiter was also rude when asked why is it sit down only and not take away yet I did take away on previous occasions. The waiter told me she is just following the policy which she clearly does not understand either as she was unable to explain why other than that is just the policy and if I want then I should find another waiter. What a load of garbage is that, for a waiter to tell you to find another waiter. I asked for the manager of the store and he also could not explain why I can't take sushi away other than it's in the T and C's... The manager had to go check the boards and come back to me to advise that it says sit in on the board which he looked really happy about providing the fact that he did not know this until today.

So I sat in and ordered my sushi and when it came I ate one some and asked for a takeaway which I had received. It's stupid to have a half price sushi day where I'm still paying for it but can't take it home as I have to apparently sit and eat some in the store. Now you are not only taking money from customers but also telling them how to eat their food.

Advised the manager that I don't care what anyone has to say as there is no sign saying after sitting and ordering my food I cannot take it away as I have already paid for it and you cannot hold it back, should you not allow me to leave with the food then I will not be paying for it even after I had already eaten some as its my damn food which I paid for.

Overall this was a disgraceful service from: - John Dory's as a branch - Waiters need training on your policies so they can explain to customers instead of getting upset by questions they may not have answers for. Customer service training also as you cannot tell customers to find another waiter that will place your take away order. Pathetic. - Manager can have training on policies also as he only found out today that sit in is specified on the board. - John Dory's should explain service more clearly to customers. Example if something says sit in. That means I have to be seated in the restaurant and order my food but it does not mean after getting my food I can't ask for a takeaway as it specifically states sit in. Does not state no take away on selected item. To myself if I buy food which I have paid with my own money, who are you to tell me what to do with it? If I want to take it away I will unless your clearly and visibly stating no takeaways on the board or in store somewhere visible.

I hope someone from John Dory's sees this and does something to a currently failing business I will now be using other restaurants which still care for their customers and service.