Surma?

[Townleygreen]

Had a birthday meal - as usual, at the Surma Curry House.

The food was as good as in the past, but what has happened to the service???

We had to wait an hour or more for our main courses, with no explanation at all.

Plus they got the bill wrong too. After going there for 7 years, we'll be going elsewhere in future. Sad.

[DulwichFox]

So after going to The Surma for 7 years .. you get one bad experience and you will be going elsewhere in future.

These things can happen anywhere especially if you are in a group and want all your mains to come at the same time.

Just have a drink and chill. Were you in a hurry and had somewhere else to go. ?

DulwichFox.

[Townleygreen]

Of course, you are right Foxy.

Will give them another chance. Wrote in haste which is never a good thing.

Thanks

TG

[DulwichFox]

Hi TG.

The Curry Club goes to a different Curry shop every month. Can vary from 4 -14 people.

We often wait for Starters , Drinks, Mains. Surma has great food and nice staff but can get busy.

Foxy

[Sue]

Townleygreen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Had a birthday meal - as usual, at the Surma Curry

> House.

>

> The food was as good as in the past, but what has

> happened to the service???

>

> We had to wait an hour or more for our main

> courses, with no explanation at all.

>

> Plus they got the bill wrong too. After going

> there for 7 years, we'll be going elsewhere in

> future. Sad.

I agree.

The service also seems to me to have gone downhill at Surma.

We like their Sunday buffet better than the Dulwich Tandoori's, but lately it just feels as if nobody working there actually wants to be there. Which may, of course, be the case!!

And that hasn't just been one bad experience, Foxy. It has been several.

Eating out isn't just about the food, it's about having a nice time, and waiting staff who don't smile make you feel as if you're a nuisance just being there.

And on the last occasion, which wasn't late, and nor were they particularly busy, we had to ask for food to be put in several of the buffet containers which had run out.

Whereas the experience at Franco Manca (for example) is completely the opposite - lovely smiley people and excellent service, as well as excellent food :)

ETA: And Foxy, an hour wait cannot be explained by needing all the mains to come at once, unless somebody was having an obscure dish taking an hour to make from scratch. In which case, an explanation should have been given. Otherwise, that is in no way acceptable.

[DulwichFox]

Sue.. How long would it take you to prepare a meal for 10-12 people..

In a restaurant there will be other diners that would of ben there before you.

They could be catering for 60 + people.

And as for Franco Manca .. is concerned people queue outside in the rain for 20-30 mins just get in..

So the overall experience would suggest it would be an hour or so between arriving and getting your food.

And I believe you cannot book.

Foxy

[Sue]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Sue.. How long would it take you to prepare a meal

> for 10-12 people..

>

> In a restaurant there will be other diners that

> would of ben there before you.

> They could be catering for 60 + people.

>

> And as for Franco Manca .. is concerned people

> queue outside in the rain for 20-30 mins just get

> in..

> So the overall experience would suggest it would

> be an hour or so between arriving and getting your

> food.

> And I believe you cannot book.

>

Fox, I am not a restaurant. I do not generally cater for 10 - 12 people, and if I was I would a) prepare as much as possible in advance and b) let people know how long they were likely to have to wait for their meal and c) if I was over-running, let them know, explain the reason and apologise.

And in any case, Townleygreen did not say anything about 10 - 12 people. Or indeed 60+.

If a restaurant can't handle more than a few people, they shouldn't be running a restaurant. Surma isn't usually exactly busy compared to, for example, the Dulwich Tandoori.

There is sometimes a queue at Franco Manca at popular times, and no you cannot book.

But if the queue is a long one, they take your name, and give you a rough time when a table will be available so that you can go and have a drink elsewhere and then return.

But you've never been there, have you? So you wouldn't know that your statement "people queue outside in the rain for 20-30 minutes just (to) get in" is highly likely to be inaccurate?

And even if it wasn't, those people "queuing in the rain" have chosen to do so, knowing there are a lot of people in front of them. Whereas Townleygreen had no idea, having placed his/her order, that he/she was going to have to wait an hour or more for his/her birthday meal.

I'm not sure why you are defending Surma, tbh. By any standards it was poor service. How long does it take to give an explanation and an apology, quite apart from anything else?

And if you are in the service industry, it's a good idea to give customers a friendly smile from time to time.

[DulwichFox]

It's amazing.. I get slated when I put down a venue as being negative..

..Then when I defend a business and behave positively .. I get slated..

All part of the anti - Foxy brigade.. People need to get over it..

Sue.. If I said Ganapati was brilliant, you would find cause to disagree with me. :)

Foxy

[Seabag]

Sue, it's futile to respond to the Foggy Fox

He'll argue black is white just for the hell of it, else nobody engages with him. Maybe it's his way of having a conversation of some kind

Sad, but true

Lighten up Foxter, you're pushing people away. And seeing as this is a comunity forum, I'm guessing you do want to be part of the comunity

Dunno!

[Townleygreen]

Fox, there were just 8 of us. The place was not by any means full. Maybe 60% full? I enquired about the delay, the waiter couldn't give any reason at all. There seemed to be a rumour that a vital cog in the place's system was missing - had left for good someone said.

[Sue]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>>

> Sue.. If I said Ganapati was brilliant, you would

> find cause to disagree with me. :)

>

What a load of b*l*o*k* !!!!

I am not disagreeing with you for the sake of it.

I am pointing out the flaws in what you are saying.

That's not negative, it's factual!

But yeh Seabag, probably you're right, it's pointless responding.