What's happened to Sea Cow? (Lounged)

[Keef]

Keef Wrote:

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> I'm not saying I doubt what anyone is saying,

I know Bellenden, I was just sort of thinking to myself and put it on here. The Seacow obviously did go down the pan, and now they are openly trying to listen to customer feedback. I was just meaning that it's very brave of them, and it must be hard to take all this on the chin, even if it is true... I remember when someone may have said something just a tiny bit negative about a certain shop on the Lane, the owner of that place certainly didn't take it well, and started kicking off!

[Frisco]

"I suspect we may have spied each other Frisco - because I indeed went in to try the Coley yesterday at about 9pm.

It is rare for me to leave a place without ordering but both Mr BB and myself experienced such an overwhelming smell of dettol and bleach, that it would have been rather like eating in a freshly cleaned toilet"

I suspect we may have done. I have to say that I didn't notice the smell, but perhaps that was because I was already in there when the cleaning started. If you are who I suspect you are, I did wonder what caused you to decide to suddenly leave. It hadn't occurred to me that you may have received an indifferent reception, but a couple of people did come in after you and may not have pick up that vibe, or perhaps just ignored it.

"I am starting to feel quite sorry for the seacow now. I'm not saying I doubt what anyone is saying, but I do feel that because they have been so bloody good about the critisism, people just start laying it on thicker and thicker."

As clearly evidenced, Keef, by your first posting on this thread of:

"This is one place I'm not ashamed to say I don't like. I think it is poncey, overpriced and generally shite."

[...]

"This is one place I really really wouldn't shed any tears for if it went."

You know Keef, you can get much thicker than those comments, and I'm not sure anyone writing them can be taken particularly seriously, or have much validity, especially if they can't seem to understand the difference between comments of that kind and constructive criticism. At least I went there to try it out for myself, as I indicated I would do, and gave honest and constructive feedback on that basis, rather than your stated condemnatory ill-wishes for the place.

Also, unless you missed it, DanRigby said above that staff training is there next priority, and anyone undertaking that training would want to be able to identify existing problems that need correction. Customer feedback is one of the best ways of finding that out. They also appear to understand that there may be communication problems between serving staff and customers due to language issues, and hence they are getting someone, presumably a person with those skills, to work as front of house manager. He's also acknowledged the mistake on the specials board.

So Keef, whatever beef you have against people giving honest and constructive feedback, I think the owners of of Sea Cow would be better advised to take note of the constructive observations of their paying customers, than to take heed of someone who's previously wished them down the pan.

[Keef]

With the exception of "over priced", I stand by what I said based on my limited, but not non existant, experience of the place. However, I am very impressed with the way in which they have responded.

If you took the time to read the last post I wrote on here again without being quite so holier than thou (something you do seem to find hard, but that'll be something you picked up in your police days I suspect), I wasn't having a go at anything anyone had said, and even made a point of saying that I didn't doubt any of it. I was just saying that it must be quite hard to come on here and take the critisism, and that fair play to the owners for that.

It has also made me think twice about slating a place so freely.

Stop being so f**king defensive about everything everyone says on here, I wasn't aiming anything at you, so chill out!

[Administrator]

There is a line:

What's happened to Sea Cow?

__________________________

Getting personal

Please keep this discussion on the Seacow side of the line, it is appreciated.

[Frisco]

"but that'll be something you picked up in your police days I suspect"

Police days? I think you may be confused.

Also, while you may not have been aiming at any individual, you're forgetting that I wasn't the only one to believe that you may have been doing that. There seems to be at least two people who were guilty of misunderstanding your clear posting about laying it on thicker and thicker.

[Bellenden Belle]

Keef - Thanks for clarifying what you meant - I think you made a fair point. I think I felt defensive as I have been in trouble before for commenting on places which have earnt a soft spot in people's hearts.

Frisco - I agree with you though - the more information that can be gathered; the better chance they have of really shaping a training programme to address current problems.

[Keef]

Yes Bellenden did, so I explained myself really quite clearly, and you still didn't get it.

The police thing was a joke, you have a short memory.

I don't wish to row with anyone, and I shall say nothing further on this thread for the time being, but I stand by my claim that you take things far too personally... You have even done so on a thread about directions for God's sake!

If I have offended I appologise.

[Frisco]

"Frisco - I agree with you though - the more information that can be gathered; the better chance they have of really shaping a training programme to address current problems."

Thank you, and your experience last night seems to demonstrate that. I think I'd adequately demonstrated in my postings early in this thread that I was looking forward to going there to try coley and eventually grilled sardines. I'd hoped to be able to give positive feedback here, if only to confound the naysayers who thought the place wasn't an asset to ED. I was quite disappointed when I wasn't able to do that, but I'm hopeful that our comments may make them review and improve their customer service, and, from the positive responses from the owners on this thread, it probably will have that effect.

[Frisco]

"and you still didn't get it."

Consider that cross-posting may have occurred, and I apologise for any misunderstanding caused by that.

[demery]

Thanks for that Paul. On the back of that I'm prepared to give it another go.

For the record, the last two visits the cod portions were tiny as were the chips. The batter was soggy and fish was filled with oil. The first time I put it down to an aberration, after the second I haven't been back. That was more than six months ago.

Like other people, I've since been going to Olley's.

Whilst we're in the middle of a feedback frenzy, any chance of curry sauce of gravy to satisfy my northern tastebuds?

[demery]

Thanks Paul. On the back of that I'm prepared to give it another go.

For the record: on my last two visits the cod portions were tiny as were the chips. The batter was soggy and fish was filled with oil. The first time I put it down to an aberration, after the second poor meal I haven't been back. That was more than six months ago.

Like others, I've since been going to Olley's.

Whilst we're in the middle of a feedback frenzy, any chance of curry sauce or gravy to satisfy my northern taste-buds?

[Keef]

Yeah, why not gravy, it would be a huge winner, I'm certain!

[jimbo1964]

As we are discussing the price of fish, should this be in Lounge?

[RosieH]

Keef Wrote:

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> Yeah, why not gravy, it would be a huge winner,

> I'm certain!

not gravy on the fish, ooh no, that's deviant talk.

Although I do like it on my chips (the Rock and Sole Place in Covent Garden does chips and gravy, only London chippy I've found that does)

[susyp]

Curry Sauce - now that would be a winner!

[Cassius]

susyp Wrote:

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> Curry Sauce - now that would be a winner!

Seconded

[Keef]

No no no, not on the fish (not that I eat fish), but gravy on chips is tantamount to ambrosia!

[Brendan]

This talk of chips and gravy is making my mouth water.

[Administrator]

Moving this discussion to the Lounge area now, in there you will find sausage, fish and chips nibbles and a curry sauce fountain.

[susyp]

-- moved topic --

[RosieH]

curry sauce fountain, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm............. *dribbles onto keyboard*

[louisiana]

Keef Wrote:

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> the seacow Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I cannot deny that over the summer, the

> festivals took over our lives and the restaurant>

> took a back seat. Keef, I will have to pull you up

> on the selling of awful half cold food to stoners.

> The food is always piping hot and I think we do a

> good job.

>

> That bit was more of a joke about festival food in

> general.

We were at Bestival two years ago, and the SC stall was our saviour over the entire weekend. And we even followed the SC van driving down to Bestival, which was fun.

Can't say I'm such a frequent visitor locally, as there are many eating options and I'm often out of town, but I would like to see it get back on track.

The things that makes a good eatery is reliability. It's got to be good, always.

[cdonline]

Yum, haven't had curry and chips since Uni.

For the first term I lived off it. One portion a day and pretty much nothing else. Lost about two stone. Not exactly a balanced diet, but if the emaciated look is where you're at, it worked for me.

[Cassius]

cdonline Wrote:

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> Yum, haven't had curry and chips since Uni.

That's where I got my taste for it......

[Floating Onion]

Even better than just gravy on chips, poutine! Great when you stagger out of the pub at 3 am.

Damn. Now I'm hungry.