A less than glowing
review of Tootsies in Belsize Park
- By David Ward
Tootsies
196-198 Haverstock Hill
Belsize Park
London
NW3
A colleague and I
had a dreadful experience whilst
staying in
London, when I decided to eat at
the Tootsies Restaurant in Belsize
Park,
(196-198 Haverstock Hill). When
the food was delivered it was not
only
late with the drinks items missing,
the food itself was terrible burnt
offerings. Yet to make matters
worse, when the bill arrived, it
was the
wrong price, meaning that I had
been overcharged. I asked the female
personnel serving why the food
bill was higher than the actual
order, as
was informed that there had been
a 12.5 percent service charge added
to
the bill.
I was extremely unhappy
about the situation since the service
was
dreadful, but more importantly
I had seen no notification that
the
Restaurant would be adding a 12.5
percent service charge. After I
returned
home, I complained to the company
Head Office (Clapham House Group
Plc),
writing to the Chief Executive
(Mr Campbell). I also spoke with
the
Restaurant Manager, who informed
me that a service charge DOES NOT!
Have
to be paid. Service charges can
be removed from the bill at your
request,
however, the Restaurant did not
inform us of this since they clearly
did
not want us to know and be aware
of the situation.
I contacted Camden
Trading Standards about the situation.
They informed
me
they would investigate, since it
is unlawful not to print details
of a
service charge, which should be
displayed as prominently as the
prices
charged for the food. They have
investigated and thus sent me a
letter
(dated 2 July). Camden Trading
Standards made a 'test purchase'
at the
Restaurant and found the Restaurant
'did not have the service charge
displayed on the menu' as legally
required.
The Restaurant have
been advised about their 'duty
to notify consumers
of
any charges', and have agreed that
this will be attended too and thus
rectified.
Do not be caught
out and overcharged any amount
of money for a supposed
service charge, YOU DO NOT HAVE
TO PAY IT! If it is displayed and
legal,
you can request that it be removed
from your bill. If it is not on
display, the organisation is breaking
the law as required of them. Either
way, don't be forced to pay money
that is not necessary and report
any
organisation not complying with
the law.
This review from Mr Ward, Dudley,
West Midlands
(Full contact details provided)
Sub Note: It appears that other
dinners have had similar experiences
at Tootsies - please see: http://www.london-eating.co.uk/1786.htm
Webmasters Note: At Dine Online
we really like to focus on the
positives in British Dining - but
alas sometimes the negatives have
to also be mentioned. I have personally
dined in Tootsies several times
a few years ago and it was always
a pleasant experience but it appears
from Mr Wards comments and those
of others that I have found on
the net, that service is not what
it should be. Congratulations to
Mr Ward for taking the time to
follow-up as he has, even to Chief
Executive level. Lets hope the
Chief Executive cares as much or
even more than his customers about
service.
We also welcome feedback from
Tootsies - so if you work at
Tootsies and want to put the
record right or comment further,
please be in touch.
