We visited All-in-Hua-Hin restaurant yesterday and I ordered the Greek Salad. However when the dish arrived I was surprised that, unlike before, it didn’t have Feta Cheese. The cheese used was a totally tasteless, rubbery cheese.
When I asked the waitress why, she claimed that it did not come with Feta. Well, that isn’t the true ingredient for Greek Salad, so it seems.
Not only this, I asked her in Thai, and the girl seemed more than a little rude and in fact physically turned-up her nose at my attempt at speaking Thai. Rather ignorant I thought.
Anyway, at Wikipedia under the title Greek_salad there is a picture of a proper Greek Salad and it in fact bears little resemblance to the bland and visually unattractive offering that is created at All-in-Hua-Hin. So at All-in-Hua-Hin one does not necessarily get one what one is paying for, and on top of that, don’t try to speak Thai or they will look down on your attempt!
Not getting what you're paying for at All-in-Hua-Hin
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huahincharlie
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Wanderlust
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huahincharlie,
While I understand your irritation, did you try to make any complaint to the person in charge? We have had situations before with members complaining about this or that place, but to me it doesn't seem entirely fair to do so before pursuing that avenue first, as there is no guarantee that the owner or manager is aware that anything like this is happening. I imagine you will be voting with your feet from now on and not going there, which seems a shame if the problem is something that might be resolved by speaking to someone involved in the business. A final question - did you eat or reject the food, and did you pay? If i was that unimpressed with a dish offered to me I would reject it and go elsewhere without paying for it. That is often the only way a business will get the message if all else fails. If you eat it though, then a complaint must be made to them if it is unsatisfactory, the result of which may well be that they reduce the bill accordingly or offer some other recompense; if they don't then by all means telling others on here is appropriate.
While I understand your irritation, did you try to make any complaint to the person in charge? We have had situations before with members complaining about this or that place, but to me it doesn't seem entirely fair to do so before pursuing that avenue first, as there is no guarantee that the owner or manager is aware that anything like this is happening. I imagine you will be voting with your feet from now on and not going there, which seems a shame if the problem is something that might be resolved by speaking to someone involved in the business. A final question - did you eat or reject the food, and did you pay? If i was that unimpressed with a dish offered to me I would reject it and go elsewhere without paying for it. That is often the only way a business will get the message if all else fails. If you eat it though, then a complaint must be made to them if it is unsatisfactory, the result of which may well be that they reduce the bill accordingly or offer some other recompense; if they don't then by all means telling others on here is appropriate.
I understand where you are coming from WL, but if I was the unhappy customer, I wouldn't be too fussed with worrying about what the manager does or doesn't know!Wanderlust wrote:but to me it doesn't seem entirely fair to do so before pursuing that avenue first, as there is no guarantee that the owner or manager is aware that anything like this is happening.
Talk is cheap
You both make valid points. I wrote before about my experience at YOBT and so did the person I was with. Neither of us were happy. However, while I chose not to pursue it further and just not go there again, my friend chose to take Bill up on a generous offer he made to try the dish again and Bill cooked it personally and did not charge my friend for it.
I was told the dish was perfect the second time and that was admirable of Bill and I applaud him for rectifying that situation with that customer (my friend), but Bill was not there the day we had the original meal and unless he is there at all times they are open, there is no guarantee the same problem wouldn't happen again in his absence.
Again, not picking on Bill or his place, but I think this is frequently the case here. If a manager/owner is not there all the time constantly monitoring the quality and service it can slip hour by hour or day by day. It's a fact of life especially when trying to serve foreign food to foreigners using a Thai staff.
I have another good friend who owns a large restaurant in this country and he has had the same problems. When he's not there, things can go wrong very fast.
That could easily have been the case with this incident at AIHH.
I was told the dish was perfect the second time and that was admirable of Bill and I applaud him for rectifying that situation with that customer (my friend), but Bill was not there the day we had the original meal and unless he is there at all times they are open, there is no guarantee the same problem wouldn't happen again in his absence.
Again, not picking on Bill or his place, but I think this is frequently the case here. If a manager/owner is not there all the time constantly monitoring the quality and service it can slip hour by hour or day by day. It's a fact of life especially when trying to serve foreign food to foreigners using a Thai staff.
I have another good friend who owns a large restaurant in this country and he has had the same problems. When he's not there, things can go wrong very fast.
That could easily have been the case with this incident at AIHH.
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Guess
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All in Hua Hin is a busy restaurant. One of the main problems in Hua Hin is getting skilled staff.
It can be done but at a cost. Everybody that has owned a restaurant including myself has had these problems.
The choice you have to make is, do you want everything to be perfect and pay the premium or, take it as it comes.
Most staff have to be taught what cheese and butter are, let alone the differences between the European cheeses.
Did she tell you what kind of cheese she had served you?
Most people are appreciative of your attempting to speak Thai. My guess is that she did not understand you or was a bit daunted by the fact that you were speaking Thai. I have been in situations in areas where there are very few Farang and some people just cannot accept that some Farang can speak a bit of Thai. They just switch off. That's not common in Hua Hin though.
It can be done but at a cost. Everybody that has owned a restaurant including myself has had these problems.
The choice you have to make is, do you want everything to be perfect and pay the premium or, take it as it comes.
Most staff have to be taught what cheese and butter are, let alone the differences between the European cheeses.
Did she tell you what kind of cheese she had served you?
Most people are appreciative of your attempting to speak Thai. My guess is that she did not understand you or was a bit daunted by the fact that you were speaking Thai. I have been in situations in areas where there are very few Farang and some people just cannot accept that some Farang can speak a bit of Thai. They just switch off. That's not common in Hua Hin though.
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bluezephyr
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I ordered Thai fish cakes at one of the local restaurants here in Farangland. The fish certainly wasn't thai, it tasted like it was full of mashed potato with a bit of salmon (what's thai about that???) and when I asked for some prik nam bpla they almost threw me out. I asked for the manager, but he wasnt there that night. I showed them though, I only left a ten pound tip and told them I'd never go back. Bloody Bangladeshis are useless at cooking Thai, i dont know why I go there. 
ดวงขึ้น
จิม
จิม
It did seem a bit incongruous, offering a greek (Feta cheese) salad in a side street Hua Hin restauarant, maybe even more so in ordering and expecting what you would receive on a beautiful harbour side taverna on some sunny Greek island (hmm, memo to self, re-visit Greece)!
Out of curiosity, are there more greek offerings on the menu? I mean its not one of the worlds great cuisines is it?
Out of curiosity, are there more greek offerings on the menu? I mean its not one of the worlds great cuisines is it?
Last edited by caller on Sun Nov 02, 2008 3:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
Talk is cheap
My funny was at The Boat.
Went several times for brekkie then one day a new guy stopped watching TV long enough to notice us. I ordered my usual 4-minute eggs.
Eggs came and were totaly runny, transparent and cold in the centre.
I re-ordered saying "5 minutes this time" and held up 5 fingers.
Ten minutes later they appeared samesame befo'.
I paid for my brekkie (I ate the other items) and never went back.
Went several times for brekkie then one day a new guy stopped watching TV long enough to notice us. I ordered my usual 4-minute eggs.
Eggs came and were totaly runny, transparent and cold in the centre.
I re-ordered saying "5 minutes this time" and held up 5 fingers.
Ten minutes later they appeared samesame befo'.
I paid for my brekkie (I ate the other items) and never went back.
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Randy Cornhole
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Bamboo Grove
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Went for a night cap to a bar in Chiang Mai some years ago. We all decided to have Bloody Mary to finish the night. I ordered three and the waitress just gave me a blank ehhh? My friend tried the same with a similar result. Then his Thai wife said it. Finally a recognition came to the lady´s face and she said: "Oh, she doesn´t work here anymore." We all left the place laughing. Well, if she wasn´t there anymore, we´d better go and find her elsewhere.
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elem
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..even here in Brussels ( gourmet-gourmand-capital of Europe! ) you have to watch out if you want to get real Feta cheese on your Greek salad...and if you'd ever try to get your breakfast eggs cooked any other way than the Chef has decided, well - Good Luck!
(They would never dilute your vino though- that is clearly alcohol abuse!)
(They would never dilute your vino though- that is clearly alcohol abuse!)
We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.[Benjamin Franklin]