YouWish

Hi All

Last night was a major anniversary for Mrs Nick and I.

On Monday my wife called a restaurant  (”x”) to ask  the woman on the phone whether she could book a garden table for the 2 of us and was told that they didn’t take bookings for 2 but come along as it will be fine.

So we turned up the next day to be met by a  man who, when my wife said she had spoken to a woman there who thought it would be ok to get in the garden said, “What woman?!” in a “I don’t believe you” voice.

This was followed by “You’ll get over it” when my wife said she was disappointed that we couldn’t get outside. We were calm and polite and left hungry.

So we didn’t eat there and had a great meal at the “Acorn House” down the road. The Acorn House’s service was fantastic and they sent us a couple of gratis drinks when they found out that it was an anniversary.

The rude man’s restaurant “x”  (actually it is ”El Parador”,245 Eversholt Street, London NW1 1BA)  had some good reviews of late but it just proves  that restaurants are far from being just about the food and that maybe a few good reviews means they let other stuff go.

Why do I tell you this – because I can –  such is the beauty of online that the truth will out – El Parador was a poor experience and The Acorn a great one.Why judge on just one night Nick you may ask?  When this morning I looked for reviews of  El Parador myself I found  on “London-Eating” the following one:

“We’ve been here (El Parador) several times, and have always enjoyed the excellent food if somewhat slow service. However on our last visit we were served by a rather aggressive man who made us feel very unwelcome! Needless to say we will not be returning! ”

and  - El Parador :

“Don’t bother. As you cannot book, we called and were told to come after 9pm when we should get a table. We made the trip, arrived around 9:15pm and were pleased to see 4 empty tables as we entered. However a surly guy muttered something we didn’t catch as he walked by. We asked what he had said to which he replied – from 10 feet away – ‘ten o’clock’, amplifying this by saying ‘nothing until ten o’clock’ when we looked puzzled.

He was walking away when he spoke – no attempt to be friendly, explain the 4 empty tables or provide any semblance of customer service.

My advice – don’t make the trip. The food may be good but with an attitude like this all they deserve – and no doubt will get – is to find themselves out of business. ”

Looks like our rude man may have  form (there were others).

It proves yet again that politeness and service, or the lack, of it can put a hole beneath the waterline in your reputation just as easily as a rat in the kitchen. Their was no rat at El Parador I must add – other than the one doing front of house some might say.

Food for thought (but no tapas).

Nick

Hi All

Have been away for a week on my hols reflecting that credit crunch holidays are in some respects a passport back to times when you took pleasure for what it is,  not what it looks like.

Long walks across the moor without a hat , bike rides, visits to Bolton Abbey, Harry Ramsden’s (the original one not the fast food crappy ones at airports), Betty’s tea rooms and family board games all make for a fun low stress holiday without a queue of rude Ryanair staffer in sight.

Reminds me of the episode of Ab Fab where Patsy discovers with horror that since her cocaine stash tuned out  to be baby powder, that she must have actually enjoyed playing table tennis!

Is there a moral here – not really other than I quote again Bill Bryson’s observation that we Brits take a our pleasures small.

Where else could you see families being pulled on a miniature railway no more than 50 yards long by a version of Toby from Thomas the tank engine and yet have such fun. It was at the excellent steam railway at Bolton Abbey where having lunch for 4 at less than a £10 puts M&S to shame.

Ilkley in passing is fantastic if you like running but be warned – even the flat bits have hills.

Anyone out there with good examples of a great British Holiday they can share?

Until next time.

Nick

 

PS Herewith the words to the song of the title – if anyone has any idea what the hell it is about then tell me. Ta

 

W’ere hast tha bin sin I saw thee? 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Ta-at 

W’ere hast tha bin sin I saw thee? 

W’ere hast tha bin sin I saw thee? 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

Tha’ll go an get thi dearth o’ cold 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Ta-at 

Tha’ll go an get thi dearth o’ cold 

Tha’ll go an get thi dearth o’ cold 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

Then we shall have to berry thee 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Ta-at 

Then we shall have to berry thee 

Then we shall have to berry thee 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

Then’(t) worms’ll come an ate thee up 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Ta-at 

Then’ worms’ll come an ate thee up 

Then’ worms’ll come an ate thee up 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

Then’ ducks’ll come and ate up worms 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Ta-at 

Then’ ducks’ll come and ate up worms 

Then’ ducks’ll come and ate up worms 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

Then we’sh’(u)ll come an eat up ducks 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Ta-at 

Then we’sh’ll come an eat up ducks 

Then we’sh’ll come an eat up ducks 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

Then we’sh’ll av all av eaten thee 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Ta-at 

Then we’sh’ll av all av eaten thee 

Then we’sh’ll av all av eaten thee 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat 

On Ilkley Moor Ba’ Tat