A diner has hit out at a restaurant online, accusing staff of being disrespectful after he and his wife were given a table that was not to their liking. The diner had taken to Tripadvisor to complain about the location of their table within the restaurant - and claimed staff refused to move them.
The review was left online after the customer had visited Streetly Balti, near Sutton Coldfield, earlier this year. The customer claimed there were two other empty tables but they were shown to one in a 'busy walk through to the stairs, toilets and reception desk'.
The customer, identified as Glen on the travel website, then said when they queried the tables they were told they could not be moved as 'they didn't do tables for couples', according to BirminghamLive.
But the owner of Streetly Balti said that staff had apologised to the customers that the other free tables were booked for other customers.
He also shot back saying he had found himself in a similar position in other restaurants - but added 'clearly I am not the King that I can demand I have someone else's table'.
Streetly Balti, off Chester Road, boasts five stars on Tripadvisor with more than 500 independent reviews. Recent reviews have described 'fantastic food and service. Another added: "This is my new favourite place."
But Glen was left less than impressed when he left his one-star review after his visit. He called his review 'Disrespectful staff'. He said: "Booked a table for two with my wife. Arrived on time and yes the place was busy but we’d booked.
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"Two tables in the restaurant were empty but laid out. There’s another small table at the top of the stairs in a busy walk through to the stairs, toilets and the reception desk.
"I checked in and told the small table was ours! ‘What? This isn’t a table, we’ve booked and this is an unacceptable table to put us’. I asked for a more appropriate table but told they didn’t do tables for couples.
"My wife and I were gobsmacked. The attitude of the member of staff was awful and he couldn’t care less.
"We were looking forward to trying the food, heard so much positive feedback but there was no way we were stopping after being treated so disrespectfully. Sad to say this place is off our radar, won’t be bothering again."
But Shahab U, the owner of Streetly Balti, said in his response: "Hi Glen, Thank You for taking the time out to write this review. I understand your frustration at looking forward to eating at Streetly Balti, only to arrive and not find the table given quite satisfactory.
"I have found myself in the same predicament many many times at various restaurants that I have eaten at up and down the country. Whenever I have asked politely for a different table, staff have always tried their best to accommodate my request.
"On the occasions where there are no other tables available, they apologise and either ask me to wait or sit at the allocated table, at which point I will usually sit at the allocated table, seeing as I can see how busy they are and clearly I am not the King that I can demand I have someone else table.
"My friend, you were given the exact same courtesy, I apologised we did not have any other tables available for you as the 2 empty tables you saw were booked for 4 people, hence they were set for 4 people. The only available table for 2 was the one that was reserved for yourself. At no point did I say we do not serve couples, if you had looked around you would have seen a further 2 tables with couples dining happily on them.
"In the future I would advise you to say on reservation, that while I am booking for two, I would actually like a table for 4 people, this way there can be no mistakes as to the kind of table you would like.
"P.s those times that I have sat at tables I was not initially happy with, I felt that the staff looked after me even better than they would have generally, especially considering how busy they were and on subsequent visits too. Take care and try not to be too demanding at the next restaurant you visit, they mot be as polite as myself."
Streetly Balti has 553 independent reviews on Tripadvisor - with 497 rated as 'excellent' and 35 as 'very good'. A review last week said: "A very nice tasty Indian meal in friendly, clean surroundings. Pretty good value and menu choices. Need to take your own alcoholic drinks."
Derek said: "First time here because of the Tripadvisor reviews, we were not disappointed, fantastic food ,great service, we will definitely be back."
While a customer from Market Harborough added: "Had high hopes after looking at the menu online but was not at all prepared for the fantastic food at this place. NOT your average balti house at all.
"Perfectly cooked desi style food prepared with flair by really lovely friendly people. This is my new favourite place… and I’m going to have to start thinking about moving to Birmingham because frankly I live too far away!"
