My Review

1 out of 10 stars

I booked online on the website, for a table of 6 people at 7pm at St Christopher’s Place Sofra and was quickly sent an email saying they would contact me a day before to confirm the booking. The contact was never made. So 1 hour before the booking I called the restaurant to let them know I was on my way.

When I called the restaurant the member of staff said that yes the booking had been made, and while he was talking to me I could hear that someone was actually talking to him and telling him what to say and so as a result he wasn’t really listening to me. I was told that if I didn’t arrive on time the table would be given up after 15 minutes of the booked time. I pointed out that I thought that this was very bad customer service to tell me this considering I was actually ringing them to CHECK that the booking was all ok as I was on my way. He wasn’t really listening to me (the manager was STILL talking to him.)

We arrived 5 minutes before 7pm. We had been there 5 minutes, the manager came over to ask how we were, but quickly got onto the real issue: how many other people we were expecting. I said we were waiting for 2 more. He then asked how many people we were “really” expecting – I said 2 more, he asked when are they arriving? I said they were arriving a little later: he asked how late are they coming? Suddenly this perfunctory table visit had taken on the character of an inquisition – with the tone of the manager becoming very rude. He left us alone but having been given this dressing down for no reason at all we decided to leave. We got up to go and the manager came over and asked if we were leaving. I said yes due to poor customer service.

He then explained (defensively) that he had had 2 sets of clients, who had booked tables that evening and who had failed to turn up for their tables and that was why he had emphasized the 15 minute window to me. I said that this was none of my business and that WE should not be subjected to such rudeness.