Chardonnay Deli

Sunday, March 1st, 2015

Reviewed by Clive McDowell

A few days ago my wife, Camilla and her friend Avril popped in to your Deli at a few minutes before 4 pm to sit down at one of the tables on the new cafe zone. When they beckoned the gentleman in attendance (salmon-pink shirt) to request a meal they were informed that food service "closed at four". When Camilla pointed out that it was "not yet four" he then stated "that actually today we closed at 3.30 for renovations. Whenever else can we be expected to do this work" or words to this effect. Being quite affronted by this highly negative attitude, my wife pointed out that it would be the last time that she would be visiting said premises and would go so far as to tell all her other friends in the vicinity to do the same... She emphasised that this is a small world.... The gentleman showed absolutely no concern at this comment! At which point a (senior?) lady helper overhead the commotion and intervened to offer free beverages, in minor consolation to the insulting behaviour by the gent concerned. My wife and her friend are more than sensitive to the need to complete finishing touches to the original character of this authentic landmark but would have expected at least a signboard stating varied operating hours, and certainly not the off-hand treatment by an unnecessarily abrasive assistant who, by his actions, could not have had the interest of the enterprise of this fresh new initiative at heart. The Employer needs to know which employees actually bat on behalf of his/her enterprise, otherwise be doomed to failure....!