Open letter to Sheikh's Palace owner / manager / DJ / sommelier

On Saturday night I celebrated my birthday at your establishment, against my better judgement. I could just forget about the complete displeasure I feel about the way I was treated but I prefer to get it off my chest. I would like to see you treating this matter seriously and maybe to change some behaviours on your side, but I do not expect much. Especially since I get the strong sense that you actually don't care and made up your mind about me when I first arrived to select wine and check out the place.

This has been my experience of Sheikh's Palace,
You, Mr Sommolier, displayed extreme attitude towards my friend and I when we came a week prior to order the wine. Case in point - the look you gave me when you realised I was having 15 guests as opposed to the 20 I had booked for and further more when I enquired about the corkage fee.
Nevertheless, I wanted an Arabian themed party and decided to go ahead, even though the black crushed velvet table cloths made me cringe
Although you had the 'decency' to take me aside and reprimand me about the champagne bottles, you had already given my guests the impression that something was wrong when you half jokingly said 'I'm going to kill you Vanessa, can I talk to you for a minute'. The damage was already done, you may as well have just said everything in front of them.
Furthermore, I was horrified when I initially arrived and realised you decided the most ideal place for me and my party was to be detached from the actual main area of the restaurant but still, decided to look on the brighter side and told myself it will be 'more private'. Little did I know that this area also doubles up as a sauna, backstage for dancers to pass through and the home of the special effects machine. Let me delve a little deeper into that, we were hot and sweating, sitting outside in an actual Arabian dessert would have been slightly better. Have you no desire to make your guests / patrons feel comfortable in your establishment?
The hip hop dancers were the most random act I've ever seen. Almost makes you, sir, seem desperate by diluting the concept of an Arabian themed restaurant with such randomness.
While my guests ate their dinner you thought it would be a good idea to have the fog machines blown on us - by the way, the fog adds about as much value to the entertainment as does the random hip hop dancers. I can't believe I had to pay an additional R25 per head for this. While on the topic of the entertainment fee, one does feel bamboozled into paying it considering there were two opportunities where I could have been informed of this prior to the evening 1. when I made my booking telephonically and 2. when I came to view the site

Admittedly, the night was not all bad though, no help to you and your 'mairtre d' who wears the white mini!

Constance, our waitress was an absolute gem and the belly dancer was very sweet and gracious. I recommend you take a lesson on customer satisfaction from them.

All in all, I will share this story with as many friends and acquaintances as possible and with the power of the social media it will surely reach far and wide. Will it stop your business from running, probably not. But I think with your attitude you will do a marvellous job of running your business into the ground all on your own.

Sincerely,
Vanessa