Texas Embassy rubbish
The Texas Embassy is a ‘cantina’ on the corner of Cockspur Street in Trafalgar Square. Three of us who’d been to a nearby reception decided to look in. Previously I’d tried it, only to be driven out by over-loud piped music, but tonight it was much quieter. I took no photos of the food because we didn’t get any. We ordered food and wine, and I picked a crispy chicken salad for my dish. After 40 minutes we had finished the bottle of wine, but there was no food. Neither was there an explanation or an apology, and the place was by no means crowded. After waiting a little longer, still foodless, I asked for the bill. Again, there was no apology or explanation. If anything, they seemed somewhat annoyed.
When the bill came we were told that if we cared to wait “another 5 minutes” our food would probably come. Reckoning that 5 would probably mean 15, and disinclined to throw good time after bad, we paid and left. The neighbouring table were indignant that we were being charged for food, not one morsel of which had been delivered. I know that a restaurant can have a bad night, and I don’t mind all that much. An apology, explanation, reassurance, a smile, and maybe a glass of wine on the house to compensate, would all have done the trick. But there was nothing. They took our money for the undelivered food. At least they did not try to add a service charge. Clearly they have a problem with staff training. Even the very basic “if anything goes wrong send for me” had not been put across.
We walked up to the ever reliable Cork & Bottle off Leicester Square, where we enjoyed an excellent cheese platter between us and drank their mulled wine as we talked about the way some restaurants succeed, but others just can’t cut it…