1 /5 miyu J: a Loyal customer，but treated with clear discrimination and disrespect！
I have been coming to this restaurant regularly for a long time, easily more than ten times. To be honest, the service has never been good, but I accepted it because it is extremely close to my home and the prices are cheap. The food is average, nothing special, but convenient and affordable, so I kept coming back.
Usually the service is poor but tolerable. I have noticed clear differences in how Asian customers, Black customers, foreign white customers and local British customers are treated. There is one older gentleman who is always polite and kind, and he is honestly the only reason I still return.
However, my last visit was deeply upsetting.
There were plenty of empty tables, yet the older woman who I believe is the owner insisted I sit by the door where someone had hung their coat on the chair. I explained at least three times, but she ignored me and spoke in a very unpleasant, commanding tone. Eventually she moved us to another table without any apology.
We have supported this restaurant many times, sometimes spending up to £80 in one visit, and even recommended it to friends. I do not understand how regular customers can be treated this way.
From the moment we sat down, we were rushed constantly. During a 40 minute visit, we were asked to leave and had our plates taken away at least five times, even though we were still eating. Finally, the same woman came over and said “I need this table.” No “please”, no “sorry”, no smile, no thank you. Just rude and dismissive.
We were eating for around 30 minutes, which is completely normal. If we had stayed an unreasonable amount of time, I would understand. But being pressured and rushed like this was extremely uncomfortable, especially when the nearby table of three local white customers was being chatted with and treated warmly. As an Asian customer, this felt like clear discrimination.
I grew up in an Asian family in Dublin. My parents always taught me to treat everyone with the same respect, regardless of race, background or status. They worked their way up in professional fields such as law and accounting by being fair, honest and respectful to every client. That is how we earned our place in this society, and that is why I was able to study for a Master’s and now a PhD.
Seeing someone from the same background behave with such unfairness and bias towards others is honestly heartbreaking.
This experience was disappointing and upsetting. I will still return if the kind older gentleman is working, but if that woman is there, I will turn around and leave. I will also no longer recommend this restaurant to friends.
Respect costs nothing, but it makes all the difference.
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