Boisdale of Belgravia

Martin S. (30s, Male, London)

I've been coming to Boisdale's for years (8 to be precise). I've always enjoyed the food and the service has always been immaculate. Sadly the dinner I had there with friends on last Saturday has left a sour taste in the mouth and I won't be returning. I had booked a function room for 12 people and on the morning had 5 drop out, for a variety of reasons, having a child taken to hospital being one. Not ideal, obviously but I let the restaurant know and they moved the party out of the room and other people into it. They did say at the time that they would want to charge us for the full 12 dinners, however when we arrived we asked to discuss this further and this was deferred to the end of the meal.
The food was good as usual, and when the bill came it was for what the 7 of us had eaten and drunk, which was of course absolutely great. I questioned this and the waiter did say that someone would speak to me on Monday but that it was fine, so we split the bill and paid Then today I received a call saying they had reinstated the original 12 meals and they would be deducting this from the card I had made the original booking with. Apparently this was not to cause embarrassment, although I am now face with the embarrassment of trying to recoup the money myself or swallowing the new raised bill myself. All could have been sorted out much easier at the time, while people were there, especially that I've been a long term customer.
Technically they are correct, however I'd expect more from a restaurant I had supported for 8 years, particularly as I had kept them informed all the way along and they had put other people in the room. Clearly though short term cash is more important than them than long-term custom. For that reason, my opinion is that if you're thinking of Boisdales, don't. They really don't deserve your money (or mine).