Mise en Place

Ate in here once...NEVER AGAIN !

Rude, arrogant staff and the food was just awful.
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George
Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, June 11, 2010

Wow - have never been moved to write a review of any of the cafes/ restaurants I've visited in Glasgow. But my experience at Mise en Place was truly appalling so needs to be aired. I've been here a few times and have been peeved with the service before - but as it's my local I usually end up forgetting how bad it was (rather like giving birth) and go back for more after a while. The food is OK, rather overpriced, but it's just fancy paninis at the end of the day - I just rather like it because it's got a nicer interior than the other cafes in the area.

On this ocassion I went alone to 'treat' myself to lunch on my day off work (quiet Tuesday late lunchtime). There were three waiting staff and very few customers and still the service was terrible. I waited 20 minutes to catch someone's eye to pay the bill. I eventually asked a woman who had been serving if she could give me the bill. She clearly heard as she made eye contact and nodded, but then went to clear the plates of the couple sitting next to me and went and got their bill (they had only just finished their meal) and only then prepared mine - adding another five mins to my wait. This was so clearly deliberate that for once I actually complained! After paying for my meal I simply stated that the service was not impressive, particularly the part where she deliberately ignored my request and served someone else before me, and had let down an otherwise enjoyable meal.

It turned out that I was speaking to the owner who, as others have mentioned, wouldn't acknowledge that things could be better and not a hint at an apology....Instead, she argued with me that it was actually my fault - I should have gone to counter as "this isn't a five star hotel it's a cafe". When I explained there hadn't been anyone around to ask she said (verbatim) "well I'm the owner and I think you're quite rude and I would hate to think that you would talk to my staff like this". I stated that expressing a legitimate complaint, might not be nice to hear, but I hadn't been rude to her in any way. She was pretty confrontational and I just decided to leave straight away and as I walked past another staff member who said bye, she said in a very loud voice that I'd been rude to her and I wasn't allowed in again! It was quite extraordinary.

Give this one a miss - it speaks volumes when you would travel away from the area you live in to avoid being treated in this manner. There are few places in Pollokshields where you can grab a decent bite so this establishment has a rather captive audience. But would avoid this overpriced haven for the rude (!) at all costs and go to La Tea Doh for some decent food.The literal translation of "Mise en Place" is "putting in place" - think that's means putting the customer's in their place! Good name!!
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Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, June 08, 2010