Never to patronise Atasca ever again!

How slovenliness can ruin one's evening!!!! On the evening of 18 April 2021 my family made a special trip from Pietermaritzburg to "cheer" me up and provide support becauuse this was the first birthday after I had lost my Son to Covid in January. After much persuasion I agreed to leave home and Atasca in Westville is the closest restaurant to my home. On previous occasions I have to remind the waitress to ensure that almonds were visible on the pancake that I order as a dessert On this occasion I reminded the "owner" who took my order about the shortage of almonds the previous times. he assured us that he will attend to this. I also explained to him the reason for my being there and the pain I was experiencing . My late Son always made my birthdays special. My family ordered some other items from the menu and these were served with the coffees. We were assured that the desserts were on the way! After a long wait the "Senior Manager" glibly told us that there were only two pancakes! Many different versions were provided to explain why there were only two pancakes. I believe that the unpleasantness was aggravated by the blatant disregard to customer care and was absolutely devoid of any integrity. My evening was ruined and the sorry faces of my family revealed the unhappiness inflicted on us by the lack of integrity at this establishment where hospitality must of essence be of paramount importance.

I managed to get in touch with a person who defined himself as the "Operations Manager". He was apologetic in the extreme and was to revert to me within two days. On the fourth day I had to call. He then promised to call me by 2pm. I called back at 4pm. He assured me that Atasca has been sent a stern letter of censure. He also promised to get the owner from this Atasca who he disciplined firmly to call me.

I called back a few days later and asked him whether the ownr took him seriously because he did not call me. Another promise and still no call.

On the preceding Wednesday we had no electricity and my wife and I walked to the restaurant alongside Atasca. On the way we told our neighbour that we really needed some coffee and that we were going to the restaurant. Not alarming!!! He also agreed that he would never set foot in Atasca Westville as the service was, in his words, "horrid" I also passed this onto the Operations manager. He spoke in earnest about the value of customers etc. But in retrospect I believe that it was just talk... His version of the events added another dimension to the unfortunate saga. There were four pancakes when the order was placed. Another customer ordered two and the two were served to this customer. So we ere left with two having ordered four because there four of us

So this excuse seemed more plausible to the Operatons Manager!

I believe rather than this become anymore unsavoury I should draw the attention of fellow restaurant patrons to my unforgettable experience at a venue to which I will never ever return