No Happy Returns Fenix

Fenix. Reservation Monday December 17, 2007. Confirmed.

Mr Capaldi,

As a long time fan of yours, my partner Mr Stickyfingers thoughtfully made a reservation in November to bring me to your restaurant to celebrate my birthday on December 17. Although your venue is not usually open on Mondays, he was reassured that it would be on that particular day and the booking was accepted.

Today a message was left on his phone from Fenix. The gentleman who rang said that the restaurant would now be closed and good luck in finding somewhere else to go. No reason was given, no apology, nor alternative time to come was offered. I feel gutted. My birthday is less than a week away and thanks to the usual Christmas festivities we will no doubt find it impossible at such short notice, to secure a booking at a venue of similar standing.

I am most disappointed in the very poor and discourteous front of house service and hope that in future this will be redressed. It sadly has left us with a bitter and unsavoury memory of your establishment.

Sincerely,

Stickyfingers

I'm not one to swallow bad treatment anywhere. I'm not intimidated by dining venues and send back food in restaurants when it is inedible or not what I ordered. I give negative feedback with an iron fist in a velvet glove, apparently in the manner that my uncle hands down sentences.

I learnt to stand my ground from a pastry obsessed, 6'4" cross-dressing, French Canadian Jewish Vegetarian, Hong Kong Restauranteur, who lived on Kraft Macaroni Cheese having survived an education in Poughkeepsie at Vassar New York. Before that I was timid.

My friend was the epitome of a consummate complainer. He showed no fear and eloquently conveyed the ultimate conviction of his rights.

Armed with ire, I fired off the above email and cc'd John Lethlean and Ed Charles. Neither Ray Capaldi nor staff have responded. I am so disgruntled that it is unlikely that we will visit Fenix again.

After phoning alternative venues in the wake of my unhappiness, my beloved turned to Geoff Lindsay at Pearl - a restaurant that has never failed us on service and has always brought great pleasure to our palates. We have been accommodated for a late evening session on my birthday. Fingers crossed that we have no more dramas.

Have you ever had a row with a venue?

(Addendum: Fenix is no longer a restaurant having changed its focus to being a function venue)