THE fearsome owner of an Indian restaurant is turning up the heat on customers who complain on TripAdvisor.
Waseem Ahmed told one dissatisfied customer his complaint was “written excrement” and suggested a personality transplant.
The forthright restaurateur from Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, told another their review was “repulsive”.
Mr Ahmed claims too many customers are able to hold businesses to ransom via TripAdvisor and said he should be allowed to fight his corner.
The head of the family-run Shimla Cottage is equally robust in the way he runs his restaurant, suggesting customers should take no longer than 45 minutes over their £3.50 three-course lunch.
Mr Ahmed, the latest in a line of business owners to counter attack customers on TripAdvisor, claimed some diners simply expect too much for their money.
The restaurant, in the town’s Sunnyside Street, has been open for 15 years and has an average of four out of five stars on TripAdvisor, based on 362 reviews.
One of the most recent customers to get the Mr Ahmed treatment was Mari in Glasgow, who claimed that the chicken she was served was “inedible” and accused the restaurant of bad customer service.
The response read: “Your lack of appreciation of the great job my waiting staff and experienced hardworking chefs perform day-in day-out is the “Bad customer Service” for me.
“Rather than go into the minutiae of your written excrement masquerading as a review, may I simply express my hope that you were able to set-aside the money we took off your bill for the inedible curry towards a personality transplant.
“Cheaper still, a brown paper bag for over your head will also do the trick.”
Ross T from Glasgow complained that he was rushed out the door by “ignorant staff”.
Mr Ahmed hit back “We highly-suspect your dreadful review has zero validity and, or, malicious intent.”
Referring to a rival Indian restaurant, he added: “Or you’re in some way connected to the… either way, we can’t even be bothered to write more.”
Another diner from Airdrie complained that her table was dirty and the food she ordered wasn’t cooked correctly.
The manager said: “Dear faceless newly-created TripAdvisor account user.
“Our impeccable record of receiving passes on an annual basis from North Lanarkshire Council’s independent body of food safety inspectors…give me the confidence to dismiss your unproven unsubstantiated sham claims.”
A customer from Glasgow wrote that staff were rude and gave her no eye contact while taking her order.
Mr Ahmed responded: “We tried taking your order around 10 mins after seating and serving your drinks to which you replied we need more time and the waiter left.
“Apologies if the waiter didn’t give you a bow or a salute.”
Yet another customer, who claimed to be a food critic, blasted the restaurant for asking her child not to touch and ruin their menu.
Mr Ahmed said: “You have been to my restaurant on numerous occasions for lunch and are well used to the way we operate.
“Your child, who is about 14 or 15 years of age, had the menu folded into a cone while i was taking your order.
“Oddly enough other people do have to use that same menu after you.
“Maybe you should teach your child manners as how to treat things that don’t belong to him.
“You attacked us the only way you could by rushing home to join trip advisor to upload such a negative review, giving us the lowest marks for everything, even value for money even though you just had a 3 course lunch for £3.50.
“This just shows your vindictive basis to actually be a honest judge to review anything.”
Speaking today about his approach to customer he said: “People think they can write anything they want and restaurants will hide under a blanket.
“We admit if we get it wrong and have always apologised when we do which you can see from other reviews.
“It’s a trend for people to just go on these sites and write negative things yet they were happy enough to eat the food when they’re here.
“Some people are downright rude and hostile and think it’s right to tarnish someone’s business.
“One woman’s complaint was inevitable. She ordered a Korma and asked for chillies in it, which is just stupid.
“We obviously made an a*** out of her order but tried to fix it.
“She was just an idiot of a woman.”
