Food & Drink
Manchester restaurateur Gary Usher responds perfectly to negative TripAdvisor reviewer
‘For goodness sake Robert. I’m supposed to be in TwitAdvisor retirement so let’s not waste any time.’
Manchester chef and restaurateur Gary Usher wrote a scathing reply to a negative reviewer on TripAdvisor.
Usher – who owns Elite Bistros which operates a number of restaurants across the North West such as the city centre’s Kala, Didsbury’s Hispi and Liverpool’s Wreckfish – replied to the review, which was written by a disgruntled diner from his Chester establishment, Sticky Walnut last month.
The review, which described the experience as ‘Excellent food let down by Ryanair style management,’ read: “The good news is that the food here is very, very tasty and deserves a high rating. The bad news is that the restaurant management doesn’t give a toss about customer experience.
“I ate here on July 9th, had a complaint that was dealt with badly enough by the manager that I wrote to the owner. A restaurant that aspires to offer fine dining experience but has lost the ability to empathise with customers and ignores them when they complain? That really is a shame.”
@phil4104 / TripAdvisor
Well, this scathing review didn’t sit too well with Usher, who wasted no time in replying and pointing out a few information errors.
Clearly not in the mood for whining customers, Usher wrote: “For goodness sake Robert. I’m supposed to be in TwitAdvisor retirement so let’s not waste any time. After all, you’ve waited 11 years since joining Twitadvisor to write your first review. Rob you reserved a table on a Friday evening and agreed to a 1 hour 45 minute time slot. A standard practice, particularly on busy periods, that guests and restaurants worldwide agree to.
“After your dessert course the Manager, who you said ‘doesn’t give a toss’, gently reminded you that we would need the table back shortly. You ignored the Manager and proceeded to order another round of drinks. Perhaps if your party had arrived on time for your reservation this could have been avoided.”
Usher went on to detail that when the manager ‘politely’ informed him that the table needed to be cleared, the customer got out of his seat and ‘towered over the manager’ before pointing a finger in his face.
“The Manager’s response was ‘Sir, please can you stop pointing in my face.’ You proceeded to tell the Manager that they didn’t deserve to be a Manager and weren’t qualified to be in the position. Your Mother then joined in by adding to the vitriol being directed towards the Manager.
“That’s when both you and your Mother showed your true colours with the classic ‘We’ve both worked in restaurants so we know how it works. We should be getting these drinks for free.’
“You, Rob, then threatened the Manager by telling them that you would be contacting the owner because you know him and that Gary (me) would be appalled to know how you, ‘my friend,’ had been treated. The Manager politely pleaded with your whole table to just listen whilst they explained. No one did.”
And, in a shock twist of events, it turns out that the customer wasn’t actually friends with Usher after all – in fact, he doesn’t even know him.
Natural Selection Design
“In a strange turn of events you emailed me, your ‘friend’, at Sticky Walnut’s email address. You must have lost my number Rob! Not surprisingly, to either me or the Manager, you and I don’t know each other Rob. Every few months in a restaurant a rude guest will use the ‘I know the owner!’ line to try and intimidate team members and bully them into thinking that they will get into trouble because they didn’t look after the owner’s ‘friends’ well enough.
“I did read your email. I did ‘give a toss,’ but not about you Rob, but about the way you treated the team. So instead of replying to you we chose to block your number, and your Mum’s, and put a note on our booking system to not accept any future bookings from you.
“With regards to the Manager who ‘doesn’t give a toss’ they have managed Sticky Walnut for the last 8 years. Coincidentally the same length of time that Sticky Walnut has achieved a top 100 position in the National Restaurant Awards in the UK. I think that makes them both extremely deserving to be the Manager and absolutely qualified to hold that position.
“Regards. Not your mate. Gary.”
That customer won’t be venting on TripAdvisor in a hurry, will he?
Food & Drink
Gordon Ramsay’s 1930s Tokyo-inspired restaurant is opening next month
This looks phenomenal!
Bookings are now open for Gordon Ramsay’s highly anticipated 1930s Tokyo-inspired restaurant in Manchester.
Michelin-starred celebrity chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay is thrilled to announce the grand opening of Lucky Cat, in Manchester, on Thursday June 1st.
This marks the first major opening for Ramsay in the city and the second Lucky Cat worldwide, further cementing the region’s reputation as a leading destination for food, drink, and entertainment.
Reservations are now open ready for the Japanese-inspired restaurant’s June debut — which will offer an unrivalled dining experience at the top of King Street.
The Manchester location promises to be a dining experience like no other, capturing the essence of the original Mayfair eatery in the very heart of the city in a truly iconic building —the old HSBC Bank and former home of fellow celebrity chef venture Jamie’s Italian.
Situated at the top of King Street with its upmarket retailers and designer stores, the venue resides within a breath-taking and fitting Art Deco building, standing majestically alongside Manchester’s iconic Gotham Hotel.
The restaurant spans three floors — meaning the building’s famous Bank Vault will be in use once again — and features opulent dining vaults, paying homage to the building’s heritage while offering a dining experience like no other to the city of Manchester.
In addition to the main restaurant, there are also extensive private dining spaces and private bars to elevate every event.
Lucky Cat masterfully fuses the vibrant atmosphere of 1930s Tokyo kissas and drinking dens. Diners can expect the ultimate dining experience, complete with world class wines and cocktails, and live DJ sets.
Embark on a gastronomic journey of culinary icons, such as succulent black cod, sumptuous sirloin weeping tiger and the legendary Lucky Cat Duck Bao. Journey onward to the ocean’s depths with sublime sushi and raw dishes, from tuna tartar to mouth-watering dragon rolls.
An innovative cocktail list includes the one-of-a-kind Lucky Negroni, where the gin in your drink is determined by a captivating game of chance.
With three dice hidden inside a mysterious box, the numbers rolled will unlock the perfect combination of gins, vermouths, and bitters destined for your drink. With a staggering 216 possible combinations, each Lucky Negroni will be a personalised, exhilarating experience, crafted by fate itself.
Gordon Ramsay shares his unbridled enthusiasm for the project, with a nod to Manchester’s vibrant dining scene, saying: “I’ve toured and worked in much of Asia over the years, and the culture, the flavours, and the incredible cooking truly inspire me.
“Manchester is renowned for its thriving culinary landscape, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
“We’re fired up to build on the phenomenal success of our Mayfair restaurant and bring something truly exceptional to the people of Manchester this Summer. I can’t wait for Lucky Cat to make its mark in this fantastic city!”
Book now to be among the first to experience this world-class dining destination — tables are expected to fill up fast.
Bookings can be made on the website or call 0161 424 9150 for restaurant and group reservations, or 0207 5921373 for private dining and event enquiries.
Food & Drink
McDonald’s launches new dipping sauces for nugs including garlic mayo and mega hot
Big news for Maccies lovers!
McDonald’s has launched a new menu range including four top tier limited edition dips.
The fast food giant has announced an impressive new menu to come as we sadly wave goodbye to the Chicken Big Mac — for now.
The chain’s brand spanking new range of mouth watering food items will feature the return of an old favourite with the option of its spicy counterpart, as well as some tasty new dips fans have long been waiting for.
The Big Tasty is coming back as well as the Big Tasty with Bacon, and a new addition set to make your taste buds tingle…the Spicy Big Tasty.
Just like the original, the Spicy Big Tasty will be made with a 100% beef patty, Emmental cheese, lettuce, tomato, bacon and Big Tasty sauce, with a ‘jalapeño twist’.
But the burgers aren’t the only exciting new addition to the menu.
We’ve all been banging on about sauce flavour suggestions and it seems McDonald’s has been listening.
As our beloved McNuggets turn 40 this year, to celebrate a whopping four decades, Maccies is offering four limited edition dips that will land throughout the month.
From May 10th, you’ll be able to get your hands on a fiery Mega Hot Sauce dip, as well as a long-awaited new Garlic Mayo, which promises a ‘delicious creamy garlic flavour’.
The franchise says that fans have been asking for a Garlic Mayo since forever — so, if you’ve ever needed an excuse to treat yourself to a cheeky box of nugs, now’s your chance.
Then, on May 31st, you’ll be able to grab a new smokey and spicy Chipotle Mayo as well as an American favourite, Creamy Ranch dip — which McDonald’s call ‘the best thing to come from across the pond’.
The sauces will be available for a mystery length of time, ‘until stocks last’.
McDonald’s released the iconic McNugget back in 1979. It was an instant hit that the chain couldn’t keep up with demand.
Chef René Arend, who perfected the McNugget, revealed that McDonald’s couldn’t actually supply that much chicken. By 1983, this was fixed — and the McNugget was officially born.
The chain makes our beloved nugs in four shapes: the bell, the bow-tie, the ball and the boot.
And if that’s not enough, there’s more exciting items coming our way. Everyone’s favourite sidekick, Halloumi Fries, are also making a comeback.
For those who have never had the pleasure, it’s a portion of ‘four delicious halloumi cheese sticks coated in a light batter, served with a rich tomato dip’.
That’s all the savoury items, now for something sweet. Fans of the food can also expect to find old classics, Wispa and Wispa Gold McFlurrys.
These are made up of ‘soft dairy ice cream, swirled with Wispa chocolate pieces and a chocolate sauce’, and ‘soft dairy ice cream with Wispa chocolate pieces and a Cadbury caramel sauce’.
We can’t wait to try these!
Food & Drink
There’s a drive-in cake bakery in Greater Manchester serving up incredible scran
How’s that for convenience?!
There’s now a dreamy drive-thru cakery in Greater Manchester — yes, that’s right.
Wonderlust Bistro and Bakery on Library Lane, Oldham, first opened in February and is a real family affair headed by baker, Saarah Chowdry, brother Mohammed and mum Shelley Rahman.
Their incredible decadent sweet treats and bakes are to die for and have been sending locals wild as they harp on about this little Oldham gem.
Even The Oldham Times has said it could ‘rival any Manchester bistro’. It’s hard to miss this slice of heaven with its bright pink exterior with purple hues and dreamy clouds offering a piece of paradise for hungry visitors.
This wonderland offers a mouth-watering menu too. Not only is it filled with all things sweet and cake-like, it also offers bistro dishes ranging from roast dinners, to corn dogs, fry-ups, pancake stacks and more.
The demand for their treats has rocketed to the point that the team has recently launched its own ‘car service’. This means that visitors can easily pull up, place an order and have their gooey goodies brought directly to them.
With its opening times from 5pm until midnight, this is definitely the place to go for a cheeky late-night treat.
It’s a paradise for those with a sweet tooth who can choose from anything ranging from Jammy Dodger and Kinder Hippo cupcakes, Biscoff-stuffed cheesecake, milk cake, Snickers brownies and Nutella-filled cookies, all on offer from the bakery.
Here’s how to take advantage of the bakery’s new cake-to-car service: Those driving in for the car service are asked to park in the bakery and bistro’s rear car park.
Sharing the update in an Instagram post, the Wonderlust team wrote: “Due to overwhelming demand, we are introducing our car service for Wonderlust Bistro & Wonderlust Bakery! You can place your order via 07531557354 for food, cakes & drinks.
“How to order: (Open from 5pm – 12am Wednesday- Saturday)
“- Park in our car park
“- Call 07531557354
“- Place your order and provide your reg plate
“- Someone will bring your order out and we’ll take payment via cash & card”
(Wonderlust Bistro, Library Ln, Oldham, OL9 6DZ . Open 5pm-12am Wednesday- Saturday).
Boy, 11, left in critical condition after being hit by police van
The Champions League final is being shown at Manchester’s biggest fan park
Piers Morgan and TikToker who went in stranger’s homes get into heated argument live on air
Sam Smith cancels upcoming shows due to ‘vocal cord injury’ and tells fans ‘I’m so sorry’
Body found in river in search for missing 24-year-old woman
