Louisa

... and this is coming from someone who likes traditional cuisine..

Are you guys suggesting that British customer service has drastically improved since the 50's in the food industry? I completely disagree! If you venture north of Watford or indeed anywhere outside of London (especially those of you into fancy food) you would be shocked. Perhaps in certain parts of London you can and should expect high quality cuisine, but if you believe that we are on a par with other European countries you are sadly mistaken!

Keef, I wouldnt choose to visit the place if it was the last eatery on earth and I had to eat from rubbish bins, however, I think it's asking a lot of a British business of the restaurant variety to alter a menu, and perhaps a foodie should have recognised this and steered clear. It's like asking for a Big Mac without the gherkins, it just wont happen in the UK.

But what you're failing to appreciate is that we live in ED, we live in Britain, we do not expect high quality customer service in the UK! They did one of two things. They either genuinely thought this would be a well appreciated alternative, bearing in mind the short notice which they had. Or perhaps they were opportunistic about it, and thought they would look good if they changed or altered the dish which would hopefully attract you back again in the future. On average in the UK we do not expect high quality customer service, especially in the restaurant or food/catering industry. You obviously have high expectations, and maybe these should be lowered unless you consider eating at the Ivory every other day. I do agree he should have said no, but he didnt for the above reasons, and because of low expectations in the UK, he was probably as mortified as you and probably the waitress about how you could be disappointed when he went out of his way to give you something 'special'.

Are we talking about Boston, Lincolnshire or Boston, Mass. ?

A friend of mine noted that since this ban came into effect, a segregation between smokers and non smokers was taking place at many pubs and clubs up and down the land. She also noted that in smaller groups, previous non smokers were now prepared to light up just so that they could join their friends outside and not feel left out. Could this smoking ban create more smokers as a result?

I agree the chef should have said no. However, would people who were turned away still come onto a forum such as this, and complain that they were turned away because the chef at such and such a place was not prepared to accomodate their needs?

No offence but what do you expect from a small place in ED? It really annoys me when people go into a place and expect the menu to be altered at the drop of a hat just to suit their needs. Maybe you should have read the menu before you went in, and looked for some decent vegetarian options on the menu? If you were going into some high end expensive restuarant in Covent Garden i'd expect the menu to be altered to suit your needs, but you're not exactly paying an awful lot of money. Dont get me wrong, I do complain if something isnt cooked properly or if the meal was not what I was expecting, but I think you asked an awful lot of the chef at the drop of a hat, and therefore I do not have any sympathy for you. Sending it back three times is a bit over the top too. I always worry if you piss the chef off, you'll end up with more on your plate than you were expecting (and not in a nice way!).

It is, I will be sad to see it close, but it isnt exactly in a great position currently so I guess there isnt much choice in the matter. I will always have great memories of the place.

The paranormal group I attend have do a few investigations at the Dulwich and Sydenham Woods, and we came back with all sorts of pictures including orbs and mists. Very eerie place after dark, and the medium managed to pick up a couple of local people, one of whom was supposedly a priest from the 14th century. Very Bizarre.

8 items for 95p before 10am at Ikea. It's crap but its cheap!

Peckham in general (more specifically north Peckham) is rather rough, though I think the ED effect is rubbing off on the Bellenden area of Peckham slowly. It's such a shame Rye Lane cannot recover, because the station was at one time a local masterpiece, the awful art deco buildings in front of the station were ironically added to attract the middle classes into Peckham to shop as they changed trains. Below is a wonderful photograph of the station long before those buldings were added, http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/images/southwark/peckham/peckham-rye-station-00278-640.jpg

The fact Le Chardon is related to this place is not surprise to me!

I use Peckham Rye station a lot, although in recent years i've been forced to use ED or Denmark Hill more often because the place scares me after dark. In addition, that place smells awful as you walk down past what used to be a Pie and Eel house. The Whole area needs revamping, and I agree Sean a town square would fit perfectly into that area.

I think compared to other cities around the UK, London remains one of the most standoffish and miserable. I dont wish to be nostalgic, but there was a time when people in London were more friendly to each other. Or least, it appeared that way to me. I have travelled the country up and down left to right many times, and I have to say certain cities rank very highly on the smiling and happiness factor. I have found Glasgow, Cardiff, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Bristol to all be the happiest cities i've visited. London doesnt rank last, that goes to Luton and Dunstable I think, but still, we do all need to smile more (says she who has a face of thunder 90% of the time) ;-)

I think the best fry up is the place next to what used to be the Lord Palmerston Pub (some sort of gastro dive now).

The Green is a dive, I went in there with a friend who persuaded me, end of last year (shortly before xmas), and was forced to eat what can best be described as mush. The mash potatoes I had were dire, and I wouldnt be surprised if they were made from Smash or some other dry dubious substance. Steer clear!

I have a feeling Barclays are actually relocating to the Woolwich site on the other side of the road, according to a cashier I spoke with a few days back.

No when I say i knbow them or of them, I am talking about in person, not on here! They know me as well and I am sure have plenty of views to share about me, though non have as of yet thankfully!

There may well be a Pret a Manger in the shop near the train station very soon ;-)

I know of a few so called 'yummies' who read and possibly even post on this forum, so it certainly isnt a faceless enemy ;-)

A childrens menu? Oh dear

*Bob* you know full well i do not fit the above criteria stiring things up on here. Firstly, the majority of my threads which I personally start, are about trivial things. I never start a thread with inflammatory intent. In response to others I do take pleasure in mocking posts about so called 'yummies' because they do genuinely annoy me! (generalisation before you kick me in the never regions), but I never sit back and let a debate get out of hand without me being involved. ;-)

People who deliberately go onto a forum to stir up trouble are usually control freaks who need to vent anger at a faceless enemy to feel better about themselves. People who come onto forums with genuine views and are ready to debate them are the butter of the bread to the forum.

le moulin - 8693 7600