Catherine Moloney

Review of Forte Grand Imperial Hotel, To...

My partner and I chose the Imperial for a special ...

My partner and I chose the Imperial for a special birthday meal. We asked for a table next to the window upon reservation 2 weeks ago, to be told "sorry" but essentially you'll get what you're given.
We sat at the table for 5 minutes before another (older) couple arrived and were seated next to us. Another 5 minutes had passed when the couple were served water and their orders taken, with their starters brought out minutes later. We asked the waiter of the table adjacent if we could also be served to be told "yeah in a minute" without even looking at us as he passed by. At least another 5 minutes of waiting and we still hadn't received any water or a bread basket, while the table next to us were tucking into their starter. We ended up helping ourselves to water, and after another 5 minutes waiting, decided our money would be better spent elsewhere.
We left straight away, with a lack lustre "apology" from the waiter, who shrugged us off and didn't attempt to make any rights of this situation.

Manager and reception staff were impeccable in their customer service and tried everything possible to resolve the issue, thank you to them.

Unfortunately we believe due to our age, we were most likely stereotyped into being 'lesser tippers', and so treated with less respect and no hospitality in comparison to our fellow diners.