Thai Thai Takeaway & Restaurant
110 Old St, London, EC1V 9BD Directionshttps://www.yell.com/biz/thai-thai-takeaway-and-restaurant-london-6785881/#view=map
Now closed
Open today
11:45 - 14:45
Our location
Reviews
14 Apr 2011
cannot recommend
1
We had an office lunch for 7 at Thai Thai today booked through Top Table. As we had the ‘50% off food’ offer we were not allowed to use the set lunch menu and all 7 of us had to order a starter and a main course from the a la carte menu. Unfortunately it took over an hour for our main course to arrive by which time one of us had to leave without eating. We had repeatedly asked for water and the waitress was ‘not allowed’ to leave the water jug on the table. They were clearly understaffed and really shouldn’t have accepted our booking. Overall we spent 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete our lunch. This is acceptable for a leisurely dinner but not for a meal in your lunch break.
We also learned that Top Table charges the restaurant £2 per head per booking which is why we weren’t permitted to opt out of the offer. All these restrictions really spoilt what was meant to be a nice welcome lunch for our new team member.
The food was good though overprized and obviously set up to draw people in through special offers via third parties (top table etc). I have had equally good Thai food elsewhere for half the price. The Pad Thai I found below average with an underlying taste of old frying oil. But the curries were excellent.
The service charge raised another issue. When I had eaten there before I was told that the management took 50% of the service charge, which is pretty outrageous if you believe that a tip should go to the person who served you. Today we were told that the staff only get 20% of the service charge, which makes me wonder whether they get any at all. Some people feel uncomfortable not leaving a tip but you shouldn’t unless you are sure that a deserving waiter or waitress gets it as more than often management just uses the money to top up the minimum wage. I am not saying that this is the case here but I am certainly concerned. It tends to occur in restaurant where an ‘optional’ service charge at 12.5%(!) is added to the bill and makes you feel awkward if you insist on paying the amount before the addition.
A further issue that was raised by a member of our party was that of sustainability and animal welfare by posing the simple question of whether the eggs they used were free range. This question was not understood and thus far remains unanswered.
Too many restrictions and overall insincerity of the way the place is managed I unfortunately cannot recommend it for a quick but pleasant lunch
We also learned that Top Table charges the restaurant £2 per head per booking which is why we weren’t permitted to opt out of the offer. All these restrictions really spoilt what was meant to be a nice welcome lunch for our new team member.
The food was good though overprized and obviously set up to draw people in through special offers via third parties (top table etc). I have had equally good Thai food elsewhere for half the price. The Pad Thai I found below average with an underlying taste of old frying oil. But the curries were excellent.
The service charge raised another issue. When I had eaten there before I was told that the management took 50% of the service charge, which is pretty outrageous if you believe that a tip should go to the person who served you. Today we were told that the staff only get 20% of the service charge, which makes me wonder whether they get any at all. Some people feel uncomfortable not leaving a tip but you shouldn’t unless you are sure that a deserving waiter or waitress gets it as more than often management just uses the money to top up the minimum wage. I am not saying that this is the case here but I am certainly concerned. It tends to occur in restaurant where an ‘optional’ service charge at 12.5%(!) is added to the bill and makes you feel awkward if you insist on paying the amount before the addition.
A further issue that was raised by a member of our party was that of sustainability and animal welfare by posing the simple question of whether the eggs they used were free range. This question was not understood and thus far remains unanswered.
Too many restrictions and overall insincerity of the way the place is managed I unfortunately cannot recommend it for a quick but pleasant lunch
21 Jan 2011
Great for lunchtime
4
Nice and close to work, we come here on a friday for lunch, food is really nice and you can ask for Thai hot, reasonable prices and fast service.