CHENNAI: 'Candlelight dinner on rooftop, specially curated menu, film screening…' The promises that a restaurant in Anna Nagar made for Valentine’s Day sounded perfect for a Chennai-based couple to celebrate their fifth anniversary there.
What they found there, however, was far from what was promised in the social media post: a long wait for more than two hours despite a reservation, food that had gone cold, and served by an intoxicated waiter.
Refusing to let it go as one of the disappointments that one encounters in life, the couple, T Geethann Kishore and Keerthana K, approached the Chennai North District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, which directed The Void- Bar & Kitchen to pay Rs 25,000 in compensation for misleading advertisements and gross deficiency in service that ruined the couple’s anniversary celebration.
According to the complainants, they were attracted by the restaurant’s Instagram promotion for a special rooftop candlelight dinner with film screening and Geethann reserved a table via direct message for the 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm slot.
Upon arrival, however, they found that the rooftop table was not ready, forcing them to wait nearly 30 minutes. Once seated, no staff approached to take their order. There was no film being screened as promised, and not even water was served on the deserted rooftop.
After repeated requests, a waiter arrived at 9.30 pm to take orders for all 12 tables. The couple alleged the restaurant was severely understaffed and that the sole waiter appeared intoxicated and behaved unprofessionally.
As they failed to get food even an hour after ordering, the couple confronted the management, during which it became apparent that only the supervisor could communicate in Tamil or English.
The manager finally served food that was cold and appeared to have been prepared hours earlier. The couple further alleged they witnessed the food being kept in the open, uncovered, and swarming with insects.
With their anniversary spoiled and no other options for a special dinner to mark the occasion, Geethann and Keerthana left the place hungry and disappointed at 11 pm.
After the hearing, the commission found The Void - Bar & Kitchen guilty of unfair trade practices through misleading advertisements and a severe deficiency in service.
The restaurant was directed to pay the complainants Rs 25,000 as compensation for both monetary loss and the mental agony caused, which included the ruination of a significant personal occasion, along with litigation costs.