A once-loyal customer who ordered a takeaway from an Indian restaurant was left looking like a bit of a "plonker" after staff called him out of his "disingenuous" complaint.
The indignant customer, whose name is Gary, claimed he had just wanted to enjoy a takeaway curry with his wife at a restaurant he's apparently been frequenting "for years".
After trying a different dish to his usual order, however, Gary was left most displeased by the alleged chicken-to-vegetable ratio, raging about there being too few chicken pieces and too much in the way of onion and peppers.
In a furious online review, DJ Gary said he had long been a regular at the restaurant, but has now warned others to stay well away. The restaurant's harsh response has since cast doubt on his claims.
Curry fan Gary, of Wythall, Worcestershire took issue with local food spot Millennium, which currently holds a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 on TripAdvisor from more than 300 reviews.
Blasting staff in comments made on a Facebook post dated Friday, May 5, Gary fumed: "We had a curry from here last night, it was full of onions and peppers, three pieces of chicken.
"I rang them to complain as we have been using this place for years, the manager sticks to there [sic] policy. Only offering one main course as a gesture. Do not use."
Having been tagged in the post by Gary himself, the team at Millennium swiftly hit back at the allegations, sharing their very different side of the story.
The restaurant owner wrote: "Since you have followed through with your threat of blackmail Mr Mills, it would be prudent to provide the complete story to all who have read your claims.
"Having strayed from your usual order of chicken tikka masala yesterday, you ordered a chicken jalfrezi, a dish described on our menu as 'with sliced onions and peppers'.
"However your claim to have received only three pieces of chicken in a dish which always contains seven or eight pieces is frankly absolutely nonsense.
"Our chefs have absolutely no reason to short-change any of our customers and management would absolutely not endorse nor encourage such behaviour. If we had done, we certainly would not have remained in business here for almost 25 years."
The manager went on to state that, as Gary had been a customer for several years, he was offered a free, replacement main meal, on a date of his choosing.
The response clarified: "An important point to note here is regarding our policy on issues; as explained to you, on the rare occasion there is an issue with any meal, it must be raised to us on the same day.
"Not the next day as you did. This is to prevent anyone abusing our issues policy, your order was placed, prepared, and delivered earlier in the evening yesterday.
"You claimed to have only eaten the meal after midnight and therefore your reporting of the issue today is justified, disingenuous to say the least. Nevertheless, you were offered a replacement without debate which was accepted by your wife.
"Clearly unsatisfied with the outcome, you then called back yourself a few minutes later and demanded an additional meal free of charge so that you can enjoy your meal with your wife."
At this point, the restaurant owner says they were left shocked when during a telephone call with Gary, he claimed his wife was dissatisfied with the diced chicken in her chosen meal.
The response continued: "You said the chicken in her dish was diced and not what she was expecting, the description of said dish, chicken tikka tawa, literally starts with 'diced chicken'.
"Furthermore, you stated that if we didn't furnish you with two meals as you demanded despite knowing it wasn't justified, you would malign us online. Since you failed to extort a free meal out of us, you have now followed through with your threat.
"We have scores of regular customers who have been dining with us for over two decades and more. Anyone would agree that it would not be possible to remain in business if we were not serious about our food and hospitality.
"As a small business and especially in these tough economic times, we cannot give out free meals for wholly unjustified reasons which you attempted. After having been a customer for so many years, we can't quite fathom why you have chosen to behave in this manner.
"What we absolutely do not do is cave to blackmail; not only is it unfair, it is demeaning to us and our entire team who work very hard to provide the very best food and service.
"I can only hope that, for the sake of other restaurateurs and small business owners, you don't repeat this abhorrent behaviour elsewhere, good day."
Many social media users were impressed by Millenium's no-nonsense reply, hailing it as a "brilliant response".
One person commented: "Oof, made yourself look a right plonker there, Gary."
Another said: "Excellent food and service, used Millennium for over ten years."
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