Are minimum table orders common in casual restaurants in London?
Are There Minimum Spend Policies At Casual Eateries In London?
Hello fellow food enthusiasts! I must admit, I am a bit of a naive visitor looking to sample as many different cuisines as possible. On our journey, we decided to try out a laid-back Indian restaurant for dinner following a rather filling lunch. We enjoy the flavors of Indian cuisine; however, we weren’t overwhelmingly hungry but wanted to introduce my mother to Indian food in London. Our group of four attempted to order 2 curries, 1 biryani, and 2 naans. Initially, our server recommended we each get one main dish with either naan or rice, but we conveyed that we weren’t very famished.
After a bit of negotiation, the waiter informed us that there is a policy in place at the establishment requiring each customer to spend at least 14.5 GBP. He suggested that we return once our appetites were more substantial. Perplexed by this rule, we opted not to place an order and departed in confusion. While I comprehend such a policy during busy dining hours or peak times, it was puzzling to encounter this directive with only 2 other groups seated and numerous vacant tables present. My mother has always possessed a modest appetite, prompting my curiosity about the prevalence of this type of regulation.
UPDATE:
I appreciate the kind responses and suggestions! The restaurant in question was “Taste of India” in Queensway, and the required minimum spend was 15 GBP per person (I double-checked the photo I snapped – this figure was displayed at the back of the menu). Today, we dined at DISHOOM in Kensington for lunch, and it was a delightful experience! Their chutneys and raita were particularly noteworthy, and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.
Is There a Minimum Order Requirement in Casual Eateries in London?
Hello everyone! I am a clueless visitor in search of diverse culinary experiences. While in London, we decided to have dinner at a casual Indian restaurant after having a late lunch. Despite not being ravenously hungry, my family and I wanted to introduce my mom to Indian cuisine in this city. We attempted to order 2 curries, 1 biryani, and 2 naans for our group of 4. Initially, our waiter recommended each of us get one main dish and one naan or rice, but we explained our modest appetites. After some back and forth, he informed us that the restaurant’s policy required a minimum spend of 14.5 GBP per guest. He suggested we return when we were ready to eat more. Baffled by this, we decided not to order and left perplexed. While the restaurant wasn’t crowded and had plenty of available tables, this policy seemed quite peculiar. Given my mom’s light eating habits, I am curious to know how frequently such policies are enforced in London casual eateries. Thank you!
UPDATE:
Thank you for the responses and suggestions. The name of the restaurant with the minimum spend policy was “Taste of India” in Queensway, where the requirement was 15 GBP per person (not 14.5 – I verified this from a photo I took as it was written on the back of the menu). Today we visited DISHOOM in Kensington for lunch and had a wonderful experience. We enjoyed their chutneys, raita, and overall service thoroughly.