Diners at a Fort Canning Park restaurant were allegedly told to pay a S$50 corkage fee for bringing a birthday cake and have since left a scathing Google review of their experience.
Netizens have since showered the business with five-star ratings to combat the one-star reviews by “cheapskates” who do not understand the “no outside food policy” of food and beverage establishments.
According to a Stomp report on June 17, Mr. Roy made a reservation for five at Le Jardin on June 14 to celebrate a birthday dinner.
They brought a cake purchased elsewhere and were informed by restaurant staff that outside food wasn’t allowed. If they wanted to eat the cake at the restaurant, there was a S$50 corkage fee.
“Le Jardin did not allow a cake to be brought in by us for a birthday celebration. They claimed that no outside food was allowed, and many restaurants in Singapore are like that as well,” said Mr Roy.
“After some discussion, they informed us that they could allow us to eat the cake in the restaurant, but a $50 charge would be added as they considered this an event. After discussion by their staff, they reduced the charge to $20 as they said our cake was small.”
In the end, the group decided to eat at another restaurant in Clarke Quay instead.
Someone named Darren Wong also left a Google review on the restaurant, noting the place “would go down as one of the worst venues” he had set foot into.
“This whole episode could have been better handled if they had instead suggested that they would allow the cake in if we would purchase one of theirs as a fair reimbursement,” added Mr Wong.
Photo: Google screengrabLe Jardin management responded to the review, explaining their side of the story.
The restaurant clarified it had a fixed policy on no outside food and drinks. “Hope you understand that this policy is not ‘absurd and totally unheard of,'” the restaurant added.
Furthermore, Le Jardin noted there could have been a typo in the review as it initially offered a S$20 corkage fee, not S$50.
The explanation also noted that Mr Wong had reserved an Earl Grey Lavender cake from the restaurant, which was a solution proposed by staff to waive the cover fees but was rejected by the group.
It appears that members of the public began leaving one-star reviews on the business, which sparked another group of netizens to leave five-star ratings as a countermeasure.
“Five stars for the great way you handled the cheapo customer,” said netizen George Lam on Saturday (June 18).
“Leaving a five-star to counter your one-star reviews for the professional reply and your company’s stand in the F&B business. Keep doing what you guys are doing. Looking forward to supporting you guys soon!” added netizen Fenyx Seah.
The support continued flowing, with some of the latest reviews posted on Sunday afternoon (June 19).
Many also shared their experiences at the restaurant, noting the food was amazing and they would definitely visit again./TISG
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