Undercooked chips.

[smokie]

The last thing I had to eat was :
Underf***in'cooked chips from A Plaice in the Sun, the new English chippy at the Papagayo Centre in Playa Blanca.
This was the last chance we were giving to the chippy. I accept that anyone can have a bad day but it's almost every time we've been in.
So today, when we ordered our meal, I specifically asked if they could please make sure that the chips were "well done."
What did we get ?............................Very undercooked chips, I almost couldn't push my fork into the thick chips.
A few other little gripes, the pastry on Mrs smokie's pie was "rock hard" and inedible and the atmosphere in there was awful, so we won't be going again and told the lady serving us. (and why.)
The guy doing the cooking didn't seem bothered and our few euros a week are probably of little consequence to him, so fair enough. It's a shame for the other people working there though, they all rely on each other to succeed and the guy dishing up undercooked food is letting them all down.
A few weeks ago,I spoke to the other guy that also cooks in there and he seems to be able to cook the chips thoroughly enough so it's not just the potatoes/equipment, but he told me that after the opening day disaster he got some much needed advice from the guy who runs (or ran) The Codfather in PDC.  Maybe his mate, who was apparently a chef before, thought that he didn't need the advice or didn't agree with the advice.
Either way...........He's wrong.
Is it really too much trouble to check that the chips are cooked before plating them up ? You can tell if you try and crush one on a plate, with a fork.

 
The fish (cod) was lovely for what it's worth, but 16 Euros for a piece of cod and a couple of forkfuls of pie filling isn't really acceptable as we left the chips on the plates.

[Bee11]

We had the opposite, very overcooked chips!!! Inedible! I think they had been cooked, cooked again and again - they were disgusting. Unfortuntely we couldn't tell them as we had taken them home to eat. It is a shame as we have been regulars since it opened, one or two times they weren't perfect but things seemed to be improving each week until last week.

I agree with you about the atmosphere, i was in there a couple of weeks ago and they were telling people it would be 30-40 mins before the chips would be ready (they weren't busy) - not what you expect from a take away - they were losing customers who didn't want to wait that long.

We will maybe try it again sometime as we did enjoy them, made a nice change, but i don't want to waste 20 euros on food i can't eat!

[Bob Cunningham]

Welcome to the forum Bee.

[Bee11]

thanks bob, sorry my first post was not a favourable one but after reading 'smokies' post i thought i would share my own experience.

[suziv1963]

Hello there, we thank you for all feedback made and appreciate it.
But we also have good feedback, unfortunately one bad comment banishes ten good. We did not feel such bad language had to be used towards our staff and our chef. On the night in question of undercooked chips, we were very busy with take-away food. In question of the over-cooked chips, we are at a loss as to why you have not said anything to us in person as of yet. We are a very new business and appreciate all comments and feedback. But feel these comments were inappropriately made. As to Mr and Mrs Smokey if you would like to call back into Plaice in the Sun, your meal will be complimentary.
Kind Regards, All at Plaice in the Sun.  

[Madstock]

Good to see you replying to the criticism and a good point made that you have also had good feedback.
I think regarding the OVER cooked chips the poster stated that they had taken them home to eat so weren't able to tell you.
Are you stating that when you are busy with take-aways there is a good chance your chips will be undercooked? 
I feel that as Smokie stated "I specifically asked if they could please make sure that the chips were "well done."
you haven't addressed his complaint.

[Flash]

I think Smokies point is that it's been more than once.

However, I'm sure the point has been well and truly taken on board, I know how a criticism like that about my business would sting me.

So, I'm prepared to selflessly (and anonymously) indulge in said fish and chips next week and report back with a completely unbiased er, report, and I'm sure I won't be disappointed.  (do I hear Mrs Flash saying 'any excuse  )

Flash, (aka Ray Jaynor.)

[Josie]

Let me know if you've got any chips going spare Flash - once you've assessed their level of cooking of course - we can get there from our place in 10 mins

[smokie]

No, No, No, this isn't right at all, susiv1963, you've made it sound as if I was effin' and jeffin' at your staff and chef which I didn't.

The only bad language that I've used was saying that the chips were underf***in'cooked, the adjective describing the chips, not using bad language towards your staff or chef.

I'll happily go back and edit the post to take the middle bit out of the adjective if you want.
It was only put in out of sheer frustration at what happened.(again)

I'd originally posted the comment in the "what was the last thing you had to eat" thread and then later transferred it to the review section.
Had I left it there, you'd have realised that the bad language was not aimed at your staff or chef.

I agree that it would be more appropriate that complaints should be made to a member of staff and that is what we did, to yourself I believe, whereupon you told the chef who wasn't interested.
So what was I supposed to do ?
Ignoring complaints and sweeping problems under the carpet helps nobody in the long run.

I've no axe to grind, when I've had good stuff from your shop, I've said so on the forum, even within that post I said how good the fish was.

We all want the same thing, you to have a thriving successful chip shop.