Aimee Walker
After a receiving a negative and somewhat moaning review on Tripadvisor, a chef decided to hit back after reading his restaurant was a “total rip-off” and that people should avoid it “like the plague”.
In response to receiving a one-star review on Tripadvisor, Gary Usher hit back at the customer and said to “be kind” to his “humble neighbourhood bistro”.
After visiting the Sticky Walnut in Chester, a Tripadvisor reviewer by the name of ’emalinaker’ said that her “eye-watering expensive steak” hadn’t been “worth it” and that she wouldn’t visit the restaurant again.
She wrote: “If you want to pay £45 each for an average piece of sirloin steak and some parmesan chips then this is the place to go!
“When we mentioned to the waitress we thought the menu was misleading, instead of apologising and trying to fix our distress, she got extremely agitated, defensive and frankly rude.
“Sticky Walnut was somewhere I used to look forward to going to but I would council (sic) EVERYONE heading to Chester for a decent meal to avoid this place like the plague unless they like being ripped off.”
To prove she had visited the place, the reviewer shared a photo of her £122.50 bill, alongside a snap of what to expect on the menu.
Chef and owner Gary responded: “Good morning Emma. I only personally respond on here every few years so well done on getting me out of Twit-advisor hibernation.
“The essence of your ‘review’ should be quite simple. You think we’re a rip-off, which is probably the most common complaint on the Twit-advisor website.
“So nothing new there. So why am I responding?
“Simply because you wouldn’t let Becky the MANAGER explain at the time.
“In fact, it was YOU who got extremely agitated, defensive and quite frankly rude.
“With all set menus, there are supplements. On ours, it’s our dry-aged Aubrey Allen sirloin. In Sticky Walnut it will cost an extra £15 per person to have the sirloin instead of, for example, the feather blade of beef.
“Your last Twit-advisor review was for The Dorchester ‘to celebrate mummy’s birthday’.
“Their menu is £53 for three courses, also with a supplement for the sharing beef of £22 per person. Ironically, we use the same butcher.
“Why Emma did you not complain about your bill there nor take a photo of your receipt?”
The chef then went on to guess that the reviewer had “spent over £500” whilst dining at The Dorchester, which she happened to give a “glowing five-star review”.
The chef then went on to urge that the reviewer “be kind” to the “humble neighbourhood bistro”.
Gary added: “‘Avoid this place like the plague’ really Emma?
“My CONSEL to you in this recession we find ourselves in is to think before you write.”
“Be kind. It won’t cost you as much as a first-class flight to Dubai.”
My response is no longer pending. The Trip advisor site have published it & Emma the reviewer will now have it too.
Was great to get all your feedback on it yesterday. I’d like to announce my retirement from trip advisor after an unhealthy 10 year working relationship. Farewell pic.twitter.com/nQX27op2ze— Gary Usher (@Gary_Usher_Cook) September 8, 2020
After sharing his savage reply to Twitter, Gary received over 44,000 likes – many commented that his honesty was refreshing.
One wrote: “Gary, this is an absolute masterpiece of a response.
“In such a difficult, uncertain time for the hospitality industry customers who leave a one-star review (for anywhere) need to take a long hard look at themselves.”
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