Beware - Cheaters - Assah Restaurant.

pahari
By pahari

Just coming after a dinner in Assah Restaurant on Hamad Al Kabir Street where we ordered food from the menu and when the bill came prices were different than it was on menu. For example - Mashawee Asahaa (priced 59 but on bill 63), Taboule (priced 14 but on bill 16), Mouasal Tefah (priced 22 but charged 29).. and almost everything on menu was priced different than bill. Taboule was not having any bulgur in it and when brought this point of no taste and different prices to the attention of Manager he claimed than it's not a big difference and new menu are under printing... About taste of Taboule he claimed that this is the way they prepare in Lebanon (my friend I am a Chef by profession).. No apologies extended and charged as it was printed on bill.

Being an hotelier myself I felt robbed and dissatisfied but this all wasn't a big thing for the restaurant manager.

I do understand that it wasn't a big difference but even 1 riyal charged unreasonable is something which leaves an impression of being cheated.

My spouse was telling me that writing in QL will not make a difference as well but I think contrary so decided to write to let people know that beware of these cheaters for whom hard earned single riyal is not a matter of big difference.

I will never go to that restaurant again as food was not tasty at all (simple seasoning was missing) and left robbed with comment from manager that this is not a big difference... Second time cheated in Doha within a week time(previous post of Satellite Pehla TV channel dealer)...

I wish I could complaint this to some kind of regulatory authorities..

But let's see.. What's next...???...

By positive• 4 Dec 2008 19:53
positive

Thanks to this comment we (my husband and myself) won't go back to Assah restaurant anymore. We were planning to go tomorrow.

Keep your good job, posting complaints for bad customer service.

By anonymous• 4 Dec 2008 15:32
anonymous

Just ask for, as you said, 'khobaz', they will know what you mean.

By Mandilulur• 4 Dec 2008 15:14
Mandilulur

I would not be impressed by a restaurant that could not update its prices on the menu. Even a small sticker at the bottom saying something to the effect of "all prices subject to a 10% increase" would help the situation. Guess I won't be trying Assaha soon even though I love Lebanese food.

Mandi

By Bahraini83• 4 Dec 2008 11:54
Bahraini83

well said rami :)

By anonymous• 4 Dec 2008 11:48
anonymous

In the absence of meaningful consumer protection laws in this country, the only thing that people like us can do when cheated or scammed by restaurants or other companies is post them on a forum like this.

If the law can't compell Assah to behave ethically, maybe shaming them in a public forum will.

By Colt45• 4 Dec 2008 11:23
Rating: 2/5
Colt45

True!!! at least we on QL will can judge from the comments and decide on such kinda places...

By anonymous• 4 Dec 2008 11:13
anonymous

I went to Assah a few times but after dreadful service time and time again, put it on my list of places I will never, ever return.

This sort of behavior seems par for the course with the sort of people who run Assah.

The last time I was there I hadn't even made it to the table before the rude and incompentent staff had pissed me off so much that I turned around and left again.

I disagree with your friends, posting here is better than complaining to the waiter.

In your case, drawing to their attention the dishonest practise of overcharging customers gained nothing. At least by posting here you've discouraged others from going and becoming victims themselves.

More restaurants (and companies in general) should be named and shamed on QL to try and encourage a better customer service in Doha.

By ttabet82• 4 Dec 2008 10:57
Rating: 5/5
ttabet82

never been to assa7a restaurant before!

but if i want to eat delicious Lebanese food, I usually go to Sultan in Al-Sadd street, bit expensive but yummy!

By Amoud• 4 Dec 2008 10:42
Amoud

As I previously posted, I am not adverse to whacking someone with a shoe if they get out of line :)

People now have an image of me as some crazy woman chasing people down with a Jimmy Choo.

_____________________________________________________

"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock - Will Rogers"

By DaRuDe• 4 Dec 2008 10:40
DaRuDe

Supernurse she use to carry that in her purse so that if any one will by mistake mess with her she will wack their balls with it.

Geez she is mighty even i am scared when i see her.

By Amoud• 4 Dec 2008 10:36
Amoud

I was there not too long ago actually.... how do you think you would figure out who I am??? The brick in my purse ;)____________________________________________________

"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock - Will Rogers"

By DaRuDe• 4 Dec 2008 10:34
DaRuDe

i never seen you in Grand cafe

yea right Assaha weird one.

By Amoud• 4 Dec 2008 10:32
Rating: 3/5
Amoud

I hate Assaha. The food is way too salty and lacks any imagination. To be honest the food in Grand Cafe is much better, although I am not a fan of the atmosphere.

____________________________________________________

"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock - Will Rogers"

By Bahraini83• 4 Dec 2008 10:13
Bahraini83

in restaurants .. i rarely check the bill

i just jump to the total ... theifs

By pahari• 4 Dec 2008 09:00
pahari

thanks guys..we were feeling really bad about it....

if new menu is under printing than they should have informed us...more over the manager was saying 'difference is not much'....

By Colt45• 4 Dec 2008 07:55
Rating: 5/5
Colt45

just coz they can't update their menu prices, don't mean that they reserve the right to charge a totally amount. They should have at least had the decency to inform the guests that the prices were not what they saw, or at least stick a new price over it... I know that looks a bit tacky, but at least you don't have guest leaving with the feeling of being cheated... and I am in total agreement with Pahari... it's not about the extra riyal, but charging a different amount than what is mentioned on the menu is whack.

By irrysa• 4 Dec 2008 07:46
Rating: 5/5
irrysa

i agree that the place is not so gr8 and there are far better ones!

i remember my tabbouleh from assaha...it felt like the have put oil from fried meat inside and the burghul was just put in before they have served it to me.

edifis, if u want good moutabbal, i wld send u to try the one in Layali. i really enjoy it there.

and about difference in prices...no comment!

If you're looking for a problem, you're probably gonna find one.

By edifis• 4 Dec 2008 01:17
edifis

Alexa,

I love the one very thin and crispy khubz at "Souk Wakif" which is served with a honey topping.

An old woman wearing an Abaya makes it in a flat pan(tawa).

Can you tell me the name of that flat bread?

By KellysHeroes• 4 Dec 2008 01:13
KellysHeroes

often voted against Assaha but people do not listen.

professional staff specially in hospitality business shoul inform the customers about the price changes - if any - prior to ordering

===================================== http://www.qatarliving.com/node/58409

By edifis• 4 Dec 2008 01:12
edifis

In my opinion the mutabbel is not that good. But I can never appreciate muttabbel.That is due to the fact I like "baingan ka Bharta" very much which is an Indian smoked eggplant dish. The main difference is it has much more corriander than mutabbel and it is served hot,whereas mutabbel is meant to be served frozen. The idea of eating cold egg plant is somewhat not agreeable to me.

But come to think of it, had I been introduced to mutabble first at a young age, then maybe I wouldn't have fancied "baingan ki bharta" as I do now!

By edifis• 4 Dec 2008 00:47
Rating: 3/5
edifis

About Assaha Lebanese village being called cheaters!

Not really! It's quite common that the menu is not updated very frequently. Because they are having that ornamental and traditional type menu book which is not that easy to update every time there is a hike in price.

But about the quality of the food, I agree that it is not the best. But the desserts are not that bad.

BTW: I have seen that in all Tabbouleh recipes there is bulgur. But when eating tabbouleh I find it is only parsley, tomato,lemon juice,salt,olive oil, etc. But where is the bulgur? Why is there no trace of yellow?

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