Having ordered a chinese takeaway from the Red Lion on London Road I was disappointed to discover the my order of a quarter of crispy duck was not included but the veg and sauce had been wrapped up and labelled. We hadn't attacked all the dishes immediately as we could already see that the food was going to be too much, so the package that said duck got stuck in the fridge. Went to look - no duck!
By this time it's pretty late and I decided to ring today rather than at 1am.
I rang pretty much as soon as they opened today and after a 10 minute conversation with a man on the phone who was relaying everything in chinese to a woman who was shouting in the background - he finally said there is nothing we can do. When I said I wasn't happy the guy repeated 'nothing we can do'. When I was able to recite the entire order I made down to the last bit 'nothing we can do'. Helpful? I think not!
Now as a regular customer who spends around £30 - £40 a month on chinese I'm pretty aggrieved by this.
What would possess me to ring up making false accusations? Nothing! I'd be making a fool of myself and could possibly be proven wrong etc etc.
Now I appreciate that I could have checked every single dish in detail and avoided this, but, its my choice when to eat and I should be able to trust that a package labelled 'duck' would contain duck.
If they had sent my dish, I would have been happy and things would continue as before. If they had apologised, I might have felt miffed but possibly would continue to give them business. Blank refusal makes me furious and it sucks!
The Red Lion has zero respect in my eyes and I'll be taking my business elsewhere cos I am not impressed. £5.70 out of my pocket and I even tipped the delivery driver tut!
There, I feel a little better.

Interesting you should mention the Red Lion i'm a Chef and i've heard a few rumours about the place being under investigation from the enviromental health a few months back. Don't know if they are true or not but you know what they say, follow ur nose and rather than eat at the alleged "poison palace" I have been eating at other chinese places, theres more than a few which are good, no unexpected toilet trips for me thanks very much. Just though I would let you know , look out for the signs that say closed for holiday or decoration and the likes It's enviromental health nearly everytime.

Think I'll be sticking to Fish & Chips.

nice food..**** service...........had problems wiv em mi sen

Eeeek, didn't know about the environmental health ppl, the Red L was closed (I think without an explanation) at the beginning of Sept I think... I wonder if that's what it was about?
Well, if my reason wasn't enough I will always go elsewhere form now on! I'm told Wah Sing is good and No1 Oriental but only buffet and Marble Court is excellent but pricey.

So it's quite possible that the 'duck' you didn't get might not have been duck after all! Anybody missing a cat?

What a gruesome thought!

why don't you try going down in person with the empty container. I imagine it has their handwriting on and not a trace of food inside.

The way they do it is to put all the pancakces, sauce and veg togather in containers then wrap it in paper. It was the paper wrapping which said duck and I put the whole package in the fridge.
After this level of complaint I wouldn't go back in case they did something to the food out of revenge (which happens all to often) and after the possible health related issues I dont think Ill ever eat there again now!
There was once something which I was sure was a fly instead of a blackbean..... blackbeans dont have legs. I originally put it down to my overactive imagnation but now Im not so sure..... ewwwwww housefly in blackbean sauce :P

I've used the red lion the past couple of years and never had any problems and always found the food spot on.

Saying that I have a cast iron gut ;)

Careful boyface,

Queen Elizabeth the First always used lead based make-up but never had a problem ----- till she died of lead poisoning!:gag:

I've never been to the Red Lion (thought you meant the pub @ first), I spose I'll avoid it then :(

I've never been let down by China Garden (delivery service, shop on City road) (expensive but hell nice) nor by Canton House (cheaper, but no delivery) on Chesterfield Road bottom.

I reckon count yourself lucky that your rancid duck ran away to join the cock roaches and saved you from getting good-poisoning and unnecessary trips to the toilet !!

That's my mind made up then all I've got is images of rancid flea ridden cats and dogs being chopped up for crispy aromatic feline, "Woof.....shuwwup get in pancake or you be velly solly". Poor Rover :(

Urgh! You lot are putting me off chinese now, it is/was my fave food.
Maybe I should grow my own stuff and turn into The Good Life then I know everything that's happened to all my food.
Maybe 'cept for the midnight animal piddles and secret bug munching.
Maybe I should try a fresh air diet...that sounds refreshing :(