Craving for a Rant

For more than a week now, I have been waiting for a response from them. Just a response or acknowledgement. Nothing. Nada. I feel voiceless. So I guess I'll need to bring it to the next level. Not only to express my feelings but also to somehow serve as a lesson to others.

Last Tuesday, May 19, I sent the following letter via email to the Cravings Group (The Guerrero's are the owners from my research so I have put their names in the subject of the email as well.):

To: Miss Susana Guerrero & Miss Badgie Guerrero

I am writing this letter to express my disappointment with a recent event held at one of your Cravings Restaurant branches. The Tomas Morato branch, specifically. The incident(s) happened last Sunday, May 17, 2009.

I have chosen this venue since it is the most accessible to most of my friends and relatives. Also, that my recent job usually hosts functions in your Shangri-La Mall branch. Based on that, I have made my decision besides all the other restaurants available in Tomas Morato with good reviews from my Female Network online buddies. The branch did not offer a food tasting or any freebies aside from what is included in their amenities. With the P570/pax price, I thought the food must be of quality and quantity!

I have been in constant communication with Mr. RJ Villasenor regarding the details of the party until the day of the event. I have booked 50 persons from the P570/pax Set 1 menu after changing the pasta to be spaghetti as Mr. RJ said that the kids would prefer it so I agreed to it. Mr. RJ also mentioned that I can add 15 extra kids into the guest list instead of getting the kiddie buffet. This is a kiddie party for my son, by the way. I paid in full for 50 persons 2 days before the event even if I was able to confirm only 46 guests because I do not want to run out of food. Food has always been my number 1 PRIORITY in any event.

Each time we would discuss the details, he would always ask me if I would like to have his crew to stand by the buffet to make portions. I do not like this setup since I know that caterers only do this if the food is not enough.

When I walked into the venue, I was at first happy that the place looked nice and party ready. However, I noticed that Mr. RJ has setup only 35 adult (5 tables for 7 persons) and 16 kiddie seats (4 mini tables with 4 mini chairs). I talked to him regarding this and he said that we have agreed that the kids are included in the 50 persons. Why would I pay for 15 pax of food for kids? Then he added another table -- for 4 persons!


The table for four. Thanks, huh!

When guests arrive, we had to seat them in tables that has already been occupied. We have to ask for table utensils, water and ice tea from their disappearing waiters you have to look for outside of their function room. This goes the same if you would need to ask for a water refill.

Later into the party, we asked them to refill the buffet since it is already empty - do we really have to ask? They refilled the buffet using 1 plate per dish - not another chaffing dish as I was expecting more food from them. Of course, this refill run out sooner than the food served before so we asked Mr. RJ for more food but he said that all the food has been served. He kept on insisting that the 50 guests has been accommodated and even challenged us for a headcount. So we did, but he was nowhere to be found. Please note that there was only 45 adults, 5 kids and 3 infants. Ok, let’s say the kids are also paid as adults – so, where’s the buffer? And these are kids ranging from 3-9 years old who eats by how much? We were lucky that some of the guests did not make it to the party. Otherwise, we wouldn’t know what to feed them.

When the party ended, we asked for the leftover food to be packed. The only food left was rice, a bit of the dory fish, veggies, salad, and the awfully sour spaghetti. However, the crew chose to clean up instead of packing the food first. When they finally came around to packing, they kept on insisting that they have no styros for the food anymore. I was able to count only 6 or 10 of them. He kept on telling my mom to leave the salad because he said it will only wither (are they planning on reusing this? We paid for it, right?). Anyways, my mom insisted to take the salad even if they would put it in a clean plastic.

And finally, we left the place without apologies or even thank yous from the crew members. Mr. RJ was nowhere to be found still. I didn't look for him anymore as he seems unaccommodating right after I paid the full package price. Neither do I have the strength to argue after all the preparations I did for this event.

I’m not expecting much from this as the event has already been finished. I just hope it doesn’t happen to other people. I was wondering why I never found a review of Cravings when I started preparing for my son’s birthday, I guess I got the answer now.

Thank you for reading my letter besides it’s length. Somehow, my disappointment has lessened a bit from this.

Sincerely,
Tiggerlily

I am taking back the last sentence I wrote. Their non-acknowledgement shows exactly their own definition of customer service.

Another reason I chose them is because they have this Children's Party Package that includes the following:

-Gift for the Celebrant (which we never received)
-Kiddie Invitations (I asked them for this after confirmation of the event but never used it. My invites are far more decent.)
-Party Hats (non-existent as well)
-Name Tags (where?)
-Birthday Banner (Again, I didn't avail of this)
-Kiddie Tables and Chairs
-Colorful Hanging Ballon Decor (I could have saved more if I hired another vendor and chose another venue, you know.)
-Balloon Centerpiece for Adults Table
-Balloon Centerpiece for the Buffet
-One-round chilled juice for kids
-One-round Iced Tea for adults
-Separate dessert bar (somehow, I am wondering where they placed this)
-Two-layered fondant cake (which they said they baked but I doubt it. The box says it is ordered somewhere.)
-6 pcs. baby cakes

** I guess you have to ask for every little thing to get it.

The rent of the function room is free which includes the sound system and screen only for the LCD Projector to which I am very grateful for.


The cake and the baby cakes.

Because I knew I wouldn't have enough time, I wanted to be able to avail of these amenities. Should I run out of time to prepare, I will always have a fallback. Little did I know that what I needed a fallback from is THEM!

The food is so-so. Some of it were good and others are just hideous. I was also wondering where these little cakes has gone because I remembered having leftovers of these after the party but we never got it.



Here are more pictures from their setup just to show how simple it is:


The balloon burst and pinata are from a different vendor.


Buffet table


Adult's table


Kid's table

Please note that the alphabet blocks are my labor of love. I added it to the tables to make them more festive.

Below naman are their food from each chaffing dish. This is their first serving, the refill was from one plate. Then the last refill was only for rice and salad. So imagine how much they are serving for 50 persons. Notice how the chaffing dishes aren't even full from the first serving.








I was never a whiner. I do not usually complain. Sometimes it is bad to be too nice for your own good because people tend to abuse you. Apparently, they have reached the end of my rope. Thus, explaining this rant.

I think their name "Cravings" really speaks out for itself - because you won't have enough food on your plate.

Okay, now I can move on.

Images are from My Focal Point.

UPDATE last June 14, 2009:

I received an email message from Cravings (cravings.tomasmorato@yahoo.com) for their Dad's Day Out at Cravings promo. Ha! So, I answered with the following:

Please remove my email address from your email blasts as I am not interested with any of your products. I sent you an email regarding my disappointment with your services and I haven't received any feedback from you until now.

Once again, no response.