Poor eating experience

We went out for dinner in Newcastle on Wednesday. I may have had my first taste of Global Financial Crisis expressed locally. Or maybe it was just a very off night in one of our regular venues. Not one of the best of Darby Street's eating houses, but usually pleasant enough, fast enough (if we're on our way to a show or concert) and not too expensive.

It was unusually quiet at 7.15 when we rocked up - just a another two or three tables well into their meals. Initially I thought maybe the weather had kept people at home, although other restaurants in the street had customers. But what should have really alerted us to a potential problem was the lack of table settings. Bare tables. No cutlery, no condiments, nothing. Literally bare boards - rough and unpolished. I couldn't remember them looking so bare before. But we were with other people, and we had already walked up and down the street looking for an acceptable venue and we were talking, and not really noticing and then sitting down and at that point it is hard to say "uh oh, this doesn't feel right."

Second pause was when they couldn't do one of the dishes on the menu: they were waiting on a delivery. Our friend asked for an alternative and third pause was when the waitress said "Oh I think there's one of those left". Fourth pause came when they didn't have the wine we wanted. The food arrived, it was adequate, no more nor less than usual.

We chatted away, having a pleasant evening, once we got them to turn the music down so that we could hear each other. What is it about so many restaurants that they have to play loud percussive music? The d-d-d-d-d beat makes it impossible to relax, and those of us over thirty are already beginning the journey into the world of the aurally challenged - we don't need additional noise over which to strain our ears and raise our voices. I think the staff choose the music for their benefit, not their customers.

One of our dinner companions, when we had been perusing the street and making our choice of eatery, always read the dessert options first. And when we came into this restaurant, she had looked at the menu, seen the dessert listing and said "oh they all sound good". So after we'd finished our mains I asked the waitress for the dessert menu. She went off to get them. Our friend said "Actually I don't want any dessert," which was just as well because the waitress came back and told us there were no desserts available: nothing had been delivered.

Maybe there's a few bills not been paid somewhere?

We had coffees and when we went, left no tip.

I'm not in any hurry to go back to this particular restaurant, but I wonder if it will still be operating when I next visit Darby Street?