We have had dinner at Trout before, the last time was under previous management.
This time we decided to order the same dishes as before. A steak ($44), and an open top fish pie ($35). My wife asked, for dietary reasons, for the potato with...the steak to substituted. Her request was for more of the type of vegetables that accompanied the dish, or other vegetables that were available. She was told no substitutions, but she could order a side dish at her cost. This is the first time in a New Zealand restaurant, at this price point, that she can recall, that her request for a substitution has been turned down.
The fish pie was OK, but a bit much mashed potato as a base.
When paying the bill for the two dishes and drinks we questioned why they would not do a substitution and were told “vegetables are expensive”.
A check of the nearby supermarket the next day showed that potatoes were about the same price as a number of other vegetables and other seasonal vegetables were reasonably priced.
It appears Trout has no interest in good customer relations.
A pity, they missed out on the sale of two deserts and two coffees.More