Describe A Bad Service You Received In A Restaurant Shop: How to Answer?
The IELTS Speaking test is a one-on-one interview with a certified IELTS examiner.
Once part 2 begins, you will be handed a cue card and 4 questions related to it. The cue card will look like this:
To answer cue card prompts effectively, break them into sections: introduction, key highlights, and conclusion. Provide context in the introduction, add specific examples in key highlights, and summarise your main points in the conclusion.
Considering that, here's how we'll break our topic down.
Introduction:
- I'm going to tell you about the unfortunate experience that happened a couple of months back in my local restaurant.
- It's a Saturday night, and I made up my mind to go out for dinner in one of the neighbourhood restaurants.
When and where it happened?
- The incident occurred at a lovely Italian restaurant called "Mamma Mia's," known for its authentic cuisine and pleasant atmosphere.
What happened there?
- A long line at the entrance greeted me as I entered the restaurant, indicating a busy night ahead.
- Despite the wait, I patiently waited until I was seated at a table near the corner.
- But when I realised that the waiter assigned to our table was inattentive and indifferent, things went from bad to worse.
- Despite numerous efforts to attract his attention, he looked distracted and uninterested in the service we needed.
How was it solved?
- It became clear that the poor service wasn't just an anomaly; it was a systematic problem that affected several tables as the evening wore on.
- I decided to discuss the matter with the restaurant manager, frustrated by a lack of attention and professionalism.
- I calmly explained the situation, expressing my displeasure with the service given to me.
- The manager took the opportunity to apologise and promise that it would be fixed immediately.
How did you feel about it?
- Despite the restaurant manager's resolution, I could not get rid of the disappointment and frustration brought on by my first poor service.
- The dining experience is not only about the food but also the overall experience, including the quality of the service provided.
- What could have been a pleasant dining experience was damaged by the waiter's lack of attention and professional conduct.
Conclusion:
- The incident at "Mamma Mia's" is a reminder of the importance of good service in hospitality.
- The restaurant manager's prompt response to the problem was admirable, but that first unsatisfactory service affected my overall experience of food.
- In the future, I hope establishments will focus on customer satisfaction and take proactive measures to ensure that all guests receive the attention and service they deserve.
Describe A Bad Service You Received In A Restaurant Shop: Sample Answers
Find the Sample Answers for Describe A Bad Service You Received In A Restaurant Shop IELTS Cue Card here.
Introduction:
- A few months ago, I experienced a particularly disappointing incident of bad service at a popular restaurant in my neighbourhood, which I had frequented before without any issues.
When and where it happened?
- The incident occurred on a Saturday evening when I decided to dine out with some friends at a well-known restaurant called "Taste Buds" in the city's heart.
What happened there?
- We were greeted by a long entrance queue upon arriving at the restaurant, indicating a busy night.
- Despite the crowd, we were seated after a short wait. However, things quickly went downhill from there.
- The server assigned to our table seemed flustered and overwhelmed, leading to delays in taking our orders and serving our food.
- When our meals finally arrived, they were lukewarm and lacked the freshness and flavour we had come to expect from this establishment.
How was it solved?
- After several attempts to flag down our server to address the issues with our meals, we decided to speak to the manager about our experience.
- The manager apologised and offered to replace our meals with freshly prepared ones.
- While this gesture was appreciated, it did little to salvage our overall dining experience.
How did you feel about it?
- The experience left a sour taste in my mouth.
- As someone who values good customer service and enjoys dining out, it was disheartening to receive such subpar treatment from a restaurant that I had previously regarded highly.
- The lack of attention to detail and the failure to address our concerns promptly left me feeling frustrated and disappointed.
Conclusion:
- The incident at "Taste Buds" served as a stark reminder of the importance of quality service in the hospitality industry.
- While the manager's attempt to rectify the situation was appreciated, it was clear that more could have been done to ensure a positive dining experience for customers.
- This experience has made me more discerning when choosing where to dine out in the future and highlighted the need for restaurants to prioritise customer satisfaction at all times.
Describe A Bad Service You Received In A Restaurant Shop: Follow-Up Questions
Below are some sample questions and possible answers. Once again, we recommend that you only take the inspiration from the answers below and add your twist to it!