Describe A Bad Service You Received In A Restaurant Shop: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When and where it happened?
What happened there?
How was it solved?
How did you feel about it?

44 unique answers with expert feedback

What specific aspects of the service did you find most disappointing?

The most disappointing aspects were the lack of a cozy atmosphere and the unwelcoming attitude of the staff. It felt like they were not interested in providing good service, which really affected our overall experience.

How did the manager handle your complaint?

The manager was surprisingly attentive and took our complaint seriously. He apologized for the inconvenience and offered us a complimentary dessert, which helped to improve our experience despite the initial issues.

Would you consider returning to that restaurant after your experience?

I might consider returning if I heard that the service had improved. However, I would definitely be more cautious and read recent reviews before making a decision.

Band 6-7

00:00

I along with my friends gathered for a lunch in this place called as Saubarnika where I have ordered chicken tikka masala and my friend ordered roti to carry this along. What surprised me was the time that it took to serve us for the for the dish that we have ordered and it was already late in time we our friends got puzzled what is taking so much of time and we did not hesitate to reach out to the server and ask him why the food is late. He said that food is taking some time to finish as the the food that we have ordered is of a slightly more preparing in time and when it reached surprisingly and even more surprisingly what happened is we saw some fly stuck to the dish and we are so much starving already and we were so furious at this point in time we had to shout at the waiter and the waiter immediately apologized to us and he said like he will take some other dish that he can offer free and also you know it was very kind of this particular waiter who he has offered us one of the free dish for us to as a compensation for this incident and later we also understood the situation because you know it was at the peak of the time and you know the mistakes tend to happen and it is of a human nature so we forget that incident and we friends discuss about our own lives and we came back this was pretty pathetic incident as we were starving and it was a memorable too

Follow up questions

How do you usually handle bad service in restaurants?

I try to remain calm and polite when addressing the issue. I believe it's important to communicate my concerns to the staff so they can improve. If the service is really bad, I might ask to speak to a manager or consider not returning to that restaurant.

Have you ever received good service that made your experience memorable?

Yes, I once visited a restaurant where the staff was incredibly attentive and friendly. They went out of their way to accommodate my dietary restrictions and even offered complimentary desserts. That kind of service made the meal enjoyable and memorable.

What do you think restaurants can do to improve their service?

Restaurants can train their staff better on customer service skills and ensure they are adequately staffed during peak hours. Additionally, they should have a system in place to handle complaints efficiently and ensure food hygiene standards are strictly followed.

Band 6-7

00:00

So, it happened at a restaurant called Bloke House. So it was back in Feb, 2025, where I visited this restaurant with my girlfriend as a treat for a special incident that we had. So we both wanted to try the Italian food. So we went there, we ordered beef steak and a pizza, which was one of our favorites. So we ordered the food and when we got it, it wasn't really that incredible of the taste and the portion that we got, I mean the quantity was really, really poor. So, the ambience was great and the people who came there was also amazing. They were very nice and apart from all of this, the waitress who came to our table was really, really pushy. She wanted us to order more of the items and then it was really uncomfortable for us. So what we did was, we were kind of in a rush, we had to leave, but the waitress kept insisting for us to have a coffee or more items because usually the people who come over there were kind of really wealthy and she expected us to do the same. She wasn't even considering from where we were coming from or to cut us some slack. Maybe she was just doing her job, but then it really made us uncomfortable.

Follow up questions

How do you think the restaurant could improve its service?

I believe the restaurant could improve its service by training the staff to be more attentive to customers' needs and preferences. They should understand when to suggest additional items and when to respect a customer's choice. A more relaxed approach would enhance the dining experience.

Have you ever complained about bad service in a restaurant?

Yes, I have complained about bad service before. I think it's important to voice concerns, especially if the service affects the overall experience. In some cases, the management was receptive and offered compensation, which made me feel valued as a customer.

What do you think makes a restaurant experience enjoyable?

An enjoyable restaurant experience comes from a combination of good food, attentive service, and a pleasant atmosphere. When the staff is friendly and respects customers' choices, it creates a welcoming environment that encourages people to return.

Practice other cue cards

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country .

View answers

Band 6-7

00:00

So, a bad service, usually restaurants nowadays are pretty much up to the standards, let it be in quality or hygiene or maintenance, but one of the experience I had in a restaurant was getting the wrong order. Basically, this happened when I was in the first year of my undergraduation. A couple of our friends decided to just go and have lunch in a restaurant and we ordered Paneer Tikka and normally on our side of the state, we do not consume non-veg on Saturdays. There is a belief that... Nowadays, I think most of the restaurants... Nowadays, restaurants are mostly up to their standards, let it be in quality, maintenance or hygiene. I would say it is mostly because of the growing awareness of people they have on their food. One such experience or one bad experience I had in a restaurant would be getting the wrong order. So, it was a normal day, just like any other day, a couple of our friends decided to have lunch in a restaurant. After going there casually, we ordered Paneer Tikka, but instead we received Chicken Tikka. One of my friends dove right into the order without noticing if it was Paneer or Chicken, but I could find the difference in the texture of the piece, so I called the waiter right upon and showed her that we ordered Paneer Tikka, instead we received Chicken Tikka. Basically, in our side of the state, we do not consume chicken or non-veg on Saturdays, so it was a Saturday that day and receiving Chicken Tikka was just like it was going to go to waste. So, I called the waiter and I told her to change the order, luckily she replaced our dish with the initial order, however, it was a close call to almost having non-veg or to almost being getting consumed, to almost having consumed non-veg on the day and it was also a proper response from the hotel's end to replace us with the order we initially placed.

Follow up questions

How did the restaurant handle the situation after the wrong order?

The restaurant responded well by replacing our Chicken Tikka with the Paneer Tikka we originally ordered. They were understanding and quick to rectify the mistake, which I appreciated. It showed that they valued customer satisfaction and were willing to correct their error.

Have you ever experienced similar issues in other restaurants?

Yes, I have faced similar issues in other restaurants, but not as severe. Sometimes, orders are delayed or items are missing. However, I think it's important for restaurants to communicate effectively with customers to avoid such situations.

What do you think restaurants can do to improve their service?

Restaurants can improve their service by ensuring better training for staff, implementing a double-check system for orders, and enhancing communication with customers. Regular feedback from patrons can also help identify areas for improvement.

Band 6-7

00:00

I've always been a foodie person. I like exploring a variety of food, variety of cuisines around. On the New Year's Eve I went to this fantastic, good reviewed restaurant which is on the highway on the countryside and we ordered some. I was accompanied with my family and we ordered a biryani and it was a Mughal cuisine so we ordered biryanis and some starters. Turned out to be not cooked properly which was a disaster and when I asked the waiter to change it, they denied to change it and the food was quite pricey so however we still tried to eat it but it was non-edible and I did not like the service at all. After requesting multiple times they changed our food and then the waiter apologised for his deeds but the experience was ruined and our mood was ruined. We waited plenty of time for the dishes to be cooked properly and brought it again. Furthermore, the dessert was also a disaster but they still changed it and they gave us a discount of 40% which was appreciated by me but I insisted all the staff to improve their food.

Follow up questions

How do you usually choose a restaurant to dine in?

I usually look for restaurants with good reviews online, check their menus, and sometimes ask friends for recommendations. I also consider the ambiance and cleanliness of the place, as these factors greatly influence my dining experience.

Have you ever had a positive experience that made up for a bad service?

Yes, I once had a great experience where the staff went above and beyond to make things right after a mistake. They offered complimentary dishes and a sincere apology, which made me feel valued as a customer and encouraged me to return.

What do you think restaurants can do to improve their customer service?

I believe restaurants should train their staff to handle complaints better and ensure food quality before serving. Regular feedback from customers can help them identify areas for improvement, and they should always strive to create a pleasant dining experience.

Show all 44 answers

Cue 1:When and where it happened?

Begin by mentioning the name of the restaurant and the city where it is located.
Specify the date or occasion when you visited the restaurant.

Example

Last month, I visited a popular restaurant called 'Spice Junction' in Delhi with my friends to celebrate my birthday.

Cue 2:What happened there?

Describe the specific incident that made the service bad.
Include details about the staff's behavior and the impact it had on your experience.

Example

As soon as we arrived, we were ignored by the staff for nearly 20 minutes. When we finally got a table, the waiter was rude and took our order incorrectly, bringing us the wrong dishes.

Cue 3:How was it solved?

Explain how you addressed the issue with the staff or management.
Mention any actions taken by the restaurant to rectify the situation.

Example

I politely spoke to the manager about our experience. He was very apologetic and offered us complimentary drinks and ensured that our correct orders were prioritized.

Cue 4:How did you feel about it?

Share your feelings during the incident and after it was resolved.
Reflect on how this experience affected your view of the restaurant.

Example

Initially, I felt frustrated and disappointed, especially since it was my birthday celebration. However, after the manager's response and the complimentary drinks, I felt a bit better, but I still left the restaurant with mixed feelings.

Conclusion

Example

Overall, the experience taught me the importance of good service in a restaurant. While the manager's efforts to resolve the issue were appreciated, it made me reconsider whether I would return to 'Spice Junction' in the future.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Vague Descriptions

Using vague language can make your response unclear. Avoid general statements that do not provide specific details about the service you received.

Tip

Be specific about the incident. Describe the location, the service received, and the exact issues you faced to create a clearer picture.

2: Neglecting Emotions

Failing to express your feelings can make your story less engaging. It's important to convey how the bad service affected you emotionally.

Tip

Share your feelings during the experience. Use phrases like 'I felt frustrated' or 'I was disappointed' to connect with the listener.

Ignoring Resolution

Not mentioning how the issue was resolved can leave your story incomplete. It's essential to explain if and how the problem was addressed.

Tip

Include details about how the restaurant handled the situation. Did they apologize, offer a refund, or improve the service? This adds depth to your response.

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Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.