New Delhi:
Lemp Brewpub, at a mall in Gurgaon, is in the online hot spot after an anonymous blog posted on Blogspot described a Sunday afternoon from hell for a group of eight. The blog has now been removed. (
Read the blog post here)
But it has generated hundreds of comments on Facebook and Twitter.
Now, Lemp has responded with its version of what happened.
But first, the blog. It says that a group of friends in their 20s saw an ad posted by the restro-bar on Zomato.com for a "Hawaiian Sunday brunch" for Rs. 999 including taxes.
Zomato.com is an online directory that lists restaurants in various cities along with user reviews.
The blog claims the menu did not match the ad; nor did the rates. The group refused to pay a bill of Rs. 12,000 on the grounds that they were being grossly over-charged.
The group says "three guys and a girl" from the group then tried to leave but were reportedly stopped by bouncers from getting into the elevator, so they phoned the police for help.
The restaurant owner allegedly threatened to file a case against them. "We are dragged out of the mall by the police into their van," the blog states.
Later, the blog says, the group at the police station phoned their parents who picked them up.
Late on Wednesday night, Lemp released its version of events in a press release and said that it will soon share security camera footage that disproves the allegation against the pub. (
Read Lemp's statement here)
The management of Lemp says that for the last few days, it has been harassed with obscene phone calls. It alleges that the online campaign against it was the work of a "full-fledged digital and social media agency hired solely with a particular motive."
"Our staff informed them right in the beginning that Hawaiian lunch was not available because of some reasons. Staff also informed them of all the other options that were available. They opted for Sunday Brunch buffet priced at Rs 999 plus taxes per person," the press release says.
It adds that after consuming "more than half the servings," the group of customers began complaining about the food and then tried to leave without paying the bill.
A settlement of Rs 4463 was then decided upon, but according to Lemp, "the guests wrote that even after paying Rs 4463 they felt cheated. They then started threatening that they are the social media 'gurus' and that Lemp will have to pay for this 'mistake' heavily. It was after these threats that the Lemp management decided to give up on them and return Rs 4463 back to them."
The matter, Lemp says, ended at the police station when the parents of some of the youngsters showed up and paid the negotiated amount.
Zomato.com has addressed the controversy on its website and says it cannot guarantee against false advertising by restaurants. (
Read Zomato's statement here)
"Zomato only displays what is sent to us via email by the restaurant owners or their PR firms. So essentially, all these offers are validated offers from the management itself. However, whether the restaurant eventually honours the offer is entirely up to the restaurant. "