Hi, being a big foodie and forever being disappointed by the lack of good,
wholesome/healthy options in the area, I was really excited that Megan’s opened in Balham (I’ve had some great food at the one on King’s Rd).
I went there twice, about three weeks ago. The first time, I experienced pretty odd service but the food was actually quite good. There is a deli area as you enter and people are just left standing around there, even when they are waiting for a table. Customers all very confused as staff members run around like headless chickens and don’t answer to anyone saying ‘excuse me’. I just walked into the back of the (the rather big) restaurant area myself and found a friendly waiter eventually who took care of me and Mrs BB from then on. The food was great that day - try the deconstructed chilli chicken kebab. But there were countless agitated customers who couldn’t get seated.
So me and Mrs BB went back again later the same week and this is where we experienced our large dose of outrageously rude service - on the restaurant floor and then with ‘management’ on their main phone line when I called them to complain.
Firstly, there was the exact same confusion in the entrance/deli area with customers not knowing if they were meant to be escorted to tables or find one themselves. Everyone was equally confused and tried to find some humour in it. Then a remarkably rude waiter eventually spoke to me to tell me that they had no tables for us - despite the restaurant looking at best, 50% full. I pointed out one particular table at the front with nobody on it and he said ‘there is a person on that table and they’ll be back in a minute’ (we ended up stood outside for about 15 minutes and nobody claimed that table....). He was very abrupt, unapologetic and rude - I really wonder how people like this retain jobs in the service industry in a competitive market.
So we stood outside and I rang through to Megan’s and was answered by what appears to be some form of ‘management’ team. I told them of my experience which they sounded marginally bothered about and I was told that somebody called Tammy was going to call me back as they were sure that ‘she would want to know about something like this’. The lady I spoke to (Bonnie?) reassured me that I would be called back, at the latest, the following day....they didn’t and that was three weeks ago so they clearly aren’t that bothered about everyones frustrations at the awful front of house, chaotic service. We actually went to Foxlows that evening and the experience couldn’t have contrasted more - they never initially had a table (genuinely) but said they’d see what they could do if we waited at the bar for 5 mins - we were seated within that, had a lovely meal and great service.
So I gave Megan’s a chance to fix it before airing my views and they failed. Which are this: avoid the Balham Megan’s like the plague. It is disorganised chaos and will likely increase your stress levels just trying to get a table. Despite some decent dishes (tasted mostly in the King’s Rd location), is it really worth fighting over arrogant staff, who lie to your face, just to get a seat? And do their management even care to put things right, or are they more interested in catering for the Instagram clique (sorry but that’s my view) even when they falsely tell you that your feedback is important and that their management are going to call you. Oh, and you might think I just had a bad experience. Take a quick look at Google reviews on Balham Megan’s - it doesn’t seem to be just me. AVOID.
Menu
If I were you I’d write a refreshingly honest review on trip advisor as restaurants (especially new ones) hate bad trip advisor reviews and are quick to respond. Also email them your complaint as most places don’t take phone complaints very seriously.
