Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

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balhambloke
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Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby balhambloke » Sun Aug 05, 2018 6:58 pm

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.
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Goldhawk
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Re: Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby Goldhawk » Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:51 pm

They have had a long queue all week
I suspect Milk are missing their lost trade

They told lots of fibs on social media about their opening being delayed by planning objections and about their late liquor licence
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balhambloke
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Re: Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby balhambloke » Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:25 pm

Someone showed me the planning application moan that they were having some time ago. Just seem like an unpleasant group overall.
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gymgoer
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Re: Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby gymgoer » Thu Aug 09, 2018 3:44 pm

I wanted to try but will give it a miss because I loved the food in the one on Kings Road . Thanks for the tip.
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sloaney donkey
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Re: Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby sloaney donkey » Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:14 pm

All this sounds very bad indeed

I personally like the 24hr burger van on Clapham Common

As my old house mistress used to say while we were waiting for Sunday lunch gravy ... "lovely jubbly, young ladies"

Can't beat taking my baby nieces there in the pram at 3am when they won't sleep!

Sloanster
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NYVANLON
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Re: Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby NYVANLON » Fri Aug 10, 2018 12:57 pm

Completely agree!! The service was abysmal, at best. I don't recommend it at all. 
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njm123
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Re: Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby njm123 » Mon Aug 13, 2018 8:30 am

I tried to go there for brunch and had the same bad experience in that there were empty tables in the restaurant but a long queue waiting to be seated and staff unwilling to make eye contact or greet customers. We ended up going to Milk which was surprisingly empty (agree with Goldhawk that they are probably losing custom to Megan’s) and had a lovely meal with good service. Hopefully Milk’s clientele will return when the novelty of queueing for ages at Megan’s wears off!
I had previously gone to Megan’s a few days earlier just for a coffee and the service then was so so slow, clearly they are having some staff issues which they need to get sorted soon as.
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Talkman
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Re: Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby Talkman » Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:50 am

You lost me at ‘de-constructed chilli chicken kebab’.
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Talkman
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Re: Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby Talkman » Mon Aug 13, 2018 10:50 am

You lost me at ‘de-constructed chilli chicken kebab’.
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boonkoh
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Re: Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby boonkoh » Mon Aug 13, 2018 12:32 pm

I had the a similar issue. Went in, excited to try a new brunch place in Balham. There was a queue of two others in front of me. Lots of empty tables. After 5 minutes and no-one coming to seat people or even acknowledge us in the queue, we left and went back to M1lk instead.

The pricing also seems much more than M1lk.

I'm going to wait for more reviews on NVN, Google, Yelp before deciding whether to go back again or not. Seems like the management and staff at Megan's think they walk and water and people will desperately be throwing their brunch money at them, but with so many other good choices in Balham, there is no need to put up with stuck-up service.
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Browneyedgirl
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Re: Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby Browneyedgirl » Thu Aug 16, 2018 10:28 pm

Went for dinner this evening. Food was fab, wine delicious, decor & atmosphere lovely & service exemplary. Think they were having some teething problems, these things happen. We’ll be back.
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chezzie
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Re: Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby chezzie » Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:19 pm

I'm surprised. Since arriving back from hols 2 weeks ago, I decided to try and have been back 3 times since. I don;t care too much about the service - it has been excellent, good, mediocre and arrogant - but the food, cocktails and coffees have not disappointed. Really excited to have a new place to be able to disappear to for a nice on my own, with friend/s or the family. Such an all-rounder!  If the staff is arrogant, I'm arrogant back and don't leave a tip. If they're nice, I'm nice and of course leave tip. Easy.
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freshairmum
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Re: Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby freshairmum » Tue Aug 28, 2018 2:26 pm

The Kings Road one has become a bit like this. Too many people standing around and staff just ignoring people or behaving like you’re a nuisance. It was fantastic when it opened so is a shame. I’m sorry to hear the Balham one is like this but not hugely surprised. Hope they change their tune as the food and coffee is great.
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DeeMummyof4
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Re: Megan’s Balham - Worst, arrogant local restaurant experience

Postby DeeMummyof4 » Mon Sep 03, 2018 7:22 am

Bring back my beloved Starbucks! 😩 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.
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