An Auckland restaurant is taking on a group of disgruntled diners who left a foul taste on a review website, saying that they "were intent on having a miserable time".



Molten in Mt Eden took to Facebook to review a group of guests after receiving less than complimentary feedback on Zomato from a user called Irish Eyes.



The original reviewer said they had the "worst dining experience ever" when eating there on Saturday.



"The duck pâté was wonderful and smooth and creamy. But sadly my chicken main course was very salty!

"It was supposed to have been wrapped in prosciutto but it looked more like bacon to me. My husband said his lamb was tender but quite salty as well.

"The side of roasted vegetables was OK but some of the chargrilled root veges were so overcooked and tough that they were not edible."

Facebook/Molten The restaurant suggested that complaining about an eatery being noisy and busy on a Saturday night is a touch ridiculous.

The diners received complimentary desserts for their trouble, but that did not appease the reviewer.



"The semifreddo I ordered was tasteless with big chunks of very dry meringue scattered over it. I could not eat it.



"The restaurant was very noisy and service was slow.



The reviewer signed off by saying it was very disappointing and they would not be returning.

EATERY BITES BACK

But Molten was not about to take the shady review lightly, offering its own review of the guests from table six, saying they placed a "rather inaccurate review on Zomato".

"You were rather rude to the people that worked at our restaurant. Please bear in mind that we are not out to sabotage your evening, in fact quite the opposite - we are trying everything in our power to make your experience an enjoyable one so that you come back.

"To do this we do need some participation on your part. For example, when we first asked how your meals were you said fine, then ate them in their entirety, then upon the plates being cleared you let us know that it was the worst meal you've eaten in a decade and that it was too salty for your tastes.

"Maybe next time you could let us know upon tasting the meal that it wasn't to your taste so that we have an opportunity to fix it."

Facebook/Molten Negative reviews from those who don't complain at the time but choose to voice their opinions anonymously online are a growing problem for many restaurants, and Molten has highlighted that with their response.

The restaurant said the diners could have mentioned their aversion to heavily seasoned food so they could steer them away from the dish described on the menu as brined.

"Also, please don't complain that the prosciutto on your meal looked like it was bacon in your online review. The simple explanation for this is that it was pancetta. As per the description of the dish on the menu. Nowhere is it written that the dish had prosciutto on it.

"It did seem that you were intent on having a miserable time, which is entirely up to you, but attempting to spread that misery to staff and other diners is not appreciated.

"Being unhappy that a restaurant is far too busy and their customers were too noisy on a Saturday night seems to suggest a poor choice on your part.

"Maybe research the next venue before you go. You seem to be exactly the type of person Lauraine Jacobs was talking about."

Molten finished off its diner review by offering a zero stars out of five mark.