Timbre@Old School

Me and my friend went to Timbre@Old School on Friday, 20 Feb 2010, from 8-9pm for a simple S$72 meal and were utterly disgusted by their service. link to Timbre@Old school for more info: http://www.timbre.com.sg/main.asp This place on top of the small hill when you walk from Plaza Sing's back door towards Cathay Cineplex. I have to admit that the place has a nice ambiance in secluded location and that's the only positive point. Insufficient lighting for tables outside, and the waiters don't even bother to light a candle or provide some form of illumination when we were reading the menu. A waiter approached us after our orders to ask for our credit card for safekeeping so as to facilitate payment afterward. As me and my friends do not have a habit of paying by credit card especially for a casual meal costing S$72, we told him politely that "We are not paying by credit card", and yet the waiter insisted and even judgmentally said, "Huh? you all don't have credit card?". Food was mediocre and took some time to be served. The waiters seemed to be very keen to clear our tables during our meal time and by doing so, was practically invading our privacy and interrupted our conversation for numerous occasions. It was surprising that the waiters even asked the customers to pass the emptied plates and utensils more than once. We did help out of courtesy, but nonetheless it makes me wonder the purpose of "service charge". The most depressing encounter of the evening was the billing experience. The waiters were over zealous in clearing the tables (or should I say, asking the customers to help in clearing the table), but were slow in response to the waving and calling for a bill. Eventually I walked personally to the cashier with the intention of a quick payment, and I was asked to "stand and wait" even though there was no one else paying at the counter. I felt like I am being treated like a non-existent moron rather than a customer, for personally walking to the counter for payment after unsuccessful attempts to catch waiters' attention, and was being told to "stand and wait" at the cashier when no other customers were queuing. I stood and waited for two good minutes before I walked back to the table. A young waiter finally approached us with the bill and I was eager to quickly settle with the exact amount of cash and get on with the next evening itinerary with my friends. I might have appeared to be paying in a hassle after all the waiting and mood dampening encounters of the evening and ignored the waiter's probing question of "So you guys are hurrying for a movie?". I did not see the need to indulge the waiter with an answer and walked off. As if the services was not surprising enough, the waiter raised his voice and said, "YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS. IF YOU WANT TO PLAY, I CAN PLAY ALONG." I simply do not apprehend the necessity of the actions from the waiters.

Posted on Sat 20 Feb 2010 16:24:25