Malabar Competition - Win Two 'All You Can Eat' Meals

[Andreas Rex]

Eh? Is this right Malabar? If so I'm off to Karma II instead, cos theirs is £11.95 but you choose the starter too.

The person I spoke to also said that the set starter isn't great for vegetarians as it's pretty much all meat!

 

[tek-monkey]

Hmm, may not bother then. I was all up for trying out the new menu, not being told what to eat.

 

[Jade-clothing]

"I love Malabar because you arrive hungry and leave happy."

That statement was a great sentance to describe your experience. Keeping customers happy is our main focus point.

Thank you to all who entered this competition.

If the latest developments to this thread are true then I'd say you arent doing too good a job at keeping your customers happy. It looks to me like the whole competition was concocted to get yourself some bookings from the forum - that may have worked but if you don't then go on to provide what you have said you will then they arent going to be leaving happy - or returning!! I was going to give it a go - havent been for several years, but don't think I will bother now.

 

[tek-monkey]

Will see what happens, if Trumpet has a similar experience I wont go. Will also put me off returning in the near future, as I don't like companies that take the piss. Lets see what happens tonight though before we go round with pitchforks.

 

[shoes]

"I love Malabar because you arrive hungry and leave happy."

That statement was a great sentance to describe your experience. Keeping customers happy is our main focus point.

Thank you to all who entered this competition.

If the latest developments to this thread are true then I'd say you arent doing too good a job at keeping your customers happy. It looks to me like the whole competition was concocted to get yourself some bookings from the forum - that may have worked but if you don't then go on to provide what you have said you will then they arent going to be leaving happy - or returning!! I was going to give it a go - havent been for several years, but don't think I will bother now.

This is all very sad

I love malabar, have been countless times and have yet to have a bad experience. I went as recently as 6 months ago, in fact with tek, moose et al. and we had a great time. I hope it hasn't gone downhill, and I hope that the new management style can be ironed out to keep everyone happy.

 

[Malabar]

Now, now, calm down

Let's remember that Malabar is donating half the £12.95 to a very worthy cause and doing lots to raise more funds to donate otherwise, such as a raffle and auction.

If, as in previous years, a substantial amount is raised for Katharine House Hospice, then I can't see how publicising the event on the Forum can have been such a bad thing at all.

The competition was my idea and was meant to be a free bonus for Forum members to have a chance to win two tickets to a nice charity event. I apologise to anyone who thinks it went against the spirit of the Forum.

 

[tek-monkey]

All we really need to know is are these nights all you can eat?

 

[shoes]

You fat b*****d tek

 

[Admin]

Now, now, calm down

That doesn't really address any of the issues raised here.

Let's remember that Malabar is donating half the £12.95 to a very worthy cause and doing lots to raise more funds to donate otherwise, such as a raffle and auction.

If, as in previous years, a substantial amount is raised for Katharine House Hospice, then I can't see how publicising the event on the Forum can have been such a bad thing at all.

No-one is denying Katharine House is a worthy cause. There are plenty of threads around here about the good things people have been doing for Katharine House Hospice! None of them promised one thing (e.g. "All You Can Eat") and delivered another (e.g. a restrictive set menu).

The competition was my idea and was meant to be a free bonus for Forum members to have a chance to win two tickets to a nice charity event. I apologise to anyone who thinks it went against the spirit of the Forum.

Lying most certainly does go against the spirit of The Forum. Also, why is the original post in the first person, but this post is in the third person? Can we assume this latest post is by your marketing guy doing some damage limitation?

I have had complaints sent to me by Private Message about how this has been organised/delivered, and I personally feel let down. It was an excellent opportunity to raise money for a good cause, as well as raise the profile of Malabar and Stafford Forum in one fell swoop. Instead, it has left a sour taste in many people's mouths.

Such a shame. I apologise to the Forumites who feel they have been let down, and I promise to endeavour to be more conscientious about marketing hyperbole in future.

 

[Withnail]

Don't beat yourself up about it old bean. I don't feel let down, used or abused.

And on the plus side Mrs M did get the stated prize.

 

[basil]

Some points;

1, my entry was a winner

2, i was gonna donate my prize to a raffle

3, Give Malabar the chance to re-run some kinda competiton

4, Errm

5,

6,

 

[Gramaisc]

7,

 

[Alan B'Stard]

3, Give Malabar the chance to re-run some kinda competiton

How about a proper "all you can eat" promotion on a particular date for all who quote the secret password "Stafford Forum" upon advance booking?

 

[Trumpet]

I'm booked in for Tuesday night, looking forward to it immensely.

How much did you eat?

'twas indeed a set starter of a mixed platter for two, 1 sheekh kebab halved, a skewer of chicken tikka, 2 small samosas, 2 onion bhajis (thought my home made ones were better), 2 battered mushrooms (soggy) and some fried onions.
Choice of mains, thought the portions were a bit on the small side although Mrs T thought her korma was really nice and I have to say my lamb was the tenderest I can remember having in an Indian restaurant, just needed a higher meat to sauce ratio.
One side dish of rice and a paratha.
Just over an hour gap between starters and mains due to the auction didn't help.
Pricewise it was about the same as if we'd ordered from the ordinary menu.
Also didn't appreciate the hard sell on the Malabar loyalty cards, £10.00 gets you 10% discount on future visits, the two guys flogging them seemed to struggle with the words "no thanks we're not really interested"

All in all it made a change and the diners created a really good atmosphere knowing we were doing a little bit of good.

Edit for ps
Avoid the house red like the plague.

 

[tek-monkey]

So its not all you can eat, you can't choose your starter and they try to sell you loyalty card while you eat? Don't think I'll be going then, will go to Karma at the weekend instead.

 

[cookie_monster]

i posted this in the business section of the sheffield forum yesterday...malabar, look, read, learn and act!


x

 

[zebidee]

cor, I was about to pop on here and ask whether I should choose Karma or Malabar for a night out with the ladies, (not being very up on Indian food personally) I hadn't really looked at this thread before, what a shame that people have been disappointed by poor marketing on a place that many held in high regard prior to this incedent!!

 

[Jade-clothing]

cor, I was about to pop on here and ask whether I should choose Karma or Malabar for a night out with the ladies, (not being very up on Indian food personally) I hadn't really looked at this thread before, what a shame that people have been disappointed by poor marketing on a place that many held in high regard prior to this incedent!!

We always use Ashiana or Abduls - I know some people on here dont like Abduls but we love it and have never had a bad meal there. Never been to Karma but loads of people on here rate it, and wouldnt recommend Malabar to anyone - after this! xx

 

[tek-monkey]

Indeed, Malabar has always been well regarded on here. It is certainly my most visited restaurant in Stafford, been going since it opened albeit infrequently. Since trying Karma though at least I know I can get a very good meal elsewhere in town, and its cheaper too.

 

[zebidee]

cor, I was about to pop on here and ask whether I should choose Karma or Malabar for a night out with the ladies, (not being very up on Indian food personally) I hadn't really looked at this thread before, what a shame that people have been disappointed by poor marketing on a place that many held in high regard prior to this incedent!!

We always use Ashiana or Abduls - I know some people on here dont like Abduls but we love it and have never had a bad meal there. Never been to Karma but loads of people on here rate it, and wouldnt recommend Malabar to anyone - after this! xx

Cheers! It's so hard to pick one though isn't it? I want to take my mom out somewhere nice as she's a bit lonely now my sis has left home for uni