Restaurant boss apologises after abusive bill

Feb 20 2008 by Gurdip Thandi

A RESTAURANT boss today apologised after diners at a city restaurant had their very own F-word experience - without Gordon Ramsay.

Ten friends found the abusive and sexually-explicit message on their bill at Joe Delucci's Italian restaurant in Bird Street, Lichfield.

Diner Clare Watkin said she thought it was written after they complained about what she said was a wait of more than two hours for food.

Owner Nigel Langsdon has begun an investigation into the printed receipt.

Ms Watkin said: "I couldn't believe it. The bill read 'fish cakes', which one of us had for a starter, and it was written right above it - absolutely disgusting language.

"I think that the way that we've been spoken to is absolutely outrageous and I'd like a written apology from the restaurant."

Owner Mr Langsdon said the message had been meant to be seen only by kitchen staff and he did not know how it ended up as an item on the receipt.

He said: "That shouldn't come out on the bill, so we've got to find out what's gone wrong there.

"But we have apologised unreservedly to the girls concerned and said that they're very welcome to come back and have a free meal and we'd like them to."

He has also offered to donate the bill for their meal to charity.

The cost of the meal came to £284.68, including a 10% service charge.