There’s nothing like a big delicious beer after a hard day at the office and it’s well known that many corporate lunch enthusiasts also indulge in post-work entertaining, so the Corporate Lunchbox will now include an After Hours category.
One of my most regularly visited post-work watering holes is De Fountein in Mission Bay. For the last few years Mussel Monday (half price mussel pots) has provided a great evening’s entertainment for our group of mates, so it seemed like the perfect place to start.
However, my most recent visit highlighted a disturbing trend – see graph below. After sitting at the table for 15-20 minutes with no service we were forced to get our own menus, then had to wait another 20 minutes for someone to take our order.
Matt did a fantastic job in the absence of wait staff
Eventually we were served and another 20 minutes later the half-price mussel pots arrived.
Sixty minutes is too long to wait for food. There were no apologies and no communication about the cause of delay, it was the food-equivalent of a Jetstar flight.
It was suddenly clear that Mussel Monday at De Fountein wasn’t what it used to be. It has always been packed on a Monday, but the service has been getting progressively worse. I’m no hospo expert, but I reckon a few extra staff in anticipation of the mussel-loving crowd wouldn’t hurt.
Looking at the data below - based on minimal science - De Fountein would benefit from hiring better staff too.
It’s hard to complain about the food. At half price it’s great value for money – but only on Monday. I’d probably give it a miss on any other night of the week, as the prices are not justified. It’s another Lone Star – big, bland and overpriced – leading to a disappointing lunch/dinner experience.
Definitely not the sort of place to impress a client or future business prospect, you’ve been warned! But great if you don’t mind waiting for cheap mussels – maybe bring something to snack on.
Something something something resting on laurels
I was going to write more, but then I just decided to go on living my life…
Overall rating: 4/10
- Location: 5
- Value: 4 (7 on Monday)
- Service: 2
- Quality: 4
- Environment: 5
- X-Factor: 2
De Fountein, 77 Tamaki Drive, Mission Bay
