Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Other Local Resorts & Areas => Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum => Topic started by: hillside on October 22, 2012, 17:58:24 PM
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We decided to give this restaurant a try last week as it seemed to come well recommended. We understood it is owned by the fisherman’s co-operative and sells the local fish caught that day in the bay.
We arrived at the restaurant and were surprised at how well presented it was. The waiter arrived at our table and apologized that there was no menu and we said we understand - we look in the fridge. There were a few different types of fish in the fridge, but only one type big enough for us to share. We ordered a medium size fish, the waiter put it on the scales, but we didn’t see the weight. We sat back and enjoyed a nice meal – 2 spring rolls, 8 small prawns, mussel kebab, the fish, salad a few chips, 1 efes and 2 rakis.
The bill arrived, total 155TL. On examination we saw, shock horror – 72TL for the one fish!! We have been visiting Fethiye for 13 years and now visit 4 times a year so we have some understanding of costs and value. When we queried the amount the waiter said ‘yes that’s correct – 800 grams at 90 TL a kilo. Now I dispute it was anywhere near 800gms – but 90TL a kilo for a fish caught 20 meters across the road!!!
After disputing the amount several times and not getting anywhere we paid 120TL which we felt represented far more than the value of the meal and left, waving the bill and stating that we would be showing this on CBF and TA . As we made our way to the car the waiter came after us. As I started to get in the passenger seat he was waiving the 120TL and wanted to give the full amount back to us – in exchange for the bill I was still clutching. No way was I ‘selling’ the bill back to them for a free meal – people need to be made aware and I intended to keep the bill to back up my complaint.
As I refused to hand over the bill another older man came charging up to us. Shouting in Turkish he aggressively attempted to wrench the bill from my hand. With his nose in my face, and continuing to shout abuse he grabbed my arm and twisted my fingers to try and get me to release the bill. Now I’m an OAP with arthritis in my thumbs but I hung on to that bill – I have cuts from his nails and bruises on my forearm to prove it. My husband, who is not very able (with the help of the waiter who was trying to talk the man down) had to shove him off me and we drove away extremely shaken by the whole incident.
A Turkish friend phoned the restaurant to complain on our behalf and was told that we had chosen an ‘expensive fish’ – scales of gold I should think. He apologized for ‘Baba’s’ behavior and offered us a free meal if we went back but I wouldn’t go near the place again even if I was paid.
There are no prices on the fish – in our ignorance we didn’t imagine that a fish caught in Fethiye Bay, sold in a Fethiye co-operative could possibly cost £27!
I would advise anyone to stay away from this restaurant but if you are tempted in please learn from our mistake, ask the price of the fish and check how much it weighs!
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That's an horrendous way to behave - good for you sticking to your guns. Hope you are OK? >:(
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How awful for you - thank you for sharing it with us.
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This was a terrible thing to happen and I hope you will both recover from your experience.
I think you should report this matter to the Tourist Police ring 179 and you will get an English speaker who you can report this matter too.
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Report him to the police, as this man has assaulted you. Dont let him get away with this, as the next person to complain may come of worse.
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One of the reasons I pay up even when the meal is rubbish! You never know how these people will react!
We went along to the Girida once and I asked to see the menu but was told " no menu". So we didn't go in thank goodness.
It was actually recommended to us by Turkish friends so I assume they have nontourist prices also!
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What an awful experiences for you both >:(
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Where is this Girida Restaurant.
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Thank you all for your support, we are fine now thanks and fortunately not put off Turkey - although we are put off any restaurant that doesn't display prices! >:(
We have reported it to Alo 179 with a copy of the receipt, albeit ripped and tattered!
The restaurant is between Fethiye and Calis desmartinson on the opposite side of the road to the promenade:
more on the restaurant - http://www.turkeysforlife.com/2012/07/eating-fethiye-girida-fish-restaurant.html
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I must admit that they only time we have been ripped off on prices for food and drink in Turkey was when we did not see the menu.
Beware! It's a licence for some to charge what they like if they think they can get away with it. If they think you are new to the area or on holiday it's just too tempting I guess.
I remember going to Max's old bar a couple of years back and a new barman was behind the bar. He didn't know me from Adam or the fact that I knew Max and what he was charging for a bottle of Efes. There was nobody else there as it was late afternoon and he obviously thought I would pay up the 6 tyl he was asking without question. I'd been paying 3ytl but offered him 4 and he took it eventually. Needless to say I told max the next time I saw him and the barman, for some reason, seemed to be washing dishes from then on :)
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Obivously you have to speak as you find - but what a contrast between Turkey's for Life's appraisal...
"They're a friendly bunch"
and hillside's...
"Shouting in Turkish he aggressively attempted to wrench the bill from my hand. With his nose in my face, and continuing to shout abuse he grabbed my arm and twisted my fingers to try and get me to release the bill. Now I’m an OAP with arthritis in my thumbs but I hung on to that bill – I have cuts from his nails and bruises on my forearm to prove it"
The food looks lovely - shame because I'll never go to see if it tastes as good as it looks. I believe more than anything that people that target Brits (and British senior citizens at that!!!) with their cons and aggression should pay a price for that. Would they do that to a Turkish OAP lady? You bet your last kurus they would be dead or hospitalised within no time if they did. Collectively boycotting their businesses is the only way (and hitting them in the pocket hurts). Let them con and attack Russians, and see how they get revenge.
Hope you are ok guys, it must have been one hell of a shock to have to go through.
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The customer relations/assault side of things I will leave to one side.
You say that fish was caught across the road .... landed there, perhaps, caught? unlikely.
You do not know the weight of the fish.
You do not know the price per kilo.
You do not say what kind of fish it was.
and then you
You decide to pay only what you think the meal is worth !
A restaurateur may have some cause to be aggrieved by customers who make up their own bills, so to speak.
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Yes, you idiots - you put a bit of trust into people who physically attack you when things don't go the way they planned. What did you expect...
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The customer relations/assault side of things I will leave to one side.
You say that fish was caught across the road .... landed there, perhaps, caught? unlikely.
You do not know the weight of the fish.
You do not know the price per kilo.
You do not say what kind of fish it was.
and then you
You decide to pay only what you think the meal is worth !
A restaurateur may have some cause to be aggrieved by customers who make up their own bills, so to speak.
Surely Amca the point is that the customer has some cause to be aggrieved by restaurateur who make up the [inflated] price with no no relation to what was served and the 'normal' price of a good fish meal in the area ... like Scunner suggests you can bet your life they would never have tried this on with Turkish customers, not because they should feel threatened or intimidated, but because they know they would never get away with it!!
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And who in their right mind wants to go for a well deserved night out and risk it ending like this?
Forget the place - there are loads of options.
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Sorry I should have added that bitter experience has taught me in Turkey, never to go into anywhere or do anything without agreeing a price beforehand, or at least have access to a price list, which would obviously include a menu (and ideally the one that is in Turkish!)
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The customer relations/assault side of things I will leave to one side.
You say that fish was caught across the road .... landed there, perhaps, caught? unlikely.
You do not know the weight of the fish.
You do not know the price per kilo.
You do not say what kind of fish it was.
and then you
You decide to pay only what you think the meal is worth !
A restaurateur may have some cause to be aggrieved by customers who make up their own bills, so to speak.
Yes amca - hindsight is a wonderful thing. We were too trusting after 12 years visiting Turkey and never experiencing anything like this before - but sadly we will never be so stupid as to be trusting again....
The restauranteur wasnt aggrieved we paid 30TL short of his inflated price - he tried to hand back ALL of the money when he realised I intended to expose this restaurant. Would he seriously have done that if 150TL had been the genuine bill?
I am lost for words that you say 'The customer relations/assault side of things I will leave to one side' - you think this is acceptable behaviour?
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hillside
I am lost for words that you say 'The customer relations/assault side of things I will leave to one side' - you think this is acceptable behaviour?
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Leaving something to one side is not the same as saying that assaulting someone is acceptable behaviour.
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hillside
I am lost for words that you say 'The customer relations/assault side of things I will leave to one side' - you think this is acceptable behaviour?
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Leaving something to one side is not the same as saying that assaulting someone is acceptable behaviour.
but you dont think it is even worthy of comment ?? even though you jump to the defense of the restaurant indicating that maybe they had a right to be aggrieved as we 'underpaid, their bill. Incredible. With attitudes like yours no wonder these (rare) type of places think they can get away with it.
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I am really sorry to hear how you were treated, it was abdolutely out of order. It does not always work out to establish the price beforehand, my personal experience left me feeling angry and let down by Booty in Hisaronu, agreed a price only to have it increased halfway through the process.
At lesst we have the forum to ensure as many people as possible are ward of such bad establishments. Maybe someone who knows this restaurant could point them to this discussion or have a 'friendly' word.
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QUOTE: Turkey's for Life "Time to get the bill as the restaurant began to empty. Even the bill box is covered in shells! And we'd love to tell you what the bill inside the box said on it - but this meal was a treat from a friend and she wouldn't let us see it! We'll definitely be going to Girida Balık again though so we'll let you know, next time."
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My neighbours went to this restaurant in August, there was five of them and they all had starters and main meals, and drinks although three would have been non alcoholic. Their bill was 250 tl. Although it was the most expensive meal of their holiday, they also said it was one of the best. Don't know if I would go there after hearing about they way they treat you when you dispute the bill.
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I was told the owner and his son are fisherman and catch their own fish. Whether that is true or not I have no idea.
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No excuse for that sort of treatment what so ever. It makes me so cross to hear of these rip offs and bad treatment of people. We have become very "wise" to the rip offs and as another member said they wont do anything without an agreed price or seeing a menu with prices nor will we anymore. I was ripped off at two separate places for pedicures so now have a regular place I go to she does a good job and I feel like she deserves my cash . also when we are eating out we tend to less now adays and cook or get takeaways, but when we eat out not only do we take into account what we fancy eating it has now also become who do we think deserves our hard earned money the most where we know we will get good service a nice meal and no disputing bills at the end of the night :)