BAD SOMMELIER

30 Sep 2014 By Xin Hui Helder-Eng

A trendy uptown restaurant, in the central business district of Singapore, is pissing off customers by making, what we consider, the biggest sommelier boo-boos!

Traumatized Patron: “It’s apparent I am a man, taking two ladies out to dinner. Never mind we waited an hour to get a table – that is to be expected when you’re a hipster restaurant, who does not care if you’re a time-poor executive in a rat-race. We sat down and I asked to see the wine list. It’s all Australian wine which I know nothing about. So I asked if the sommelier could help. 15 minutes later, the sommelier gives me a nod, and he asks me, in front of everyone…

“What is your budget?”

Parched: You never ask a customer that.

Customer 1 0 Sommelier

Traumatized Patron: “Already slightly offended, I shrugged and said “well, say, anything between 100-150 bucks? (between you and I, I said that to get laid. Plus, I’m in a nice restaurant, you know, and c’mon, 150 is above entry-level! If I was with the boys, I’d have said 50 bucks, and I get to keep the cork!) Sommelier, again, announces, “We have nothing below 150”.”

Parched: Ow! That’s not cool, Mr. Sommelier. Is it Sunday…? cos you got no class!

Customer 2 0 Sommelier

Traumatized Patron: “Fed up, and wishing for this to be over, I pointed to a Pinot Noir, and it was, say a $200 bottle. The sommelier says, “we are out of that, and a similar one would be this” and he runs his finger up the list to a $285 bottle.”

Parched: *on our feet* NO! He.did.not.just.do.that! That’s one of the biggest no-nos!

Customer 3 0 Sommelier

Three Strikes, You’re Out.

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Burnt Ends is located at 20 Teck Lim Rd, Singapore 088391