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Bitter liver..

(72 Posts)
Shinamae Wed 29-Mar-23 09:39:09

My son and grandson took me out last night for a belated Mother’s Day meal, we went to quite an up market restaurant and I ordered the calfs liver. It was absolutely horrible very very bitter. I called the waitress over and just said to her this liver is so bitter, I can’t eat it. Could you please tell the chef and what happened absolutely nothing…😬Very disappointing evening. My son pleaded with me not to make a fuss so I didn’t but when I got home I wrote them a very strong worded email saying how disgusted I was not just the bitter liver but at their lack of care about it.
I do occasionally buy lambs liver myself, but I find that that is bitter, what on earth has happened to smooth, sweet liver that I used to have years and years ago?. It all now seems to be crumbly and bitter. I don’t know what I can do about it,every now and then I will buy it again and try again. I’ve even bought it in a ready meal from Marks & Spencer’s, and Tesco finest still the same bitter liver…🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

biglouis Wed 29-Mar-23 09:47:10

When you are making a complaint it is a good tactic to state exactly what you want them to do about it.

Did you want a refund or another substitute dish?

Your posting does not make this clear.

I have no patience with people who tell me "dont make a fuss" because if the restaurant is a professional one they will want to make things right. They will certainly not want you going on all the review sites and slagging them off.

Customers do not realise their power.

Mollygo Wed 29-Mar-23 09:51:20

How unfortunate for you to have your evening spoilt like that. Sad for your son and grandson too when they thought they were doing something you’d enjoy.
We like liver-home cooked or occasionally from M&S. Do you think perhaps your sense of taste has changed? I know I don’t enjoy eating some of the things I used like.
A bit surprising you got no response from the chef, but well done for not upsetting your son and grandson.

CatsCatsCats Wed 29-Mar-23 09:51:43

I wonder whether your taste buds have changed over time so you now taste something that other people can't? I've never had bitter liver, but then don't eat it that much so can't really make a judgement.

Jaxjacky Wed 29-Mar-23 09:51:50

I eat liver regularly and haven’t had this problem}

Shinamae Wed 29-Mar-23 10:02:15

biglouis

When you are making a complaint it is a good tactic to state exactly what you want them to do about it.

Did you want a refund or another substitute dish?

Your posting does not make this clear.

I have no patience with people who tell me "dont make a fuss" because if the restaurant is a professional one they will want to make things right. They will certainly not want you going on all the review sites and slagging them off.

Customers do not realise their power.

Well, I expected the chef to come out..

Shinamae Wed 29-Mar-23 10:03:06

Shinamae

biglouis

When you are making a complaint it is a good tactic to state exactly what you want them to do about it.

Did you want a refund or another substitute dish?

Your posting does not make this clear.

I have no patience with people who tell me "dont make a fuss" because if the restaurant is a professional one they will want to make things right. They will certainly not want you going on all the review sites and slagging them off.

Customers do not realise their power.

Well, I expected the chef to come out..

And would’ve taken it from there. As I say, my son will not put up with me making a fuss and as he was paying I have decided to email them have not had a reply as yet…

MiniMoon Wed 29-Mar-23 10:03:26

I love liver, we eat it here about once a month. I've never experienced it being bitter either. It's something I cook at home, so probably wouldn't order it in a restaurant.
When you are cooking it at home, try soaking it in milk first. My mother used to do this as she said it sweetened it

Shinamae Wed 29-Mar-23 10:04:29

I don’t think my tastebuds have changed that much to be honest. And also it was not smooth it was crumbly. 😩

Shinamae Wed 29-Mar-23 10:05:20

MiniMoon

I love liver, we eat it here about once a month. I've never experienced it being bitter either. It's something I cook at home, so probably wouldn't order it in a restaurant.
When you are cooking it at home, try soaking it in milk first. My mother used to do this as she said it sweetened it

I will definitely try soaking in milk, thank you.

AskAlice Wed 29-Mar-23 10:11:15

As MiniMoon says, soaking the liver in milk for a couple of hours softens it and takes away the bitter taste. If it was crumbly it sounds as though it was also overcooked!

midgey Wed 29-Mar-23 10:21:08

Perhaps it wasn’t lambs liver but calf? I seem to remember that the taste was very different.

Aldom Wed 29-Mar-23 10:33:38

midgey

Perhaps it wasn’t lambs liver but calf? I seem to remember that the taste was very different.

The OP ordered calf liver.

Calendargirl Wed 29-Mar-23 10:34:17

midgey

Perhaps it wasn’t lambs liver but calf? I seem to remember that the taste was very different.

The OP said she ordered ‘calf’s’ liver.

Granmarderby10 Wed 29-Mar-23 11:02:50

I didn’t think you could buy calf’s liver anymore but perhaps restaurants can?

Jaxjacky Wed 29-Mar-23 11:12:34

M&S and Waitrose sell calves liver.

Shinamae Wed 29-Mar-23 11:24:41

midgey

Perhaps it wasn’t lambs liver but calf? I seem to remember that the taste was very different.

It was meant to be calfs liver, but it was so bitter. It could’ve been pigs lambs anything there was no telling. I had always been led to believe that calves liver had a very mild taste hence I was keen to try it..🤷‍♀️

lemsip Wed 29-Mar-23 11:34:23

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Kim19 Wed 29-Mar-23 11:42:05

Yes I was taught to soak my liver in milk then coat it in lightly seasoned flour. Still do this. Never had a problem. Pity about your lack of response from the restaurant. Obviously not classy at all of they would most certainly have reacted to your comments.

NanaDana Wed 29-Mar-23 11:53:21

I doubt that the consistency or the taste of calf/pig/lamb liver has changed in recent years, and suspect it had more to do with its cooking/preparation. I often buy liver from the supermarket, where it is still quite cheap, and tend to stick to lamb's liver myself, as I find it has a more delicate flavour. Quite understand you not wanting to "make a fuss" as you'd been taken out as a treat, and your Son asked you not to, but you're right to pursue this with them, as you haven't had a satisfactory response. Very poor customer service.

NanaDana Wed 29-Mar-23 11:56:45

Lemsip. Shinamae actually fell in with her Son's request "not to make a fuss", so your rather rude post/harsh response is based on your misreading of what actually happened. Are you going to apologise?

Fleurpepper Wed 29-Mar-23 12:07:30

Absolutely hate liver, makes me gag, just the smell of it. Irrelevant to this thread, however.

lemsip Wed 29-Mar-23 12:25:35

NanaDana

Lemsip. Shinamae actually fell in with her Son's request "not to make a fuss", so your rather rude post/harsh response is based on your misreading of what actually happened. Are you going to apologise?

I suggest you read the op a bit more thoroughly before being rude to me.

....................
OP states

My son and grandson took me out last night for a belated Mother’s Day meal, we went to quite an up market restaurant and I ordered the calfs liver. It was absolutely horrible very very bitter. * I called the waitress over * and just said to her this liver is so bitter, I can’t eat it. Could you please tell the chef silly statements.

NanaDana Wed 29-Mar-23 12:30:49

Lemsip. The part of the post which you conveniently choose to ignore, clearly states : "My son pleaded with me not to make a fuss so I didn’t ". I repeat, are you going to apologise?

Caramme Wed 29-Mar-23 13:17:00

Lemsip. No point in going back the next day. How could the restaurant understand the complaint if they can’t see the item being complained about?