You took your family to a nearby restaurant. You were disappointed with the meal and wish to complain to the manager. Write a letter to the manager of the restaurant. In your letter: - explain why you were at the restaurant - describe the problems - write about the action you want the manager to take
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, My wife and I visited your restaurant to celebrate our third wedding anniversary on March 18th, 2025. Unfortunately, we had a very negative experience due to a below-average meal and poor staff behaviour. I want you to investigate the reason for such a terrible meal. Otherwise, you are going to lose customers. We arrived at your restaurant at around 6:00 pm and ordered Doro Wat for our main course. But it tasted astringent due to overcooking. Even after we told this to the waiter on duty, he did not pay attention and told us to complain to the manager instead. Besides, the fruit punch that my wife ordered had no orange juice in it, though the menu stated so. This was very annoying which actually ruined our dining experience. I demand a full refund that I paid for a worthless meal. I also want you to take the necessary action against the waiter who denied paying attention to our complaints. I look forward to seeing you take immediate action regarding this matter. Yours faithfully, K. Henok
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Specific wording Original: due to a below-average meal Suggested revision: because of poor food quality Why it matters: This sounds more natural in a formal complaint.
- 2. Polite request Original: I want you to investigate the reason Suggested revision: I would like you to investigate why this happened Why it matters: A polite request is more suitable for writing to a manager.
- 3. Avoid threat Original: Otherwise, you are going to lose customers. Suggested revision: I believe this may affect your restaurant's reputation. Why it matters: This keeps the concern but sounds more professional.
- 4. Food description Original: But it tasted astringent Suggested revision: However, it tasted bitter and overcooked Why it matters: "Astringent" is unusual for this dish and may sound unnatural.
- 5. Clear reference Original: Even after we told this to the waiter Suggested revision: Even after we told the waiter about this Why it matters: The pronoun reference is clearer with the issue stated directly.
- 6. Service collocation Original: did not pay attention Suggested revision: did not respond appropriately Why it matters: This is more precise for customer service.
- 7. Clear reference Original: the menu stated so Suggested revision: the menu stated that it contained orange juice Why it matters: This avoids a vague reference to "so".
- 8. Relative clause Original: This was very annoying which actually ruined Suggested revision: This was very annoying, and it ruined Why it matters: Use a coordinating clause or add correct punctuation.
- 9. Refund phrase Original: I demand a full refund that I paid Suggested revision: I request a full refund of the amount I paid Why it matters: This fixes the object of "refund" and softens the tone.
- 10. Tone control Original: a worthless meal Suggested revision: an unsatisfactory meal Why it matters: This is firm but more appropriate for a formal complaint.
- 11. Wrong collocation Original: denied paying attention Suggested revision: refused to pay attention Why it matters: "Denied paying attention" does not express the intended complaint clearly.
- 12. Natural closing Original: I look forward to seeing you take immediate action Suggested revision: I look forward to your prompt response Why it matters: This is a standard formal closing for a complaint.
Suggested Rewrites
- due to a below-average meal because of poor food quality
- I want you to investigate the reason I would like you to investigate why this happened
- Otherwise, you are going to lose customers. I believe this may affect your restaurant's reputation.
- But it tasted astringent However, it tasted bitter and overcooked
- Even after we told this to the waiter Even after we told the waiter about this
- did not pay attention did not respond appropriately
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The letter covers all three bullets: the anniversary visit, meal and service problems, and a requested refund plus action against the waiter. The complaint purpose is clear, but the tone is sometimes too blunt for a formal manager letter.
Keep the complaint firm but professional by replacing threats and highly negative labels with specific evidence and a clear requested remedy.
Coherence and Cohesion
The ideas are generally ordered from context to problems and action. Cohesion is weakened by abrupt sentences, limited paragraphing, and some links that do not show the relationship between ideas smoothly.
Group the visit, food issues, staff issue, and requested action into short paragraphs with clearer transitions.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary communicates the complaint, but some choices are imprecise or too emotional, such as "worthless meal" and "tasted astringent". The range is adequate but not always natural.
Use precise restaurant complaint language such as "overcooked", "poor service", "refund", and "staff training".
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Grammar is mostly understandable, with a mix of simple and complex sentences. Errors with relative clauses, verb patterns, and sentence linking reduce control.
Check that each sentence has a clear subject-verb structure and that relative clauses are correctly linked.