A new tapas restaurant has come to town - but residents are less than pleased with its supposedly lengthy terms and conditions for diners which has sparked confusion.

La Salsa, formerly the Istanbul Grill restaurant on Heyside in Royton, announced earlier this week that it has changed its Turkish menu to make way for bottomless tapas with more than 40 authentic Spanish dishes to choose from.

However, Oldhamers have since slammed the restaurant for what they describe as complex rules that contradict the spirit of tapas.

Some of the terms and conditions listed on the menu are as follows:

  • Sharing tapas with guests/children is prohibited - anyone eating will be charged the full price per person
  • A maximum order of three prawn dishes in total per person
  • Only three dishes can be ordered at one time (or two on a 'busy night') but as many times as preferred
  • Orders will be refused if found to be wasting food
  • Children aged nine and under eat half-price

But some residents on social media said the rules are so "ridiculous" that it has put them off from going with some saying they'd be "stressed" and "scared" of ordering wrong.

A man said: "If I'm paying, I should be able to order 20 dishes with my partner if I want, eat what we want, pay for it and leave."

Another agreed: "You can't say 'eat as much as you like' when the terms and conditions state otherwise."

"Is that not the point of tapas, to share dishes?" Wrote another.

While one commenter asked: "Who thought it would be a good idea to change to authentic Spanish cuisine and put more rules in than Brexit negotiations?"

However, the restaurant said sharing tapas is permitted but that the rules stipulate everyone who eats has to pay the price.

La Salsa also said once the three dishes have been finished, customers can order again and again "as many times as you like, until you are full".

But another said she worried about the food-wasting rule, writing: "I'd be on pins all night with all those terms and conditions - what if I order three dishes and don't like them? Will I be refused food and barred?"

The restaurant then said service would only be refused if customers are ordering food "you know you're not going to eat" and said dishes can be changed if they're not liked.

But even the portion sizes didn't slip by unscathed by customers with photographs showing the average tapas plate containing one meatball, one mussel and two prawns per dish.

Customers said they would expect more than one item per dish so that the table can share and try all different types of food.

"Tapas is good for sharing, so I would expect more than one meatball.

"If I ordered three dishes and my friend ordered three, I would expect we could share and try all six dishes", a customer said.

Another added: "You can only order three dishes per person each time... You guys are going to be busy walking back and forth from the kitchen."

But others pointed out that the rules are standard for most all-you-can-eat establishments.

"I'm wishing them well", one woman wrote, "Why are people so negative about a business trying their best to stay busy and keep people employed?" 

Customers who visited this week said they were pleased with the food and service with many saying it was "great value" and would be returning.

A man added: "This tapas is ideal. I'm expected to eat like a lord on the budget of a pauper on my doorstep."