In a restaurant, if you don't like the dish you are served, what do you do?

Question

Not the fault of the chef but your own personal taste. Do you ask for something else, send it back or just try to eat it?

Answer 1

I just try to eat it. I know if I send it back it will probably get spit in, pissed in, dropped on the floor or someother nasty thing like that. I've seen some nasty stuff on those behind the scenes camera shows.

I'd rather just eat what I've got and deal with it.

Answer 2

it depends on one of two things:

if the food is not as described on the menu or is wrong in some way.

or if the food is not to your taste.

for the first one then you are totally within your rights to request a replacement meal or for the item to be removed from your bill. if you're nice about it the waiting staff will be nice to you too.

if the food is not to your taste then you have no legal rights to expect any of the above. the chef has worked to make this dish for you and if it's as described on the menu then what you should do is politely tell the waiter that it's not to your taste and could you possibly add something to it to flavour it...most waiting staff will be accommodating as long as you're nice. And so will most chefs.

i think it's an exaggeration that decent restaurants do things to people's food...certainly the one i work in doesn't (honest!)

i work in an indian/lebanese restaurant and occassionally someone orders a curry and it is not quite the same as they get in the jars in the local supermarket. our chef has been making these curries for over 20 years so i'm sure he knows the recipes! the ones who are nice about it always get offered a replacement or for our chef to flavour it differently. the obnoxious ones are informed that it's exactly what they ordered...so it's not our responsibility if it's not to their taste.

personally, i wouldn't hesitate to speak to the waiting staff in either situation...as long as you're polite they will try to ensure you enjoy your meal. you know what they say...if a customer enjoys his meal/service/product etc he'll tell a few folk. if he doesn't...he'll tell everyone!

Answer 3

You can actually send it back and get away with it. But depending where you go, it will increase your chances of getting some "special" ingredient added to the new meal.

But you can do it. I know a girl that won't eat anything unless its piping hot. Once she went through three different dishes in at the same restaurant. Our waiter was the best though.

Answer 4

Most good resturants will take back the meal without question. If you don't enjoy it, don't eat it. But if eating with people that would be offended by you sending it back and asking for something else, the you better try and live with it. Dining out is not only about food, but also the people you are with.

Answer 5

You should just tell the server that you don't like it. Tell them that it's not the dish, it's you and order something else. If you are too shy or don't want to pay for another, because they may not take it off the bill, just eat a few bites and ask for a box or let them take it. Some servers will notice that you aren't eating it and offer you something else.

Answer 6

If its just a question of not liking make your waiter aware of this and they may allow you to choose an alternative.

However if you are unhappy with the quality of the meal or it is not as described again make them aware of this. You then have three choices:

1. Ask for an alternative at no additonal cost.
2. Ask for your meal to be removed from the bill.
3. Decline to pay the bill. You can do this in two ways. Firstly leave your name and address and advise them why you are declining to pay. This allows them to pursue you for the cost of the meal if they feel you are been unfair. Secondly pay by credit card and clearly mark the counterfoil (the part you sign) "Under Duress". This then allows you to claim the cost of the meal back from your card provider.

Answer 7

Unless there is truly something wrong with it, such as being overcooked/undercooked, then it would be rude to send it back just because you don't like it. Usually, it's your own fault that you choose something gross to have for dinner. However, if it's really nasty and you want to get something completely different, you can always pluck out a hair and drop it in there so that they will have to give you something else. Or you can fake a food allergy and pretend to be suprised that there are [tomatoes, nuts, cheese] in your food.

Answer 8

surely there is a high chance the reason you dont like it is because there is something in it you dont like, so why did you order it in the first place??????

Perhaps you dont like spinach and then you order something with spinach in it then it is your own fault.

If however there is a genuine complaint like you thought you would like it but you dont then then the first thing you could do is ask if anyone else at your table wouldnt mind swapping.

If that doesnt work ask the waiter if you can speak to the manager.
Try and say your piece to the manager about not liking it with out making it seem a big deal and ask nicely if he could speak to the chef.
There is a high chance they will not be able to do anything about it but there is no harm in asking.

Without trying to sound cheeky surely most people order stuff in a restaurant that they know they would like which makes the whole scenario very very extremely rare.

Answer 9

Hi, it depends on what you want to do, i would just eat it and complain afterwalds, but some people complain to management, or demand another meal if they dont like something. but i think it could be a little embarrasing for the person and myself, so i just eat it, but there aint no stopping you having a quiet word with the manager. I suppose it the restaurant is very expensive i would definatly complain as you are paying loads for you meal and you expect it to be perfect.

Answer 10

When the waiter comes by and ask's "How is everything?" that would be the time to bring it up. If you just explain it - 9 times out of 10, they'll exchange it for something else with no problem.

And give them that big tip, too. Some of them really deserve it.