Do you eat it anyway...Do you tell the waitress to send it back and get more? Do you tell them you will not be paying for the meal? Do you say it right there to the waitress' face? What is the proper etiquette for this one...my husband will not let me say anything, he thinks it's rude.
2007-01-21 03:12:48 · 38 answers · asked by daff73 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
It depends on how bad it is. If it was horrible, I'd say something right then. If it was just not good, I'd tell the waitress when she brought the check. I'm afraid of them doing something to my food-which DOES happen. You have to be careful.
2007-01-21 05:55:16 · answer #1 · answered by melouofs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what is wrong. If it is raw, I would send it back. If what they did to me once, put milk IN my spaghetti, instead of giving me a glass of milk with my spaghetti, I said something. If I didn't like the taste of something, I don't say something. I didn't pay for the spaghetti and when I got home since I was never sent a manager, I emailed the main restaurant and a manager called and sent me a gift card along with the main company sending me a gift card.
If someone forgets to bring me a drink with my meal they may not get a big tip. It just depends. I don't complain at every little thing. It is the big things, like asking for well done and you could wring the blood out of the meat when you get it. That is when I ask for it to be sent back and cooked some more. I am not mean about it.
I just politely tell them it is still raw or moving. :)
If they don't ever return to ask you if things are ok, that is something that wouldn't be good. Sometimes, waitresses or cooks do make mistakes, but they need chances too. They can make ammends. Things can be done politely.
2007-01-21 03:19:32 · answer #2 · answered by Stephanie F 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Coming from a restaurant's point of view- 1. Your waitress did not cook the food, so she should not get offended if you don't like the food.
2. It depends on the food, was if prepared wrong, giving it a undesirable taste/texture? Or was it just something you didn't like the taste of?
If you are at a decent restaurant, they want to know, if you don't tell them they can't fix it.
Just be polite, I am in a kitchen, I don't eat every dish we put out, if you have a problem I would like to fix it, maybe you will come back next week, maybe you will bring a friend because we tried to make your visit as good as we could! If you leave, go home unhappy- how many people will you tell; a lot!
Good Luck and Happy Eating
2007-01-21 03:30:18 · answer #3 · answered by foodiefan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I get a meal that is less than satisfactory, I do inform the server, politely.
Decent restaurants will replace an unsatisfactory meal, and usually offer something in compensation, such as a complementary drink or dessert.
Last week, I ordered a meal that was really sub-par. I told the server that there was a problem with the chicken I ordered. He took the meal back and replaced it with something equivalent, but much better-tasting. The manager came over and not only offered dessert and coffee "on the house," but also offered me a discount (10%) on future meals there.
This potential loss of a customer was repaired by a restaurant, that knew how to make it right.
2007-01-21 03:43:59 · answer #4 · answered by Chief BaggageSmasher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rudeness is letting it be treated as acceptable then someone else gets ripped off. Do the establishment/cook a favor...here's what I'd do (and I put up with a lot):
"Waitress, pardon me, but this is pretty bad. It's mushy/slimy/bland/whatever. I'd like to order something else."
If the next dish is poor, "Waitress, this is not good. I'll have coffee/tea while my family finishes eating. Please take this away."
You're polite and clear. If ANYbody (not hubby) comes to you, don't you dare react as if intimidated/embarrassed. Be above that and state your facts. You're the one who stands to be taken advantage of.
It's awkward until you feel the exhilaration of having done the right thing under pressure.
2007-01-21 03:21:46 · answer #5 · answered by Zeera 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are the customer, and as a result, you are always right.
Call your waitsperson over to the table right away, tell him or her that the meal is not satisfactory, and ask politely for a substitute.
Do not make a federal case.
Do not eat your meal first and complain later.
If you do not get immediate satisfaction, say that you are compelled to leave, and will not pay.
Then go to the cashier and ask to speak to the manager. If this request is denied, just walk out.
2007-01-21 03:18:58 · answer #6 · answered by ljwaks 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Complain. They get them all the time. It is part of the job. They will usually get you some thing else and not charge you for the food you did not like. In some cases they will give you a free meal the next time you come in again.
I have done it because a food I ordered had too much pepper and it was not listed as an ingredient on the menu.
2007-01-21 03:21:13 · answer #7 · answered by Aliz 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not an issue for the resturant to deal with a complaint and you are at least giving them the opportunity to put things right and that is good ettiquette. If, on the second presentation, it is still wrong and your complaint is a reasonable one then you can start negotiating the cost.
If I have ever had to complain, I always do so quietly and courteously and in return I have been treated extremely generously.
Don't suffer the misery of a lousy meal out...it's meant to be a treat.
2007-01-21 03:20:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on the restaurant. If I am at a busy lunch place, I would not complain. Just a mild comment to let them know that the food was not good. At a fancy place where I am paying around $25+ for the entree (in addition to wine and dessert), I would most definitely point out to the server that the food was not good. Politely, of course.
2007-01-21 03:30:04 · answer #9 · answered by Developing Minds 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are different degrees of "satisfactory" in my opinion. If you receive your food cold, that's enough to send it back. Now if you say "light ice" and they give you more than your idea of it, don't make them get you a new one. Just take the ice out! If you asked for medium well and they give you rare, SURE....you need to send it back and hey, if you're lucky, you'll get a free dessert. They are there to make sure your meal is a pleasant one and will do their best to make sure everything is to your liking. But no, I woudln't be looking for a free meal unless it was blatent bad service or your waiter/waitress totally ignored you or was rude. And then you don't really deal with the server, you ask for the manager.
2007-01-21 03:18:10 · answer #10 · answered by Cindy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋