Is it wrong to complain about bad service at a restaurant? I always feel like someone will do something bad?

Question

to me one day. lol

Tonight we went out and the service was horrible. I did pay for my meal.
It took awhile to get a waitress who presented someone that was shadowing her. Then someone different brought the food. Then we never saw her for a long time and finally she came with the bill. No one cared to even refill our drinks and I had to get another waiter to wait on us to get me something. My husband ordered the salad bar with dinner and asked the girl working there for some lettuce --as it was empty. She said she was not on the clock and went on putting up new plates while a new bowl of lettuce sat right there beside her. So my husband sat down and then he went to her and just stood there staring at her and the bowl until she put it up. She was in no hurry. She just stood there putting up plates. I had the money to pay in my hands and when asked how my meal was I just said the service was horrible. The manager offered me dessert which I did not want.

Answer 1

You should talk to the manager, but since you were not satisfied with his response, you should contact the proprietor or the corporate office of the establishment. Sometimes they will send you coupons or just acknowledge they will look into the issue. If you are still not satisfied with their response, never spend a dime in there again.

Answer 2

There's nothing wrong with complaining if you received a lousy service and/or food!!! You're just entitled to!! You're paying to be served and taken care of, and if this isn't fulfilled then you have all the right to complain to whomever you need to. I think the manager was too soft -- he should have made you not pay for the meal. Still, at least he offered something -- there are some places where they won't.

I once had this lousy waiter who tried to rip me off when having dinner with my mom..... he offered the "day's special" which was made up of 2 different dishes from the menu (of course the size was not that of 2 dishes but just regular, with a bit of the 2) ........ so he brought it and I ate it..... but when the bill came he charged me as if I had eaten the 2 dishes separately, instead of charging for the 1 dish I had...!!!!! I complained to the manager and he did give me my meal for free. My mom just tipped 10% to or so the moron (I personally wouldn't have given him a dime), but at least I got him reported. There was this other time at a big restaurant with a friend where the service was about the poorest I've ever received.... we complained but the manager didn't do anything.... So we tipped 0, zero, nada. Sometimes that's the only way to really express your dislike of the service.

Answer 3

Wow. When they presented the check I think I would have asked to see the manager right away and stated that I did not like anything about that meal and didnt intend to pay for bad service. A piece of pie just wouldnt cut it. I've done this and at least didnt have to pay for a bad meal. I also wasnt likely to go back there again.

Answer 4

It's never wrong to complain about horrible service. This may seem mean and extreme but I always suggest going a step further for horrible service like this. Contact corporate. trust me it trickles back down to the store and they have to deal with it. Restaurants know that one bad experience will spread like wildfire so when corporate finds out they're normally heated.

Answer 5

I know what you mean about not wanting to take the chance that someone will do something to your food if you complain but I would have talked to the manager on the way out. I would have filled out one of the comment cards AND added the names of everyone who wronged me, THEN I would not have left a tip. If the manager wanted to offer a free desert, I would have suggested to him to offer me my meal free since the service was so DEPLORABLE!

Answer 6

No, it is not wrong to complain about bad service. You have every right to complain. There's no good excuse for bad service, whatsoever. The girl who was NOT on the clock, should have gotten fresh lettuce anyway. I'll bet her boss would like to hear that one. I have been in many restaurants & if the food & or service is bad, I let someone know & their tip is $.0......I don't worry about something bad happening to me because they don't know me & I don't go back to that restaurant anyway.

Answer 7

You should complain to the person who seated you, and perhaps even request to speak to the manager. Explain that although you have eaten and will pay your bill, you probably will not return and most likely will not recommend your friends to visit. If management offers sufficient apologies or recompense, great. Otherwise, leave a lousy tip and follow through on bad-mouthing them every chance you get. (A letter to corporate never hurts.)

Answer 8

Don't complain and send food back-ever. I've worked at a few places as a cook, and I will just say it's unwise.

When you are done eating, then talk to the manager. That's all you can do. And don't go back. Don't be so hard on the waitresses though- they get paid next to nothing to be on their feet all day taking crap from people. Usually in an understaffed restaurant.

Answer 9

It is never wrong to complain about bad service as long as it was stated to the manager in a courteous way and wasn't demanding and rude.

Answer 10

You had the right to complain and not pay for the meal. I've been a waitress and so is my daughter at this point, it's supposed to be about pleasing the customer and catering to them. I would not have tipped and I would have complained.