waitstaff-what if someone sends food back

[bcp (Premo)]

Originally Posted by czygvtwkr

Warning, you may not want to watch this.

That right there is what Im afraid of.

[Baja28 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by libby

For clarification, there was nothing wrong with the meal, it was just that it just was not to this person's liking. In fact, another at the table loved it and devoured it.

The other person ate the finicky persons meal or had ordered the same thing? If they ate the finicky persons meal then darn straight they should pay.

[libby]

Originally Posted by Baja28

The other person ate the finicky persons meal or had ordered the same thing? If they ate the finicky persons meal then darn straight they should pay.

Another person in our party ordered the same thing and loved it, so based on that recommendation person #2 ordered it. (not sure about these two individuals, but I'm not close enough to anyone in the group to ask for a taste test first)
Person #2 wasn't able to eat it, the flavors were too strong. Again, she was very polite to the waitress. And when her bill first arrived that dinner was still on the bill (now, truth be told, if they were going to charge her for it, perhaps they could've bagged it up because maybe this person's significant other would have eaten it. Or, they could've asked her)

[BernieP]

Originally Posted by ItalianScallion

That happened Sunday afternoon at my regular haunt about 3 weeks ago. This "Norm" looking (Big and unkempt) guy ordered a riblet & chicken tenders meal. I was sitting at the bar right next to him and he devoured 2 orders of fries, 3 sodas, a bowl of soup and all of the chicken tenders, then he told the manager that he didn't like the riblets. The manager brought him another order of ribs and he said he didn't like them either. Remember; he ate everything else and then some.

Then he started in on the bar tender, saying that she (and other servers) touched the ends of the straws with their unclean hands. Now I know and have observed the bar tender regularly washing her hands so he's really reaching now.

The guy kept on fussing and finally said he's "going to the top and I have pictures" (which he didn't). He apparently does this for free food often. I told the manager that he should have let this guy "go to the top" because he doesn't have a legitimate case. If he didn't like the ribs, he should have stopped eating and called the manager but I sat right next to him and watched him devour everything except a few ribs before he started his tirade.

I told the manager to make him show a credit card or some cash, just to see if he intended to pay for his meal at all. Some people!

totally different than someone getting their meal and realizing it wasn't what they thought it would be.

In better restaurants an alert server will notice the customer not eating and inquire. I guess some of it depends on the integrity of the customer, but if tell them why you aren't eating they will often offer to correct the problem, either with a different meal, a change or simply to take it off your bill.

I know someone who can't eat a lot and sometimes the food is just to rich. In that case they ask for the meal to be boxed.

Reminds me, one of the great ironies of dining out, the more expensive, the better the restaurant, the more latitude is given the customer. For example, at a fast food place you pay first...,then don't get what you paid for and have to argue. Worse yet, it happens in a drive thru and you feel just stuck with it. Yet as the average price goes up, the more concern for the customer.

[ItalianScallion (Premo)]

Originally Posted by BernieP

totally different than someone getting their meal and realizing it wasn't what they thought it would be...

Agreed. The issue here is that most people have a good idea as to what they're getting by reading the menu. I've ordered food that I thought I would like and, when I tasted it, it wasn't that good. BUT I didn't return it because it wasn't the fault of the restaurant. I forced it down and just never ordered it again.

I was out with friends at Outback one night and one of the guys ordered a steak meal and didn't like it. I asked him if there was something wrong with it and he said no, he just didn't like the way it tasted. I told him that he should just eat it unless it was really unbearable. He said it wasn't. When the waitress came by, he mentioned to her that he didn't like the taste of it. She said she would take it off the bill and I got pi$$ed! The guy told her that she didn't have to but I jumped all over him for saying anything at all!

If it's a legitimate reason, problem or mistake then definitely return it. I always ask for a "no pink" burger at RR and, one time, it came out really pink (almost raw). I showed it to the manager, he apologized and had another one made asap. I didn't ask for my money back or make a scene. Almost every food establishment WILL remedy a meal that is wrong or improperly cooked.

[BernieP]

Originally Posted by ItalianScallion

Agreed. The issue here is that most people have a good idea as to what they're getting by reading the menu. I've ordered food that I thought I would like and, when I tasted it, it wasn't that good. BUT I didn't return it because it wasn't the fault of the restaurant. I forced it down and just never ordered it again.

I was out with friends at Outback one night and one of the guys ordered a steak meal and didn't like it. I asked him if there was something wrong with it and he said no, he just didn't like the way it tasted. I told him that he should just eat it unless it was really unbearable. He said it wasn't. When the waitress came by, he mentioned to her that he didn't like the taste of it. She said she would take it off the bill and I got pi$$ed! The guy told her that she didn't have to but I jumped all over him for saying anything at all!

If it's a legitimate reason, problem or mistake then definitely return it. I always ask for a "no pink" burger at RR and, one time, it came out really pink (almost raw). I showed it to the manager, he apologized and had another one made asap. I didn't ask for my money back or make a scene. Almost every food establishment WILL remedy a meal that is wrong or improperly cooked.

so your buddy got the steak I pizzed on.