Bad meal...What would(or do) you do?
After church yesterday, I went to a local bistro w/ my dd and dh. My main dish was less than stellar. When the chef came to table to ask if the food was to our liking, I politely pointed out the things I DID like (veggies), then went on to point out that the cornish hen I ordered was quite dry. We had never been there before and I have worked in the industry, so I understand that things can and do go wrong. So, when asked if I would like him to prepare another bird, I said yes. When this was presented, it was better, but still not great. I made do with the veggies and what was salvageable (dark meat). I did not say anything to the staff in spite of the lackluster retry (they didn't ask), but my husband felt I should have been much more vocal. My gut feeling was simply not to return to this particular establishment.
How do you handle dining difficulties when you don't get the service/cuisine you seek?
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17 Comments:
What was your husband suggesting you do? I'd not return unless I had to or the kitchen staff changed. (And a word to all: bad food is not the server's fault. Tip accordingly.)
lemons at 12:24PM on 12/03/07
DD? DH? English, please!
Barbara Hanson at 12:46PM on 12/03/07
BaHa, I fought these abbreviations for years and finally gave up as they're far too prevalent for me to make a dent!
DD = Dear Daughter
DH = Dear Husband (or Damn Husband, depending on circumstances ;-) )
For your reference, get a load of a good reference: http://www.netlingo.com ... yeah, there are that many. Good luck!
LunaPierCook at 1:02PM on 12/03/07
I wouldn't go back. Its that simple. Life is to short to worry about one restaurant. Give it a year and another restaurant will be in its place.
(As for "dd" and "dh" - quite honestly these two abbreviations aren't that common and should be avoided in a front page question)
shea at 1:08PM on 12/03/07
I give only one shot one kill for my repeat business. If I go someplace and the food is not to my liking that is the last time. It amazes me how many restaurants do not realize most people do the same. The waitstaff messing up if the food is good, might require me changing servers. I know even on this forum waitstaff/kitchen will argue over whose fault it is.
I realize that some margin for error. I want a consistantly good meal time and time again or I just don't go there. I don't send food back as a rule unless it is the wrong dish. I know what happens when you send something back. This is one reason why we often eat at home. The kitchen and waitstaff here is us and we can send stuff back and complain.
JerzeeTomato at 1:55PM on 12/03/07
I had food delivered last night. I called them this morning. The garlic bread tasted fishy and this morning I had a terrible taste in my mouth and felt nauseous. He said they combine butter and olive oil with garlic and herbs and make it fresh everyday. I fished it out of the trash and they're going to pick it up. I felt like he didn't believe me. It's now afternoon and I can still taste it.
Do you think it was the garlic, butter, or oil? Which would taste fishy?
As I live in the middle of nowhere, this is THE only place that delivers.
PerkyMac at 2:28PM on 12/03/07
@lemons~My thoughts exactly. And even though the service wasn't exemplary, it wasn't horrible. I still chose to tip 15%.
@baha~Sorry for the abbr.'s (abbreviations ;-)) I am relatively new and wholly self-taught at all things electronic. Since I feel like such a big goofball, I tend to think if I know them, then everyone knows them.
@luna~Thanks for explaining for me.
@shea~Yeah. Restaurants really do come and go SOO quickly. I am dissapointed more because I had been looking forward to trying this establishment for quite a while and we aren't exactly swimming in fine dining around here.
@Jerzee~Oh man, ain't that the truth? My family and I mostly eat at home because then we know exactly what's in the food, that it's made to our liking and that it hasn't been tampered with (except the carrots I sneak in the spaghetti sauce! Just joking!)
@perky~I'm thinking it was the butter. It can pick up weird, funky tastes and odors if not wrapped and/or stored properly. (Like if it wasn't tightly wrapped and then stored close to strong smelling foods.) Especially the unsalted kind. I'm so sorry that happened to you. And I really feel your pain on not having many options. Our area is extremely poor in non fast-food establishments. There is only one place that delivers and it's a pizza joint.
coffeefrappe at 4:50PM on 12/03/07
Assuming everything else was satisfactory, I probably would have done just as you did.
SB (not perfect either)
srhcb at 5:44PM on 12/03/07
Perky butter, garlic and olive oil can go rancid. It's like a perfect culture medium for bacteria and if not properly kept cool it can be an issue. Take something for your tummy and skip the garlic bread unless you know its fresh.
JerzeeTomato at 9:04PM on 12/03/07
I actually tend to give restaurants way more leeway than I should. I rarely, if ever send anything back. The real reason? I don't want people doing terrible things to my food. I'd rather just not go back, and tell my friends what I really thought about the place. I did have an experience where my husband and I both got food poisoning over the course of 24 hours from some blackened fish. Now I'm VERY skeptical when I see blackened fish on a menu. I called the establishment, and they were annoyed and didn't believe me. He finally said he'd send me a gift cert. to come back, and never did. Boy did everyone I know hear about that one.
If the restaurant you went to proved twice they didn't know how to cook cornish hen, I'm not sure there was anything more you could do, other than not go back. It's not worth making a big stink. We hope that our meal will be stellar every time, but not all chefs are capable of that.
FigswithBri at 10:38PM on 12/03/07
Update: No one came to get the rancid garlic bread. I told them I felt they should know, because I'm sure I'm not the only one it will sicken. Maybe my tummy is overly sensitive? I gathered no one else had complained. It's over 24 hours later and the gurgling up to my mouth is finally starting to dissipate. It has been a very unpleasant day, with this truly horrid taste in my mouth.
Coffee: It is a pizza joint - you called it. Sure with they weren't the only game in town.. I'll smell first and start with tiny bites in the future.
Back to Moody Blues on PBS.
PerkyMac at 11:57PM on 12/03/07
You know what... They made an attempt. I think you did the right thing. You were vocal about it the first time and that was completely appropriate. Given the not so great re-do, it really wouldn't have made much difference to your enjoyment of the meal. What were you supposed to do? Best two out of three??
This performance will ensure you spend your restaurant dollar somewhere else - where you will not feel you're taking a roll of the dice. I don't think they'd get it right if given another try and would have to be convinced to risk it. Maybe a change of ownership and in that case, I hope the new owner would have the sense to change the name of the restaurant.
chiff0nade at 11:12AM on 12/04/07
I think the simplest thing to do is vote with your feet. Don't go back if you're not satisfied. Unless you know bad food or service is an anomaly, don't accept it! There are so many restaurants out there, there is almost always an alternative.
psychsarah at 12:21PM on 12/04/07
FigswithBri- If you get food poisoning from eating at a restaurant, call the Health Department, not the restaurant.
Coffeefrappe- I agree with the people who say "don't go back." If the food wasn't so great, or even if it just wasn't to your tastes, there's no reason to return. Hope you find a place you like better!
Kerosena at 12:58PM on 12/04/07
I feel the same as Jerzee. I never send anything back for fear of what might be done to it out of sight. For a long time now, I've thought homemade is best.
Stephanie at 1:35PM on 12/04/07
In response to the original post: if you've liked the bistro in the past, then give them another shot. Your bird was overcooked because they're not cooked to order - they can't be, or you would have to wait too long. Whatever line cook was responsible for cooking hens that service overcooked a tray. The chef looked for the best one he could find and sent it out to you, which was his mistake. Restaurants make mistakes - it happens. Sorry it had to be you, but next time it will probably be someone else. It's like jury duty: eventually your number comes up.
zapatista at 1:50PM on 12/04/07
Thanks everyone for your responses. I am glad so many feel as I do, ie: if things aren't terrific, then write it off and find a new place. That's not easy around here, because there are so few nice restaurants. But then again, Nashville is not so very far away for a special occasion. Which is what Sunday was.
Having mercifully not had many outright BAD meals, I don't usually send things back. I love to cook at home and I make my share of boo-boos. So I usually make do with what I do like and go on with my life. Although I am very candid if asked by others for a recomendation. But the chef/cook was right there asking and I very obviously was not eating the bird, so...
Again, thanks all!
coffeefrappe at 2:33PM on 12/04/07