Scales and Stones - Should I stop going?
Dear fellow Serious Eaters,
I am not certain how I should handle myself, if I should change my habits at all, regarding a certain restaurant or future restaurants.
My husband and I frequent a particular Japanese restaurant for anniversaries. We went on Thursday, and while enjoying a wide variety of raw fish concoctions, I found a fish scale in the spicy tuna roll. I let the waitress know, but there was no compensation, nor was any requested. I let them know because any other diner may run into a scale and may find it disturbing.
I went back today because my relatives came into town and enjoy the restaurant. I ordered some nigiri, and in the sushi rice, I bit down on a small rock. I was slightly discomforted because, had I been faster on the chewing, I could have damaged a tooth. I let the waitress know, again did not demand any compensation, yet she offered a free dessert without any prompting.
Both times, I have not held any disrespect or ill will against waitress, sushi-ya, or restaurant, but I feel a bit worried that I ran into such inedibles lurking in my food so close between outings. Should I continue to frequent this restaurant? Should I have made a bigger fuss about it, or should I have not brought it up at all? How should I approach any future incidents of such nature? Any and all constructive comments are greatly appreciated. Thank you.
-Tshilaba
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11 Comments:
Frankly, given your experiences were so close together, it might indicate a lessening of quality. The place you loved may not be willing to do what it takes to continue being that place.
Give it a few weeks and visit again if you want to give them another shot. If you find an unsavory item in your next meal, you might want to cross them off your list.
therealchiffonade at 9:54PM on 03/21/09
maybe you should speak with the owner..... i'm sure they would want to know. the server doesn't have a vested interest .... especially if you like going there.... maybe there's a new chef on board or something....
pooch at 10:34PM on 03/21/09
The stone strikes me as problematic...the scale? Not so much.
Fish have scales and spicy tuna is often a way to use up scraps and trimmings, anyhow.
But back on topic, you should probably bring the issues to the attention of management, not just the server, especially if just telling the server about it hasn't changed the quality issues.
fuuchan at 10:48PM on 03/21/09
Sounds to me like you should be playing the lottery. Seriously though, I wouldn't worry about it. I have found small stones while washing rice before, and a scale slipping through is not really a big deal especially for spicy tuna which as fuuchan said is a way to use up the lesser cuts and is not as well scrutinized. Getting sick, or seeing insects, now that would be a problem.
simon at 11:19AM on 03/22/09
This is the real question, is it worth this kind of trouble? Is the food/service/experience worth you having to slowly weed through your food? Now that the doubt is there can you get past it? Is it worth the money to have to recheck your every bite? For me the answer is no.
If I have to slowly weed through my food for obstacles, I am never going back. Period. Knowing that it is really up to you. If I have to spend money I am going with consistent food. Not junk in my food.
JerzeeTomato at 1:22PM on 03/22/09
Stones=Broken teeth=$$$.
dmcavanagh at 2:17PM on 03/22/09
I'd find out whether they've changed the chef. Sometimes when that happens, if they're a little laxer on what goes out, the quality of the food goes way down. I've seen it happen many times. If they haven't, I'd make sure and tell the manager why I asked. I'd try them one more time. If there was a problem, I'd stop going, and I'd tell them exactly why that was.
chisai at 8:31PM on 03/22/09
Speaking with the owner, as has been suggested, is your best bet. If finding a fish scale in fish and a small rock in your rice is enough to reconsider going to this place, and it hasn't changed by your next visit, stop going...even if it's the best restaurant in the world.
For me, it would be no big deal to find these. The rocks are smaller than the size of standard salt or turbinado granule. I find them in my rice at home every once in a while when I wash my rice. I catch them most of the time, but there are times I don't. Rice comes from the ground. It's no different than finding a scale or bone on your fish.
Cassaendra at 12:54PM on 03/23/09
Voice your concerns to the owner.
CanadianFoodieGirl at 1:16PM on 03/23/09
I'd probably ask for a manager and just let them know your concerns. Whether you continue to eat there will depend on how disturbed you were. We have a little local Mexican place that is super-authentic. The last time we got food there I found a small black bug in my fresh salsa. Although I love this business and want to support it for all the right reasons, I haven't been able to bring myself to get food there since this happened last July. I fully admit that part of my aversion is likely due to my having been pregnant at the time, but despite my husband begging, we haven't had it yet. It all comes down to how much you were bothered.
MaresyDotes at 3:37PM on 03/23/09
Thanks to everyone who's been chiming in on this one. I understand that fish have scales and rice grows in ground. I know to check fish I bring home and wash rice because of such things. I'm not perturbed by the items themselves but merely the fact that they slipped through scrutiny. Both times, it wasn't even at a busy time of day where I could understand the occasional lack of thoroughness due to time crunch. And by the way, Cassaendra, the rock was the size of an apple seed. I wish it was just the size of a salt or sugar granule, as it would have passed unharmed. I bit down on the sucker. Not cool.
I'm going to write a letter to the manager to let him or her know what's going on and give him or her a chance to double check on procedures. Thanks for everything.
Jikuu at 8:08PM on 03/23/09