Eating out

[caseysmom]

We went to Bubba Gumps in San Francicso once and my daughter ordered "bucket of boat trash" or something like that...it was gross...we tried to talk to the server and he didn't even care...I told my daughter I will just order you something else but he never came around again.

I wrote a letter to the management, they called me and apologized, they had since taken that item off the menu and they sent me a $100.00 certificate for another dinner...I ordered the steak It was actually pretty good, most of their seafood is just too deep fried. It was an excuse to drive to San Francisco and have a night out again.

[Edwina's Secretary]

We eat out one or two nights a week. I have been known to send things back. I do not like to as I get more annoyed as I wait for it to come back.

I have told the server that while I am eating it - it is not cooked the way I ordered.

I guess I know how tough the business is and so if it falls within "acceptable but not what I wanted" I tend to accept it.

However, we do have a "three strikes and you're out" rule. If a restaurant messes up food or service or we are not happy for whatever reason...that restuarant comes off the list.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

We always do! of course we always stay correct and friendly; no need to be rude !

[AllAmericanPUP]

I am never unreasonable when i go out to eat and i most definitely never get snappy with the waitress about the food because it's not her/his fault. The only time i send food back is if it's meat and undercooked..otherwise I'm really not that picky unless it's just completely unacceptable in some way or if i get something i didn't order.

I hate going out with people who are ridiculous and get b***y and are just plain embarrassing.

[caseysmom]

Have to agree with you there! I went to macaroni grill with my sister in law and right off she said "make sure our bread is fresh" I thought oh crap I'm gonna be eating spit

[carole]

I rarely eat out, but when i do , yes i sometimes would send it back, depending, once i got toasted sandwiches which were burn't and i tried to eat them, but couldn't so i sent them back, and i specifically ordered a bagel without cranberry sauce, and it came with it on, as i cannot eat that, i sent it back, joking with the waiter i hope it does not come back with spit on it, as there had just been a big write up in the paper about that, i was a tad worried, but all was fine.

We don't tip in NZ, however our wages are higher, so i expect good service just the same.

[RICHARD]

Rules to eat by?

1. Ask, don't order a dish that you suspect may have an offensive food/spice in it.

Personally, I will hate you until you send me a Christmas card if you embarass me when I break bread with you.

"OH, I am allergic/don't care for XXXXXXX is it in any of your dishes?
I like that! I'll eat pretty much anything, but I have rules about eating out!

Don't be a prima donna and then spit out the offending food in front of me because you are too effing stupid to lay out the rules before you get served.

"OH I TASTE XXXXXXX, EWWWW, UGHHHH." gag, spit.


-------------------

One of my pals would find anything to complain about to get a discount, coupon, freebie.....

He would go into an Italian Restaurant, then complain that the food was not like his mother's fare.


2. Figure out what they payment arrangement is before you order.

3 Tip well.

[ramanth]

I put sometimes. I've never sent food back because it wasn't made how I expect it. I've had "meh" meals, but never bad ones.

I once ordered fish and it was only partially cooked. I wasn't going to complain (I wasn't really that hungry anyway) when the manager just happened to walk by and ask about our meals and my boyfriend spoke up about the fish. The manager was horrified and I assured him it wasn't a big deal. A whole new plate was brought out.

At Friday's, I ordered a sandwich, the order came out promptly and I dug in and then part way through realized that it wasn't what I ordered. It was really good though so I just didn't bother saying anything.

[Daisy and Delilah]

I eat out quite a bit. I am pretty reasonable with what I'm served. I'm not real picky either. I go into a restaurant and I try to show respect for everybody. I have a friend or two that I refuse to go out with because of their behavior. They go into the restaurant and complain about everything. Some people are so rude, they belong at home all the time.

I've been pretty fortunate to have good luck over the years. I usually get what I want and it's prepared the way I asked. If I have to say anything about the meal, I'm always polite. Being rude might get you something you don't want.

Getting takeout is another story. So many times, I had problems with takeout. Now, I know it pays to check the bag before I leave with it. If I do get home and have missed something, I always call the restaurant when the issue is enough to mention it to a manager. Every manager I've ever spoken to has been nothing but nice.

[Pinot's Mom]

I eat out quite a bit. I am pretty reasonable with what I'm served. I'm not real picky either. I go into a restaurant and I try to show respect for everybody. I have a friend or two that I refuse to go out with because of their behavior. They go into the restaurant and complain about everything. Some people are so rude, they belong at home all the time.

I've been pretty fortunate to have good luck over the years. I usually get what I want and it's prepared the way I asked. If I have to say anything about the meal, I'm always polite. Being rude might get you something you don't want.

Getting takeout is another story. So many times, I had problems with takeout. Now, I know it pays to check the bag before I leave with it. If I do get home and have missed something, I always call the restaurant when the issue is enough to mention it to a manager. Every manager I've ever spoken to has been nothing but nice.

I just want to agree - being polite is always the way to go, that Outback thing was just SO over the top!

[kitten645]

"Have to agree with you there! I went to macaroni grill with my sister in law and right off she said "make sure our bread is fresh" I thought oh crap I'm gonna be eating spit"

That made me laugh but ewww! I thankfully have never had a dinner companion that embarassed me like that. "Make sure our bread is fresh" as an order or assumption that it wouldn't be I feel is rude. I'd wait for the bread to arrive and it wasn't fresh, I'd just politely "I'm so sorry. This bread is a bit stale. Do you mind replacing it?" I don't see how anyone could take offense to that. Hence, no spit!

I swear at my job, I've had some ***hole customer say something like "Can you make sure that's NICELY wrapped?" Assuming I'm going to do a cr*p job? Makes me just want to give them what they initially expected just to prove a point!

[blue]

Ever watch the movie Waiting?

[CountryWolf07]

Ever watch the movie Waiting?

I have... and I've seen episodes on real TV about how chefs, waitresses/waiters, etc. have spit in their customer's food, etc. etc. Goodness.. could not believe what I saw!

I rarely send food back. My boyfriend and I went to Smokey Bones for dinner a couple weeks ago, and I ordered a half slab ribs.. and it was not AT all, very good but however I still ate it. I just figured it was how they cooked it, etc. All ribs are cooked differently I suppose.. Should've picked a different type of BBQ for that dinner, though.

[K9karen]

We don't tip in NZ, however our wages are higher, so i expect good service just the same.

The NZ'ers and Aussies LOVED me (and my fellow travel agents) 'cause we felt guilty NOT tipping, 'cause the service we had everywhere was excellent and plus, we LOVEd the accents. One waitress tried to give the tip back, but we explained, we tip for good service in the US, and, he**, we're on holiday, so take it. She hugged us. It was worth it.

I've rarely sent food back. Maybe I just eat at places I know. Once, the food was on the cool side, and I got back a fresh plate. Another time, the ice tea tasted moldy (brewed wrong? it was foamy) and I got soda instead with no problem.

I've seen people scream and yell and carry on. That's not my style. Seriously, I don't expect it taken off my bill, just made right. I've come home with free desserts because the waitress liked us. She said if the pies or cake are crushed or broken, they can't sell them, so she gave me the whole pie 2x ,for free in a take home container. John and I became good friends with her after that. If the service is good, we are good tippers. Although times are rough, I still think good service deserves a reward. It's hard work, serving the public and sometimes it's not the servers' fault.