topic Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE in Community Chat

BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

bootsanne — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:22:49 GMT

This was to be a birthday outing for 2 of my oldest nieces, one turning 60 and the other right behind her. Their other sister and I were paying. I chose a highly rated and pricey ..$$$$. restaurant that I had been to a few times and always had excellent food. All food is freshly made with quality ingredients. We didn't want to go to a chain restaurant. Well the younger bd niece bowed out because of the 4 hour round trip drive but I understood. The restaurant is very quiet, clean and reservations are needed months ahead. Well the bd niece and I had excellent food but my youngest niece's food was not good. The chicken was extremely tart and the flavor seeped into the runny scalloped potatoes. We politely told our server that this dish was not acceptable. The kitchen manager and owner came over and said that was the way it was supposed to taste. No offer to replace. Now even in cheap restaurants when there is a problem they either give you a price break or make another entree. We did not want to cause a scene, but when the bill came--$170--no drinks--I did tell the server we were disappointed that nothing was done to please my niece. She apologized, the kitchen manager came out and yelled at us. We were mortified. I only gave a 15% tip but I really feel used and horrible for my niece who paid a lot of money for nothing to eat. What should I do? I tried reviewing on Yelp but had no luck.

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

cherry — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 15:14:12 GMT

I don't know what more you can do. We ate at a resturant that filled our egg rolls with peanuts, and it wasn't advertised on the menu that way. We were told by a wiateress that barely spoke english peanuts were in the sauce. The sauce was crystal clear. I pointed to the eggroll and asked peanuts, she nodded yes

I spoke to the manager and asked her if she was aware peanuts can kill people, my BIL is one. She said yes and the cook wasn't supposed to have done this. I will never go back there. I gave them a bad review, explaining what had happened. we didn't get a refund either

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

151949 — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:33:36 GMT

Well, first and foremost - I'd demand a new dinner for your niece. No way I'd pay for terrible tasting food. Second - no satisfaction on the meal would have meant NO TIP at all, nor would I pay for unacceptable food.I would only have paid for the 2 edible meals.

People shouldn't be so afraid to make a little disturbance. Not at all.

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

ValuSkr — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:34:36 GMT

Just to be sure - the youngest niece is not the bd niece, she is the one who was splitting the bill with you? And she got the bad food? I think you're right. The restaurant should have been more apologetic, even if that's the way the food was supposed to taste. I think a 15% tip is normal, though maybe 20% is more acceptable these days. I think you and the youngest niece should have tipped less. Review on Yelp is a good idea, though sometimes Yelp doesn't show or post them.

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

nyc1 — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:35:51 GMT

@bootsanne Can you find out who the owner is and contact them? Sometimes you need to bump it up even past the Manager. I know that info is not always available.

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

Mistreatedbycs — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:37:21 GMT

"no offer to replace", I think people get intiminated and don't hold their ground. The problem was that she backed down and wasn't assertive enough to say, I need this replaced.

She ordered the wrong entree, didn't like the taste but should of insisted on remaking the entree with instructions as to how she would like it to be.

I don't think anyone "yelled" at you and yes, it should of been handled during the dinner.

...how would chicken become "tart"???? what was the name of the entree

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

Imaoldhippie — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:38:29 GMT

I would chalk it up to experience and move on.

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

Mz iMac — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:39:05 GMT

@bootsanne wrote:
What should I do?
Write a snail mail certified letter to the owner of the restaurant. Include names, dates & time.
If there is a FB page, complain there too.

I tried reviewing on Yelp but had no luck.
Exactly what does that mean?????

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

cherry — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:42:06 GMT

I don't think Yelp intervenes it just lets people express what happened and how your food was.

I just wanted to warn people about food containing peanuts ,and it isn't listed on the menu, that way

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

San Antonio Gal — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:45:20 GMT

@nyc1 wrote:
@bootsanne Can you find out who the owner is and contact them? Sometimes you need to bump it up even past the Manager. I know that info is not always available.

I agree with @nyc1. You should be able to find out who owns the business and make contact - especially since the Manager yelled at you. I'm sure the business owner would appreciate knowing what happened.

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

Sooner — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:47:17 GMT

Forget about it and don't go back. I think that's the best thing. Laugh and go on. . . otherwise you'll suffer more and more. At least nobody got sick.

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

grandma2pkmh — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:50:00 GMT

@151949 Please don't penalize the server for a bad meal. They don't cook it or have any control over it. When you do that the only one hurt is the server.

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

bootsanne — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:52:00 GMT

@Mistreatedbycs You weren't there. I also didn't say in original post that water was dripping on me from vent in ceiling. Manager witch told me to move. I couldn't as we were seated in a corner. And yes, she yelled at us, loud enough that others were looking. As for Yelp, it wouldn't accept my e-mail address and I tried several times and I only have one e-mail.

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

cherry — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:57:07 GMT

@bootsanne use facebook. That is what I did. I think they just want to know you aren't a troll. You can close your facebook after they submit your review. They email you to tell you when it has been listed

I have never complained about anything before, but this was so dangerous, I had to speak up

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

CinNC — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:57:46 GMT

Other venues for reviews are FaceBook and Trip Advisor

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

CelticCrafter — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 14:58:09 GMT

@grandma2pkmh wrote:
@151949 Please don't penalize the server for a bad meal. They don't cook it or have any control over it. When you do that the only one hurt is the server.

Especially since the server did get a manager and the owner to the table.

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

mercyMe — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 15:07:29 GMT

Your request was reasonable, most eateries believe in "good will" and will make things right.

On Friday night, our bill was $136 at a "specialty restaurant." There were plenty of tables, but we were asked to "move on" after 2 hours of dining. I saw plenty of other 'tables for 6' close to us. Waiter said (this was 8 pm) that he needed to reserve that table for another party. Really? Exact same size tables beside us.

Like you, tip 15% since it was waiter who said it, not manager. Goodbye to my favorite restaurant!

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

QueenDanceALot — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 15:12:36 GMT

I don't expect to be comped for food I order in a restaurant that I don't like. I onlly expect that if the food is spoiled. Is a restaurant really supposed to keep bringing you food until you decide it suits your taste buds? And not get charged for the ones that don't?

I wonder what the exchange was like between the diner and the manager that would make the manager "yell" at the diner. Surely that would be very bad for business.

Something just sounds odd about the story.

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

qbetzforreal — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 15:16:58 GMT

As one poster suggested, a letter to the owner. Include date, time and the names of all involved. Also, as others suggested if there is a Facebook page, leave a detailed review there.

Re: BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

NicksmomESQ — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 15:40:03 GMT

DH & I go out to dinner often.We have all kinds of experiences.Some are excellent & some aren’t. Most times when there is a problem the manager or owner finds a way to make it right.The few times they didn’t we left either no tip or a small one.

The only way to get a managers attention who won’t make it right is to have your displeasure reflected in the tip.When the wait staff starts complaining that their tips are being affected then they’ll reconsider.I was told to do this years ago by my cousin who was a waiter. I use it as a last resort.