BAD RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE

bootsanne · ‎01-21-2011

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.

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

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

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

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.

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

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.

nyc1 · ‎03-19-2010

@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.

Mistreatedbycs · ‎03-10-2010

"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

Imaoldhippie · ‎06-10-2015

I would chalk it up to experience and move on.

LIFE IS TO SHORT TOO FOLD FITTED SHEETS

Mz iMac · ‎07-26-2014

@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?????

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

cherry · ‎03-09-2010

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

San Antonio Gal · ‎05-18-2017

@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.