Big Bucks, Bad Food
By ALICE SHANE
It really pisses me off when I've spent big bucks for a so-so restaurant meal. Even a minimal outlay for a bad meal at an el cheapo establishment can put me in a foul mood.
What's the solution? Grudgingly pay your bill and vow never to return?
Not so fast. I, for one, am reluctant to send food back -- restaurant employees can be “creative” about getting even with disgruntled customers in ways you can’t imagine. My policy is to register a complaint with the manager the next day. Simply pick up the telephone and tell him/her how disappointed you were with that overcooked $35 steak, the abysmal $12 burnt chocolate souffle, or rude service.
Most fine restaurants will invite you back at their expense and treat you like visiting royalty. Even el cheapo franchise restaurants care about their reputations and will offer you a replacement meal or coupons.
It pays to complain.
posted by alice Shane @ 10:08 PM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
In a good restaurant, I think it's better to complain tactfully on the spot. A good restaurant witha kitchen staff that takes pride in its work will be more likely to try to satisfy you then and there -- and IMHO, the kitchen is less likely to be "creative" than in a mediocre one with resentful employees.
http://culinary-colorado.blogspot.com
My husband and I complained politely at an upscale-ish (midscale?) restaurant the other night when our pizza took at least 45 minutes to appear. (At one point, our waitress stopped by to see if we "want anything else." Um, yes. Our food.) Customers who arrived after us were wiping their lips and loosening their belts before our pizza arrived. Clearly, the order had not gone through when placed but the chef/manager came out and gave us all kinds of imperious attitude about how he KNEW our order took only 20 minutes because it was printed on the ticket.
The sad thing is, we don't have many good restaurants in our part of town and the pizza was really good. So...do we give this place another chance?
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