Bad restaurant experience...WWYD?

[Dolphan]

My family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids) ate at a restaurant yesterday for lunch. We chose to eat at this particular place because of kids eat free on Sundays. The waitress brings our drinks, she manages to successfully hand the kids their sodas, but tips the tray so the 2 huge cups of water DH and I order slid off the tray. Him and I both had soaked pants. We had to switch tables there was so much water. She was very apologetic, but we still had very wet pants (and it was a cold, rainy day). She offered us a free dessert, I accepted. The kids meals were free, but our bill was still $25.

We are all eating the dessert except DS 5. The waitress asks if everyone likes the dessert, and he says no. She asks him why, and he said it's because he doesn't like ice cream. Her response, "wow, you're really wierd." At first that comment didn't bother me, but the more I think about it, the more mad I get.

When you add the two together, I am really upset. Do I just move on or do I call and speak with a manager?

Update: Thanks for all the comments. I appreciate the opportunity to vent. Have you ever had a bad day, and something really bothers you that normally wouldn't? Well that's all this was. I am moving on. And I am very thankful it was just water. Good thing DH didn't go with the giant margarita he wanted to order.


Thanks for your help!

 

[jrmasm]

My family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids) ate at a restaurant yesterday for lunch. We chose to eat at this particular place because of kids eat free on Sundays. The waitress brings our drinks, she manages to successfully hand the kids their sodas, but tips the tray so the 2 huge cups of water DH and I order slid off the tray. Him and I both had soaked pants. We had to switch tables there was so much water. She was very apologetic, but we still had very wet pants (and it was a cold, rainy day). She offered us a free dessert, I accepted. The kids meals were free, but our bill was still $25.

We are all eating the dessert except DS 5. The waitress asks if everyone likes the dessert, and he says no. She asks him why, and he said it's because he doesn't like ice cream. Her response, "wow, you're really wierd." At first that comment didn't bother me, but the more I think about it, the more mad I get.

When you add the two together, I am really upset. Do I just move on or do I call and speak with a manager?

Move on.

 

[Kate and Pete]

Move on - she comped you desserts - if that wasn't enough, you should've spoken to the manager during your visit. I agree, her comment was strange, but she probably meant nothing by it! Many people don't think about their diction before they speak (which is too bad!). Sorry your night out was marred!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Move on. It just sounds like a bad day for the server. I'll add that the restaurant manager should have apologized about the water spill when you needed to move tables.

Most kids like ice cream -- the comment can't be the first time your DS heard it (although it could have been worded a little more nicely -- she obviously hasn't read "How to Win Friends and Influence People").

 

[Bete]

She really didn't make fun of your child or go on and on. It is a little different for a child not to like ice cream. As a waitress, I would never had made the comment, but it must have just struck her to make such a comment right there.

 

[plummer925]

I agree to move on, however, I think I'd mention it next time I was in (since you said you frequent the place). I'd casually speak to the manager and not even bring up the waitresses name. That's just me though. I also do not think that desserts comped was a good deal - your entire meal should have been comped.

 

[DeniseinNS]

Mistakes happen, I wouldn't speak to her manager for an accident like a water spill. She apologized and offered you dessert, I think that was the right thing to do. Kids do usually love ice cream so I would let the comment pass, she was probably making a joke.

 

[mjkacmom]

As a former server (20 years ago), I still remember the one time I spilled a drink on a customer - I was mortified. Please let it go.

 

[princessmom29]

She made a mistake. She comped you desserts to make up for it, and i don't see a major problem with the comment she made. Mabye not the best way to have said it, but certianly not worthy of stewing over. In my opinion, the situation was handled more than fairly, and asking for anything else would be over the top.

 

[crashbb]

Move on.

If you really wanted to address the issue, the time to have done it was yesterday.

Free desserts for spilled water seems adequate to me (I had red wine split on me and didn't think I deserved a free meal - they did offer to pay for dry cleaning)

 

[minniejack]

as the other's said today's another day...

My dd came out of the restroom and didn't know the waiter had spilled his tray and didn't clean it up very well. She went flying on her rear in front of friends from another school who were dining for homecoming. She was mortified beyond belief and discovered her new Razr cell phone's glass was broken. We told the waiter and that was it. On retrospect maybe we should've gotten the manager, but it was and still is pretty funny. And everyone at the homecoming knew the story before 9 pm.

Now I carry the purple razr complete with purple duct tape.

 

[ICF]

move on.....

Spills happen and you got free dessert. Her comment might have been out of line, but that's hard to know for sure not being there to hear it. She probably just should have said..."I thought all kids liked ice cream" or something.

 

[Dolphan]

Thanks for all the comments. The funny thing about it was DD8 really did not want to eat here, so when this happened, she responded with a "see mom, I told you we shouldn't have eaten here."

Maybe I am overly sensitive, or perhaps too strict as a parent. In our house words like wierd and stupid are not allowed to be directed towards a person, but can only be used towards a situation or object. Thankfully, my son is the type that doesn't let things bother him. I know they will hear so much worse from other kids, but I guess I expect more out of adults. I guess that's why it bothered me so much.

I am sure she meant it as a joke, but it really was not delivered that way. My DH is actually the one who was initially offended by it, and he isn't one to be offended by anything. He is the one usually making the stupid comments.

Thanks for letting me vent and get this off my chest. I feel better.

 

[taximomfor4]

As a former server (20 years ago), I still remember the one time I spilled a drink on a customer - I was mortified. Please let it go.

It was an accident. In the scheme of accidents, it isn't even a bad one. I could see if you had dry-clean-only clothes ruined by the water, but in normal attire, no big deal.

I would venture to guess that MOST servers have spilled a tray of drinks at some point. For me, it was orange soda on a man in white pants. OOPS.In THAT case, the manager would have reimbursed the man if he had to pay for special cleaning. Orange pop can be tricky.

 

[dawson5]

as the other's said today's another day...

My dd came out of the restroom and didn't know the waiter had spilled his tray and didn't clean it up very well. She went flying on her rear in front of friends from another school who were dining for homecoming. She was mortified beyond belief and discovered her new Razr cell phone's glass was broken. We told the waiter and that was it. On retrospect maybe we should've gotten the manager, but it was and still is pretty funny. And everyone at the homecoming knew the story before 9 pm.

Now I carry the purple razr complete with purple duct tape.

Off topic: I broke the front of my razr about a month after getting it. I went to the store, they wouldn't help me. Told me to call one of the numbers to get it repaired. I could send it off for $50-75, they would assess it and possibly repair it. That was not included in that price, just the assessment. I found a place online for the part. I paid a whopping $7 with shipping and found a youtube video to walk me through repair. I think the site that sold the part was cnn.cn or something like that. Mine was a pay-as-you-go, no upgrade in the near future.

OP be glad it was water, not tea or soda. We took my MiL out for Mother's day a few years back, waitress doused my husband in red soda. He was wearing tan slacks. It showed and it was right at the beginning, before we even ordered. He was miserable the whole time, was afraid his pants were stained, etc. They comp'ed our whole meal. We have since vowed to never take my MiL out for dinner on MD again. Every time something bad happens--we love to tease her about this, she's a good sport about it too. As for the weird comment, use it as a teaching tool. You said you don't use words like that, use it to bring home how it might have made him feel and how that might make someone else feel if he used the word. Other than that, let it go. It's a new day.

 

[eliza61]

Move on.

If you really wanted to address the issue, the time to have done it was yesterday.

Free desserts for spilled water seems adequate to me (I had red wine split on me and didn't think I deserved a free meal - they did offer to pay for dry cleaning)

I agree with the PP. Move on. with hotel and restaurants the time to address problems is when you are there. She offered a compensation and you accepted. she may have been a little tackless with the "weird" comment but I don't think she did any harm or meant it spitefully.

 

[Lady V]

Move on. It was water!!! And the word wierd probably came off different than she meant it to.

 

[okeydokey]

I have to agree with the others. Letting go of it will help you feel better.

 

[aduck126]

get over it. i don't understand what you want to come from complaining about this. Weird is not the same as stupid. it was a harmless joke. I highly doubt the server wanted to lash out insults at your son for not eating ice cream. i hope you still tipped her.

 

[hsmamato2]

yeah...a little OT,but most folks don't consider the word weird to be a tremendously bad word either....I know to each his own,but my kids use that word as a joke,or even a compliment all the time.......she was likely trying to kid around....being a waitress is tough,and a mistake shouldn't be held against her......