Cockroach @ Wolfgang Cafe

[twinkletoesmom]

I'm from MI and I've been told that more southern states have much more cockroaches than us, but is it normal to see them in a restaurant? We had one join us at our table at wolfgang cafe just after our food arrived. I did not over react but I was not able to eat my very yummy dinner. The manager offered us extra desserts ( we were on the ddp) we did not want them for several different reasons. So he took off the extra $9 we had on our bill. I think that they should have done more than this. What does everyone one else think?

 

[amytheobald]

Where was the cockroach?

 

[AllieKat]

I live in Southern TN (on the GA border) and I've never seen a roach in a restaurant. Was it a small or huge roach? Palmetto bugs are huge roaches with wings, I can see one of those suckers getting inside. They don't "infest" homes, buildings, etc. but I'd think one could get in accidentally...like a fly, wasp, bee, praying mantis, etc. Seeing one of those in a building would freak me out, but I wouldn't think that the place was unsanitary, infested with roaches and just downright nasty. I'd just think the nasty thing got lost on it's way to Cockroachville. If were a small roach (they type that do infest) than I'd think twice. But of course, seeing one single roach of that type doesn't mean the whole place is infested...it too could've gotten lost on it's way to Cockroachville. Alright, I've said way too much about roaches. I'm sorry one joined you at the dinner table.

 

[The Sweetness]

I doubt that the place was infested, but it would kill an appetite either way. If I were the manager, maybe I would have comp'd you a meal (invited you back for a dinner on the house)

 

[webray]

The manager didn't have to do anything at all.

What you saw was probably a Palmetto bug.

 

[twinkletoesmom]

I'm sure it was a roach because after the manager swished it on the floor w/ a napkin ( no he did not kill it) he said he was sorry and assured us that the place was treated nightly for them I said them as in roachs and he said yes. I don't think I ever saw a roach before so as fare as the size I'm not sure My dh said it was big but I know it did not have wings. When i went to get the closest employee to tell them about the bug and have them kill it I had no idea that it was a roach I just knew it was ugly. I think it started on the table then it went to the wall ( we were at a booth so it was connected to the wall, it was also just off the kitchen ) then down toward the seat right next to my DD) I just hope it did not come from our plates. My DH just kept saying where htere is one there is many more. UGG!!

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

It's unappitizing to be sure but there is nothing much than can be done to be 100% roach free. It's the subtropics and they are everywhere.

 

[AllieKat]

In case anyone cares to see a picture of a palmetto, here's a link. Their wings lie rather flat, I think a lot people don't realize that they have wings. It's not the clearest picture I've ever seen, but Palmetto's seriously creep me out and I couldn't look at more than one picture.

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/images/palmetto_bug.jpg

 

[willis37862]

The manager didn't have to do anything at all.

I don't agree . I think if you find bugs or anything else unpleasant in your meal, around your table it is their job to make it right. But thats just me.

OP- I agree with another poster that it probably wasn't infested but still UGH ! We had that happen at another place here and the manger gave us our meal even though I couldn't eat it

 

[jann1033]

not to be a party pooper but i would bet most restaurants and grocery stores north or south have them.. at least that is what an exterminator i know said plus i have worked in a few rest.and they have had them.( not cheap ones either, one was in a 5 star resort and they had tons in the kitchen even after bug out nights ( spraying)) they spray for them to keep the population down but they are still there, you just don't normally see them unless you are there after the lights have been out

like i've heard many times...if you knew what was in your favorite restaurants you'd never eat out

 

[doombuggy3]

all i can say is !! and how dare the manager just brush it off. i would not have left quietly or very happily if he didn't take care of my bill as i would not be eating there (nor probably anywhere else for that matter!) that night.

 

[smidgy]

in the chicago area, at a certain time of year, we have box elder bugs. no matter what you do, those little suckers show up. it's very embarrasing, as a server, to assure your customers that your establishment is clean. people get freaked out about bugs, but there is only so much you can do about them, In the southern hemisphere, cockroaches and palmetto bugs are prevalent. ok, do you want your food sprayed with DDT? disney is the BEST I've seen for customer service and cleanliness, but.. nature happens. we humans, try as we might, do NOT control this planet.

 

[stemikger]

First let me say I think you handeled this very classy. You took the high road and didn't make a scene and ruin other people's dinner.

I agree though, it would have been an appetite killer for me.

I think they should have rimbursed you for the entire dinner.

 

[jwfla422]

How about ants (the little sugar ants) crawling on your table? ...at YSH!! Yes this happened to us, it was only a few, but dd brushed them off the table, (after I told her not to). I told the server quietly and they moved us to another table. Of course they searched through the table cloth after we were moved and didn't find anything (the dark lighing didn't help)...but I didn't complain or anything.

That's something that can be eliminated in a restaurant and should be in an "upscale" restaurant. There are bates that are used for that (not usually the sugar on the table either). I'd expect that at a counter service place sometimes or outside (but never have run into that at WDW believe it or not). Anyway after we moved I got the feeling the server thought I was lying to get a free meal or something?? He got somewhat "snooty" with us the rest of the time we were there. I wasn't real happy with that.

Anyway, I can tell you it's not only the palmettos but there is another type of cockroach that has invaded FL over the recent years. They come over on the boats that ship things to the ports. They are not the type that infest food, something like the Smokeybrown roach and vary in size, they like leaves and rocks, etc. They do on occasion get in the house and I've seen them in WDW as well. They can easily get into a restaurant or even your hotel room.

These pests are tough to eliminate on a consistent basis but I'm sure WDW does the best they can considering they sit in the middle of the state in a swampy, wooded area. It really should be worse.

I think the mgr. did a good thing by taking some $$ of your bill, but if the bug was on the table or near the food that would be a real big problem and I'd expect them to comp the meal for something like that.

 

[Kath2003]

It was nice of them to refund your desserts. Bugs happen.

 

[cleo]

I grew up in Michigan, spent much of my early working life there, and I can assure you they're crawling around the restaurants there, too. One place I waited tables (and this was a very high-class place, not a diner or a dump!) had a montly 'bug night', when all the employees had to stay after hours to move everything off the shelves, counters, etc so the exterminators could come in and spray for roaches, ants, etc.

Florida has bigger ones, but Michigan (everywhere, really, I think) has 'em, too. A restaurant can be extremely clean and still have the stray roach or two. It's just a fact of life. I think Wolfgang Puck did as much as any restaurant could. Was there something specific you think they should have done?

 

[willis37862]

First let me say I think you handeled this very classy. You took the high road and didn't make a scene and ruin other people's dinner.

I agree though, it would have been an appetite killer for me.

I think they should have rimbursed you for the entire dinner.

I agree you handled it very well.

 

[twinkletoesmom]

I grew up in Michigan, spent much of my early working life there, and I can assure you they're crawling around the restaurants there, too. One place I waited tables (and this was a very high-class place, not a diner or a dump!) had a montly 'bug night', when all the employees had to stay after hours to move everything off the shelves, counters, etc so the exterminators could come in and spray for roaches, ants, etc.

Florida has bigger ones, but Michigan (everywhere, really, I think) has 'em, too. A restaurant can be extremely clean and still have the stray roach or two. It's just a fact of life. I think Wolfgang Puck did as much as any restaurant could. Was there something specific you think they should have done?

I too have worked in many restaurants in mi and only one had a roach problem and I never even saw them we just had to spray for them. As for what I think should have been done was #1 kill the bug not just swish it on the floor and #2 refunded us our DDP points at first I wasn't sure but now that I think about it in the sence that if it happened in any restaurant that I worked in that is what would have happened. I think at first we almost didn't feel like we shouldn't complain because when you are on the DDP you feel like you'r getting a good deal or that the money isn't coming out of your pocket, but I can say that I would not have laid down money that night for a meal I could not eat.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

If the refund is what you're after then write them a nice after the fact letter. You'll probably get satisfaction.

 

[twinkletoesmom]

If the refund is what you're after then write them a nice after the fact letter. You'll probably get satisfaction.

Even if we were on the dinning plan? I never thought about it as getting money back I was thinking like getting our points back to go to another restaurant while we were there. But I wouldn't mind money back.