Do you complain about bad food?

[lborne]

Reading all the bad food experience threads made me wonder why more people don't complain when they are served bad food. One poster said they all got bad hamburgers at one of the Disney restaurants and threw them all away, then spent the rest of the week bemoaning their lost credits. Why not ask for something else edible?

If we get bad food, even if it is just a side dish, we always let the server know and usually, depending on what it is and the price, will ask for an alternative. If it is something I've never had before, and there is a possibility it is OK, but I'm just being too particular, then I won't say anything. And of course, there are people who will complain about everything. We are not that bad.

I think many people let it go because hey don't want to make a scene or do not want to hurt the server or chef's feelings. When the server comes around and asks "How is your meal?", I've heard many people say fine, and then complain about it after the server is out of earshot.

Once we were with some friends at a very nice restaurant and had a bad $150 bottle of wine. Our friends did not want to say anything, but we did. They were highly embarrased at first when the sommelier came to our table, but he tried it and spat it out it was so bad. He greatly appologized and got us another bottle. No way was I paying that much for vinegar.

So maybe if everyone said how they really feel about the food, Disney might eventually change it for the better.

 

[MickeyNicki]

If it is bad (spoiled, funny taste etc) yes I will complain. If it is something I just dont like then no I will not complain.

 

[disnut8]

I think the instances of people getting "bad" food are few. But they do happen. Just like everywhere else. Even in your own kitchen. That's why we have the pizza delivery phone numbers on our refrigerators.

But yes, if you get bad food anywhere, you need to talk to the server. That is the only person you have contact with during your meal. But don't blame them. They didn't prepare the food. Simply explain what your problem is (tastes taste right, cold, isn't done enough, done too much, whatever) and let the server handle it.

Everyone, including people in the work place, want to know right away if there is a problem. Having someone go off and sulk without saying anything only effects on person. The sulker.

Be polite and speak up when you notice a problem. How else will the problem be resolved?

 

[ransom]

I complained about my steak from Yacht Club that was tough and smelled like lighter fluid. It had obviously been cooked wrong, so I felt justified in sending it back.

But when something is just spiced differently than I prefer it or something like that, then I accept responsibility for my decision to try something new.

 

[Surfingstitch]

When I order something and it isn't prepared the way it is described or ordered, I will send it back to be corrected. I often do it with Steak. Most people like it medium, but I like it well done. I can't stand for my steak to still be bloody.

 

[tiggr33]

When I order something and it isn't prepared the way it is described or ordered, I will send it back to be corrected. I often do it with Steak. Most people like it medium, but I like it well done. I can't stand for my steak to still be bloody.

I'm the opposite, I like mine just past mooing. I send back over cooked steaks, I tend to order rare to medium rare depending on the cut and preperation.

I think alot depends on the type of complaint...was the food bad, or was the choice bad. If the food is bad (spoiled, wrong temp, wrong prep, wrong sauce, not as described) I will send it back. But if I made a poor choice, or am trying something new I tend to not send dish back. When asked, I say I am not eating it because it was a poor choice on my part and I do not care for it.

I agree with the PP about wine. I have sent back a few bottles. The best was when I sent back a bottle of pinot noir, and the waiter tried to tell me the cyrstals and wet dog smell were charateristics of the wine I ordered and that I couldn't replace it because it was a good bottle. I asked him what his wine experience was, he said none he drank Bud . In the end the owner comped my meal, and got a a good bottle.

 

[Abharmagic]

I typically don't send food back, because I worked in food service and I have seen some pretty nasty stuff in my day behind the kitchen doors of some pretty nice restaurants. If something is gross- I don't eat it and let the server know that it was bad at the end of the meal.

 

[BriarRosie]

I did speak up on behalf of my Mom, when we had dinner at Kona in October. She ordered the Ono, a fish dish. She tasted it and said it was bland and tasteless, and it really didn't look appetizing at all.

If it were up to her, she would have eaten it and not said anything to the server. I, on the other hand, had no problems telling our server that my Mom did not enjoy the dish and would it be possible for her to get the pork chop instead?

Mom ended up saying it was the best pork chop she ever had.

 

[spooky1]

When I order something and it isn't prepared the way it is described or ordered, I will send it back to be corrected. I often do it with Steak. Most people like it medium, but I like it well done. I can't stand for my steak to still be bloody.

I typically don't send food back, because I worked in food service and I have seen some pretty nasty stuff in my day behind the kitchen doors of some pretty nice restaurants.

My first job, while I was in HS was in a restaurant as a cook - there were a few cooks who were easily offended when food was sent back. I wont go into details about what was done, but as Abharmagic alluded to - it wasnt pretty.

So I dont like sending stuff back, but I have no problem letting the management know about their incompetence. If the food is bad or if something is prepared wrong - I will let them know.

As far as steaks go - around here it seems most restaurants are improperly training their cooks - its as if todays medium = medium rare and todays medium well is well done / burnt to a crisp.

 

[lborne]

Mom ended up saying it was the best pork chop she ever had.

Was that because she didn't dare have you send back another item?

Like I've said, I've heard others complain to themselves, but not to the wait staff. And that is their choice. But I hate dining with my MIL, because if she hears someone complain, she'll tell the server herself. She butts into other people's business all the time. Last time we ate with her, she asked the waitress to bring a lady at the next table ketchup for her fries. When the lady said she did not use ketchup, my MIL started into her saying she'd never heard of such a thing. Who eats fries plain?? My wife and I sank under the table.

 

[BriarRosie]

Was that because she didn't dare have you send back another item?

Like I've said, I've heard others complain to themselves, but not to the wait staff. And that is their choice. But I hate dining with my MIL, because if she hears someone complain, she'll tell the server herself. She butts into other people's business all the time. Last time we ate with her, she asked the waitress to bring a lady at the next table ketchup for her fries. When the lady said she did not use ketchup, my MIL started into her saying she'd never heard of such a thing. Who eats fries plain?? My wife and I sank under the table.

No, the pomegranate glazed pork chop WAS that good. Mom said this to everyone at the table when the server wasn't even there. I tasted it, and it really was a very good pork chop. She wouldn't have piped up on her own, but she was very glad I had the cojones to do so.

And I am not like your MIL. I wouldn't assume someone needed ketchup on their fries because "everyone" likes it. That's taking things way too far. LOL!

 

[Wildflowerz]

My first job, while I was in HS was in a restaurant as a cook - there were a few cooks who were easily offended when food was sent back. I wont go into details about what was done, but as Abharmagic alluded to - it wasnt pretty.

So I dont like sending stuff back, but I have no problem letting the management know about their incompetence. If the food is bad or if something is prepared wrong - I will let them know.

As far as steaks go - around here it seems most restaurants are improperly training their cooks - its as if todays medium = medium rare and todays medium well is well done / burnt to a crisp.

Exactly. You have to try and judge the situation and be as nice as you possibly can when sending something back. If I don't feel I can do that w/o risking getting something added to my meal w/o me knowing, then I'll just complain to a manager and grab something else after we leave. That's extremely sad that we have to do that, but I'd rather do that than risk what I might end up with.

 

[numberonenole]

Are you crazy?! I used to work in food service and I hesitate sometimes to just ORDER some items! I would NEVER send my food back because there is no telling what you could get back. Maybe the cook/server is having a bad night. Maybe he/she is tired. Maybe he/she had a fight with his boyfriend/girfriend. You just gave them a great way to vent their frustrations! You don't like how much your chicken is cooked? Wait until you taste the new seasoning in the sauce!

 

[aa034321]

No, never

 

[cathydwin]

I think the instances of people getting "bad" food are few. But they do happen. Just like everywhere else. Even in your own kitchen. That's why we have the pizza delivery phone numbers on our refrigerators.

But yes, if you get bad food anywhere, you need to talk to the server. That is the only person you have contact with during your meal. But don't blame them. They didn't prepare the food. Simply explain what your problem is (tastes taste right, cold, isn't done enough, done too much, whatever) and let the server handle it.

Everyone, including people in the work place, want to know right away if there is a problem. Having someone go off and sulk without saying anything only effects on person. The sulker.

Be polite and speak up when you notice a problem. How else will the problem be resolved?

I agree with above. Sometimes when you do try to say its okay but most of your meal is still on the plate, the server asks if there was a problem or requests the manager to come over. I have had this happen 2 times. Sometimes it is just better to refuse all comp if you are a regular customer. Then the staff & management know you really found the food to be wanting

 

[Grumpy's_Gal]

If it were up to her, she would have eaten it and not said anything to the server. I, on the other hand, had no problems telling our server that my Mom did not enjoy the dish and would it be possible for her to get the pork chop instead?

Mom ended up saying it was the best pork chop she ever had.

BriarRose - Sorry to threadjack, but we were in Disney Oct 17th - 26th...I can't remember what night we ate at Kona, but I'm seriously wondering if we sat at the table next to you! I remember what looked to me to be a Mother, Father, and daughter, and the daughter ordering a pork chop to replace her Mother's meal. Sure is a "Small World" if it was in fact you...adding to it that we're both from IL and my name is also Lori.

As for complaining about food, we typically don't send food back that's not to our liking, but will just not eat it and will let the server know why. The few times we've had to do that, the meal has been taken off the bill. We've just heard too many stories about what happens to returned food in the kitchen. And not just rumors, but complaints that were documented in the paper or on the news.

Lori

 

[mickeymousemom]

For the most part, yes...we do complain. I feel as though I'm paying for a service and expect my food to be done right. An exception would be if I ordered something I've never had before and didn't like it. At that point, its my own fault for taking that risk. Otherwise, DH and I DO complain, and I expect it to be fixed to the best of their ability.

 

[sorcerormickey]

The only time we ever complained about food Disney was very good about it.

I think it was last year, or the year before, but we ate at Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station. The menu was very limited and I think I got the stir fry with noodles. It was DISGUSTING. I could not eat more than the one bite I had taken. My boyfriend did not like his food either, and he loves asian food.

He went up to the manager just to let him know we did not like the food and he offered us a refund (we did not ask.) He told us that they were on their 2nd or 3rd menu change and they had people complaining about the food everyday. I noticed they have changed the menu again a couple of times since then, so I don't take that as a good sign.

 

[ZoZo]

If something is cooked improperly (something that's cold, when it's supposed to be hot, a steak that's rare if I order medium-well, or something like that), I'll say something.

If something tastes like it's spoiled, I'll definitely say something!

But if I order something and simply don't like it, that's my problem, not the restaurant's. I wouldn't say anything in that case.

 

[BriarRosie]

BriarRose - Sorry to threadjack, but we were in Disney Oct 17th - 26th...I can't remember what night we ate at Kona, but I'm seriously wondering if we sat at the table next to you! I remember what looked to me to be a Mother, Father, and daughter, and the daughter ordering a pork chop to replace her Mother's meal. Sure is a "Small World" if it was in fact you...adding to it that we're both from IL and my name is also Lori.

As for complaining about food, we typically don't send food back that's not to our liking, but will just not eat it and will let the server know why. The few times we've had to do that, the meal has been taken off the bill. We've just heard too many stories about what happens to returned food in the kitchen. And not just rumors, but complaints that were documented in the paper or on the news.

Lori

Ooh, another Lori!

I can confirm that I was not sitting next to you. We ate there on October 17th, but it was actually a table of ladies: Mom, her friend (that I've known all my life), my sister and me. Normally I don't tend to "rock the boat" at restaurants because of the horror stories of someone spitting in the food or worse.

But for some reason, I felt comfortable enough at Disney to say something, because Disney cast members often bend over backwards if something isn't to your liking. The way I saw it, I felt bad that Mom didn't enjoy her meal and regretted not ordering the pork chop.

Because I know Mom is not a picky eater normally, I knew the dish had to be pretty bad for her not to eat it. I'm glad I spoke up for her.