Do you complain about poor service or send food back?

[KKB]

I often read of poor service or bad food...yet rarely read of anyone complaining to management or sending food back...
I'm not talking about ordering something you don't care for...but steaks that aren't cooked to order, overcooked dry fish, overly salty food, etc.

Whether one is on DDP or paying OOP, I feel that if service or food is not up to par, I am obligated to let the establishment know, politely. Now don't get me wrong...I am NOT a chronic complainer (in fact, rarely do), and was a food server for years. So I think I am a pretty good judge.

 

[simonkodousek]

Hi Kris,

Yes, I also feel the same way. Getting an underdone steak or an overcooked fish and not complaining just isn't right in my opinion. You have to let the management know so you can at least go there again and not have the same problem again.

~Simon

 

[disneyquilter]

Hi there Kris,

We ate at Coral Reef in February and had terrible service. The waiter refilled our drinks only once the entire meal and he was not in any hurry to bring us our food. Not to mention, he went on some kind of break, because he was gone for 20 minutes in between our first drink order and getting our appetizer order. I complained (nicely) to management and they said it would be taken care of. I was happy with that and walked out. Hopefully the problem was remedied, but I will not return to Coral Reef anytime soon.

 

[BeckWhy]

From what I know about the food business (which I don't work in but know a lot of people who do), I would never send food back. But I would complain.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

I've worked in food service for more than thirty years. Food being sent back is part and parcel with it. They don't generally spit on your food in the kitchen or do anything else. When you see this on tv 'magazine' shows, it's usually off a tip or a rare incident. Disney has chefs and managers that run the kitchen and would fire and/or prosecute. I've never had a bad meal at a TS in WDW and I've eaten at least 100 meals there. I've had a cold burger at cs, but didn't worry about it. But if I did get a lousy meal, I'd let some one know. If it was gross, I'd demand a replacement. If it were an undercooked steak, I'd probably congratulate the cook(how do you undercook a good steak).

 

[Momelie]

The one and only time I had a steak I didn't like, I didn't have to complain! The server noticed I had only taken one bite (and was eating bites of my family's side dishes), and asked if there was a problem. She did everything she could to make it right, and took it off the bill without me asking for it.

I was very impressed!

This was at Boatwrights, FWIW.

 

[eliza61]

I often read of poor service or bad food...yet rarely read of anyone complaining to management or sending food back...
I'm not talking about ordering something you don't care for...but steaks that aren't cooked to order, overcooked dry fish, overly salty food, etc.

Whether one is on DDP or paying OOP, I feel that if service or food is not up to par, I am obligated to let the establishment know, politely. Now don't get me wrong...I am NOT a chronic complainer (in fact, rarely do), and was a food server for years. So I think I am a pretty good judge.

I've sent food back a time or two, usually because something suspicious was in it. (waiter is that a fly in my soup )
Poor service is easier, I just don't tip. I have explained to the manager why I didn't tip.

 

[homedad]

if done right( informing somethings wrong) there isn't a problem and for the most part expected

 

[PatsGirl]

Absolutely. You should receive what you order and it should be served by a competent, attentive waiter. I have been in the business for more than 30 years in nearly all capacities from kitchen help to manager and have sent food back (though only a few times and usually because the steak is overcooked or the fish smells off) and always politely! That's key. There's a way to communicate when you are unhappy with your meal. A seasoned waitperson should be able to tell if you are unhappy with your meal and take it upon themselves to find out why. There's also the 2-minute, 2-bite rule: waitstaff should do their best to get back to a table within a few minutes of the people starting to eat their meal. I am much harder on rude, inattentive waitstaff -- it's really a pet peeve of mine. I won't keep you waiting at the table to order if everyone doesn't know what they want and you please don't come back every 24 seconds to see if we are ready -- body language and menus down say a whole lot more Don't dump my plate down in front of me and run, ask if there's anything else I need to get started. Don't expect me to clear my own appetizers (especially if I'm only 1/2 through) so you can dump the next course onto the table. You get the picture. Yet, I'm a 20-25% tipper most of the time but if I don't leave you a tip I will surely make it clear why.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Poor Service
. . . we do not wait until after the meal
. . . we ask for the restaurant manager DURING the meal
. . . it "usually" gets the problem service solved

2) Bad, Poor or Mis-Prepared Food
. . . we call the waitress IMMEDIATELY
. . . we ask to see the chef
. . . we do not send the food back
. . . the chef NEEDS to see the food mis-quality
. . . this also usually gets things handled

NOTE: If you do this will grace, it typically results in good things. Accomplished dinners DO NOT yell,m scream or use profanity.They accept that errors occur and are simply interested in getting problems resolved. Restaurant staff usually appreciate this method.

 

[spotty]

Although the need has never arrived on our past umpteenth trips, on our trip a couple of weeks we sent back a few meals in different restaurants.

We sent back entrees (one at Coral Reef and one at Jiko) that were unedible (to our tastes). They were both immediately wisked away and an alternative dinner was brought out so quickly that the other people were barely digging into their own meals. The original meals were taken off our bill and the new ones put on.

When you do this with grace like the previous poster said, they are more than happy to bend over backwards to make you happy. Even though our food was correctly prepared, they want the experience to be wonderful. Plus when you are dropping $200-300 a meal, one plate of food does not make much difference. It is all about the experience, and if you are unhappy you should politely speak up.

With poor service, you will be absolutely fine talking with a manager. I have also written a letter (and even e-mailed one once) to Disney after every trip highlighting all the fabulous CM's that made our trip special. On this trip, I did mention (graciously) some mis-steps along the way and I was called within the week to discuss what the outcome was of my letter. Disney listens and they are happy to hear the good and the bad.

 

[mom2my3kids]

The 9 years I have worked as a server, I have never seen anyone do anything to food. So if something is not right, please send it back and get it how you ordered it.

 

[banjobears]

Yes, if I have something I don't like I will send it back or at least talk to the sserver. Just recently when I was there in April, I did just that. I ate a Cap N Jack and ordered the Shrimp and penne pasta, which was supposed to be with a lobster sauce. Well when I received my meal, I noticed that the sauce was mainly cheesy and not that great. I didn't like it at all. I told my server that I didn't like it and was able to get a different entree, I got the twin lobster tails. I wont be going back to Cap N Jacks next year.

Sandy

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

I often read of poor service or bad food...yet rarely read of anyone complaining to management or sending food back...
I'm not talking about ordering something you don't care for...but steaks that aren't cooked to order, overcooked dry fish, overly salty food, etc.

As a CM, when I'm playing in the parks I usually let a lot of things slide... but when I'm dining at WDW (and at CS restaurants I'm paying the same price you are), if the food isn't right I have no problem walking back up to the counter and politely explaining my dissatisfaction without raised voice or accusation. ("I'm not sure if this is supposed to taste this way, but I find it's not at all agreeable. Is there any way I can get something else?") The one time I've had to do this (and that's a heck of a batting average, kids), my complaint was handled courteously and efficiently, with profuse apologies from the kitchen manager.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I treat my dining in WDW restaurants the same as dining outside WDW. Even though I am a CM I have a DDE card, so I do get discounts at table service.

If there is a problem with the food I will send it back and have always found that when it comes back it will be exactly as ordered and look much better.

I will normally tip in a 10% to 20% range (pre-discount) depending on the quality of the service I receive. Sometimes I will tip outside this range; if so I will always let a manager know that I had left an extra large or small tip and the reasons why.

Also I do "secret shopping" for some restaurants; so far I have not received any assignment to a WDW restaurant. I have also been a rater for Zagat.

 

[vickalamode]

The 9 years I have worked as a server, I have never seen anyone do anything to food. So if something is not right, please send it back and get it how you ordered it.

I've also never seen anyone do anything to food, even when it was sent back (which obviously irritates the chefs a bit but hey it was their fault!) and I've worked in a restaurant for 6 years

 

[MickeyNicki]

I do not complain about bad service at WDW...I have only it once or twice so it never really bothered me so much as to gripe about it, the worst of it was the lack of drink refills and not removing our dirty dishes.

If the food is overly salty or fishy or something I will send it back...if the temp is not hot enough I just eat it (such was the case at Mama Melrose). If I order something that I dont like I will order something else and expect to pay for it but 9 times out of 10 the server will just take the first item off without me asking.....

 

[happygirl]

I would send it back in a heartbeat, there is no way I'm paying for something that not how I wanted it,

And for the person that said they don't tip for bad service I won't even go there lol