Doesn"t anyone send back subpar food?

[RescueRanger]

Naive I am not.

Saying that food is being spit on or worse often because it is sent back is just not true.

And again--anyone who is caught doing this (spitting on food, etc.) can be arrested and charged with a felony. Sue Ellen

In your first post, you gave an example of someone being arrested for spitting in food. Now, you say that people don't do this. Which is it? Was the article made up? You ARE being naive if you think that it does not go on. Why do you think that there are laws created against it? If it didn't happen, there would be no need for the laws. Have you ever seen the show "Caught onTape". They show some really disgusting things that you would never think people were capable of. One instance was an employee who urinated in the coffeepot in the breakroom because he was angry with his coworkers. Some people are animals and have no conscience.
Do I think something is done to food everytime it is sent back. Heck no. However, I will not take that chance with my food. Bon appetite.

 

[Lesley]

Usually if the food is bad enough that I'd want to send it back, I'd have lost my appetite anyway. That has happened to me in several situations....mainly undercooked chicken/shrimp, but really gristly meat as well.

I have had a waiter at WDW notice I didn't eat much of my food and took it off my bill....I tried to argue that I enjoyed the meal, but just couldn't eat any more (I was pregnant and when I was pregnant I could only eat about 3 bites of anything before feeling sick...even when I was very hungry). He insisted and took the item off the bill anyway. I thought it was very sweet the amount of concern he showed...but I was a little embarrassed because the problem was with me, not the food at all.

 

[mitros]

We always send sub-par { prepared poorly, cold, etc.} food back. So what if the chef spits in it?

 

[SueEllen]

In your first post, you gave an example of someone being arrested for spitting in food. Now, you say that people don't do this. Which is it? Was the article made up? You ARE being naive if you think that it does not go on. Why do you think that there are laws created against it? If it didn't happen, there would be no need for the laws. Have you ever seen the show "Caught onTape". They show some really disgusting things that you would never think people were capable of. One instance was an employee who urinated in the coffeepot in the breakroom because he was angry with his coworkers. Some people are animals and have no conscience.
Do I think something is done to food everytime it is sent back. Heck no. However, I will not take that chance with my food. Bon appetite.

Have you ever worked in the restaurant industry? On what are you basing your statement that this happens often--the "caught on tape" TV shows? Those are shock factor journalism and are for ratings. They are the exception rather than the rule. I HAVE worked in the industry and I'm telling you that I have NEVER seen anthing like this happen (as are others that are in the industry as well.) Am I saying it has never happened--no I am not.

The key word in the statement you quoted was OFTEN--has it ever happened--yes, as the example I have given regarding the Taco Bell worker (and I can link to the article in the news if you would like to see it.) However just because that 1 person does it does not mean it happens often and I really think it is just ridiculous to try to make people afraid to send back food that is not cooked properly!!!
Am I afraid that my meal will be spit on or worse because I sent back undercooked chicken (rather than eating it and getting food poisoning!)? Heck no I'm not afraid to send it back in fear of "retribution." That is just ridiculous.
I think that the majority of the people who work in the restaurant industry would NOT do this and with knowing that if they do and they are caught, they would have felony charges, it's just not worth a little "revenge."
Oh, and why on earth would a server (or cook) feel the need to get "revenge" on someone who was being polite about the food being under/overcooked?

Geeze--if you are so worried about this happening then don't send anything back and go ahead and pay for a meal that you are not eating. I for one will continue to send back food that is not cooked properly if necessary and will NOT worry about it being contaminated by a server or cook.

Sue Ellen

 

[keishashadow]

The answers to your questions are:

#1 - Yes (when workers didn't show up, I was pressed into service many times - thank god, not as a cook)
#2 - Yes, from owners down to bus boys.
#3 - Yes, both my older 2 sons were cooks in family restaurant, other friends own an upscale brew-pub/restarant.

Will stand by my statement that most kitchen help is greatly underpaid for the dangerous & difficult job consisting of long hours. Both my sons were injured on the job due to equipment malfunction (fryers) but, they sucked it up & went back to work a few days later bandaged to the hilt.

There is a very vocal contingent of patrons who seem to take great delight in harassaing waitstaff & think nothing of condescending, belligerant behavior. Take note, the server doesn't cook your food...they only take the order.

You are indeed fortunate to work in the service industry @ a leisurely pace, don't get verbal abuse from the Chef on a daily basis & receive a salary that you don't deem "underpaid", congrats...you've won the restaurant job lottery.

Keishashadow:"Doesn't take long for a frazzled, disgruntled & probably unpaid grunt in the kitchen to decide to take their spite out on the unsuspecting patron."

sorry to say this, but this may be the most uncalled for, untrue statement that i have ever heard in my life!!

#1 have you ever worked in a restayrant
#2 do you know anybody who works in a restaurant
#3 do you personaly know any cooks in restaurants

Now im hoping your refering to fast food chains, and not your normal restaurants. I've been working as a cook for the last 5 yrs to pay my way thru school, and would never do anything like that to anybodies food. Frazzeled - im not, disgurntled - nope sorry, unpaid - dont think so. I'm not trying to single you out and know your not talking in specifics, but please dont generalize any group or job type as you cant judge a book by its cover, and never really know whose back there. While im sure in a few places this may happen, but its not a fairly common practice in the restaurant buisness.