Since when are Cheddar and Swiss interchangable???

[lovetoscrap]

I just got back from lunch at a fru fru tearoom. I ordered a fruit and cheese plate. It was supposed to have CHEDDAR cheese and bread and fruit. The cheese is not little pieces, it is large sticks, probably about an ounce or two each-- 5 of them. They are the Protein of the meal.

The meal came and the cheese was white. No problem--white cheddar. I bit into it and it tasted ICKY--very sharp and strong and off. Then I realized that another piece had a part of hole in it. I called the server over and said "Is this swiss cheese?" She said "Oh, yes. We ran out of Cheddar Chesse so we just substituted Swiss."

BLECH. I DON'T like Swiss. I mean it is okay in a thin slice with some ham and bread and mustard. But in Huge hunks to eat by itself????? Am I wrong in thinking that is just nasty? I mean eating cheddar in slices and cubes and large pieces is pretty "normal", but Swiss is a more aquired taste and not one that a lot of people enjoy.

I told her that I would have appreciated knowing if they were going to substituted from what the menu said since I don't like Swiss and I would have ordered something else if I had known that. She just looked at me like she was stupid. She finally said, "Well, what do expect me to do now?". (it was too late to order anything else) I told her that I would think she needs to take something off of the price of the meal to compensate for the fact that I didn't get what I ordered.

So the check comes and she took off 75 CENTS for the protein of the meal that was wrong. I am normally an extremely assertive person, but the owner wasn't there and I was with my 7 year old and her friend so I just took the owners card and think I will send him a note and let him know that this was my second and last time in his fru fru tearoom.

Flame suit on. Is it okay for them to just substitute large pieces of Swiss for the Cheddar without telling me, and was $.75 out of the $6.75 meal (5 large sticks of cheese probably 6 oz total, 2 slices french bread, and assorted fruit) appropriate compensation?

ETA: I just looked back at the menu--the meal was actually 6.75, not 6.95 so I got .75 compensation, not .95.

 

[Cantw8]

No, it wasn't right. I'm with you, I don't mind a little Swiss now and then, preferably melted on something. There is no way I could eat a big hunk of it, just the smell alone would gag me

 

[mickeyboat]

You were wronged, sister. I would have expected them to comp my entire meal to tell you the truth (not the whole bill, just that item).

Do people really eat hunks of swiss? I am pretty picky about cheese, and don't care for Swiss.

Denae

 

[cardaway]

Do people really eat hunks of swiss? I am pretty picky about cheese, and don't care for Swiss.

Yes. In fact I don't eat hunks of cheddar.

Obviously I agree that cheese is not interchangable. Same goes for qulaity of the same kind of cheese.

 

[Honu]

I can't even eat Swiss on a sandwich. The smell makes me .

And yes, I would expect more than 95¢ off.

 

[dcgrumpy]

Do people really eat hunks of swiss?

I do

But I don't think they should have substituted the cheddar without asking

 

[mickeyboat]

I do

Hey, learn something new every day! Up here everyone serves extra sharp cheddar, but I prefer a more mild cheese like meunster.

 

[TurboKitty]

I love a good nutty Swiss and don't find it nsty in the slightest. But, if the menu specified Cheddar, you should have been asked before they made the substitution. And, $.95 off is not adequate.

You had only taken one bite when you called the server over? Heh, what would the server have done if you'd insisted upon sending it back at that point, I wonder. Do contact the owner. You may not receive any further compensation but your greivance deserves to be heard.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I really don't even care about further compensation--I can afford to pay $6:00 for a fruit plate and 2 slices of bread. It is the principle and her attitude about it. I am just irked--and hungry! (I need to get off the computer and get some protein!!!) And I want them to make sure to tell people in the future.

I actually was wrong about the 95 cents. I am writing the letter to the owner now so I got out the menu just to make sure I had my facts correct and the meal was actually only $6.75 so she only compensated me $.75


Oh, and the kitchen had closed by the time I figured it out. We were the last orders in for the day. It is one of those really small, limited hours type places. That is why I couldn't order anything else when it was a problem.

 

[lg3]

I also like swiss, but don't think it would do well in large chunks in a salad - expecially as a "surprise". Frankly, I can't believe how rude the server was in asking you what you expected her to do now!!! Taking off .95 was absurd. What was she thinking? Obviously she doesn't know her fromage basics, vital if you are working in a fru fru tearoom. I think you did the right thing given the time and your daughter was with you.
People sure are strange sometimes.

 

[Keggy]

I definitely understand what you are saying - I would expect them to have told me they were substituting it. I wouldn't have been able to eat it either.

 

[disneymom3]

I really like swiss as well as cheddar however, I think they def should have told you and yeah, I think most any restaurant would comp the whole meal. It is just good business practice. The owner owes you an apology for hte way the waitress cheated you and he owes her a bit of a talking to.

You say this was the second time you were there. What was service like the first time?

 

[Briarmom]

I really like swiss as well as cheddar however, I think they def should have told you and yeah, I think most any restaurant would comp the whole meal. It is just good business practice. The owner owes you an apology for hte way the waitress cheated you and he owes her a bit of a talking to.

I agree on all points. And now I am hungry for cheese.

 

[Beth76]

I'm another who would eat big chunks of swiss cheese. I don't get why some of you find that so strange.

 

[helenabear]

I am with you, I HATE swiss cheese! They definitely should have told you immediately after they found out in the kitchen. I would have expected the whole platter to be comped or at least half of it. Swiss and cheddar are so far apart that I don't know what they were thinking. Not right at all IMO.

ETA: I do not think it is odd to eat huge chunks of swiss, I just think it is odd that they would find that a good substitution. Colby maybe, but not swiss for sure!

 

[salal]

I just got back from lunch at a fru fru tearoom. .

I just want to know what a tea-room is? It sounds so British! Are you in the USA?

I adore Jarlsburg chees, which is a type of Swiss. But no, I would have been very upset also for the substitution.

 

[Nancy]

I would have been a bit ticked too. Swiss is good on a sandwich with ham but I am another that doesn't like it all by itself.

She should have comped your part of the meal at least.

 

[lovetoscrap]

You say this was the second time you were there. What was service like the first time?

Service the first time was GREAT--and that was Tuesday! We just had dessert. We went in to get a menu to see what they had and dd wanted to have dessert cause it was so cute in there.

I'm another who would eat big chunks of swiss cheese. I don't get why some of you find that so strange.

I dont' think it is "strange", but swiss is really a strong flavor and not one that a lot of people enjoy. That is why I thought it was very strange that they didn't tell me they were subbing it.

I just want to know what a tea-room is? It sounds so British! Are you in the USA?

I adore Jarlsburg chees, which is a type of Swiss. But no, I would have been very upset also for the substitution.

Born and bred USA! I think the tearooms are a Southern thing??? There are a lot of little fru fru tearooms where ladies go to "lunch" that serve salads and sandwiches and soup and fancy desserts and pastries, and a large selection of different teas. They have lace table cloths and china tea cups and china plates. They are usually rather small. This one only has about 15 tables or so, and usually has a line at lunch time.

 

[NYBlue1]

Im sure the owner will be annoyed and I see a cheddar cheese plate for free in your future!

Wow not so much love for the swiss cheese on this thread though!

 

[diznygirl]

Gotta come and stick up for the swiss cheese!

I actually would have been pleasantly surprised to get that and not the cheddar - but I agree that in the case of a substitution they have to ask you first. AND she was rude!