waiter spilled a drink on my 3 yo son....WWYD?

[Marseeya]

I said upset. There is a difference between the two.

Oh and it was iced tea, not milk

Well, there you go. You can cry over spilt tea, but not over spilt milk.

The OP said mad, which is why I used that word.

I wouldn't have been upset either. I can't imagine going anywhere with a three year old without a change of clothes, so the only inconvenience there should have been would have been a walk to the car for the clothes.

 

[CheshireVal]

We are talking about a 3 yr old. I think the op has every right to be upset tht her little one had to sit at dinner cold and wet. I have a 3yr old and I would be upset too. I also don't think the op was asking for more than someone to come over and offer some assitance cleaning the little one up. JMO. It wouldn't have been hard to bring over a bunch of cloth napkins.

Three year olds probably have an easier time sitting around cold and wet than most adults.

Let's face it-- they're not the cleanest creatures ever.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Life is short....forget about it.

Yep. When my daughter was 2, a waiter spilled a BEER on her. It was an accident. He aplogized. We moved on.

 

[Planogirl]

My son was constantly spilling things on himself at that age so he was always a mess much to my frustration. A waiter pouring a drink on him would have just added a little more.

 

[Disneyrsh]

I see what you're saying, it's not that you're still upset about the ice tea being spilled on your son, it's that you're still upset about how you were treated afterwards.

When we've had exceptionally bad service at a restaurant, I've gone to the manager and had things pulled off our bill, which is probably what you should have done-I don't think I've ever had a manager offer to comp something when they've messed up, you've got to be proactive and ask for it.

So, I think you're stressing about not getting satisfaction from them, and I understand that. Write a letter to corporate, they'll send you a bunch of coupons, I'm betting.

That'll give you resolution, which is what I think you need and why it all keeps running around in your head...

 

[birdiesunshine]

Well, there you go. You can cry over spilt tea, but not over spilt milk.

The OP said mad, which is why I used that word.

I wouldn't have been upset either. I can't imagine going anywhere with a three year old without a change of clothes, so the only inconvenience there should have been would have been a walk to the car for the clothes.

Oops! I never thought of that. I don't go anywhere with a change of clothes for my 3yr old. I'd rather buy her a new pair than lug a pair around But that's our little secret. I don't want to parent police to come out of the woodwork

 

[ChristmasElf]

Sorry to hear this happened to your son.
I would have left NO tip whatsoever under the circumstances that the waiter avoided you and never came back to the table.

 

[birdiesunshine]

Three year olds probably have an easier time sitting around cold and wet than most adults.

Let's face it-- they're not the cleanest creatures ever.

I thought she said the drink was poured ALL over his entire body. Let me go back and re-read. I haven't had my coffee yet.

 

[lil mermaid]

I agree with the others here - just forget about it. It would have been nice to have more of an actual apology, but it didn't happen. You showed the waiter how you felt with your tip.

I will say though that when we have eaten at PF Chang's, we have often had the "helpers" deliver food and drinks. They seem to work as a team - is it possible that he wasn't actually avoiding you??

 

[mickeyboat]

Well, there you go. You can cry over spilt tea, but not over spilt milk.

When I waited tables in college, I spilt a glass of milk all over a patron. In my defense, he backed his chair into me while I was serving drinks - but I digress.

I apologized profusely, but he was still pretty angry, and I was completely embarassed. If he had told me he was mad, I might have asked someone else to finish serving the table, too. I agree the restaurant should have done something to compensate you for your trouble - like comp and appetizer or something, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

Hey, I figure over the years my kids have spilled enough for wait staff to clean up after, that me cleaning up after them once is no big deal.

Denae

 

[tuckerkeys]

the whole right side arm of his long sleeve shirt, and jeans were wet. the front of his shirt up to the collarwas wet as well ( just missed his head). i rolled up his sleeves to his elbows and just let it be. i never bring another set of clothes with me, he's 3 and old enough in my opinion not to have any bathroom accidents ( which thankfully hasn't happened yet) i think he was upset from the shock of the cold tea hitting him, and then the crying, which, made me mad...and upset....but there is nothing i can do now, i am curious as to what has happened to others in this situation...i felt we were not treated well after the spill. the apology was not acceptable and he avoided us after the whole incident... like i said i don't think he heard the mommy is mad comment b/c he was too frazzled after the spill....i think he was embarassed as everyone around us was looking at him. i'm sure he just wanted to crawl into a hole at that point...oh well what's done is done, guess he was too embarassed to deal w/ the situation properly...

 

[tuckerkeys]

ps, we LOVE pf changs and this would not stop us from going ever! try the changs chicken with a buddah's feast veggies- YUM!!

 

[RC Fan]

I am amazed at what people think they are entitled to for the little "oops" things that happen in life.

I agree. There have been several threads about similar circumstances. I guess no one is allowed to make an honset mistake anymore.

 

[Chattyaholic]

I've been a waitress almost 10 years and thankfully have never spilled a drink on someone. I did spill one on a customer's table though, and felt terrible about it. He jumped up quick enough that it didn't get on him, just the table and floor (it was Coke) but I still felt bad. I kept apologizing and he kept smiling and saying it was fine. Accidents do happen. Waitresses carry many, many trays of drinks throughout their shift.

If I had been the one to spill iced tea onto your son, apologized and then asked if he was mad at me and YOU said "I don't know, but mommy sure is" I would have avoided you at all costs too. I would have taken the price of your son's meal/drink off the bill, but I would definitely have gotten another server to finish taking care of you.

 

[Marseeya]

the whole right side arm of his long sleeve shirt, and jeans were wet. the front of his shirt up to the collarwas wet as well ( just missed his head). i rolled up his sleeves to his elbows and just let it be. i never bring another set of clothes with me, he's 3 and old enough in my opinion not to have any bathroom accidents ( which thankfully hasn't happened yet) i think he was upset from the shock of the cold tea hitting him, and then the crying, which, made me mad...and upset....but there is nothing i can do now, i am curious as to what has happened to others in this situation...i felt we were not treated well after the spill. the apology was not acceptable and he avoided us after the whole incident... like i said i don't think he heard the mommy is mad comment b/c he was too frazzled after the spill....i think he was embarassed as everyone around us was looking at him. i'm sure he just wanted to crawl into a hole at that point...oh well what's done is done, guess he was too embarassed to deal w/ the situation properly...

I'm just curious why an apology isn't acceptable? Quite often, places like that won't offer any apology whatsoever so as to avoid some kind of blame in our sue-happy society. A simple "I'm sorry" can go a very long way with me.

 

[golfgal]

the whole right side arm of his long sleeve shirt, and jeans were wet. the front of his shirt up to the collarwas wet as well ( just missed his head). i rolled up his sleeves to his elbows and just let it be. i never bring another set of clothes with me, he's 3 and old enough in my opinion not to have any bathroom accidents ( which thankfully hasn't happened yet) i think he was upset from the shock of the cold tea hitting him, and then the crying, which, made me mad...and upset....but there is nothing i can do now, i am curious as to what has happened to others in this situation...i felt we were not treated well after the spill. the apology was not acceptable and he avoided us after the whole incident... like i said i don't think he heard the mommy is mad comment b/c he was too frazzled after the spill....i think he was embarassed as everyone around us was looking at him. i'm sure he just wanted to crawl into a hole at that point...oh well what's done is done, guess he was too embarassed to deal w/ the situation properly...

I think you are making a huge deal out of nothing. It was an ACCIDENT. It isn't like the waiter poured the tea over him on purpose. The waiter apologized, end of story. If he was embarrassed, I would have been too. It isn't like you didn't get any service after it happened. What else would you have liked him to do? How didn't he deal with the situation properly, he apologized and cleaned up the mess, other then your son.

 

[mickeyfan1]

What ever happened to civility? The waiter accidentally spilled iced tea onto the child. He DID apologize. That should have been the end of it. The OP took the child to the restroom to clean him up as best she could. Perhaps the manager saw that happen and figured she didn't need people following them into the rest room.

TO the person who said if it was in a mall because the restaurant should have given the OP money to get the child an entire new outfit? I think that is going more than a bit overboard.

To the OP with the tip, the waiter apologize. When you told him you were mad and he "avoided" you after, why stiff the people that did continue to serve you. At the end of the night it looks like you were the rude one, not the waiter.

When someone makes a mistake, an apology should be given. After that, if there is nothing that can be done, then you need to move on. I have had water poured all over me while wearing a white silk dress, got no apology from the person who did it. I had wine poured down my back at lunch one day, the waitress apologized. I never expected anything else after. I think that because I was raised not to expect more than good manners, I am not scarred for life.

 

[olena]

It's so odd to see this thread today. Did anyone else see the new South Park last night where Towelie was a waiter at P.F. Chang's?

 

[Chris2597]

Recently we were out with friends and a waiter spilled a steaming hot bowl of beans on one of our friends....it went down the side of his face, ear, and neck.... Our friend ran to the bathroom to apply cool water....the waiter merely said, I am sorry (very offhanded)....Like the OP the managers saw what happened and ignored it....My dh went to the manager's and told them our friend might need medical care if the beans scalded him and that the waiters brush off and their lack of involvement was inapppropriate. He told them our friend needs a clean shirt, a bag of ice wrapped in a towel....They scurried off fetching things....our friend returned to the table with a clean shirt from the restaurant, and the ice....His face and neck were mighty red but nothing permanent...They did comp his meal....I think waiters should take extra care in serving HOT items and carrying huge trays of food over their heads and our chairs....
I think the op has a right to be upset....I am sure their meal was not as pleasurable as it would have been minus the tea incident, not to mention the brush off from the waiter and management....Eating out with a family is expensive and the diners deserve a good experience....if the restaurant screws up, then the patrons deserves compensation....JMHO

 

[PhotobearSam]

When I read a post like this, I can really see the differences in Canadian (especially Maritimers) and Americain.

We here take customer service as a high art...We fawn over our clients and if this was to happen here, we would have gotten an apology from the Manager/owner and the food would have been free...probably the new shirt too.

Now let me tell you that we would not even have to complain. The waiter would be apologizing and we would be saying it's alright, he would apologize some more and we would apologize for him having to apologize...etc.etc....You get it. Also, the other patrons would be helping and getting the manager, cleaning the table and seeing if they had anything in the car or diaper bag for the little one to wear etc...

I would be very peeved if this incident happened to me...It's not the accident that is the important thing, it's the attitude...

I would write a small note to corporate, saying what happened and suggest that it could have been handled better. I would not really want anything from them but if they offered, I would accept and be super nice to the wait staff the next time...but that is us...

When I see the "get over it" comments, I think to myself, that sounds easy to do if it did not hapen to you on your special outing, but people are allowed to feel what they feel.

I am not in the get something for nothing crowd but I would want an apology and my son's supper for free...since he had to sit there cold and wet, it's the right thing to do. THE RIGHT THING TO DO...when did this become an ancient practice?

Here if a restaurant ignored the customers that way, I would not go back even if it had happened to the next table.

Just my 2 cents...and I am not saying that only Canadians think the way I do but I was reading the majority of the posts and that was my FEELING, and of course I may be wrong, if so I apologize. Apologizing is definately a Canadian trait...lol