When did it become acceptable to....

[SauceBoss]

Ok, time to start some trouble and have a little fun. (anyone with food allergies or special diets - THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO YOU)

Ok, so when did it become acceptble to just go into a restaurant and ask for anything you want without regard for the menu. Seems like there are thousands of people that just go into restaurants, sit down and expect to be accomodated for whatever they feel like having. There are reasons that restaurants have menu's and even better reasons for having them posted outside - if you don't like what they serve don't come in. Now granted, as a professional, I agree that accomodating special requests and going above and beyond is part of great guest service and vital to any business to build a reputation, but are there limits? As stated in the above disclaimer, allergy and dietary cocnerns are different, WDW has established a great reputation for accomodating any type of dietary need and hats off to all the Disney Chef for making it happen on a nightly basis.

It it acceptable for a family to be dining at the Yachtsman Steakhouse and ask the server to bring a kid's mean from Beaches & Cream? Or dine at the Flying Fish Cafe and ask for a meal from ESPN because you don't like what is offered?

Then there are the kid's meals. But that's been beaten to death, so just relax for a few weeks until the change. And they will.

Have fun responding to this...

 

[Cass]

Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, special orders don't upset us.

 

[melomouse]

......

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!

I've been working on this "skill" with my Aspie son, who still doesn't understand why he can't get ribs at the pizza place!! Nonetheless, in 6 trips to Disney and 5 cruises, he has always survived food options~~~ and this was the meltdown kid!!!
I admit, I don't get it! Rather, I do, but I can't stand what it says about the world....

 

[jodifla]

Disney has always been know for dealing with special food requests like allergies.

Now that they've stripped WDW of two of kids' favorite meals, chicken tenders and grilled cheese, it's become a huge problem for many parents.

When I called to complain, Guest Services specifically told me to talk to my server and a manager for special request.

 

[KristiKelly]

Disney has always been know for dealing with special food requests like allergies.

Now that they've stripped WDW of two of kids' favorite meals, chicken tenders and grilled cheese, it's become a huge problem for many parents.

When I called to complain, Guest Services specifically told me to talk to my server and a manager for special request.

I just don't understand why chicken nuggets or grilled cheese sandwiches should have to be a "special request". They should be on all menues!!!

 

[Jennasis]

I agree. I have been known to "tweak" just about everything I order (hold the mustard/lettuce etc...can I get that without the sauce?) but NEVER would DREAM of asking them to prepare something not on the menu. Luckily, menus are posted online and I can figure out where I would like to eat. Unfortunately the menus for many places have yet to be updated or they cahnged after people bought the ddp. Now they're stuck in a pickle...which I hate...could you hold the pickles?

But yeah...I wouldn't order what's not on the menu EVER. This is just another reason why I have chosen not to have children.

 

[jodifla]

I just don't understand why chicken nuggets or grilled cheese sandwiches should have to be a "special request". They should be on all menues!!!

Exactly. The decision to drop them was one of the most moronic things WDW has ever done.

 

[CPer'sMom]

There are reasons that restaurants have menu's and even better reasons for having them posted outside - if you don't like what they serve don't come in.

This needs to be repeated!

So, first Disney offers the DDP to get everyone into the restaurants, now maybe they're making other changes to keep them out!

This thread should get interesting!!

 

[Jennasis]

There must be a way to offer nuggets and grilled cheese that is healthy. Isn't there?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Ok, so when did it become acceptble to just go into a restaurant and ask for anything you want without regard for the menu . . .

1) Ever since restaurants were invented.
2) We frequently "order off-menu".
3) We have done this a lot in finer eateries.
4) I'd be HIGHLY disappointed in a restaurant that did not permit off-menu.
5) In fact, some chefs really "get off" completing specialty requests.

 

[robinb]

A restaurant makes food. I don't have a problem making a special request if I don't like what is on the menu or a side dish. The worst they can say is "no". I change potatoes to veggies as well as ordering kids food not on the menu all the time.

 

[DaisyD]

We order off the menu here at home quite a bit. The restaurants we frequent are all about pleasing the customer. There is no lobster on one menu at a restaurant we eat at but we do order it off menu. We know that they keep a nice supply of them for the owner and are happy to accomodate us too! Asking for a grilled cheese shouldn't bother anyone.

 

[dodukes]

See I think if you dont like whats ont he menu dont eat there, I wont go into a steak house wanting a lobster or into a seafood place asking about chicken pasta dish, i mean c'mon, thats why there are different typies of places, and I dont hink changing ur sides or asking for no sauce or no lettuce is part of this, that is there for the asking but not a lobster at chili's lets say....

 

[SauceBoss]

Point of clarification - tweaking is fine. Hold the mayo, that sort of thing - not an issue. Chatting up the chef, asking him to make something special - not an issue. Sitting down, deciding you don't like what's on the menu after walking past where it was posted outside because you made your ADR 180 days out and the menu changed 3 times since then... that's an issue.

Good example: you go to Yachtsman Steakhouse and request a classis "steak House" entree such as "Steak Diane" or "Filet Oscar" the chef should kiss you! That is a huge compliment that someone want's your expertise.

Bad example: you are dining at the Flying Fish Cafe and you don't see anything you like on the menu. You ask if they can go to ESPN Club and get you an order of Chicken Tenders to cut up and put on your Caesar Salad. Or even worse - can you bread and fry that $25 a pound Halibut and serve it with Fries so i can have Fish & Chips. In which case - you should not be eating at Flying Fish, you should be eating at Rose & Crown (a.k.a. The Frying Fish)

 

[keishashadow]

They can state it's in the interest of eating healthy but, it comes down to $$$ issues.

Far cheaper to throw a few slices of cold, grilled (looks boiled to me ) chicken @ the kiddies than microwave a couple of nuggets.

perhaps families on the DP should order an appetizer OOP for child & save the "non-buffet" credits for a charactar breakfast?

If they're losing money on charging $10.99, i think it's far better to up the price a few bucks & offer what people want.

 

[kaytieeldr]

SauceBoss, I think you need to clarify your intent...

Attention please, everyone reading/responding here!!!

This is NOT about the changes/limitations in the childrens' menus at any/all Disney restaurants.

It is a GENERAL question about, if you look at SauceBoss's examples, ADULT entrees, ADULT choices, ADULT demands and expectations...

I agree with SauceBoss. I wouldn't go into McDonalds and expect them to make me a pizza (no "Poof - you're a pizza" jokes, please). I wouldn't go to Alfredo's and order a corned beef sandwich.

 

[DCDisney]

.

perhaps families on the DP should order an appetizer OOP for child & save the "non-buffet" credits for a charactar breakfast?

And which restaurants offer grilled cheese or chicken tenders as appetizers? It's not a price/OOP thing it's a if they don't offer "kid" food my kid still won't eat a steak, shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque, caesar salad, etc. from the adult menu either.

To the original question I do have significant allergies but I still never order off menu. I will request that whatever dish be served plain but if they offer salmon on the menu I order plain salmon not grouper....
Yvonne

 

[jodifla]

SauceBoss, I think you need to clarify your intent...

Attention please, everyone reading/responding here!!!

This is NOT about the changes/limitations in the childrens' menus at any/all Disney restaurants.

It is a GENERAL question about, if you look at SauceBoss's examples, ADULT entrees, ADULT choices, ADULT demands and expectations...

I agree with SauceBoss. I wouldn't go into McDonalds and expect them to make me a pizza (no "Poof - you're a pizza" jokes, please). I wouldn't go to Alfredo's and order a corned beef sandwich.

If they are cooking food from scratch, it should be no problem for them to make certain substitutions.

If they are buying everything premade from Sysco, then it will be a problem.

 

[wendy46001]

Honestly i don’t see the problem of ordering off menus....

we sometime dine in large group and we go where the majority wants....and if i don’t see anything I care for that night i have no problem creating my own dish....

Mind you its always from things i know they have...
If i want a certain sauce on my pasta and they can do it why not...Plus I never say give me this... I always ask if the chief is willing to....and the server can go check....

Its not like I’m backing up the kitchen or insulting the chief...I’m just trying to be happy with my meal.

 

[Lewisc]

If they are cooking food from scratch, it should be no problem for them to make certain substitutions.

If they are buying everything premade from Sysco, then it will be a problem.

Exactly. A restaurant with a real chef is generally willing to let you order "off the menu" as long as they have the ingredients.

I go to a local Italian restaurant that makes the point of saying if you want something not on the menu ask. If we have the ingredients we'll make it. We don't have veal parmigiana on the menu, but we'll make it if that's what you want. Guests should understand a restaurant may charge a few dollars extra.

I suspect at least some of the one credit restaurants may not have a real chef but rather a cook that just heats entrées that are prepared in advance, maybe even in a central location. I was served a raw pork chop at Tony's. After it came back almost the same we ordered something else. The server later told me the "chef" was new and thought the chops were pre-cooked and only had to be browned.