When you didn't like your meal in a restaurant...

[Disneefun]

I think of it as pretty much the same as grocery shopping. If I don't like something I buy, I don't take it back to the store. If I buy ingredients for a new recipe and I don't like the end result, I don't take the stuff back to the store. I chalk it up to experience and move on. Same with a restaurant. If I ordered it, it was prepared as described and I don't like it, I either eat it or leave it. If I order something else, I expect to pay for both items.

 

[nunzia]

As long as the item was served as presented on the menu, I'd certainly not expect to be compensated in any way. (Example- if it arrived covered in mushroom gravy that wasn't mentioned in the description, or something like that rendering the meal quite different, I'd ask for something else.)

As PP said, I think offering a coupon for a future dessert/appetizer is a fair compromise if you want to make them happy another time.

That said, sometimes a customer is such a PITA, you're going to lose them no matter how nice you are!

To me that's the kicker..if the description is right and then I just don't like it, then I would say nothing. If the description didn't mention it had habanero sauce and it did, then I would say something. It's my responsibility to read what an item is and then figure out if I'd like it. I'd guess, for you, it would be a case by case issue..if you felt they were trying to play the game then I might offer a dessert..if they are regulars who you know aren't playing you, I'd either comp it out or offer a trade out of same price. I was a manager at a buffet in las Vegas. AMAZING..people would tell me they wanted to be comped because: food was cold (after they sat there 30 minutes..uhhuh), didn't like food (ok..get a fresh plate and get something else...) they'd pile loads of food in a stroller and then get offended if you noted that all food needed to be eaten in the dining area..anyway...I think it has gotten worse with players trying to get something, but for you I'd really trie and gauge what would be best for your business in the long run.

 

[TinkTock]

I'm not one to send things back because I made a poor choice, but I once went out with a big group of people, and one of them had a few bites of his food and told the waitress that it was way too salty. She apologized and said she'd take it off the bill. He thanked her then asked for a box to take the food home because his wife likes her food salty.

 

[MomToOne]

I think there are two different situations here:

1. When I tried something "new", and discovered I didn't like that sort of thing.

2. When the food is just bad. As in hardly anyone would like it, due to a bad recipe or bad cooking technique.

#1 is my fault. I pay. #2 they either need to bring me something edible or they should comp the meal. And since they already brought me something inedible, I highly doubt the next thing out would be magically wonderful, so I would probably want the comp.

 

[C.Ann]

This has happened to me only once.. It was at a Cracker Barrel restaurant.. Now let me preface this by saying that I expected nothing - nothing at all..

It was chicken and dumplings, I believe - and I just didn't like it.. Wasn't what I was used to and couldn't even eat more than 3 bites of it.. Well - when the waitress came to the table she noticed that my friend was eating and I wasn't and asked me why.. I just kind of smiled and said that I wasn't really as hungry as I thought I was.. Guess I'm not a good faker, because she saw right through me and said, "You don't care for it, do you?" I blushed - and said, "No, not really.. I guess I'm not used to this southern type of cooking, but that's okay - don't worry about it.." She just smiled at me, cleared my plate away, and asked if I would like something else.. I told her no - I was fine with just my coffee - and would just wait for my friend to finish eating..

Awhile later, she came back with the check and there were no charges on there for my chicken and dumplings!! When I asked her why, she said that she told the owner I didn't care for it - just wasn't what I was used to - and the owner told her not to charge me for it.. I was floored!! I absolutely did not expect (or want) that and was pretty much speechless..

Needless to say, I left her a substantial tip - and then made sure that I purchased something out in the gift shop area before I left the store.. It was so very kind of them - but not something I think any restaurant owner should be expected to do just because someone doesn't care for what they ordered..

I don't know what to tell you in regards to your situation, but thought you might be interested to hear what happened to one of those people who made an "oops" and ordered something they didn't like..

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

This has happened to me only once.. It was at a Cracker Barrel restaurant.. Now let me preface this by saying that I expected nothing - nothing at all..

It was chicken and dumplings, I believe - and I just didn't like it.. Wasn't what I was used to and couldn't even eat more than 3 bites of it.. Well - when the waitress came to the table she noticed that my friend was eating and I wasn't and asked me why.. I just kind of smiled and said that I wasn't really as hungry as I thought I was.. Guess I'm not a good faker, because she saw right through me and said, "You don't care for it, do you?" I blushed - and said, "No, not really.. I guess I'm not used to this southern type of cooking, but that's okay - don't worry about it.." She just smiled at me, cleared my plate away, and asked if I would like something else.. I told her no - I was fine with just my coffee - and would just wait for my friend to finish eating..

Awhile later, she came back with the check and there were no charges on there for my chicken and dumplings!! When I asked her why, she said that she told the owner I didn't care for it - just wasn't what I was used to - and the owner told her not to charge me for it.. I was floored!! I absolutely did not expect (or want) that and was pretty much speechless..

Needless to say, I left her a substantial tip - and then made sure that I purchased something out in the gift shop area before I left the store.. It was so very kind of them - but not something I think any restaurant owner should be expected to do just because someone doesn't care for what they ordered..

I don't know what to tell you in regards to your situation, but thought you might be interested to hear what happened to one of those people who made an "oops" and ordered something they didn't like..

Cracker Barrel had the best customer service of about any place I have ever eaten.

Like a PP, I got some half cooked shrimp at a steakhouse. Completely inedible. However, my DH knows it's my cardinal rule to never send food back. EVER. The waitress noticed my DH was done and I had barely touched my dish. She offered to get something else, I NEVER say yes to this. I told her no thank, I was fine not really up to eating a big meal anyway. We went to pay for it and she had comped the cost of my meal, even though I didn't ask her to. Like another PP, I went back and added more money to my tip. The waitress went out of her way to make sure that when I left the restaurant. she had done all she could to keep me as a customer. And she did.

 

[LilGMom]

Last time was my anniversary. We did eat it because we don't like sending food back, who knows what mood the chef is in. LOL I actually told the waitress I didn't like it. She gave us 50% off our dinner and free dessert.

Yep, I've seen the movie "Waiting...." (with Ryan Reynolds) and there is no way that I'm sending anything back to the kitchen!

 

[BabyFu18]

If I don't like a dish I ordered, I suck it up, don't complain and just pay for the dish I ordered. I ordered it, and I'm all for trying new things, so if it happens to be something I don't like or won't eat that's no ones fault but my own.

 

[nunzia]

Yep, I've seen the movie "Waiting...." (with Ryan Reynolds) and there is no way that I'm sending anything back to the kitchen!

..in all my years in restaurants I have never seen anyone in the 'back' tamper with food..they are too busy and it is just not worth it...

LOVE Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings!! did NOT like some sort of greens..but my fault, not theirs.

 

[merekc]

I've been following this thread and it reminded me of a funny "comp" story.

I ordered pizza delivery from a chain's national call center number. An hour later still didn't have our food so I called them back, they told me that the local location I was to get it from was no longer using the call center for ordering (I don't know if this was a story or if maybe they had to pay usage fees, etc). So basically, the call center took my order and no pizza was ever coming. I was not happy. Had they told me an hour before I would have called the local place myself or called someone else.

Anyway, the call center person offered to comp me for the meal. Uhhh, thanks, so you are now generously not going to charge me for the meal I was never going to receive. I can laugh about it now.

 

[Lewisc]

I'd probably eat the meal, even it it wasn't exactly what I expected BUT

Assume my dislike was so strong I wasn't going to eat the meal. I'd expect a waiter would ask me what was wrong. I would expect a good waiter would get me something I'd like without charging me for both meals. Should I decline, and pick through the entree, I'd expect the waiter might comp coffee or dessert.

Example. You're in an Italian restaurant and the dish has far more garlic then you like. Technically there is nothing wrong with the dish but a good waiter, and a good restaurant, would get you something else.

Another example. You're in a local, family restaurant. The chicken or fish you ordered is 90% breading. You got what you ordered, breaded chicken cutlet, but you don't like you meal. It would have to be almost nothing but breading for me to send it back but I can understand others may be less tolerant.

I had a "fight" in a local seafood restaurant. I ordered tuna. I told the waiter I don't like it rare (sushi style). I said I would order a different entree if the chef had a problem cooking tuna medium.

The tuna came out rare (almost raw) and I couldn't find the waiter. By the time I found a manager the rest of the people on my table had finished eating. It took a few minutes to explain why I wasn't going to pay for the entree nor did I want something else.

People who send stuff back a lot either have unreasonably high standards or need to patronize better restaurants.

Get a hamburger from a steak house and lunchtime and you can ask for it medium (or even rare). Get a hamburger from Burger King is different.

 

[3pletprincesses]

If I ordered and didn't like what I ordered, that's my problem. I wouldn't expect the restaurant to do anything about it. Not the restaurant's fault that I dislike the meal that I selected.

 

[EllenFrasier]

If I order something and then I don't like it, I inquire from my companions if they've ever eaten it before and ask them to taste it to see if it is supposed to taste that way or if the restaurant messed something up. I would expect the restaurant to substitute another meal if there was something not right with the food.

 

[AZMermaid]

I was at a local restaurant and I ordered the pizza. It was really bad. Really really bad. But I just made a mental note not to order it again. I would never have asked to be comped. Like other posters, the waiter noticed I had hardly eaten it and comped it. I told him it was totally unnecessary. I ordered it and didn't like it, it was my fault. But he insisted.

If someone eats the whole thing and then complains, I would say, heck no to a refund. But, if they have a few bites, it may be worthwhile from a customer service standpoint.

 

[SeansMom]

What in the world is on the menu that somebody wouldn't like? Surely a 50's style diner has hamburgers, milkshakes, etc??? I can only imagine ordering something I didn't like at an expensive restuarant with an extensive menu.

I think comping would depend if they ATE it. Is it gone, or two bites and that's it? On rare occasions I've been given something else (once it was my fault as I'm allergic to sesame and with one bite knew they'd used sesame oil, but I'd forgotten to mention it; but they replaced it with a dish that was sesame free), and once the flavors/spices just did not taste good (but that was a really expensive meal, which I couldn't justify not eating and still paying for).

I'd think giving a free dessert might be better. I have a vague memory of this being offered once when the kids were young, and it left a very postive impression.

 

[mikkishelles]

If I just didn't like it, I wouldn't send it back; I just wouldn't order it again. However, if there was something with the way it was cooked, I might. About 12 years ago, I was eating up on City Island with DH. He ordered a fried mixed seafood platter, and I ordered the same, but broiled. His fish was 90% breading and he couldn't even taste the fish. That is the only time that I can ever remember sending food back and asking for something comparable. He got the broiled version like I had, and never ordered a fried platter again.

 

[RainbowBrite]

I've never sent back food because I didn't like it. I eat what I can and just remind myself not to order it next time.

But now I'm curious as to what restaurant is your family's, OP! I live in Massachusetts and I love 50's style restaurants.

 

[lady_bug_888]

Personally, if I order a dish in a restaurant that I don't like I try to eat it anyways. Something about that item appealed to me and I ordered it and I'm hungry so I eat it! That said there have been a handful of times when I just couldn't stomach it, some of the things I would expect:

1) Hopefully the server would notice that most of my table is eating ravenously, yet I haven't touched my food and would ask "how is everything?".

2) I would expect a solution to be offered or a request be honoured. For example...if I really couldn't stomach a side I would request a different side be substitued. OR if I thought the dish could be remedied (heated up, cooked longer etc...) I would ask for that to be done.

3) The offer of something else instead is a very generous one...and one that will keep me coming back. I would think that MOST people would not abuse this.

My WORST experience ever happened just a while ago. I went to a new local restaurant and ordered chicken neptune. I REALLY wanted seafood but we have very few restaurants where I live and seafood normally isn't available. I ordered the salad bar in addition because I have a one year old and there were crackers/soup and some salads that looked decent. I had a small bowl of seafood chowder which was edible but not great, two packages of crackers which I split with DD and I TRIED 2 salads but after one bite couldn't eat them because they tasted foul. Sort of like cleaner. When my meal arrived there was broccoli and rice (my favs) and chicken with a seafood topping. Both the broccoli and rice were disgusting...once again they tasted like cleaner of some sort and although I REALLY tried to eat it, I just couldn't stomach it and ate maybe 2 bites. The chicken was completely tasteless and this is not an exaggeration. I felt like I was eating rubber. The seafood sauce tasted weird as well and I started to feel sick to my stomach. The server never made it to our table (and it wasn't busy) until DH and DS had finished their meals. They offered to make me something else (score 1 point) but I declined because everyone else was done eating, DD was cranky and I was honestly feeling ill at that point. They comped my entree but not the salad bar which I thought was wrong. I DID have a bowl of soup and 2 pkgs of crackers but the salads were inedible and I don't feel like that bowl of soup was worth near the $7 I paid for it. Canned soup would have tasted WAY better!

I have NOT been back to that restaurant and I do not recommend it to my friends. If they ask about it I tell them I thought it was horrible but DH thought it was just OK. If the restaurant had comped the salad bar too it is likely that I would have gone back at some point to try a burger or something. It would have to earn more frequent visits but I would at least feel like I hadn't been ripped off and I would have tried it again.

 

[figment3258]

If there is nothing wrong with the food, like it's Disney taste spoiled or it's NLT over cooked then no I would not comp for the meal if I just don't like it. It would be nice to be able to order something else but I would expect to pay for both.

 

[swilshire]

If I don't like a properly prepared dish that I ordered, I just write it off to experience and remember never to order it again. I wouldn't hold it against the restaurant unless there was an error in the way it was described on the menu.

I sometimes forget to ask if a dish has raw onions, for example. If it arrives with raw onions, I won't eat it. I save it for my husband to eat later and make do with anything else I have on my plate or maybe on DH's.

Sheila