Why eat bad food??

[jmdisney]

For several weeks now I have been reading dining reviews. Several times I have asked for feedback on a few places. I really did appreciate the responses I received but often times it left me more puzzled. So many mixed
reviews. I can totally understand differences in tastes but I heard a lot of
reviews on poorly prepared meals. Don't get me wrong. I am not someone
who is always complaining or sending meals back. I have only ever sent food
back probably three times that I can think of, and we eat out at least once
a week. I have heard reviews of under cooked pizza's, dried out chicken,
stale bread, etc.. It almost sounds like it happens a lot. I've decided to
stop stressing over which resturant is better or worse. If I don't care for the food, that's one thing, but if I get over cooked, under cooked or stale food,
I'm sending it back until it's right. Hopefully I won't have to resort to that.
After all, I am on going to be on vacation. Nobody likes a crab on vacation.

 

[ducklite]

I agree! I've sent food back a couple times at WDW--not bad for the hundreds of meals I've eaten there.

The most memorable was a steak cooked to shoe leather at AP that had been ordered MR. Even DH noticed how overcooked it was as it was plopped on the table by a kitchen runner who lived up to the "runner" part of his name as he ran as fast as he could from our table.

That was also the only time that the situation wasn't handled beautifully by the server, who had the same name as mine and hopefully isn't still working at WDW, she was an embarrasment!

At any rate, the only other two times I've had to send things back it was handled beuatifully and with sincere apologies--in one case even the chef came out to apologize!

I know that things happen, I worked in a restaurant in high school, and it's all in how it's handled after the issue is pointed out that leaves the final impression in the diners mind. I can honestly say that other than the one I mentioned first, I've always been thrilled. And I did go back and eat again at AP and had a great meal... Bad server, bad cook, bad night, but the second try made up for it.

I have had three bad situations that never were rectified, one at the TS in Mexico, and two at both Palio and Narcooses. I've never been back to any of them, and never will. At Mexico it was pitiful food and service (I think our server went home after he took our order, we never saw him again, a hostess found our check). At Palio and Narcooses it was uninspired food and horrible service two visits in a row.

Anne

 

[bicker]

I would guess that about half of all reported "bad service" and "bad food" at restaurants is actually more related to the guest having unfounded expectations or not communicating their needs adequately, rather than failures on the part of the restaurant or server. I have substantially great experiences, even at restaurants that I read lots of "bad reviews" of. Sometimes I wonder if there is a little mark next to my name on my ADR record -- something like "treat this guy well". Alas, no. I just know what to expect, and work with the server and the restaurant to provide me a good experience, instead of working against them. Generally, the only truly bad experiences I have are restaurants that practically everyone has bad experiences at (like Nine Dragons). (There is one notable exception: Le Cellier, where twice I've had dry, gristly steaks -- even after sending them back to the kitchen once.)

 

[ducklite]

I agree with you Bicker. I think often people have unrealistic expectations--like those who eat at Cape May Cafe and expect a "real clam bake" like one you would find up in your neck of the woods. In fact what they get is the equivelent to mass produced food for the throngs, generally pretty devoid of the ex quisite fresh flavor you will only find with truly fresh fish and seafood. The price should be pretty indicative of the quality you'll get.

I mentioned Palio and Narcooses as places with uninspired food and bad service. We ate at both three times, and the first time at Palio was a particularly exceptional meal in terms of food and service. But after having poor experiences two times in a row after, you just say "forget it" and move on.

Anne

 

[dalt01]

ditto on that

 

[OKWMom]

The reason we sometimes end up eating bad food or not sending it back is because of the children. If we have been there a good while anyway, they are probably near the end of their tolerance by the time the dinners arrive. We have an autistic DD8, and if we overstay her tolerance, everyone in the place knows it.

If DH and I are out alone, I won't hesitate to send a meal back, but if DD is near the end of her rope, we prefer to be merciful to our fellow diners. Once she melts down, it isn't like I would get to eat the new meal anyway.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

We had one of those bad times at CG. The food was bland. The server was horrid and the table next to us let their kids run under our table as they played tag waiting for the fireworks. Not a good experience for the 150 bucks it cost us for dinner. So we probably wont go back there but for the simple reason that we really didnt like the menu and it was very high dollar for what you actually got served. On the other hand we ate at FF the next day and had the best steak I have ever eaten in my life. So go figure great steak at a fish joint.

 

[ducklite]

We had one of those bad times at CG. The food was bland. The server was horrid and the table next to us let their kids run under our table as they played tag waiting for the fireworks. Not a good experience for the 150 bucks it cost us for dinner. So we probably wont go back there but for the simple reason that we really didnt like the menu and it was very high dollar for what you actually got served. On the other hand we ate at FF the next day and had the best steak I have ever eaten in my life. So go figure great steak at a fish joint.

The one time we had kids run under our table it was at YSH. DH lost it. He's generally a very patient soul, but between them hitting him in the head with food and the screaming that was so loud we couldnt' carry on a conversation, he lost it. He grabbed the older kid by the collar and marched her to her chair, plunking her down--pretty hard. He told her not to move. Period. Glared at the parents, and sat back down without a word. They left a couple minutes later without making another sound.

The tables around us appluaded as they were leaving, and two tables sent rounds of drinks LOL!

But bototm line, management shouldn't be letting this type of behaviour go on. It's disruptive to other patrons, and dangerous to kids and servers. I saw a little kid get seriously burned by hot coffee back in 1978 because he was allowed to run around a restaurant and tripped a server. AN innocent bystander also got burned.

The problem we had at CG was with kids being brought up to stand at our table to watch fireworks. I told one parent to take their kids and "back off." They were literally leaning against our table. How rude!

I think the worst thing I ever saw was a kid grabbing food off our plate. I can't even remember which restaurant, but a little girl, maybe three or so wandered up to our table and DH caught her hand in mid-air as she went to grab something off his plate. SHe started screaming holy murder, and her mother came over and shot DH a dirty look. "EXCUSE ME?!?!?!?!"

Anne

 

[bicker]

Oh yeah; that's right. Third most common reason for a bad dining experience: Other diners! I forgot that one.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I dont know how to quote (newbie here) but holy crap ducklite. I cant believe that seen at the YSH. We had our first incident the other day where our 18 month old threw an ear of corn at DH in an upscale restaurant. Needless to say I removed him from the table and went out and looked at the fish tanks. Mommy had her dinner at home. I guess not all parents are made the same. I would never allow bad behavior but others apparantly dont care. Now I am totaly freaked about taking DS to dinner after last weeks episodes. I think a buffet is a smarter choice for us and booked Boma when we are there in 3 weeks. Sounds like you have had some wild times. Makes me chuckle.

 

[ducklite]

Sounds like you have had some wild times. Makes me chuckle.

I've eaten well over 500 meals at WDW, so the statistics alone allow that I've seen more than the average person.

Sometimes I've seen great things, like the Red Hat ladies having tea (their joie de vive (sp?) just cracks me up!) and the bad like a server having a stroke in the middle of the dinner hour--that was heartbreaking.

We've made friends with some of the CM's along the way, and I'm sure a few don't particularly care for us after we made sure their poor service was reflected in their tip--or lack of.

All in all we've had some excellent meals, some pitiful meals, and a lot of good meals with a few mediocre ones thrown in.

Anne

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Sounds like fun. We may be living in FL soon (house hunting in 3 weeks) and will also be staying at the Vero Beach resort. Any good food choices down there??

 

[ducklite]

There's a little family run place--Lombardi's? Lorenzo's? I can't recall, but it's in the plaza near the movie theater--with that description the CM's should know the one I mean. Good food, inexpensive, family atmosphere.

Also the Ocean Grill but that was a bit more "fancy" (and pricey!) and might not be the best place for the corn thrower LOL!

Anne

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Thanks. LOL. Hopefully the corn throwing was an isolated incident. *mama bites nails frantically* If not another dinner in the hotel. LOL.

 

[Corinne]

But bototm line, management shouldn't be letting this type of behaviour go on. It's disruptive to other patrons, and dangerous to kids and servers. I saw a little kid get seriously burned by hot coffee back in 1978 because he was allowed to run around a restaurant and tripped a server. AN innocent bystander also got burned.

Honestly, management should have been 'all over it' in those instances. I don't think it is appropriate that a patron would have to take measures to get that type of nonsense to stop. It sounds so disruptive~ how could the staff let that go on? I guess what surprises me most is the establishments you were dining in! Yachtsman! Wow! We have dined there a number of times, and cannot believe you were subjected to that.

 

[ducklite]

I'm actually on the phone with DH right now, and asked him about where the kid tried to grab food off his plate, he *thinks* it was the CG, but isn't certain. Like me, he distinctly remembers the incident happening, but can't recall the details.

Anne