Frustrated Diner

Frustrated Diner

Topic Author: Tracy Madden

Posted: 7:28 PM May 31, 2009

Replies Posted: 10 comments

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No one likes a complainer, but sometimes we all have to do it. After a few incidents this weekend, I know I didn't plead my case very effectively.

We went out to dinner before seeing "Wicked". It was an expensive steak place my husband and I had been to once before. We remembered it fondly, but must have hit it on the wrong night this time around. Nothing was horrible, the overall meal was just very mediocre. The server asked about our meals several times and we said they were just alright. No follow up from the server, no follow up from us. I didn't know what else to say so I didn't say anything.

On my Sunday dinner break, I met my family for a quick dinner. I ordered a panini. When it came the cheese wasn't melted and it wasn't warm. I did sent it back. When the waiter dropped it off a second time he didn't say a word. The sandwich was marginally warmer than the first time around.

These are hardly major problems, but when you're spending money to go out to eat you expect good food and pleasant service.

How do you handle it when things fall short?

I know if I had a business, I'd want to know when we exceeded someone's expectations, but I'd also want to know when we fell short.

On the upside "Wicked" was terrific, worth the ticket price and more. If you get a chance to see it somewhere else, I'd highly recommend it.

Tracy

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

by Jeff on Jul 7, 2009 at 11:44 AM

As a professional chef, I want to know when the food coming out of my kitchen doesn't meet your expectations and I'd also like to hear when it exceeds them. That's the only way for me to know if I need to make changes in the food or my staff. If you don't like something, send it back and tell your server why. Every time you do this, you are helping me make my product and your dining experience better.

by Sarah on Jun 19, 2009 at 12:31 PM

In these economic times, restaurants and other venues should be going above and beyond making sure the customers are satisfied. They should appreciate each and every customer walking through the door. Establishments like the ones you mention may not have their doors open for long if they can't provide the service.

by Renee on Jun 18, 2009 at 05:22 PM

My husband has been working in the restaurant industry for years, and I have worked in the food industry in the past. I have no qualms about asking for the manager and telling them what's up. It is quite possibly the best thing you can do. The manager will pull the server aside and tell them to improve their skills and talk to the kitchen staff as well. The only way to improve things is to let them know something isn't up to par. Believe me, it is worth the small chat with the manager. I've done it several times and my experience almost always improved. The only time it didn't was with a server who didn't like being told he needs to do his job, but that was his problem, not mine. I hope this helps.

by Tannis on Jun 18, 2009 at 07:05 AM

We recently went to a nicer pizza place in Council Bluffs. I ordered the spinach salad - and toward the end I bit into something kind of hard and chewey - there was bacon in the salad so I thought it was a larger piece of bacon. It was a wood chip from mulch. When I pointed it out to the waitress she went and got the manager. He was nice about it and appologized. He said he would take 50% off the price of the salad (after all I ate most of!!). Anyway, when we paid the bill he had taken the full amount off and appologized to us again. My BIGGEST pet peeve as a restaurant customer is the wait staff to ask IF WE WANT CHANGE BACK when paying our bill!!! The standard statement the wait staff needs to say when taking the bill is: I'll be RIGHT BACK WITH YOUR CHANGE!!! This way I have the option to say....keep the change!!

by Bridget on Jun 9, 2009 at 08:41 PM

I agree that it is very frustrating to spend money on meals out and receive below par service overall. My husband and I are both chefs and we really try hard to not be overly critical when dining out. Between both of our experiences we have seen about 1 in 20 restaurants that are despicable when food is sent back. Most of the Kitchen Managers are professional enough to oversee the remaking of an item and ensure the second time around everything is just right. In the cases where the food and/or service is horrible all around we've written a letter to the manager and mailed it. Half of the time we'll get a letter back and sometimes either coupons towards a future visit or a gift certificate. While monetary incentive is not the purpose in the letter almost all management has these types of items in their budgets. So speak up, follow up, write a letter, BE HEARD so that management can address the problems. That is part of what they are being paid to do!

by Michelle on Jun 9, 2009 at 06:28 PM

I have seen Wicked in 4 different cities, even New York, and I must say the cast here in Omaha was even better...However, the wait staff in Omaha needs to take some hints from that big city. Even though we have a lot of restaurants to choose from, there are very few that exceed my expectations!

by Robin on Jun 9, 2009 at 11:17 AM

We pretty much have given up on eating out as a family. There is just no where to go anymore that seems to provide good service and makes the extra cost worth it. Even if the food is good, the service is often very lacking. A few places where we do seem to always get great service (and tha managers seem to care) are Red Robin, Grisantis and, believe it or not, Panera bread! Olive Garden used to be pretty good, but even there the service is just not as good anymore. Even though, I think the managers do care.

by Leslie on Jun 6, 2009 at 08:27 AM

I love to cook, but by Wednesday, I'm so tired of dishes! I had a nice lunch with my pals the other day and the food and service were mediocre. I've noticed a downslope in food and service at most places. I don't go to fancy places, don't expect too much, but it just seems like waiters are edgier, more stressed, unavailable, and the food is subpar. I like the idea of emailing the manager. My roomate in college was a waitress. She tipped me off that sending your food back is asking for it. They do things to your food. I never send the food back!

by Been there... on Jun 3, 2009 at 08:17 PM

I had a similar experience today with cold food and mediocre service. Food was sent back and was 'almost' warm upon its return. I tipped less than normal, but I always leave some tip. The receipt has the email address of the manager so I will send an email to him. I feel managers want and need to know how their restaurant is doing.