Do you just eat it or send it back?
 

When you go out to eat, and you order your food, if it's not right, do you send it back or do you just eat it. A friend of mine will just eat it, because he said he thinks the server could be having a bad day and could do something to it.

I've seen hidden cameras on talk shows and I did see some disgusting things that were being done to customers food.

Me personally, I always send it back if it's not what I ask for though.
What about you? Do you just eat it or send it back?

If it is out and out not what I ordered, I would probably send it back, but if it's basically what I did order (i.e. steak and it's not done how I like it (rare, medium, etc.)), then I just eat it, because you never know what "extra ingredients" will be added in (spit, loogies, or any other liquid which could house Hepatitus A).
I wouldn't want to take that chance. But then again, I'm not too particular about how I like my steak done.

eta: I am always extremely polite to the staff, to the point where, when I place my order, I say, "May I please have.....?", not "Can I get?" which I think is a bit boorish and rude.

I refuse to pay $$$ for something I didn't ask for.

I send it back. I used to be a server, so I make it a point to be polite to the server regardless of whether or not my order's correct. Even if you don't send it back, the server could easily be spitting the food, especially if the customer's being an asshole. It's easier to just be patient and nice.

Lots of restaurants have cameras inside the establishment now to monitor how the employees are performing.

My husband is a very experienced chef. Simply put: you should NOT send it back. What you should do, is order something else, or ask for another plate. Never, NEVER talk down to the help. Even if they don't spit in your food or do something else, they could still just keep making your dinner service miserable by ignoring you, etc. My husband always cringes when one of our family members or friends sends food back. Unfortunately, you'd like to think that all restaurants have stellar service, clean adequately, and know health codes. Unfortunately, that is not the case in today's society.

lol

I very rarely send anything back, but sometimes the server recommends something that I really can't stand, so I'll apologetically request something else. I've never had a problem because I'm always very nice about it. Then I'll add a generous tip for the trouble.

Ditto. I also find that if you make it sound like you don't think its their fault, everyone is happier. "Oh, I think the kitchen accidentally put alfredo on my pasta when I ordered marinara. Do you mind asking them if they could fix it for me please?" We both know the server screwed up, but if they think I'm not going to take away from their tip, they're usually super nice about it. This actually happens to me all the time, I have terrible luck with always getting my order out wrong!

Yeah...as someone who HAS worked in a restaurant, I'm perfectly comfortable sending food back. Like OTW said, however, I also make a point to always be nice to the server. Regardless of how bad a day someone's having, if you're ncie to them they'll be good to you too.

Kathykd: why in the world does your husband say that? I'm not being snarky, I really just can't imagine why you wouldn't send something back if it's their mistake.

I send it back.

Yesterday, the waitress brought me a salad that had bacon bits. I immediately told her that I could not eat it and sent it back. She brought me back a regular one without them. I thanked her and later told the cashier how good a service I got regarding this.

I send it back, but I am always polite to the wait staff (ie - try to smile, say "please" and "thank you" constantly).

I am usually the difficult person at the table who has to order everything on the side so, when my food is exactly as I ordered it, I generally tip above 20%.

This isn't always true. When I was waitressing, one of the waitresses clearly (well, she DOES have fancy writing, but I could tell the difference) wrote "Ruben" on the ticket, and the cook read it as "Ravioli" and made Ravioli for her order.

Also, I loved the guys in the kitchen, but all steaks came out well-done, no matter what you wrote on the ticket.


Amazingly enough, and knock on wood, I've never had my order screwed up - well, except when I ordered tuna salad from the restaurant I worked at and the guys in the kitchen made it chicken salad instead, just to eff with me. But don't worry - revenge was had. One of my favorite being bringing them the Pepsi they asked for in 5 shot glasses, instead of a normal cup.

My husband and I recently went to a nice (read really f-ing expensive) Steakhouse and when the waiter brought me my food, she asked me to cut into it and then she took out a little flashlight to shine on it. Well I had ordered it medium-rare and as soon as I cut into it, she said that it was NOT medium rare- it was medium well. So she took the plate back and had the kitchen re-make the steak. I would have just eaten it the way it was!

The manager ended up coming over to apologize and he comp'ed our appetizers.

So, no, I don't usually send it back but this time the waiter sent it back for me!

I've NEVER heard of that happening, I hope you tipped her well!

^^^
We did tip well- over 20% including what the appetizers would have cost. It was a great dinner, but I doubt we can afford to go back anytime soon!

Well, to be perfectly honest, even if you are POLITE, there are waiters and waitresses who could care less, and would still get annoyed by you sending something back. Because he has worked in the business for so many years, it's easier to simply order something else, as opposed to sending it back, and not getting what you WANTED in return.

Obviously, being polite helps on many occasions, but if you catch someone on an off day (which will happen, many times) you may get more than you bargained for. I hate to be so negative, but to be perfectly honest, this is just the way we view restaurant service. Like I said, we'd all like to believe that the business is excellent, but if you've worked in it long enough, you don't see the world through rose-colored glasses anymore.

Having worked as a waitress, steak house, while in college, I had no problem if people wanted food sent back if it was not what they ordered/or how they wanted it cooked. Getting pissed off at the waitress, no. I send stuff back if order is messed up, but am polite about it. A friend won't send a messed up order back but will go on and on about it, to the point I want to say, check please. I have asked to her to either send food back or just tone it down, and she says she doesn't want to get anyone in trouble.

It does happen. The more chances you have to go to nice (dimly lit) restaurants -- you will get the "flashlight treatment" AND the good service from the front of the house that goes along with that.

The servers do just that, serve! They do not cook. Be nice to them as they work thier rears off and be very helpful in most cases. A smile and thank you is a great place to start.

Two things I cannot stand, bad food and poor service!

If it is not right send it back and state why or what is wrong with it.

If the service is bad, do not be bitchy about it, just do not tip well, they do not desearve it!

If the server is great, they get a much bigger tip from me along with a smile and a thank you!:)

They work for a living just like the rest of us do. Do the job right and the rewards follow!:)

I was at Morton's one night for a work-related dinner meeting in the private dining room sponsored by a pharmaceutical company. These things are the best -- not only do I get loads of pens, post-its, and highlighters from this company...they pay for my steak and wine too!

Anyway, I ordered my filet Medium-Rare. When I got it, it was Medium-Well. I hate dry steak. I knew that I wasn't paying for my meal (the Pharma company's credit card was!) so I didn't play diva. Still, the server looked absolutely mortified that my order got screwed up and quickly took it back to the kitchen. He returned 2 minutes later with the GM, who presented me with a $50 gift certificate for my next visit. Not only that, he told the Pharma rep that they'd be comp'ing my meal. :D

It depends on the definition of "not right".

If they brought me broccoli instead of green beans, I wouldn't send it back. I would bring up the error, not to be mean, but as a "training opportunity" (lingo from work). I would let them know that personally it was not a big deal since I like both veggies.

Now, if you brought be steak instead of chicken (I hate steak), I would send it back. If I ordered something and they put yellow mustard on it without my asking, I also would send it back.

Either way, don't blame the server. They didn't buy the food, they didn't cook the food and they didn't mix your drink. Always treat your servers like royalty, and they will do the same to you. Case in point, a few of us went out for pizza last night, and the waitress kept apologizing for the delay in the kitchen. We told her it was ok since we were in no hurry and taking the time to visit. I saw her talking to her mananger, and he sent appetizers out for us complimentary. We were not expecting the extras, but this was a very nice gesture.

I waitressed for a short time at a restaurant that was horribly slow at getting food out - especially on Saturday night. I had a table of younger girls (low 20's) come in, and I warned them that it was going to be a pretty long wait. I checked on them constantly, and I kept their drinks filled, and them updated how long the wait was going to be. They ended up leaving me a $20 for about $30 of food.

the majority of the time whatever i ordered turns out good. There has been a few instances that it has happened and if your polite and nice about it then it turns out well. The times i had sent it back it turned out correct. Though there have been times with friends who send it back and they have gotten snotty attitudes from the server

It depends on what's wrong with it, but in general I usually don't send anything back (like if its missing a veggie, or med rare and not med well). If its something that I can not eat at all (like cantelope) then I just order something else.

And I'm always nice to my server anyway (I was a waitress for 2 weeks :eek: and that was enough!) so my demeanor doesn't change or anything.

I remember I ordered dessert after dinner which is rare for me, but the apple pie with ice cream looked really, really good, so I ordered it. The server was such a bitch from the beginning. When she brought my pie, it was cold, so I asked her if she could heat it up. I was really nice about it...at least I think I was. When she brought it back, the ice cream was melted and the pie was so hot it was smoking and the color changed slightly to a darker brown. When she put the pie in the microwave, she didn't even bother to take the ice cream off. I didn't eat it. Oh, and I left a penny for her tip, and I told her manager on her.

I remember when I was about 10 my older brother did this to a server at Friendly's. It was cruel, but she really deserved it.

I took my kids to Buffalo Wild Wings last week and my daughter ordered a different sauce for her boneless wings than she usually does. Turned out, it was way too hot for her. When the waitress came by to ask us if everything was ok, I started to tell her that the sauce my daughter ordered was too hot for her and I was going to ask if I could order an additional plate for her but the waitress said, before I could finish "I can get her a different one!" I tipped her very well. It didn't seem fair that they had to toss a whole plate of food like that and I was willing to pay for a new order, but they were great about it.

I am a waitress now, and have been in the industry for about ten years. I've worked in family style places to friendly's to top notch. If someone is nice to me, I'll go out of my way to help them, plain and simple. (I also send over a tasting plate, give a free dessert, etc if things aren't great, sometimes even if i really like the table i will) If they are being rude, have a condescending tone of voice, or don't even say thank you, it's hurtful and I have learned not to take it personally, but it still gets to me sometimes.

I have never ever done anything to anyone else's food, but I have seen it done (they were always above and beyond obnoxious for this to happen), and its usually the back of house that gets mad that the server is upset and does something about it, not the server doing it.

Either way, be nice, courteous and appreciative, and tip appropriately. I expect 20% and it is amazing how many people don't do this.
When I go out to eat, I tip a crazy amount, 20% if the service isn't even good, and 25-30% if it is.
I don't usually send back food, but I will if I just can't eat it, and I'm super nice about it, explain that i'm also a server and understand it's a pain. That usually gets good results, and sometimes some extras!

Still, I must disagree. As a waitress, I'd be much more aggravated if the customer ordered a completely different dish. It's a headache for me, for the kitchen and for the manager who has to change the tab. It takes more time, which - regardless of the fact that they decided to completely change their order - means a lower tip, 99% of the time. If I bring back a steak and say, "Hey guys, this was done wrong, can we get it redone?" it'll take the shortest time possible. Entering another dish into the system puts it to the back of the line. I can ask them to rush it, but it's a pain for everyone.

Point is, I'd be pissed if someone ordered a completely different dish.

As to your last sentence quoted, if I order a new dish I'm not getting what I wanted, am I?

That's not what I was insinuating, at all. What I meant by my last sentence was, getting something disgusting in return for being annoying and saying, "This isn't what I wanted, re-do it." I don't think you're understanding what I am saying here, or maybe we're just coming from two different perspectives. From my husband's perspective, he would rather have--as a chef--made something else for the customer if it was not to their liking, as opposed to taking back a piece of meat that was probably cold by the time it was returned, and put it back into the oven. Also, if a waiter/waitress is not in a good mood, he or she could drop it, or do something else (more disgusting) to it on the way to the kitchen.

Of course, there is always the option of "tipping" the server well, but in some instances, some people take offense to that--it could backfire; they may think you are talking down to them, and want to do something even worse to your food. Now, I'm not saying this is always the case, but I would rather be safe than sorry. Because my husband has worked in kitchens for many years, he knows what really goes on back there. I could tell you horror stories about some of the best restaurants, but no one wants to hear that. Just be careful when you go to a restaurant--that's all I'm saying. :)

These comments, and others you have made, are absolutely horrible and ridiculous. And for your husband to be telling you these things, then he must be guilty of them too.

Bdubs is pretty good with their service on things like that.


Coming from a manager of a pretty decent restaurant, I'd rather a customer complain to the server or a manager if something is not right. Then we can do something to fix the problem and keep the customer happy and wanting to come back. If something isn't right, SEND IT BACK. But don't send it back for stupid things, like there isn't enough romaine in your salad. Or that you didn't know there was seasoning on the steak... duh??

I one time had a customer call two weeks later to complain about something and I told her that if she had talked to a manager at the time we could have helped her out... she didn't remember what the server looked like or her name and when I told her that I'd need to know who it was to take care of the problem she accused me of not caring about her problem. If you plan to call back and complain about something, PLEASE remember the server's name or what they look like! Better yet, complain at the time of the incident, not later. And let us know how you like your food. That can help us managers and owners fix things that need fixing.

A few of us went out to Friday's one day after the movies and everything came out wrong. It wasn't the servers fault, and when we spoke to the manager, we made sure that he was aware of it. We had what would have been a $60 bill comped down to something like $30, plus free desserts. We tipped the waitress like it was $60, and we tipped her something like 25% or 30%. Now every time we go that she is working we have her, and she more or less knows our orders (unless we don't get our usual stuff) and we get our drinks without even having to ask sometimes. It's really great.

Most states, putting something that has been cut into/bitten into into a microwave is against health code, they actually are supposed to make you a whole new one.

Last night I ordered one of the new "specials"..a steak with mushrooms and burgundy sauce; the menu said it came with asparagus which I absolutely can't stand so I wanted the loaded baked potato instead. They brought the asparagus and the potato! Now my hubby has leftover asparagus!

Once at a Mex. rest., it took 2 times for them to get my order right.

I don't usually get upset if they bring the wrong food; just don't take 30 minutes when the rest. is almost empty.

I know what they are "supposed" to do, but a lot of times, they don't do it. I am not understanding what people are not getting about this...

Way to be accusatory. Look, if you don't want to be aware of the facts, which is that a lot of restaurants are not up to health codes, then so be it. I'm just telling the OP that on many occasions, it's not the best idea to send a plate back to the kitchen. Like I said earlier, if people want to keep believing that these things don't happen, then you put your own safety as far as eating goes in danger. Haven't you ever watched Gordon Ramsey's "Kitchen Nightmares"? Well, I'm telling you that yes, these sorts of things DO happen in real life. This is WHY we have health inspectors coming to places and shutting them down. I've seen it happen, I know it does. Keep thinking what I'm saying is "horrible" and "ridiculous" if you want to, though. :rolleyes:

Good for him.;)

Most of the time if it was a small mistake (like if I ask for no onions and it comes back with onions) I will just fix it myself (e.g. take the onions off) and eat it.

There was only one time in my entire life that I've had to send something back.....

My then-bf and I were driving around with a specific place in mind, and passed a seafood restaurant on our way. He said he was in the mood for seafood, so we went ahead and thought we'd give that place a try. I was sort of new to the area and hadn't heard anything about that place yet.

It was a Saturday night at 8 pm and we didn't have a wait.. and there were plenty of empty tables which should have been our first clue, but we ordered an appetizer, some drinks and entrees anyway.

When our dinner came, I was appalled. The crab tasted old, and the fish did not even look like they even bothered to properly prepare it. I couldn't eat any of it. The chef came out and assured us that was the way the entrees were supposed to be prepared and I asked them to please take the entree away and asked for some more tortilla chips.

They only charged us for the appetizer and our drinks (the then-bf didn't eat his entree either) which was nice, but I will never ever ever go to that place again... and I tell everyone to never eat there.... and just in case you have one in your area, I wouldn't reccommend Rockfish to even my worst enemies :o

So, basicaly never go back and let all of your friends know about them. A kiss of death for a joint!:mad:

Stopped at a McDonalds on the road home. Odered a Double cheese burger and no onions as make me sick!

Well, hooking down the highway, ate the onions, was sick the whole weekend at my folks!

Next time I stopped by there and told them! Nada.!!!!!:mad:

Never went back since!

Well, she made rude comments to my (now) sister-in-law and she didn't serve anything she was supposed to serve. I think that was reason enough in that case.

Kathy, I see your point, but I just think if I'm paying for something, I should get what I asked for. I think if someone is that ruthless to spit in someones food, or ignore a paying customer that just shows what kind person he/she is. I personally really don't think there's any excuse for it.