Do you just eat it or send it back?

[Jill1228]

Originally Posted by OTW

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.

Thank you! I am the same way.
My husband won't send it back. he will eat it and sulk through the whole meal and say "I am not going back there". IMO, it is not fair because he didn't give them the chance to make it right

And if he sulks and bitches, he has no one to blame but himself. he could have gotten it corrected


that shit peeves me

[kathykd2005]

Originally Posted by KappaKittyCat

How can I, the consumer, educate myself, though? I mean, really? It doesn't matter what the sanitation score says; you're right, that's just one day, and who knows what they do the other 364? But if I can't walk through the kitchen and check that separate cutting boards are used for meat and greens, make sure there aren't dirty dishrags in the food sinks, and inspect under the employees' fingernails, how else am I supposed to educate myself?I was at a restaurant in Pearl Ridge a couple of months ago and went to the bathroom while my friends and I were waiting to be seated. Another girl and I came out of our stalls at the same time and started to wash our hands in the sinks and then saw a server come out of a stall and walk right out without washing her hands. The other girl and I just stared at each other, and then I said, "I hope she's not my server." I scanned the floor when we got out to our table and didn't see her anywhere, so I guess she went home. Still, if I had seen her waiting tables, I would have grabbed a manager and ratted her out. I'm sure everyone's skipped handwashing once or twice, but when you're serving other people's food, you should at least try to be sanitary.

You can educate yourself by checking up on sanitation scores in newspapers, asking around, and by looking around--just the way you've been doing.

[cheerfulgreek]

Does anyone remember when Taco Hell employees didn't use gloves to make the tacos? I remember that. I thought that was SO gross.

I still don't like eating at Taco Hell. I will if it's the only place open though.

[sageofages]

Originally Posted by KappaKittyCat

How can I, the consumer, educate myself, though? I mean, really? It doesn't matter what the sanitation score says; you're right, that's just one day, and who knows what they do the other 364? But if I can't walk through the kitchen and check that separate cutting boards are used for meat and greens, make sure there aren't dirty dishrags in the food sinks, and inspect under the employees' fingernails, how else am I supposed to educate myself?

I did some temp work at a company that repaired restaurant equipment. It was the most eye-opening enlightening lesson on where to eat and where NOT to eat in Des Moines. The repair guys loved to tell stories about the stuff they found (like the time a milkshake machine quit working and they found a mouse body in the mixing shaft! OMG)

If you really want to know what is good and where to avoid ask someone in that line of work!

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

Does anyone remember when Taco Hell employees didn't use gloves to make the tacos? I remember that. I thought that was SO gross.

I still don't like eating at Taco Hell. I will if it's the only place open though.

They still don't.

It depends. If I ordered a ravioli and I was brought fetticini, then that goes straight back. If I ordered no onions and there's onions on it, I'll just pick them off, but even that irks me because what if I'm allergic to whatever I asked you not to put on? If you thought "Oh they can just pick it off, I'm not making that again" and I eat it without knowing you screwed up my order, that could be my life right there. It pisses me off when people make mistakes with my food, but if I don't feel like I can put on my fakest smile and happy voice so I don't find something floating in my soup, then I'll just be quiet about it.

[KappaKittyCat]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

...what if I'm allergic to whatever I asked you not to put on? If you thought "Oh they can just pick it off, I'm not making that again" and I eat it without knowing you screwed up my order, that could be my life right there.

I have several friends with severe, life-threatening food allergies. When we go out to eat together, they are crystal clear with the servers: I will become incredibly ill or DIE if I have this. They do this because they know that if they don't, the server and/or chef will just think "oh, picky eater" and ignore their request. Most restaurants of any quality are paranoid about food allergies and will take extra good care of those who have them (provided basic standards of politeness and courtesy are met). I've encountered several places where the manager personally escorted our meal through the kitchen to make sure that offending ingredients stayed away from them. And we always tip a base of 25% to those servers who are good to our friends.

My point is that you're kind of comparing apples to pomegranates. There's a difference between being picky and having a medical condition. If you have an allergy, and you don't make it crystal clear that you're not just another annoying patron, and you get fed something you can't eat, then it's at least partially your fault.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by OOhsoflyDELTA#9

ummm maybe we're talking about different to go orders...I mean I'm home, I call where ever, I drive to get my food, pick it up from the bar, the hostess stand, have them bring it to the car..whatever the drill is for that place...I don't tip like I had the meal there in the resturant...if someone brings it to my car I will give them a couple of bucks...kinda like the pizza guy....why would I tip 15+% for that???

Originally Posted by SMUalphachi

At my casual chain restaurant when I'm working to-go orders, I'm also taking tables and they are suffering from limited service while I am also working on to-go... I'm still getting paid $2.13 an hour for this, so tipping on to-go is incredibly important - it can make or break a night for me.

That's why. And yes we're talking about the same carry out to go orders. THEY ARE STILL PREPARING YOUR ORDER. Just because you didn't sit there and run them around to serve you, they are still doing a service to you.

[AGDee]

Maybe it's the places I go to for take-out, but I've never seen a server involved at all. I'm presuming the cook puts the food in the take-out container and the cashier usually goes and gets it when I go to the cash register to pick it up so I'm missing where the server is involved. There is no bar service and no busser involved. Then again, the only take-out I usually get is Chinese or pizza. The place I go to for Chinese has the same old guy (pretty sure it's the owner) at the cash register and they don't have in-restaurant dining at all, so there are no servers. When I used UNOs curbside to go, I did tip, cuz they were bringing it out to my car and I assumed it was a server doing that. If I have pizza delivered, I definitely tip.

Another question.. since you have to "tip out" the bar, what if the patron doesn't get a drink? Does the bar still get a cut of your sales? Or do they just get a cut of the bar sales? Just curious.

[OOhsoflyDELTA#9]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

That's why. And yes we're talking about the same carry out to go orders. THEY ARE STILL PREPARING YOUR ORDER. Just because you didn't sit there and run them around to serve you, they are still doing a service to you.

Ummm no. We all have occupational hazards. I guess thats one. A "tip" is for service. Me picking up a to go box is not my idea of service. Oh well....

[jubilance1922]

Originally Posted by OOhsoflyDELTA#9

Ummm no. We all have occupational hazards. I guess thats one. A "tip" is for service. Me picking up a to go box is not my idea of service. Oh well....

I have to agree with you on that one.

If that's case, then why wouldn't you tip the Wendy's guy? Since he also put in the same amount of work in making sure that you're food got to you as the Applebee's to-go guy.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

They still don't.

It depends. If I ordered a ravioli and I was brought fetticini, then that goes straight back. If I ordered no onions and there's onions on it, I'll just pick them off, but even that irks me because what if I'm allergic to whatever I asked you not to put on? If you thought "Oh they can just pick it off, I'm not making that again" and I eat it without knowing you screwed up my order, that could be my life right there. It pisses me off when people make mistakes with my food, but if I don't feel like I can put on my fakest smile and happy voice so I don't find something floating in my soup, then I'll just be quiet about it.

That doesn't surprise me, but the Taco Hell that I go to...they wear gloves. I wouldn't eat there if they didn't. And what really makes it so bad is they make the tacos after touching money too. That's disgusting.

I know what you mean. That's so annoying when I go through the window and order, and then it's all wrong. I hate mayo, and Wendy's is good for getting my order wrong by adding gobs of mayo on my hamburger. I don't eat fast food often but out of all the fast food places, Wendy's is the best at screwing up an order.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I know what you mean. That's so annoying when I go through the window and order, and then it's all wrong. I hate mayo, and Wendy's is good for getting my order wrong by adding gobs of mayo on my hamburger. I don't eat fast food often but out of all the fast food places, Wendy's is the best at screwing up an order.

For me, it's McDonalds. I rarely eat there because I always wind up with yellow mustard on my burger.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Maybe it's the places I go to for take-out, but I've never seen a server involved at all. I'm presuming the cook puts the food in the take-out container and the cashier usually goes and gets it when I go to the cash register to pick it up so I'm missing where the server is involved. There is no bar service and no busser involved. Then again, the only take-out I usually get is Chinese or pizza. The place I go to for Chinese has the same old guy (pretty sure it's the owner) at the cash register and they don't have in-restaurant dining at all, so there are no servers. When I used UNOs curbside to go, I did tip, cuz they were bringing it out to my car and I assumed it was a server doing that. If I have pizza delivered, I definitely tip.

Another question.. since you have to "tip out" the bar, what if the patron doesn't get a drink? Does the bar still get a cut of your sales? Or do they just get a cut of the bar sales? Just curious.

To go places like that, no I don't think it's necessary to tip. But let's say Zorba's for instance... even if I pick up my order at the window I still tip. If you were picking up carry out for my restaurant (I think you know which one) or Red Robin or wherever, it is still a server- or at least manager- who is putting the order together. (ie: preparing salads, pouring soup, preparing desserts, bagging up food)

And yes even if the table doesn't get drinks from the bar, most restaurants still go by total sales, not just drink sales. The pros and cons of working in a non-corporate restaurant are that you don't have to tip a certain percentage. So if you don't use the bartender alot or you didn't have a lot of tables for the busser, you control how much you give.

Originally Posted by OOhsoflyDELTA#9

Ummm no. We all have occupational hazards. I guess thats one. A "tip" is for service. Me picking up a to go box is not my idea of service. Oh well....

Occupational hazards? Like I said before, that to go box didn't just magically put itself together and carry itself out to you.

And whoever asked if you tip the Wendy's guy... is he making $2something an hour?

[AGDee]

I didn't know, but I do now! I LOVE that restaurant!!!!

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by OOhsoflyDELTA#9

Ummm no. We all have occupational hazards. I guess thats one. A "tip" is for service. Me picking up a to go box is not my idea of service. Oh well....

I honestly feel the same. "Service" to me, is when the server pays attention to me, makes sure the food is cooked right and tastes good by asking if it's all OK, brings drinks and refills them, makes suggestions if I'm torn and can't decide, etc.

I also tip delivery guys/gals when I order in, because to me, the delivery person is doing me a favor by bringing it to me so I don't have to go out and get it myself.

Me getting in my car, picking up a box, and going back home is not really service IMHO.... but I guess we all have different opinions on this one.