have you ever sent food back at a restaurant?

[fistfulofmetal]

I've been watching Kitchen Nightmares recently and it's a common thing. I've never done it before, is it something that actually happens a lot?

[Phoenix Dark]

My mom has done it multiple times before, which is partially why I don't go to restaurants with her anymore. One time she sent a pork chop dish back and requested it be cooked longer. I tasted it before she sent it back, it was fine.

[bork]

Not often, but yeah...if something isn't cooked right or the order is wrong...back it goes.

There is one instance of this that really stands out for me.  In the summer of '99 my family went on a trip to Italy.  We were out in the countryside in some small town eating at this restaurant where everyone was sitting outdoors.  My parents ordered some kind of meat dish and it came out very undercooked, so my dad sent it back.  The waiter brought the food out again and my dad still said it was undercooked.  This time, the waiter seemed upset and was literally arguing with my dad to not send the food back.  It was a weird exchange.

Then the chef comes out.  This guy was right out of an old cartoon- he was a huge, muscular, bald-headed dude who stomped outside with the plate, threw it on the table (now fully-cooked), and then pointed at us and said something in Italian to all of the people eating there, who all burst out laughing.

I was the only one who didn't eat that dish.  This is key, because the next day my parents and my brother were all experiencing stomach pains and shitting like crazy.  The chef must have put something in the food. 

[Joe Molotov]

no

[Great Rumbler]

A few times, generally just for situations where the order just came out completely wrong. It's certainly not something that I make a habit of doing, and I wouldn't do it just because something wasn't cooked quite enough or one of the sides was kind of bland.

[Cerveza mas fina]

A few times, also havent paid a few times or left because order was taking too long.

As GR says something has to be technically wrong, not just bland. If its bland I just dont come back.

Not often, but yeah...if something isn't cooked right or the order is wrong...back it goes.

There is one instance of this that really stands out for me.  In the summer of '99 my family went on a trip to Italy.  We were out in the countryside in some small town eating at this restaurant where everyone was sitting outdoors.  My parents ordered some kind of meat dish and it came out very undercooked, so my dad sent it back.  The waiter brought the food out again and my dad still said it was undercooked.  This time, the waiter seemed upset and was literally arguing with my dad to not send the food back.  It was a weird exchange.

Then the chef comes out.  This guy was right out of an old cartoon- he was a huge, muscular, bald-headed dude who stomped outside with the plate, threw it on the table (now fully-cooked), and then pointed at us and said something in Italian to all of the people eating there, who all burst out laughing.

I was the only one who didn't eat that dish.  This is key, because the next day my parents and my brother were all experiencing stomach pains and shitting like crazy.  The chef must have put something in the food. 

Food was prob fine first time around from how this reads and your dad was being a silly yankee toursit to them

[CatsCatsCats]

Sounds like your family likes their meat over cooked and are whiny as shit, tbh, bork

[Great Rumbler]

Also, you should definitely never send an order back twice, that's just asking for trouble.

[fistfulofmetal]

One time I did leave a restaurant before we got served because they were taking too long. We were going to a show and went to a ramen place 45 minutes before. Ramen is typically really quick to server, I don't think I've ever waited more than 15 minutes for it ever. This place was so backed up the people who had been there before us nearby weren't going to get their food for another 10 minutes and we only had 20 minutes until the show started. So we just got up and started to leave. They tried to ensure us it would be soon but they were clearly bullshitting. They tried to explain why the food was taking awhile, which was another bullshit story. They were backed up with orders, just be honest.

[tiesto]

All the time. I don't eat cheese and so I always ask for it to be removed. But so many restaurants screw up and I have to send the dish back.

[VomKriege]

Never, but I'm not too fussy about food I order.

As for your story in Italy, bork, I suspect there was some misunderstanding on what your dad ordered ? Some meat dishes are supposed to be raw or rare...

[Mupepe]

One time I did leave a restaurant before we got served because they were taking too long. We were going to a show and went to a ramen place 45 minutes before. Ramen is typically really quick to server, I don't think I've ever waited more than 15 minutes for it ever. This place was so backed up the people who had been there before us nearby weren't going to get their food for another 10 minutes and we only had 20 minutes until the show started. So we just got up and started to leave. They tried to ensure us it would be soon but they were clearly bullshitting. They tried to explain why the food was taking awhile, which was another bullshit story. They were backed up with orders, just be honest.

I've done this before.  Left money to cover beverages and bailed.

I've only sent food back a few times and my willingness to do so increases with the price I'm paying.  If I'm eating a hole in the wall then I'll probably say "whatever" but if I go to a fancy restaurant and they fuck up then I'm definitely calling them out. 

I don't think I've ever argued about how well done the food was cooked or something the like that.  It's more like this one time I went to a restaurant and ordered some buffalo tenders.  They bring it out covered in BBQ sauce.  I tell the waiter and he comes back a few minutes later and tells me "the chef says this is our buffalo sauce"   

[bork]

Sounds like your family likes their meat over cooked and are whiny as shit, tbh, bork

Nope, this kind of thing never happened before.  That's why I still remember it.

Food was prob fine first time around from how this reads and your dad was being a silly yankee toursit to them

Never, but I'm not too fussy about food I order.

As for your story in Italy, bork, I suspect there was some misunderstanding on what your dad ordered ? Some meat dishes are supposed to be raw or rare...

It definitely could have been a case of this. I want to say I remember asking if it was supposed to be rare and he said no.  That detail I don't remember.

I don't think my parents had been to Italy prior to this trip, but they had been all over the place before that and are far from being clueless yokels about cuisine.  They also love trying new food and just dig in to whatever.  I'm the one who's the picky eater in the family.

Also, you should definitely never send an order back twice, that's just asking for trouble.

So you'd just take the food as-is and get sick from it? 

[CatsCatsCats]

 

[Raist]

Never, but I'm not too fussy about food I order.

As for your story in Italy, bork, I suspect there was some misunderstanding on what your dad ordered ? Some meat dishes are supposed to be raw or rare...

"This is the last time I order a carpaccio!"

[Joe Molotov]

Raw meat

[bork]

[zomgee]

Raw meat

[Great Rumbler]

So you'd just take the food as-is and get sick from it? 

If I thought the food was bad enough, in whatever way, that I wanted to send it back a second time, I'd probably just leave on the spot and go to Taco Bell or something.

[CatsCatsCats]

No hunny, I feel bad for you

[Joe Molotov]

Secret video footage of Bork out for a nice $30 Italian meal with the family:

[TakingBackSunday]

I've never sent things back, but I have mentioned that something was wrong with my meal.  I usually keep what I'm given though, because most the time its still tasty.  And usually, the waiter will either give me something else to take home or take the meal off the bill.  Win win either way.

[Joe Molotov]

http://www.theonion.com/article/applebees-steak-sent-back-not-being-properly-slath-53992

[bork]

No hunny, I feel bad for you

I know, my parents are such horrible people for sending back some shitty food that one time in 1999. 

[Positive Touch]

i get embarrassed as shit whenever I'm with someone who'll do this. like sorry it ain't exactly how you want but god damn just eat it and don't come back. picky eaters are the most frustrating thing ever

[ToxicAdam]

One time. I had a pasta dish that was so overloaded with garlic it was disgusting.

[Tasty]

While my grandmother and I are equally catty, I am not my grandmother. So no, I've never sent food back.

[Samson Manhug]

I never used to do this but in some of the anger management books I've been reading it says you should be assertive and take care of this as it happens so it doesn't build up into something later (this obviously doesn't apply to everyone).

I used to get embarrassed if my ex-wife would flag the server down if something was wrong with my meal. Embarrassment really isn't a good reason to pay for something you didn't ask for.

It's a service industry. If you took your car in to get the brakes replaced and they changed the oil instead, you wouldn't just accept it with a smile and leave. Same should apply at a restaurant. 

[Mupepe]

I never used to do this but in some of the anger management books I've been reading it says you should be assertive and take care of this as it happens so it doesn't build up into something later (this obviously doesn't apply to everyone).

I used to get embarrassed if my ex-wife would flag the server down if something was wrong with my meal. Embarrassment really isn't a good reason to pay for something you didn't ask for.

It's a service industry. If you took your car in to get the brakes replaced and they changed the oil instead, you wouldn't just accept it with a smile and leave. Same should apply at a restaurant.

This seems like a reasonable way to view the situation.  But the comparison to the car service might be something more like giving you a cherry air freshener vs a vanilla freshener.  I'd probably say fuck it and drive off too.

It's the same way I view if I order tacos, say no onions and it comes with onions.  The most convenient option for me is to knock the onions off and reflecting my dissatisfaction with the tip or something else.  Sending it back will essentially accomplish the same thing but take more time - although there's an argument to be made about giving them the opportunity to make it right but whatever.

As I said, if it's a $4 taco I might be more inclined to send it back vs the $1 taco truck tacos.  I'm definitely sending it back if they send me a torta instead of my tacos too. 

[Purrp Skirrp]

I never used to do this but in some of the anger management books I've been reading it says you should be assertive and take care of this as it happens so it doesn't build up into something later (this obviously doesn't apply to everyone).

I used to get embarrassed if my ex-wife would flag the server down if something was wrong with my meal. Embarrassment really isn't a good reason to pay for something you didn't ask for.

It's a service industry. If you took your car in to get the brakes replaced and they changed the oil instead, you wouldn't just accept it with a smile and leave. Same should apply at a restaurant.

Yup, asserting yourself ≠ being a dick.

Some people don't know how to advocate for themselves without veering into aggression, and then there are the overly apologetic types who preface everything as if they're a burden to the people they're paying for a service.

[Joe Molotov]

I never did, but had a friend do it while I was eating lunch with him.

I've done it at fast food joints when they get my order wrong. Don't think that counts as the same thing.

I was eating at a Mexican restaurant and I asked for a side of rice and they brought me fries. I was like, yeah but my rice tho?

[bork]

I never used to do this but in some of the anger management books I've been reading it says you should be assertive and take care of this as it happens so it doesn't build up into something later (this obviously doesn't apply to everyone).

I used to get embarrassed if my ex-wife would flag the server down if something was wrong with my meal. Embarrassment really isn't a good reason to pay for something you didn't ask for.

It's a service industry. If you took your car in to get the brakes replaced and they changed the oil instead, you wouldn't just accept it with a smile and leave. Same should apply at a restaurant.

Yup, asserting yourself ≠ being a dick.

Some people don't know how to advocate for themselves without veering into aggression, and then there are the overly apologetic types who preface everything as if they're a burden to the people they're paying for a service.

Yup.  LOL at anyone who would just take food they find unacceptable. 

[seagrams hotsauce]

I never used to do this but in some of the anger management books I've been reading it says you should be assertive and take care of this as it happens so it doesn't build up into something later (this obviously doesn't apply to everyone).

I used to get embarrassed if my ex-wife would flag the server down if something was wrong with my meal. Embarrassment really isn't a good reason to pay for something you didn't ask for.

It's a service industry. If you took your car in to get the brakes replaced and they changed the oil instead, you wouldn't just accept it with a smile and leave. Same should apply at a restaurant.

Yup, asserting yourself ≠ being a dick.

Some people don't know how to advocate for themselves without veering into aggression, and then there are the overly apologetic types who preface everything as if they're a burden to the people they're paying for a service.

Yup.  LOL at anyone who would just take food they find unacceptable.

says the dude who's family almost died over a lil underdone steak

[CatsCatsCats]

Oh my darling bork

[bork]

Oh, you're Spencer.  I forgot for a minute there. 

Yeah never mind.

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I don't think I ever had food that got fucked up at a sit down restaurant.  Maybe they knew better than to fuck with my order

Edit: I guess it all depends on what you ordered.  If you ordered a steak and got a burger instead, then yeah, send it back.  If you're one of those "I want a pumpkin spice latte with soy whipped cream, slightly chilled, and with a hint of cinnamon" assholes who make this order during the busiest times in the restaurant, then fuck off.

[CatsCatsCats]

Oh, you're Spencer.  I forgot for a minute there. 

Yeah never mind.