Complaining in restaurants
Discussion
I was unlucky enough to be dragged along to the local Toby Chav-ery on Sunday, to embark upon a post-christmas-party soaking up session. When we sat down to tuck in to our meat and greasy tats, a friend of mine decided that the food was not to her satisfaction.
She called over some half-wit waitress and proceeded to moan very loudly about the AWFUL state of the food etc. etc. Meanwhile I sat there in utter embarrassment, partly due to the fact that she had put her snobby voice on, and partly because she was bothering to complain in th first place. By the time she had finished with the 'manager' I had shrunk so far down in my chair I had nearly drowned in my gravy.
I really struggle to complain about anything in public and I find it horrendously pretentious and embarrassing when others do it around me. But as my friend pointed out, we are paying for a service and should expect something that 'is at least satisfactory'. (even if it was the Toby Chavery)
I just wondered whether I was overly polite? Do you/would you complain in restaurants or are you one to put up and shut up?
She called over some half-wit waitress and proceeded to moan very loudly about the AWFUL state of the food etc. etc. Meanwhile I sat there in utter embarrassment, partly due to the fact that she had put her snobby voice on, and partly because she was bothering to complain in th first place. By the time she had finished with the 'manager' I had shrunk so far down in my chair I had nearly drowned in my gravy.
I really struggle to complain about anything in public and I find it horrendously pretentious and embarrassing when others do it around me. But as my friend pointed out, we are paying for a service and should expect something that 'is at least satisfactory'. (even if it was the Toby Chavery)
I just wondered whether I was overly polite? Do you/would you complain in restaurants or are you one to put up and shut up?
Depends really. If it's a special occasion and everyone else seems happy then I'll keep quiet.
If noone in my group will have their evening spoiled, I'll have a quick word with the waiter/ress. I don't agree with all that noisy nonsense. If someone I don't know has received a burnt potato, I don't particularly want to hear about it.
If noone in my group will have their evening spoiled, I'll have a quick word with the waiter/ress. I don't agree with all that noisy nonsense. If someone I don't know has received a burnt potato, I don't particularly want to hear about it.
titiany said:
I had shrunk so far down in my chair I had nearly drowned in my gravy.
If it's not right, then complain. However, I fail to see why people find it necessary to involve the rest of the restaurant / bank / shop when they do it…
Be polite, state your issue and ask what they suggest… you'll always get better results.
I once complained about being served meat lasagne instead of the veggie lasagne I had ordered and the cook came out of the kitchen and proceeded to have a go at me, calling me a liar because she said they didn't even have veggie lasagne on the menu (they did) and being generally rude and obnoxious. Was gobsmacked.
I think it very much depends on where you are eating. Personally, i would rather not make a scene and therefore if i am in a position where something needs to be said, I will probably go to the waitress when i can catch her/him on their own. I also wouldn't probably bother getting overly excited in a pub etc but in a smart restaurant where I am paying good money, I will maybe say something.
The attitude of the kitchen is also likely to be reflected in your complaint - chavvy pub = returned burger has all sorts in it you wouldn't know about, smart restaurant = highly sympathetic and go out of their way to deliver an exceptional replacement.
Just my experience.
The attitude of the kitchen is also likely to be reflected in your complaint - chavvy pub = returned burger has all sorts in it you wouldn't know about, smart restaurant = highly sympathetic and go out of their way to deliver an exceptional replacement.
Just my experience.
I always complain if I'm disatisfied - but do it discretely , to the point , give them an opportunity to put it right , and raise the issue in a way which isn't offensive or confrontational to the staff / proprietor.
Complaining assertively rather than aggressively gets better results.
Complaining assertively rather than aggressively gets better results.
I will certainly complain if the food I get served is of a lower standard than I was expecting to get, and I like to think that I can adjust my expectations according to the establishment I'm in. For example, I have been at many a christmas party when some arse is moaning that "the turkey is a bit dry" - my opinion would be that they're dishing up 250 turkey dinners at the same time and thus I wouldn't expect it to get 3 Michelin stars.
However, if I'm paying for a quality experience, I expect to get it. I also agree that spoiling the atmosphere for other people is a poor show, but I can understand that sometimes it's the only way to get the attention of the staff.
However, if I'm paying for a quality experience, I expect to get it. I also agree that spoiling the atmosphere for other people is a poor show, but I can understand that sometimes it's the only way to get the attention of the staff.
los angeles said:
Good thread.
Too many of us stay silent and pay up. There's much to gain by complaining, quietly if the food was cold or inadequate in some way, forcefully if the service was indifferent, and audibly if the waiter was insulting.
So what you are saying is that it depends on the situation - horses for courses then.
Coming from Solihull, I've frequented many of Moseley's finest Indian restaurants (and some of their more ropey ones too) and there are few people on this earth to whom I am nicer and more polite than curry house staff. If the food or service is bad enough to complain about, and you don't know the staff, then I would not ask for a replacement. I would come to an arrangement over the bill. Call me cynical...
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