Sending meal back in restaurant..plate warm -pie cold

I don't get why you would think writing a bad review on TripAdvisor is over the top. That's exactly what I would do too. I regularly review places on TA and the vast majority of my reviews are good - but I have been known to leave a poor review if there were issues.

MissInterpreted What I meant to emphasise is that the restaurant was very busy with staff shortages. The service was slow because if this but I guess I was seeing it from their point of view having worked in hotels, restaurants and
cafés.
The food was OK . It didn't merit the awful review DD gave it. I'm sure they knew it was our party too so we could never go there again.

I have a French friend and she says that British people allow restaurants etc to get away with too much. She says that in France if your meal is not up to standard just tell them and walk out. She says we are too timid and self conscious.

Primrose53

I have a French friend and she says that British people allow restaurants etc to get away with too much. She says that in France if your meal is not up to standard just tell them and walk out. She says we are too timid and self conscious.

I completely agree Primrose.. being half French I don't believe how different the countries are in this respect..

Bea65

Cabbie21

Bea65, what did you want to happen when you said the pie was cold? Politeness, apology, respect, money off, yes, but what would have been the right thing to do with the food, for you?

Don’t understand your comment- I called the waitress over discreetly and said sorry the pie is cold and she said sorry I will return it to kitchen and then some 5/7 minutes later, plate returned- pie had been microwaved IMO

So did you want a completely fresh meal to be cooked from scratch? Is that what you hoped for? Just trying to understand.

Perfectly within your rights to send it back.
Don't visit again and put a review on Trust pilot/ TripAdvisor - more effective than complaining to the management from my experience. I complained recently in a posh restaurant when a meal was inedible and I had to leave it all on the plate after tasting a mouthful. They didn't charge me for it but it spoilt the experience.

Very sad but it appears that service and food quality has really gone down - certainly not the price I may add. It’s only going to get worse as NI employers contribution and basic wage increases kick in. We recently had a bad experience at a very top country hotel with two friends - service was dreadful and quality of food dire. My husband discreetly complained and they did cut the bill from £275 to £110 - that was without pudding or coffee - service was so slow our taxi was on the way. There were plenty of staff but no one knew what they were doing including the chef obviously. Not an ideal way to spend an evening that we had been looking forward to for ages - my god I even wore a dress!!!! Is it me but has the standard gone down generally? Can’t remember the last really good meal.

That’s a very British thing, isn’t it, starting a complaint with ‘sorry’! And responding politely to ‘was everything alright?’ even when it wasn’t.
But we must be brave enough to TELL the restaurant when there’s a problem, to their face. It’s only fair.

I’ve sent meals back to the kitchen on two occasions, the first time I apologised and got a reheated meal. The second time I didn’t apologise and also told them I wouldn’t accept a reheated meal, as I wouldn’t feel safe eating the meal. The manager came over and apologised and took 50% off the cost of the main course, which I thought was a reasonable way to deal with the situation.

I had a giggle at the other posts about French people thinking we’re too polite. I worked in a customer relations department of a large insurance company, and had quite a few complaints from customers who’d either broken down or had a road traffic accident on the continent and the customers were shocked they didn’t get the same level of service as in the UK. We were told by some of our French colleagues that on the continent companies aren’t as focused on customer service as uk companies.

Firstly, I always ask if the plates are hot when I order. I have sent many a steak back when I asked for well done and it appears oozing blood. I don’t have any problem doing that, you are paying and you should have it exactly as you want it.

I always send back food if it isn’t right…particularly if it isn’t cooked through. I always do it with a smile. Don’t shoot the messenger etc etc.

We all have to learn how to complain if food in restaurants is not good. It is embarassing but if not edible it has to be sent back, replaced or refunded especially at todays prices.

I personally think you should have said something at the time. My daughters own a cafe and they much prefer that customers speak up immediately if something is wrong.

David49

One of my pet hates is a normally good restaurant serving a poor meal, especially if you’re there with friends and they have drawn the short straw. I don’t complain and spoil the meal but they do get a bad review online. There is no excuse it takes no more effort to serve a good meal.

It is in my view appalling to complain AFTER you have left the restaurant, if you did not give them the chance to put it right. I have been in catering all my life, and have always been happy to put a complaint right on the spot, but people who eat their food then tell the world how awful it was afterwards ig my pet hate. It is so hard to get a good reputation, these people can ruin so much by their actions. Every chef will try to send the food out to their best ability, if it is not how you like/want it give them a chance to please you which is after all what they are there for and want to do.

Cabbie21

Bea65

Cabbie21

Bea65, what did you want to happen when you said the pie was cold? Politeness, apology, respect, money off, yes, but what would have been the right thing to do with the food, for you?

Don’t understand your comment- I called the waitress over discreetly and said sorry the pie is cold and she said sorry I will return it to kitchen and then some 5/7 minutes later, plate returned- pie had been microwaved IMO

So did you want a completely fresh meal to be cooked from scratch? Is that what you hoped for? Just trying to understand.

Of course OP did, you NEVER serve the same meal twice once it has been rejected you start from scratch and even offer to remove the guest's meal too so they can eat together. when both are ready

Grammaretto

MissInterpreted What I meant to emphasise is that the restaurant was very busy with staff shortages. The service was slow because if this but I guess I was seeing it from their point of view having worked in hotels, restaurants and
cafés.
The food was OK . It didn't merit the awful review DD gave it. I'm sure they knew it was our party too so we could never go there again.

Why can't you go back, surely each visit it taken on it's own merit. You did not write the review, perhaps you don.t want to take your daughter, that is your choice, but she is obviously not embarrassed if she is, she should have phrased the feedback more politely but still assertively to get her point across. Compare it to visiting a friend, your voice your opinion about something she had done or said, would you never visit again???????

There's the thing that you never, ever, send food back to the kitchen and then eat it when it comes back.

I ama but of a wimp about complaining, but a few months ago I was with my daughter and had ordered vegetable pie. Thd veg were delicious but the pie crust was solid. I could hit it with my knife and the knife would bounce back. When asked if everything was all right, I did show the waitress the pie crust. I ate the veg and when the waitress took the plates away, she rested my DD’s plate on the pie base and it held it like one of those stacking plate dividers. We all laughed, including the waitress. They didn’t charge me for my main. I think the pie must have been ready baked and microwaved into granite.

I'm fed up with eating poor food and service. My friend and I eat out quite often and 9 times out of ten the food is poor. We always mention it because we have usually paid around 20 to 25 pounds each. Why should these places get away with it. We never speak up in this country. What's wrong with us.

Tanjamaltija

There's the thing that you never, ever, send food back to the kitchen and then eat it when it comes back.

Please elaborate 😀

Nandalot

I ama but of a wimp about complaining, but a few months ago I was with my daughter and had ordered vegetable pie. Thd veg were delicious but the pie crust was solid. I could hit it with my knife and the knife would bounce back. When asked if everything was all right, I did show the waitress the pie crust. I ate the veg and when the waitress took the plates away, she rested my DD’s plate on the pie base and it held it like one of those stacking plate dividers. We all laughed, including the waitress. They didn’t charge me for my main. I think the pie must have been ready baked and microwaved into granite.

🤣 granite pie ..hilarious 👌

Apologies.. cannot read all this...too long

Madeleine 45, a masterclass in how to complain: I do it myself quite regularly, never having a go at the waitress/waiter but firmly express my dissatisfaction.!!

I think the hard thing is deciding if you're going to ruin what is an otherwise nice social occasion esp of it's only your meal that's 'off'. As others have mentioned especially if you're not the one paying.

I’ve become far less timid over the last few years about complaining about bad food. After all, I have to used my hard earned savings and expect value for money. This means the more I pay the better the food should be. I’m not bothered if I’m with a group of people either.

On the other side, if I have a good experience I will write a positive review on Tripadviser and thank the staff concerned at the time. Good manners cost nothing and I don’t believe in shouting about it either way.