when the waiter asks "How is everything?" and you tell them the truth...

[Anonymous]

I've never sent a meal back, I rarely complain about restaurant food (I think I can count the number of times on one hand). Tonight we went for dinner with a small group of family members, and when the waiter asked how everything was, I told him simply that my dish was tasted bad. He just glanced at me sideways and didn't acknowledge what I said.

It was a seafood dish which I've had there b/f and it tasted off. I didn't eat any more after the first one or two bites. It's a small restaurant; we go there fairly often although I didn't recognize this waiter. The manager didn't come speak to us; the meal was still on the check. I didn't pursue it b/c I could tell it made my spouse uncomfortable.

Why do they even tell wait staff to even ask this question if they don't actually want to do anything?

[Anonymous]

You are a grown adult, speak up. The waiter isn't offended, he didn't cook it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are a grown adult, speak up. The waiter isn't offended, he didn't cook it.

In OP's defense, every time I've had a problem with food (also, infrequently), the waiter offered to replace the food or fix it or whatever. It's weird that they ask w/o being able to offer a solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are a grown adult, speak up. The waiter isn't offended, he didn't cook it.

In OP's defense, every time I've had a problem with food (also, infrequently), the waiter offered to replace the food or fix it or whatever. It's weird that they ask w/o being able to offer a solution.

Perhaps that waiter was new. He had no idea what to do or say. Once again, speak up.

[Anonymous]

If you wanted something done and the waiter did not respond appropriately, you should ask the waiter to send the manager to your table. If you didn't follow up when the waiter played dumb, then you must be okay with the end result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never sent a meal back, I rarely complain about restaurant food (I think I can count the number of times on one hand). Tonight we went for dinner with a small group of family members, and when the waiter asked how everything was, I told him simply that my dish was tasted bad. He just glanced at me sideways and didn't acknowledge what I said.

And then you said "Can I please have X instead" or "can you please ask the kitchen to remake it" or "can you please take it off my check" or "may I please speak with the manager", right?

Oh, no, you didn't? Well what did you expect? Your waiter is making minimum wage and living off tips - why would he go out of his way to help?

[Anonymous]

The waiter did not hear you. He asked a question and expected a certain response. He clearly did not hear/process your statement. You should have repeated it when he had no reaction.

[Anonymous]

He heard you, but quite possibly his only option was to pay for it himself.
I worked in a place where we asked if all was ok, but when it came to changing the dish for a customer, we were on our own.
I could take the dish off the check manually but it is still in the system and I needed money to pay for it.
Also a small restaurant, and the owner acted like it's the end of the world if somebody sent the food back. He usually said we hadn't explained well enough how the dish tasted.
The waiter heard you most likely, but hoped you'll pay for it, because most likely there was nothing wrong with the dish in owner's mind, you just didn't like it. Those are exactly the cases where the waiter might get blame for you not liking the dish and might have to pay for it.Hard to believe,but happens too often.
In our restaurant it happened mostly with cheviche which is a great dish, but people failed to read that it's really just "cooked" in lime/lemon juice.It was hard to figure out which customer knows it, which doesn't, which read it and which didn't.That awesome dish was sent back again and again.
Next time ask for the manager, they would comp it for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well what did you expect? Your waiter is making minimum wage and living off tips - why would he go out of his way to help?

Because it's his job.

[Anonymous]

This happened to me recently and I told my husband they ask expecting everything to be ok (or people to lie) and then don't know what to say! Completely annoying, but I do enjoy telling our recent story to friends. The reaction was pretty funny.

[Anonymous]

I would have asked for the solution I wanted.

[Anonymous]

Why was your spouse embarrassed? Did you not pursue further course of action bc of this? If so, you both need counseling

[Anonymous]

As a server in a past life, I have always acknowledged when a customer has an issue with a meal. Depending on the issue, replacement or refund is warranted. DH and I were recently out for his birthday and when the server asked how his meal was, he was honest. He didn't want a replacement, it was evident he had only taken one bite of the sushi, and without solicitation, they issued a refund on that portion of the meal.

If you're trying something new and you don't like it, that is one thing. If the meal is off and you know how it should taste, that is completely different. Absolutely speak up to the server. It is their job to handle these types of issues. A simple "I've had this dish before but something tonight doesn't taste quite right" should suffice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The waiter did not hear you. He asked a question and expected a certain response. He clearly did not hear/process your statement. You should have repeated it when he had no reaction.

I agree. Probably everyone else said, "great, fine. no we don't need anything" all at the same time and you just got missed in the responses

[Anonymous]

The more specific you can be about your concerns, the better. So in your case, I'd have said, "This is one of my favorite things here, but it tastes a little off tonight. Has anyone else mentioned that?"

Similarly, "I don't like my wine" doesn't get you as far as "Do you know when this bottle was opened?" or, if I'm doing wine by the glass and the second one tastes off, "Is this from the same bottle as before?"

"I just don't like it" makes it as much your problem as theirs. Yes, a good restaurant will care no matter what. But if you want to eat on a particular night, step up.