A dissapointing dining experience

bored this afternoon spo??

Ready for my kefir thread, Mareff, or should I hold off?

Sorry if this bores you guys but I am interested in peoples' principals in regards to the subject. At least it is not a tipping thread.

I don't see anything wrong with accepting it, spo. It's their attempt to keep you as a patron.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
I don't see anything wrong with accepting it, spo. It's their attempt to keep you as a patron.

Spot-on.

While you have a certain relationship with the restaurant, developed by being a quality patron over a period of time, it is in their best interests to express their valuation to you as an appreciated patron. I don't see why you would 'expect' something like this, but it is clearly an honorable and generous thing that they're doing. Nothing wrong with accepting it at all.

Yeah. Michel Rostaing owes me one too!

Yes, you should accept their gift, and try their restaurant again. If it is still poor, you don't have to go back.

Several years ago, we were dining at a fine restaurant and one salad had a crawling guest, a salad worm! Our total bill of $475 was comp'd.

Many years ago, on a warm summer evening, while dining at a very famous New Orleans restaurant in the Garden District, a roach emerged from underneath the salad plate! The smartly dressed waiter said, "these things happen", and smiled! I told him "these things do not happen" where I dine, then I stayed and enjoyed my dinner, and much more than my dinner guest. I believe they comp'd the Bread Pudding, a souffle crushed with bourbon sauce.

quote:

Originally posted by spo:
Let's say you have one. It is a restaurant you have been to on several occasions and you call to let them know because the food is usually excellent.

They offer you a comp or a gift card or something, do you accept it or turn it down?

You've been there several times; the food is usually excellent; you've been disappointed once. If it were me, I would go back again whether they offer me something or not.

But if offered, of course you accept. They're doing something nice for you, which is in keeping with their standards which are high enough already to keep you coming back. There should be no hesitation in accepting their very kind offer.

Your conundrum will come at the end of the meal when you use the comp or gift card: do you tip on the full value of the meal before the gift reduction, or only on the amount that shows on the bill? And how much should you tip on the corkage? Or what if you decided to order a more expensive wine than usual since you were saving money on the food-- should you tip more even though the wine was opened with the same degree of effort as the less expensive bottle you would ordinarily have bought? And should the tip reflect the fact you were disappointed the last time you were at the restaurant and still had some residual disappointment remaining when you came in the next time? And what about the fact that in some cultures it is customary to reduce the tip in months that contain an 'R'? And could the portions have been just ever so slightly smaller when the kitchen knew that you were being comped part of the meal, or was that just your imagination?

I know there's going to be a convoluted and tortuous thread when you post about your return dinner, but I am going to avoid it entirely.

Let's say I have had a particular wine several times and always enjoyed it but last one was corked. I let the winery know and they offer me another bottle, should I take it? Ah, YES.

quote:

Originally posted by Seaquam:
do you tip on the full value of the meal before the gift reduction, or only on the amount that shows on the bill?

Considering Seaquam's level of class and decorum, this is certainly a rhetorical question.

If you need to think about it longer than a second, the honorable tip is based upon the 'full value' of the bill or something quite close to that.

KSC02, I am not sure what you meant by expect, but whenever I see quotation marks I think there might be something fruity going on. I don't expect it in that diva sort of way. I do expect it in a probability sort of way because it is common practice. My long term concern is when a place goes from being something I enjoy to something I don't, my goal is not a free meal but the preservation of something I enjoy. Constructive criticism.

quote:

Originally posted by Seaquam:

I know there's going to be a convoluted and tortuous thread when you post about your return dinner, but I am going to avoid it entirely.

I'll take that as a compliment.

quote:

Originally posted by latour67:

Several years ago, we were dining at a fine restaurant and one salad had a crawling guest, a salad worm! Our total bill of $475 was comp'd.

Same thing happened to both my wife and I during the same meal. A beetle in hers and an inchworm in mine. Though the staff never came out and said it, they acted as though we planted the insects ourselves in an attempt to get a free meal. And this was in the dead of winter with snow on the ground! They never apologized and comp'd nothing. The place went under soon after. Good riddance!

quote:

Originally posted by spo:
KSC02, I am not sure what you meant by expect, but whenever I see quotation marks I think there might be something fruity going on. I don't expect it in that diva sort of way. I do expect it in a probability sort of way because it is common practice.

Nothing 'fruity' in the quote marks, spo. And nothing directed at you personally or implication of any diva-ness. Just that don't necessarily agree that this would be common practice for a disappointing meal. The comp made was clearly an honorable, extra ordinary demonstration of their appreciation for you business. That's all.

quote:

Originally posted by spo:
KSC02, I am not sure what you meant by expect, but whenever I see quotation marks I think there might be something fruity going on.

I guess it's a misuse of quote marks since, on first read, he appears to be quoting you on a word you didn't use.

Now that we've cleared that up could you correct your spelling of "disappointed"?

quote:

Originally posted by Mr Cabernet:
Now that we've cleared that up could you correct your spelling of "disappointed"?

The misspelling is annoying, but not as annoying as you misquoting me. I said "dissapointing".

quote:

Originally posted by spo:

quote:

Originally posted by Mr Cabernet:
Now that we've cleared that up could you correct your spelling of "disappointed"?

The misspelling is annoying, but not as annoying as you misquoting me. I said "dissapointing".

I stand corrected. How about you?

quote:

Originally posted by KSC02:

Nothing 'fruity' in the quote marks, spo. And nothing directed at you personally or implication of any diva-ness. Just that don't necessarily agree that this would be common practice for a disappointing meal. The comp made was clearly an honorable, extra ordinary demonstration of their appreciation for you business. That's all.

Try and ignore my idiosyncrasies, KSC02. Part of what made me post this is I wonder if restaurants take peoples' comments more seriously when they decline compensation. I also worked in the restaurant business and sometimes thought peoples' complaints seemed as if they were fishing for free stuff. Can't help but be shaped by prior experiences.

quote:

Originally posted by Mr Cabernet:
[
I stand corrected. How about you?

Yes, I hate saying it, but yes.

quote:

A beetle in hers and an inchworm in mine.

What do you pair with that? I think the crunchiness of the beetle would call for something with some heft, perhaps a young Cali cab with a minty note. The inchworm of course would call for a crisp white.

Have a specialplace. Special seat.

Offered goodies often,and accept them all. John likes our business and we like John, and we do send other folks his way and appreciates it.

OK, to answer the question--why not? The bad experience may have been an off day. You've liked it before. This is an opportunity to go again and either confirm your worst suspicion--they've gone downhill--or it really was an off day and I'll be going back. It seems like the restaurant is making a good bet.

quote:

Originally posted by mneeley490:

quote:

Originally posted by latour67:

Several years ago, we were dining at a fine restaurant and one salad had a crawling guest, a salad worm! Our total bill of $475 was comp'd.

Same thing happened to both my wife and I during the same meal. A beetle in hers and an inchworm in mine. Though the staff never came out and said it, they acted as though we planted the insects ourselves in an attempt to get a free meal. And this was in the dead of winter with snow on the ground! They never apologized and comp'd nothing. The place went under soon after. Good riddance!

mneeley490,

Yes, your experience was terrible; but even if they sent a free dessert, I'd be afraid to eat it! But, worms, beetles, and insults are bad for business, and I'm sure you're not missing that restaurant!

quote:

Originally posted by latour67:

But, worms, beetles... are bad for business, and I'm sure you're not missing that restaurant!

My friend, I fear that you are going to have a lot of trouble adjusting to the protein sources of the future!

quote:

Originally posted by Seaquam:

quote:

Originally posted by latour67:

But, worms, beetles... are bad for business, and I'm sure you're not missing that restaurant!

My friend, I fear that you are going to have a lot of trouble adjusting to the protein sources of the future!

It's people!

quote:

Originally posted by SD-Wineaux:

It's people!

quote:

Originally posted by Seaquam:

quote:

Originally posted by SD-Wineaux:
It's people!

SD-Wineaux - I didn't picture you as being old enough to remember that movie.

quote:

Posted Nov 09, 2010 06:30 PM Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Seaquam:

quote:
Originally posted by SD-Wineaux:
It's people!



SD-Wineaux - I didn't picture you as being old enough to remember that movie.

Soylent Green? Pair with a New Zealand Sav Blanc.

Regarding the offer of compensation, I sometimes post reviews on Restaurant.com or Trip Advisor. Two times when I have noted a poor dining experience, I have been contacted by the owner and offered a discount on a future meal. I think they routinely do it when they've got a bad review. It doesn't cost them much and hopefully gets them a new positive review when or if the recipient makes a return visit.

I don't see it being any different than if a winery tells you upfront to contact them if you receive a corked wine and they will make it good.

quote:

Originally posted by KSC02:

quote:

Originally posted by Seaquam:

quote:

Originally posted by SD-Wineaux:
It's people!

SD-Wineaux - I didn't picture you as being old enough to remember that movie.

Thanks, unless your mental image is really in reference to the emotional maturity that I display here.

At the ripe old age of 46, I was there for the original theatrical release!

Just wandering into this thread to say that I am disappointed by the spelling of the title of this thread.

Usually Bobby Flay Steaks at the Borgata is excellent, but in the past 2 years I have had 4 seriously bad meals. Over cooked lobster, under seasoned side dishes, cold side dishes, over done steaks, sandy clams, bad desserts. Not once did someone rectify the problem. I have sent others there because I know that generally BFSs very good. Can't figure it out. I will still send people back since they love it, but I'll pass. They owe me one.