Question of the Day - 05 May 2021

Nearly every business, including eateries, sends me a survey to complete, or the receipt has a web site they want me to go to for a survey.  That is the best way, because it goes to corporate with the specific restaurant number, date, time, who served you, etc.  plus place for comments.  And usually you get a small discount on something.  I've had employees thank me when they got recognized some way because I commented on their good service.  On the flip side I know that any bad experience has come to the attention of management beyond that in the store, and the store manager will get it from that end.

It takes a little time, but it counts.  P.S. I don't do Trip Advisor surveys.

Candy

This runs both ways.  If service or food was substandard, talk to the manager, let them know, so they can hopefully fix it.   Same goes for great food and service.  Let the manager know so that the chefs/waitstaff get the proper credit/appreciation. 

Lack of dress code before and during pandemic is my big gripe and I always complain...without any good results..

My response as a restaurant patron: 1. I inform the staff at the top of my lungs that MOI is displeased. 2. I start a food fight. 3. I karate-chop the waiter.

Differences in dining out: 1. I view other patrons as mortally dangerous disease vectors and am uncomfortable even being in the same room with them. 2. MOI does not receive the dining experience to which MOI is accustomed. 3. Menus are often truncated and specials seem to be a thing of the past, particularly lunch and happy hour specials.

Having just come back from a 10 day road trip, I have experienced many current restaurants. Most restaurants and staff are trying to do the best with masks on, spaced out seating and keeping everything clean. Only one sports bar/restaurant had seating very close to other tables. I had no issues with the food but my past handling is to always call the waiter over, explain the problem and let him or her pass on the problem to the kitchen. I never see it as a server problem if the food is the problem. One issue that came up this time is some restaurants have no menus and expect patrons to use a smart phone to access a portal. I do not have a smart phone and this could be a problem. Also, when I have a menu, I can choose an entrée looking at how exactly the food is prepared and just briefly scanning a screen is not the same. Some menus have been pared down and that is a good thing as before you would spend a lot of time looking at very large choices. Thanks for all your great work.

What gets management attention the quickest is to immediately and politely tell the server "this is not satisfactory" or "not what I expected" as you hand the [unconsumed] item over to be sent back.  This is money lost for the restaurant.  Often the manager will show up at your table to apologize and do whatever to make things right.  Server will probably have offered a substitution already. 

Don't wait until the end of the meal, after you've eaten most of the whatever and decided it wasn't that great.  

Failing to never return does no good.  

Failing to tip the server is something I can't agree with.  He/she isn't responsible, unless rudeness or slowness is the issue, then ask to speak to the manager afterwards--still leave a small tip at least.  You never know what personal burden an employee is struggling with before they get to work.

Candy

My family has only dined out once this past year (small diner patio, no problems). Now we're all vaccinated and have reservations at an expensive place for Mothers Day; I expect it may be problematic. BUT, I assume most people are doing their best. Only an egregious problem gets a comment to the manager. I definitely take current circumstances into consideration as to service, but cooking ability is basic. Good cooking brings us back.

I just take it, no way am I sending something back.  Then a second chance before I just never go back.  I ran a fast food place and didn't allow people to yell at my people.

I'd say I normally like to deal with the issue right there if I'm not going to let it slide.  However, it will depend on factors like how busy the place is, the severity of the issue, and the "feel" I get from how receptive the server will be to my complaint.

If it's super-busy, I chalk it up to mistakes happen in the heat of battle. If the issue isn't important, I'll let it go.

I've had some rare instances where I felt that the likelihood of getting a phlegmburger was high and just wasn't worth raising an issue. In these instances, I usually just don't ever go back.

Restaurant? What's a restaurant? It's been 13 months since I've had the nerve to actually go "out" to eat. At this point I wouldn't raise a fuss if I saw my server scratching his butt right before serving my dinner. Gawd, how I miss 2019.

This happened to us in December. We stopped at Tom's Urban for a couple of drinks and appetizers. We were seated, I gave my drink order, my wife wanted to look at the menu a bit and said she'd order when we ordered food. 20 minutes later, my drink came. We ordered an appetizer. We didn't see the waiter for nearly a half an hour. We canceled the appetizer, I paid the bill with no tip, and we left and went somewhere else. There are so many choices that I don't need to go there again.

If the food isn't what was promised, send it back. For me, that's almost always a steak over or underdone. The server doesn't mind or take it personally. Likewise, I'd never tip less for something the kitchen did.

I haven't noticed any changes in the quality of service anywhere, but the wait times are longer / reservations are less plentiful due to fewer tables, especially now that more people are eating out again.

For poor service, I usually just make sure I ask for every single thing I need when they finally get back to my table. If it's really poor, I tip 10% or 15%. I've tipped 10% once in the last ten years, so this isn't very common. If I go back, I just request someone else. I have this situation at a place I frequent often and I include that request when I make the reservation online.

Not sure how you can work it into the questions, but if poor service is simply due to understaffing and the waiter and other workers are hustling, I tend to let it go.  If there is a lack of effort by the waitstaff, the tip will reflect it.  

I expect a lot of people won't know if service is better or worse since the pandemic began because a lot of us haven't been to a real sit down type restaurant since around March, 2020.

Different problems call for different reactions. A problem with the food needs to be addressed one way. A problem with service, another. And certainly what to do can be, discuss with wait staff, or hosts, or managers, not to return, telling acquaintances about the experience, even just getting up and walking out, etc. And really, many or all of these "solutions" can be used. However, I can't agree with the statement that "service is worse". In fact, just the opposite. Restaurants are so glad to be open that it seems like they are being much better than before. They really seem to appreciate our patronage.

Perhaps, but many of us have been eating out regularly just like before. I imagine there are enough of us to vote.

Why do people think that “raising hell” is even an option? I’ve lost count of the times that I’ve witnessed another customer demand to speak to a manager for the most trivial thing - too much ice in a drink, wrong brand of ketchup on the table etc

If there’s a problem politely speak with a server and if it can’t be resolved escalate to a manager - but be polite though. Short of having a rat on your plate if other customers are even aware that you’re complaining you’re probably being a Karen!

Raising hell is the quickest way to ensure there will be some “extras” in your next drink or dish