What do you do if you're unhappy with your food or dining experience?
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (43059)
Staten Island, New York
March 18, 2023 1:24pm CST
There are times when I am dining out somewhere and the waiter keeps coming up to the table many times to ask if everything is okay.
Doing it once in a while is fine but constantly doing it becomes very annoying. Just let me enjoy my meal. If something is wrong I will tell you about it myself.
Though I have found myself in situations where I am unhappy about something (food overcooked, for example) but I just say that everything is good when asked if everything is okay or how my meal is, etc. That's just what naturally comes out of my mouth.
There is no reason to hesitate or be afraid to speak up if something is wrong, especially if the food is overcooked or way over salted, etc. No reason to be nasty but you should let the waiter know if something isn't right.
Do you speak up if something is wrong with your meal or dining experience? Or do you lie and say everything is great?
10 people like this
10 responses
@LindaOHio (155469)
• United States
18 Mar 23
Yes, I definitely speak up. Often the meal will be comped or a new dish will be sent out. If you're wondering why I'm answering current Discussions when I'm behind almost a week, long explanation. Right now I am testing to see if my desktop will lock up like my laptop does.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
21 Mar 23
I know you have computer issues. Though I am sure I missed your latest updates on it. I should be more like that, not being hesitant or afraid to speak up about the food being not done properly, being over salted, etc.
@porwest (78761)
• United States
21 Mar 23
Most of the time if I am unhappy, whoever I tell that to isn't going to necessarily care much about it. It does depend on the kind of establishment it is. A standalone, family run restaurant will be far more interested in how a customer feels. But if it's a chain? They couldn't care less what we think most of the time.
I vote with my wallet. I may give a place another chance. I may adjust my tip downward. I may never return. That's message enough I think without saying something right there and then.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
21 Mar 23
But what do you do if the food is too bland, has too much salt, dry, overcooked, etc.?
1 person likes this
@porwest (78761)
• United States
27 Mar 23
@lovebuglena I just make a note and deal with it, and most likely take it home and do something else with it and just never return.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86465)
• United States
18 Mar 23
Well it would depend, but in my mind, I would definitely wait until after I ate to complain as I would not want anything done to my food.
@RebeccasFarm (86465)
• United States
21 Mar 23
@lovebuglena Yes I would not eat it all and then order something else for them to spit in it I mean I guess Lena.
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
21 Mar 23
@RebeccasFarm Well, if you speak up about the food without being nasty or giving them an attitude I doubt they'd spit in your food when they are remaking it.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
21 Mar 23
But if your food is way over salted or burned to a crisp, for example, you can't just keep eating it and then complain.
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (134232)
• Roseburg, Oregon
18 Mar 23
I let them know right away. If the eggs are not cooked right I will send them back.
@jstory07 (134232)
• Roseburg, Oregon
21 Mar 23
@lovebuglena You should have showed it to them and got another one.
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
21 Mar 23
@jstory07 Yes, I agree. And I regretted not doing it at the time.
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
21 Mar 23
I remember I had ordered a burger somewhere and it came overcooked and even burned on one side. I was hesitant to speak up and just said everything is fine, eating that burger instead of asking for another one.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36382)
• Toccoa, Georgia
18 Mar 23
We just don't leave as big of a tip.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
21 Mar 23
That makes sense. At the same time, if the food is really screwed up they have to redo it and bring you the dish done the right way. Of course if you tell them about it being bad.
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
21 Mar 23
Sometimes a restaurant can experience an off night but on a regular basis everything is fine.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Mar 23
@Adie04 If the same thing happens many times then I'd definitely not go back to that place anymore.
1 person likes this
@Adie04 (17361)
•
22 Mar 23
@lovebuglena I agree with that. But if I keep having the same experience, I would not go back to the same store again.
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
21 Mar 23
That is good. Not all people are able to be polite though and make a scene when complaining to the staff.
1 person likes this
@rakski (112925)
• Philippines
21 Mar 23
@lovebuglena yes, I say most of the time they hear it well
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
21 Mar 23
Good. Hopefully, they hear you and if it's something to do with what you ordered that they accommodate that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325255)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Mar 23
Mostly it has to be pretty bad before I say anything. I'm not very assertive when it comes to dining out.
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
21 Mar 23
I am more reserved when it comes to that. I should speak up but I don't.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43059)
• Staten Island, New York
21 Mar 23
At least someone does it for you. We should always speak up about it if something is wrong, yet do it in a polite way. I wish I was always able to speak up. Not the case.
