Several years back, my husband and I were out Christmas shopping and decided to hit the road early and have a long day in the stores. We stopped at a national chain restaurant for breakfast. I will not name the restaurant. It was the last shopping weekend before Christmas. This restaurant makes it clientele from breakfast. Things began bad and became worse as the 'meal' went on. I will say that our waitress was Fantastic and continued to apologize over and over and over again. By the end of the 'meal' I was fuming and my husband gave me strict orders - "Don't say anything." He knows I'm a little free with my mouth when I have something to say. The best I could do without lying was to say I won't say anything unless I'm asked. The restaurant was extremely busy and many of the patrons were having just as bad a time as we were. We arrived at the register to pay for the meal. The Manager was the person at the register. She looked at my husband and me and asked "So, how was everything?" Well, that was all I needed. My husband stepped back 2 steps and gave me my room. I proceeded to give her a detailed list of everything that was wrong. Before I could finish she ripped up our ticket and said the meal was on the house and asked us to leave because other folks in line to pay for their meals were agreeing with me. Yes, I did contact Corporate. Yes, I did receive a response from Corporate. I returned once to that restaurant because a meeting I had to attend was being held there. I had a sweet tea and that's all.
Exactly! It's pretty much like getting paid to forget something negative. I worked for a chain restaurant when I was going to school - if customers complained about their food, the manager would start by offering them a free desert, and if they didn't look like that was going to smooth things over, he'd offer to take their meal off the bill; if they were not looking thrilled, he'd resort to eating the bill - then he'd go into the back and remark to the kitchen staff to get orders right the first time. Occasionally, he'd get a call from corporate and be in a mood, the people who complained would receive a gift certificate from HQ for a free diner(s) and it was marked on them to present them when ordering - these were only sent out to those who complained, so they were careful to treat them well. If companies simply sent out gift cards that were used at the end of a meal to people who complained (like some places do) it would be more telling to the customer as to if anything really changed or not. Unless something is raw - I usually keep my mouth shut. I've seen too much happen in kitchens in some very nice restaurants (not chains) when food gets sent back - some chefs are crazy, sincerely. . .I could tell you stories that would keep you from eating out :shock::ack:
This is a really good question. I don't contact Corporate and I know I should. I just don't feel like spending my time on doing it. Right or wrong approach I rather just not go back. DB's wife
Mrs. DB, Below is a link we have used to try out restaurants in our area. We still love the dives like Jones Cafe'. http://www.johnstoncountync.org/locater/?linkcode=2.2&context_id=3 I do agree that the music can become overwhelming at some restaurants and I am particular on what I listen too and how loud it is when I eat. I don't want to shout and sometimes will walk out if it is that loud. Have fun eating, Sherry
you should have lowered your expectations as soon as you walked in the door and took a look at the wait staff, homeboys and homegirls
That's a little rough! My nephew who was raised in the getto and wore "homeboy" clothing is going back to the middle east next month for his third tour.
You'd feel right at home at Parker's BBQ in Wilson. All the waiters are white and all the kitchen employees are black. Homeboys and homegirls? Oh lord.
to each his own, if you choose to spend good money dining at an establishment that has staff that are, by societies standards,"unprofessional" in every sense of the word, then have at it
Went to firebirds last night in Raleigh off of six forks, Excellent service and the food was Excellent. I think that the best service we have ever had, though it was rather expensive. For 2 of us, the bill was 80 ish.
