There is a menu for a reason. I can understand subtracting something due to an allergy but if they want a build your own menu there are other establishments for that service. This sounds like it was not one of them.
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If a sit down restaurant denies you a simple special order, do you stop going?
- Thread starter entremet
- Start date
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There are restaurants that won't cook meat well done. Should people who like well-done meat stop going to those restaurants?
The dude obviously enjoyed the food at that restaurant a lot, so why take something that clearly brought him some level of joy over a single incident?
I can't even imagine transferring this logic into relationships. "My partner refused to take out the trash tonight because they was sick, should I break up with them?"
The dude obviously enjoyed the food at that restaurant a lot, so why take something that clearly brought him some level of joy over a single incident?
I can't even imagine transferring this logic into relationships. "My partner refused to take out the trash tonight because they was sick, should I break up with them?"
Your analogy is broken. Provided you actually want something actually on their menu (i.e. a car) the dealer will be more than happy to sell you any variation that you want. Want the luxury package with leather seats and seat warmers? You got it. Parking assist? It's yours. 20" rims? Done. Oh, and you want it in lime green? Absolutely.
MrToughPants
Brian Burke punched my mom
CornBurrito
Member
Err... yes? I don't like texmex. I don't eat at texmex places. How's your first thing any different than that?
Likely because he feels his loyalty should be rewarded but he was treated as if he wasn't a loyal customer. Loyalty is a 2 way street. There are other restaurants.
I can't even imagine transferring it into a totally different scenario, but I guess attempting to do that certainly makes it look more ridiculous than it actually is. Deciding where you eat and a human relationship are very different. Most men don't keep a harem of females and decide which one they want to bed for the night based on what physical trait they are in the mood for. But people do that for restaurants. How immoral. Support restaurant monogamy.
psynergylover
Member
I would say the man is kinda in the wrong; I mean they even attempted to pay for his meal.
But on the other side....you couldn't spare ONE egg!?!?!? I also work in a restaurant and even on our busiest brunches we never ran out of eggs.
But on the other side....you couldn't spare ONE egg!?!?!? I also work in a restaurant and even on our busiest brunches we never ran out of eggs.
J
Jpop
Unconfirmed Member
Hello, GAF Inspector.
If you look harder you'll find out that I have been working at fine dining restaurants.
Let me know if you have any questions or you just want to descredit what I've said.
Regards,
JPop
So what gaf is telling me is that when I get my favorite Cajun chicken pasta, i have to take it with mushrooms(cause that's what it comes with). I can't ask for it with out the mushrooms? I love the pasta I love the sauce it comes with I love the Cajun chicken, i just don't like mushrooms.
Taking stuff out is almost never an issue unless it is cooked into the sauce or stock.
Adding stuff is were issues arise.
itwasTuesday
He wasn't alone.
rules man
NoblesseOblige
Banned
The absurd prices aside, no, I wouldn't stop going.
I don't care enough about that to stop going to a place I enjoy.
I don't care enough about that to stop going to a place I enjoy.
PrivateWHudson
Member
Why even have the wait staff take orders if your establishment can't handle special requests? Should just have patrons text the meal # that they want to order.
IMHO, the service should be top notch at a nice place like you describe. For that kind of money, my requests should go straight to corporate, not an off shore call center.
And whoever made the car analogy, it's more like picking out a car in a trim level that doesn't come with leather and requesting it anyway...
They will get someone to come out and have it upholstered.
Exactly. If he wants a burger with an egg, go somewhere else -- for that one thing.
Yes, the point is that the line of thinking is completely ridiculous. He presumably went there so often because he enjoyed it or it was convenient. Finding another restaurant involves effort, and potentially a lot of disappointment. Assuming he's in a big enough city, it might not be as big of a deal, but elsewhere that could be huge. A fair number of people tend to be unhappy while searching for things, and it's a lot of effort. If it's just a single thing, and you like other things there, don't give that up.
MrToughPants
Brian Burke punched my mom
As a chef, I find it completely ridiculous to deny him that egg. The FOH manager and I would've had a big fucking problem, if he did that without asking me first. This dude spends $500 a month? I'd fire whoever denied him on the spot.
On the other hand, if your restaurant REALLY couldn't spare one, single, egg, you need to question your kitchen staff's acumen, starting from the top.
This is mindblowingly stupid. It's a single fucking egg, dammit.
It's all fucked, I can't grasp this shit my brain is melting aaaaaaaaaaaaaa
On the other hand, if your restaurant REALLY couldn't spare one, single, egg, you need to question your kitchen staff's acumen, starting from the top.
This is mindblowingly stupid. It's a single fucking egg, dammit.
It's all fucked, I can't grasp this shit my brain is melting aaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Me: "I wonder if they have a buger with an egg on it?"
*looks at menu*
Me: "Hmm. I guess I'll be eating a burger without an egg today"
*proceeds to order without requesting off-menu meats*
Tbh, the only acceptable alterations are either a subtraction from an item that isn't pre-prepared or the addition of a condiment that is on the menu, like mayo or pickles. Obviously anything like bacon or grilled mushrooms is also okay if the menu presents that as an option.
But shit, man, don't go off menu.
I guess the dude could have ordered an egg ala carte and put it on the burger himself. But did the restaurant even serve eggs as a part of the menu?
mariachi507
Member
Good, somebody posted it.
always crazy bacon
Banned
Truth is somewhere around these 2 comments based on my experience. Particularly in America and it's tipping culture with customers expecting to be somehow special or NO TIP FOR YOU! I worked in a sales department for a wholesaler and it would always be the smaller customers demanding better treatment because "we must be one of your biggest customers with how much we spend each month". They weren't at all as we sold to retail chains who were far easier to manage and ordered more and returned less.
The other experience is working on the food stand in a movie theatre, pretty simple menu as you expect. But there was always those customers that thought they would invent a secret menu "half sweet, half salty popcorn with lots and lots of extra butter, spoon full of Nacho cheese and some chilies and ketchup" person behind them in the queue sees it wants the same, all thier friends come in and start with the request and it messes with the stock and portion control and profits. It's really hard to say no to them when management crack down on it when the customers response is always "You always do it for me, you did it last week, I want to see a manager!" A quick simple transaction turns into a time wasting excersise holding everyone else I. The queue up.
Better to say fuck your fried egg and stop it before it starts. Guys obviously as asshole if he was offered a comp meal and still bitched on
Online about it.
I almost have to assume that there are extenuating circumstances that the OP is unable to inform us about. I would suspect that the customer is some kind of mega-asshole who wants special treatment, and is known to be a hassle from previous encounters. He wants a server to bend the rules, but the manager or chef won't allow it because he's tired of dealing with said customer's bullshit. As a token gesture they offer to comp the tab, but are secretly hoping that he will just stop patronizing their establishment anyway. The restaurant is successful enough to withstand the lose of his business.
I suspect that this customer has been experiencing similar pushback in prior visits, because quitting completely over a single egg makes no sense. This is simply the straw that broke the camel's back.
I suspect that this customer has been experiencing similar pushback in prior visits, because quitting completely over a single egg makes no sense. This is simply the straw that broke the camel's back.
ZackieChan
Member
If we ran out of an ingredient, particularly one as common as an egg, when I worked in restaurants, we'd go the fuck out and buy a case of eggs. Their reasoning is dumb here, unless they were some kind of special egg that they couldn't quickly replace, or they're in Alaska and need to wait for a fucking supply plane to airdrop in new supplies. Customer requests are not a big deal, unless you're doing some kind of special busy night where there's a set menu and you're super busy.
skLaFarebear
Member
As a waiter for seven years, EXACTLY this. People don't understand this point of view. Rules exist for a reason. Someone sees you making an exception for one person, it can quickly snowball.
People can be flexible in what they ask for, but if the restaurant says no, there's obviously a reason for it and customers should respect that.
^And this is exactly why they shouldn't give him the egg.
Holy shit. People get exposed everyday lol.
autumnleaf
Member
I think it's reasonable to ask for something not to be added to an order, like a tomato left off a burger, but not to add something extra to it. The menu is right there and it's the same for everyone.
Voysa Reezun
Banned
OK, and what's your point?
To answer the original post it really would depend on how long I had gone there, how service had been in the past, and so forth. If I had gone there once or twice and the restaurant wouldn't modify my order (let's assume that my request is reasonable), there's a good chance that I wouldn't bother going back. If it was a place that I went to and knew the employees, wait staff, etc., and had multiple good experiences at, I'd still go back, but admittedly, probably not as much since I do appreciate when a restaurant accommodates simple requests.
That's a general answer, but of course, if I'm going to a restaurant with a prix fixe menu or where the chef is specifically stating on the menu in advance that the dishes make up a specific multi-course meal that s/he has thought out carefully in advance, then I wouldn't ask for a special order, for example.
Randy Monk
Member
A fried egg today
A fried egg today and pineapple the next day
A fried egg, bacon, beetroot and pineapple the day after
You might as well book a flight to Australia and have a proper burger
A fried egg today and pineapple the next day
A fried egg, bacon, beetroot and pineapple the day after
You might as well book a flight to Australia and have a proper burger
eddievanclaylen
Member
Jack The Nipper
Banned
That's bad management and bad customer service
Jack The Nipper
Banned
... Yeah, let's not expect a cook and team to handle these huge tasks of an added egg or other huge requests. A good manager will be competent enough to weigh out thier battles. Thinking about his special over this returning customer was not the right choice.I think it's reasonable to ask for something not to be added to an order, like a tomato left off a burger, but not to add something extra to it. The menu is right there and it's the same for everyone.
If they run out so be it, but again that's one egg from being out anyways. I doubt ten more people will be asking for egg burgers.
Gravy Boat
Member
What kind of shitty restaurants are you going to where getting charged double for an extra tea bag is normal? I've literally never heard of that in my life.
Maybe this is an American culture thing but people request changes to their order all the time in th UK. Different sauce, different side, with/without extra ingredients. I couldn't imagine being refused an egg in a burger from a place that sells both eggs and burgers.
Maybe this is an American culture thing but people request changes to their order all the time in th UK. Different sauce, different side, with/without extra ingredients. I couldn't imagine being refused an egg in a burger from a place that sells both eggs and burgers.
curiouscharles
Member
um, that's like... two nights at the same restaurant for my [financially idiotic] friends.
honestly though, the story in the OP seems so ridiculous it's hard to even believe.
i worked at restaurants for ~8 years while i was an undergrad and then graduate student, and we NEVER [at any of the places i worked] denied customers special requests [unless they were rudely ridiculous].
but yeah, if that was me in that situation, i'd take my business elsewhere - show some effing appreciation shitty restaurant.
edit: i should add i was always a cook, not a waiter, so actually the dude putting up with the special requests, never bothered me.
Jack The Nipper
Banned
Then you should lose customers of your worried about a snowball effect, that's not very likely. People arent starring at everyone's order so closely. add the egg
And egg doesn't technically add a ton more time or work. Not for a decent cook.
old manatee
Banned
lol @ your hostility. It makes sense because people who make elaborate special orders are secretly filled with rage, and are trying to make things as difficult as possible for the restaurant so that they have something to complain about later on Yelp.
Rimon-hanit
Member
This is some weird sex thing isn't it entremet?
As silly as it is, I worked in that industry for a long time and understand their reasoning; all stock it accounted for, allocated to certain items, not just for purposes of convenience but also book-keeping, insurance purposes, maintaining specifications of the brand, etc.
I mean, denying him a simple egg seems a little much, but there are reasons, silly as they might seem.
I mean, denying him a simple egg seems a little much, but there are reasons, silly as they might seem.
jadedm17
Member
Its their right to say no but his right to stop going; Im with him, id have done the same.
What? Its an egg. Any sane restaurant has both measures in place to add singular items and also encourages servers to do so : Ever been asked to add mushrooms or a lobster with your steak order? A good restaurant would have an "add egg", "add mushroom", "add 5 oz sirloin" etc buttons and let him make as expensive a burger he wants.
Re : Wolvers
Thankfully mine has a "their way" policy and be it lunch items at dinner or kids items for adults (which generally lose money to get adults) you can have what you want. Yes, they have their reasons, but that usually ends at manager intervention; Id have taken my business elsewhere too. They can do what he want but so can he.
What? Its an egg. Any sane restaurant has both measures in place to add singular items and also encourages servers to do so : Ever been asked to add mushrooms or a lobster with your steak order? A good restaurant would have an "add egg", "add mushroom", "add 5 oz sirloin" etc buttons and let him make as expensive a burger he wants.
Re : Wolvers
Thankfully mine has a "their way" policy and be it lunch items at dinner or kids items for adults (which generally lose money to get adults) you can have what you want. Yes, they have their reasons, but that usually ends at manager intervention; Id have taken my business elsewhere too. They can do what he want but so can he.
autumnleaf
Member
What's the point in having a menu in the first place if people can just order what they like?
If you don't like their menu don't go.
Gravy Boat
Member
Please don't act like you've never requested something about your order be changed when eating out because I simply won't believe you.
You spent seven years being a terrible waiter? That's kind of amazing. So much experience and you were still giving terrible service
old manatee
Banned
I don't know why that is hard to believe. Menus already have like 9 pages of choices. I pick one that sounds good as is and then I move on with my life. I've also never sent anything back, and I always tip 20% no matter what. I'm not there to change the restaurant or punish anyone. If I'm not happy I just go to a different restaurant next time.
I'm wondering how often this happens for it to be a policy, we have strict refund/return policies at work because of */list of reasons too long to go in to.*
But from the customers point of view, it's "just one small thing, c'mon you can do it this time". Yes, it's a single damned egg in this instance but who are we to say they don't have loads of people every day trying to order their made up meals?
We don't know, but in this scenario he wanted to pay for it, it's business.
Meh, hard to decide on either side of the story, I'm leaning towards give the man his egg.
But from the customers point of view, it's "just one small thing, c'mon you can do it this time". Yes, it's a single damned egg in this instance but who are we to say they don't have loads of people every day trying to order their made up meals?
We don't know, but in this scenario he wanted to pay for it, it's business.
Meh, hard to decide on either side of the story, I'm leaning towards give the man his egg.
I'm with the customer on this one. It's totally moronic to potentially alienate a big spender customer over an egg. Christ how stupid is the management in this place? They'd comp a 71 dollar meal instead of serving up a single egg. Hell why not just comp him the stupid waffle and egg meal and throw the waffle away? That way the customer gets what he wants but your not opening yourself up to everyone making demands outside the frame of the menu.
Idiocy.
Idiocy.
Sho_Nuff82
Member
My date and I spent more than $60 each at my local Mexican place after a few drinks and few small plates. It's placed in the $$ ($11-30 range) because that's the minimum you can expect to spend. $11 would get you one taco and a glass of water.
Drinks were $10-12 each.
YesManKablaam
Neo Member
We're only seeing the event in question from one point of view, and the guy is certainly not going to portray himself in a bad light.
I've worked in numerous customer service jobs over the years, generally mid-tier establishments (ranging from hotels, cafeterias and delis) and the one thing that kinda got my alarm bells ringing is that there's no mention of how the customer treats the staff.
In my most recent job we had a number of returning customers that we all generally disliked. I recall one guy in particular who was incredibly patronising to all male staff and sleazy with the female staff. He never crossed the line into outright verbal abuse or sexual harassment, but he was problematic as there were times when it would extend to other customers in the shop. An extension of this would see him trying to do special orders which we would just flat out refuse, as the way he treated us left a lot to be desired.
In many instances behaviour makes a difference. Customer entitlement is a very real thing, and the lack of basic manners is a dealbreaker with me. One time there was this regular customer that was buying soup (we have a self-service area for that) but had grabbed one of the mid-size coffee cups instead of the soup cups. I simply pointed this out to him and he said that he knew, and that he was helping himself to a sample. The brazen nature of this got to me and I said that we don't do samples, at which point he threw a huff and loudly exclaimed that he always has samples and that he's never seen me working there befre. I had been working there for eight months. My issue here was that he didn't bother to ask a member of staff beforehand, a kindness that was extended to him in the past was now being treated as standard procedure. I do actually accomodate some special orders, but I'm often careful and exclaim that this is a special circumstance and should not be thought of as usual policy (and often this has to do with customer demeanour, I will absolutely stonewall someone that acts a prick and demands something not otherwise listed). An extra kicker in this instance was that there were espresso cups available if he was intending on sampling, grabbing a medium cup is the action of a chancer.
To bring it back to the OP though, the guy is a businessman that is wining and dining a potential client. I have never had a good experience with this kind of customer, a big part of the wining and dining is impressing the client, and often that impressing is done by demeaning and belittling the service staff. Make yourself look like a big man and all that. Any reasonable person would accept if a special request cannot be done outside of dietary/health reasons, to push the issue is a sure-fire sign of the guy trying to flex his muscle in front of someone he's trying to impress. When that's the case, I totally get where the manager would be coming from. You don't necessarily want to lose the patronage of a regular customer, but I doubt that customer is highly valued.
We also have no scope for the success of the restaurant. Taken out of context $500 a month sounds like a big spender, but we have no comparison to the average takings of this establishment. For all we know he's actually on the low-end of regular customers, in which case I would sympathise with the staff even more. In every job I've worked in there have been regular customers that want the place to accomodate them when in reality they spend little compared to others (that first man I mentioned exemplified this). We've had customers that can come in for lunch every day, drop twice as much, eat in half the time and make a fraction of the fuss.
As everyone else has said, go somewhere that will accomodate you. Don't kick up a fuss at the place that doesn't.
I've worked in numerous customer service jobs over the years, generally mid-tier establishments (ranging from hotels, cafeterias and delis) and the one thing that kinda got my alarm bells ringing is that there's no mention of how the customer treats the staff.
In my most recent job we had a number of returning customers that we all generally disliked. I recall one guy in particular who was incredibly patronising to all male staff and sleazy with the female staff. He never crossed the line into outright verbal abuse or sexual harassment, but he was problematic as there were times when it would extend to other customers in the shop. An extension of this would see him trying to do special orders which we would just flat out refuse, as the way he treated us left a lot to be desired.
In many instances behaviour makes a difference. Customer entitlement is a very real thing, and the lack of basic manners is a dealbreaker with me. One time there was this regular customer that was buying soup (we have a self-service area for that) but had grabbed one of the mid-size coffee cups instead of the soup cups. I simply pointed this out to him and he said that he knew, and that he was helping himself to a sample. The brazen nature of this got to me and I said that we don't do samples, at which point he threw a huff and loudly exclaimed that he always has samples and that he's never seen me working there befre. I had been working there for eight months. My issue here was that he didn't bother to ask a member of staff beforehand, a kindness that was extended to him in the past was now being treated as standard procedure. I do actually accomodate some special orders, but I'm often careful and exclaim that this is a special circumstance and should not be thought of as usual policy (and often this has to do with customer demeanour, I will absolutely stonewall someone that acts a prick and demands something not otherwise listed). An extra kicker in this instance was that there were espresso cups available if he was intending on sampling, grabbing a medium cup is the action of a chancer.
To bring it back to the OP though, the guy is a businessman that is wining and dining a potential client. I have never had a good experience with this kind of customer, a big part of the wining and dining is impressing the client, and often that impressing is done by demeaning and belittling the service staff. Make yourself look like a big man and all that. Any reasonable person would accept if a special request cannot be done outside of dietary/health reasons, to push the issue is a sure-fire sign of the guy trying to flex his muscle in front of someone he's trying to impress. When that's the case, I totally get where the manager would be coming from. You don't necessarily want to lose the patronage of a regular customer, but I doubt that customer is highly valued.
We also have no scope for the success of the restaurant. Taken out of context $500 a month sounds like a big spender, but we have no comparison to the average takings of this establishment. For all we know he's actually on the low-end of regular customers, in which case I would sympathise with the staff even more. In every job I've worked in there have been regular customers that want the place to accomodate them when in reality they spend little compared to others (that first man I mentioned exemplified this). We've had customers that can come in for lunch every day, drop twice as much, eat in half the time and make a fraction of the fuss.
As everyone else has said, go somewhere that will accomodate you. Don't kick up a fuss at the place that doesn't.
Jack The Nipper
Banned
Because a menu won't suit all no matter what. It's adding to it, not asking for a custom meal after all. You will lose a lot of customers with that mind set.
It's easy to see why the restaurant did it, they think just like you. We are people man, no harm in helping people out. A good manager can make good choices on a case by case basis imo
You are right, I wouldn't be going to your place or a few others if we egg/piece of ham added to our food the way we would enjoy it more.
It's also very common for different cultures to enjoy food in a different way. No reason in denying them what they like cause a restaurant wants to be "tough" and tidy on a menu. If this was my restaurant, why not just be kind to people's likes?
Rules are fine and usually for those who can't make the best choices but rules are somewhat of a guide for a manager not always concrete. He made the wrong choice imo and the customers should be appreciated and the workers as well honestly. It isn't about how much time he has spent there, it's not that hard to add egg or any other single items such as cheese.
I can imagine if a customer asked for the nacho sauce to be poured on his burger you would also say, can't man, rules!
Give him the price of the nachos, dump it on. Give him the chips and tell him the price. Tell him your fine to add it on but you have to add the cost of nachos. Tell him it's the best compromise you can do for the system but your more than glad to get the cheese on his burger. If he isn' t happy with that ok. That's all but you tried. Even though, no chips and a slightly cheaper price may can be done by some no reason in making it complicated. This is why you have managers that can make good calls to begin with.
Of course if you stick to this thinking, your cooks stick to it and you only have (we only make items this way mentality) then you will run into problems. You have to train your peropld to handle situations as well so if you and the place are in this mind set then it's not going to work. If the manager is a people person, has a system in place so the cooks know that someone may add or take something off then it won't be a problem for the cooks, customers or waiters. A much better experience for all involved.
oneils
Member
So what did this guy do? Don't leave us hanging! Does he still go to the restaurant?
Personally I'd understand but it would probably affect my enjoyment of the place and then I'd probably go less frequently and if I found a place I like that's just as good and convenient I might start going there more.
Edit: if they comped me I'd more than satisfied. I missed that part. That might be going too far. Free pot of coffee or something might be enough.
Personally I'd understand but it would probably affect my enjoyment of the place and then I'd probably go less frequently and if I found a place I like that's just as good and convenient I might start going there more.
Edit: if they comped me I'd more than satisfied. I missed that part. That might be going too far. Free pot of coffee or something might be enough.
xrnzaaas
Member
Restaurants like this shouldn't exist. Even if the client is an asshole you should do your best to serve him, especially if he's a returning customer (and a "whale").
I don't know how I'd answer the OP's question, because I don't eat at restaurants except for some special occasions, family meetings etc. I guess buying food is different than buying some electronics or clothes where I could go to another place of business without any regrets.
I don't know how I'd answer the OP's question, because I don't eat at restaurants except for some special occasions, family meetings etc. I guess buying food is different than buying some electronics or clothes where I could go to another place of business without any regrets.
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