It’s pretty rare that I will complain about a meal when I eat out, but I will do it. If something is cooked wrong, or the order is wrong, I will certainly speak up. But what about if you just don’t like it?
Last night I went to a local pub that I’ve been going to for years. I’ve always liked everything I’ve ordered there, and considering how long I’ve been going there, that’s a pretty good streak. Tried something new last night, and it simply was NOT my cup of tea. (Actually, I used the word awful.) There wasn’t anything wrong with how it was cooked, it was what I ordered, just not what I liked.
I gave it back to the bartender and told him so. (Not mean, not upset, just “Wow, that was a very bad decision on my part!”) The other bartender said he liked it, and I told him to knock himself out and feel free to finish it. (It was a shrimp dish, so it’s not like it was a half-eaten pasta dish or something like that – it was an easily shared item.)
So, I was just happy that it didn’t go to waste. But, my bartender insisted on taking it off the check. And then we argued about it. (Good naturedly.) I told him they shouldn’t have to take it off the check just because I made a bad decision. It wasn’t their fault – it was what I ordered and they didn’t cook it wrong. I just didn’t like it.
I lost, and it came off the check. (I still tipped on what the total would have been with the shrimp.)
I still think it’s not their fault!