What was your worst experience in a restaurant?
My wife and I stopped for lunch today at a nice-looking spot that has pretentions of sophistication, and a French theme (in upstate New York). Rather pricey, varied menu, seemed appealing. They made three major errors in our two orders, perhaps a world record. Two more errors in attempting to correct the initial problems. Owner/manager just said "Sorry". In the end, I had to eat all of my lunch before my wife was finally served her (somewhat corrected) plate. While we ate, the counter boy was mopping the floor nearby. How much tip would you leave?
New York
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TerezBaskin - December 10th, 2009
My worst experiences have been as staff rather than a customer.
One Valentines day our restaurant booked more people than we ever thought possible. About 200 tables of two in that three storey restaurant! It was utter craziness. We hired work-experience kids because we couldn't find enough staff, and these children couldn't even walk across the room with a bowl of soup without leaving trails behind them. I was racing around all night just fixing stuff-ups, and many couples got up and walked away.
But the funny thing was, I had people coming back for ages after that saying, "We never forgot you on that Valentine's night. You were the best waitress we've ever seen". I guess those kids were so bad they made me look pretty good.
simsion - December 10th, 2009
In a fashionable Prague restaurants many years ago it happened at a table close to us that the waiter opened a champagne bottle in such a way that he shot down the elegant glass ceiling. The splitter was hailing around us and it took some time before we got the food replaced. No person as injured.
rachelclind - December 10th, 2009
Despite you being in New York, where tipping is almost *required*, I would have left no tip, and potentially even have not paid what was on the bill.
In the UK, the law allows you to pay what you see as reasonable for a meal – as long as you leave your contact details behind if you pay less than requested.
My worst experience was actually in Rick Steins Cafe in Cornwall – my wife ordered a lemon sole that came out barely cooked (i.e. still bleeding and a bit squidgy) – when she pointed that out, the waitress actually tried to defend the chef saying that it was normally cooked that way.