Examples of bad (funny) restaurant service
Discussion
On another thread
but when it was pointed out to the waitress she said, "No, that's just a bit of mushroom"
I was once in a pub where, Mrs B was served soup with a pubic hair in it
northernboy said: I had one of my worst meals ever at *****. We were kept waiting in the doorway for an hour after our table was supposed to be delivered, waiter managed to hit my wife on the head with the wine bottle, food not great, and not cheap either.
but when it was pointed out to the waitress she said, "No, that's just a bit of mushroom" I was at the Grosvenor (sp?) in Chester... and the waitress spilt hot water (for the tea) all over me...
Following an amazing yelp, I managed to contain the swear words, to find my legs scalded (through the trousers) a waitress panicking over what had happened, and me standing there saying in a very stern and controlled manner "shut up woman, and get me a towel, some ice, some burn cream and a place to change."
Still... got a free lunch!
Following an amazing yelp, I managed to contain the swear words, to find my legs scalded (through the trousers) a waitress panicking over what had happened, and me standing there saying in a very stern and controlled manner "shut up woman, and get me a towel, some ice, some burn cream and a place to change."
Still... got a free lunch!
I haven got any thing as good as that incorrigible to tell but I went a restaurant with a previos girl friend, I ordered a steak (thought the hart 
) whitch was under cooked to what I asked for, I complained like hell and only paid for half of the meal, the manager was realy apologetic, i ended paying for only one meal and no drinks 
But ill never go back to that place.
) whitch was under cooked to what I asked for, I complained like hell and only paid for half of the meal, the manager was realy apologetic, i ended paying for only one meal and no drinks But ill never go back to that place.
Strangely enough, my "worst" was in Chester too. Picture the scene - hot first date with a nice young man, table all booked, turn up and.... sorry, we're full. Come back at 10:30.
So we did. To be informed that they closed at 10:30 and we wouldn't be allowed in despite having booked. We ended up in a naff pizzeria playing loud, loud music. That was the end of a beautiful relationship, that was.
So we did. To be informed that they closed at 10:30 and we wouldn't be allowed in despite having booked. We ended up in a naff pizzeria playing loud, loud music. That was the end of a beautiful relationship, that was.
One time in New York I miscalculated/wasn't thinking and only left a 10% tip. The waiter then loudly announced to the entire restaurant that "the Englishman has left a 10% tip which is better than nothing I suppose"
Other than quietly telling him to Foxtrot Oscar I just wanted the ground to open up
Other than quietly telling him to Foxtrot Oscar I just wanted the ground to open up
Fatboy said: You should have had the tip back off the cheeky cnut!
I had paid by CC and added the tip to that, also he was as camp as a row of pink tents (probably a resting actor) and would have delighted in a scene in front of everyone.
My mates from NY were p*ssing themselves because 15% is the minimum for a tip.
N17 TVR said:
My mates from NY were p*ssing themselves because 15% is the minimum for a tip.
I think that's a
joke. You leave a tip IF the service deserves one, not becuase you are expected too... and the amount should be discretionary too. If it was worth 10%, they get 10%, not 15%, just becuase "that's what you do". Sorry.. things like that wind me up.
Podie said:
N17 TVR said:
My mates from NY were p*ssing themselves because 15% is the minimum for a tip.
I think that's a
Sorry.. things like that wind me up.
I know what you mean but it doesnt work like that over there. On average your waiter/waitress will be paid somewhere between $1 and $2 per hour so the VAST majority of his/her wages come from tips.
Their social structure is such that over the years everyone apart from foreign visitors is well up on this. You soon learn, because its de riguer to tip a dollar with every visit to the bar, when you find that over the course of evening you have stuck $20 in the waiters hand it becomes a lot more cost effective to run a tab!
Matt.
......like your style Too right. My Fiancee is a chef (and manages waiting staff), which can be a bugger when going out for a meal, 'cos...
a) She is hyper critical of the quality of food, service etc
b) She will go through the menu reading descrptions and predict which frozen food/ready prepped supplier the particular dish come from. Or worse...
c) Wait 'til my meal arrives then point out it's not a home made dish, and announce that it costs 23p per potion or something.
d) Either 'we' leave a big tip, or as likely, no tip.
She is of course right about 'd' above, but previously I would usually just leave 10%, more if partiularly good service.
If waiting staff complained about the tip, they would both lose it, and be given a long and detailed list about why they never deserved it in the first place
But then she is a very good chef, who takes pride in her establishment... but woe betide anybody who tries the increasingly common tactic of complaining about the meal AFTER finishing it in an attempt to get some or all free
Cheers, Phil
a) She is hyper critical of the quality of food, service etc
b) She will go through the menu reading descrptions and predict which frozen food/ready prepped supplier the particular dish come from. Or worse...
c) Wait 'til my meal arrives then point out it's not a home made dish, and announce that it costs 23p per potion or something.
d) Either 'we' leave a big tip, or as likely, no tip.
She is of course right about 'd' above, but previously I would usually just leave 10%, more if partiularly good service.
If waiting staff complained about the tip, they would both lose it, and be given a long and detailed list about why they never deserved it in the first place
But then she is a very good chef, who takes pride in her establishment... but woe betide anybody who tries the increasingly common tactic of complaining about the meal AFTER finishing it in an attempt to get some or all free
Cheers, Phil
plotloss said:
I know what you mean but it doesnt work like that over there. On average your waiter/waitress will be paid somewhere between $1 and $2 per hour so the VAST majority of his/her wages come from tips.
Their social structure is such that over the years everyone apart from foreign visitors is well up on this. You soon learn, because its de riguer to tip a dollar with every visit to the bar, when you find that over the course of evening you have stuck $20 in the waiters hand it becomes a lot more cost effective to run a tab!
Matt.
I appreciate that... but doesn't mean I have to agree with the way they do things. As a sweeping generalisation our American friends expect us to do things THEIR way... and have no empathic understanding of other cultures. Granted, this coming from an Englishman (with our reputation) is a bit dodgy... but you get my drift.
Not bad service but a French waitress just arrived in this country.
Breakfast, didn't want the rubber fried eggs kept warm for the last 1/2 hour under lamps...the ones you can bounce back to the table.
So ask for poached eggs.
Pooche eggs? she says
Poached I say
pushed? she say's
So I take up the menu take her hand and get her to point to poached eggs and send her to the chef like that. Nice poached eggs duly arrived.
Breakfast, didn't want the rubber fried eggs kept warm for the last 1/2 hour under lamps...the ones you can bounce back to the table.
So ask for poached eggs.
Pooche eggs? she says
Poached I say
pushed? she say's
So I take up the menu take her hand and get her to point to poached eggs and send her to the chef like that. Nice poached eggs duly arrived.
Podie said:
I appreciate that... but doesn't mean I have to agree with the way they do things. As a sweeping generalisation our American friends expect us to do things THEIR way... and have no empathic understanding of other cultures. Granted, this coming from an Englishman (with our reputation) is a bit dodgy... but you get my drift.
easy tiger, let me give you a hand down from your
I had the same experience- 2 years ago, last day in Venice beach with the missus, had a cuppa and a sticky bun in a beachside cafe and got rid of all our change with the tip. as I was leaving the waitress complained loudly and publicly about the tip only being 10%, until I pointed out that she had missed the $5 bill on the tray!
Her half-hearted apologies weren't enough to persuade me not to reclaim it!
I hear what you say above about the standard of living but it's not a licence to be bl***y rude!
Her half-hearted apologies weren't enough to persuade me not to reclaim it!
I hear what you say above about the standard of living but it's not a licence to be bl***y rude!
I remember my first business trip to France - the hotel had buffet breakfasts, but little pans of boiling water so that you could cook your own egg how you wanted. Great idea I thought.
Except that none of the waitresses could understand that 30seconds - minute wasn't an acceptable way to boil an egg & that I wanted a full 5 minutes.
So every time I turned my back, Nicole or Marie would creep up to the pan & take out my egg & leave it by the pan.
It took me 4 days & many broken Franglais conversations to get a boiled egg done to my satisfaction
That trip I learned the joys of driving in Paris in a Renault 5 - fantastic fun! Rules of the road:
1/Indicate then maneuvre (never use mirrors)
2/Never ever catch anyone's eye, as they won't let you into traffic
3/If there isn't a gap, accelerate. This will create one. Use horn!
4/Never park with handbrake on
5/Cut up anyone with non-French plates
Except that none of the waitresses could understand that 30seconds - minute wasn't an acceptable way to boil an egg & that I wanted a full 5 minutes.
So every time I turned my back, Nicole or Marie would creep up to the pan & take out my egg & leave it by the pan.
It took me 4 days & many broken Franglais conversations to get a boiled egg done to my satisfaction
That trip I learned the joys of driving in Paris in a Renault 5 - fantastic fun! Rules of the road:
1/Indicate then maneuvre (never use mirrors)
2/Never ever catch anyone's eye, as they won't let you into traffic
3/If there isn't a gap, accelerate. This will create one. Use horn!
4/Never park with handbrake on
5/Cut up anyone with non-French plates
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