Do you pay for food at a restaurant if you just don't like it?

[PaperclipGod]

So, a few weeks ago I was at a restaurant and ordered something on the menu that looked "interesting". I can't remember what it was, now, but I wasn't a fan. I wasn't all that hungry anyway, so I just ignored that portion and munched on the rest of my salad and appetizers.

Towards the end of the meal, our waitress comes over and -- noticing my hardly touched food -- asks if there was something wrong with it. I told her no, there wasn't anything wrong with it; I just didn't like the dish. Well, she immediately says "OH! Well, i'll take that right off your bill!". I try to explain to her that it wasn't any fault of the restaurant's, and that it was just my personal taste, but she just couldn't seem to wrap her mind around why I wanted to pay for food that I didn't like.

And before you say that this was the result of misguided training of the waitstaff; this wasn't a chain restaurant, and the server wasn't a kid.

Do most people nowadays expect their meal to be free if it's not as good as they'd hoped? Was my action weird, or did I just get a weird waitress?

 

[mcmilljb]

Most places will excuse the bill if you don't like it. However they prefer to fix it if they can.

 

[BoomerD]

Generally, if I order it and it's prepared correctly, even if I don't like it...I pay for it. If it's fucked up...then it's on them...but yes, most GOOD places will remove it from your bill if you don't like it...

 

[rcpratt]

Uh, I certainly wouldn't ask for them to take it off the bill, but I wouldn't deny it if they offered. But I'm pretty boring and always go with safe options at restaurants.

 

[coldmeat]

Uh, I certainly wouldn't ask for them to take it off the bill, but I wouldn't deny it if they offered. But I'm pretty boring and always go with safe options at restaurants.

This

I usually order the club lol

 

[Malak]

I just mark the place off the list of places I will eat at.

 

[killster1]

Ya sure pay for the food u didnt eat at all, who cares, another pointless thread.. If they offered id say sure take it off or switch it for something and i take it to go.. i like others dont try to order to much weird stuff and if its terrible id ask for soemthing else.. at olive garden had like rubber bands in the food and didnt eat it.. they didnt get a tip thats for sure and they offered to remake it *but never refund it* but i said no thanks not hungry anymore

 

[TheVrolok]

Of course I would pay for it, but if they're offered to remove it, and insisted upon it, I would acquiesce and chalk it up to good customer service.

 

[sandorski]

I would Pay, but if they offer to let you off the hook, sweet, I'd take it. Hell, I'd return many times, Ordering stuff I know I'd like, after service like that.

 

[Arkaign]

Generally, if I order it and it's prepared correctly, even if I don't like it...I pay for it. If it's fucked up...then it's on them...but yes, most GOOD places will remove it from your bill if you don't like it...

This. I only try to have items taken off if they're seriously f'ed up. I was at chili's with friends (first mistake, but not my idea), and the chips that came with the chips and salsa order were literally soggy/wilted/stale all at the same time. So the waiter took that off the menu. Then my chicken was pink in the middle, so I returned that and just sustained myself on beer. The waiter was nice about it, so I gave an extra big tip, and the manager gave me a $25 gift card as I was leaving. Even if you get crap food, that's no reason to be a dick about it or get upset.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Yes. If they prepared it according to what it said on the menu, then I feel the customer is morally obliged to pay; they performed a service and delivered you a product that was as advertised. It's your problem if you don't like it, they still used their time, skill, and raw product to make it for you. If it's raw or if they changed an ingredient or did something else that made it horrible/inedible, then no. Most places will drop it off the bill if something disastrous happens like having chicken that's mostly pink or something.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If I'd done that, I'd have done the same thing and tried to insist that it was my fault not theirs. Since it was.

If I order an Indy Jones Monkey Brain Special and don't end up eating it, I still expect to pay for it. I'd just consider it taking responsibility for my actions.

 

[Jumpem]

Once. I had a meal that I did not like. They brought me out something else, and didn't bill me for the first.

 

[KaOTiK]

Yes I'll pay. Isn't their fault if it was prepared correctly that I didn't like it. Most restaurants will usually ask you to pick another dish/whatever it is to replace it or take it off the check at least.

One time, I had a similar situation OP. Tried something I felt I was going to like as I liked the main ingredients but I just didn't like it, I wasn't too hungry either which was part of the reason I was willing to try something a bit more different. Waitress try to get it replaced I told her don't worry it was me not the food and that everything was ok. She took it off the bill anyways, so I just tipped her the amount of it on top of her normal tip since she was a damn good waitress anyways.

 

[Wanescotting]

yes, I pay. If the dish is prepared properly, and I don't "like it" it is not the fault of the establishment. If i pay to see a movie, and I don't like it, should I get a refund? of course not, the service has been rendered.......so many folks think that food is "special" and that the restaurant should ALWAYS accept responsibilty......bah

 

[Wordplay]

Nope I don't pay. They are there to serve me and not the other way around.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Anyone else surprised at the OP? I was expecting someone ranting that the server conned them into buying some dish that they didn't like and then bought it and tried to refuse to pay for it.

 

[Wanescotting]

Nope I don't pay. They are there to serve me and not the other way around.

Why don't you pay? If you got what you paid for, who is at fault?

 

[Wordplay]

Why don't you pay? If you got what you paid for, who is at fault?

If there food sucks I won't eat it. Why pay for something I won't eat? If the restaurant wants my dollar they have to earn it with good food.

 

[RocksteadyDotNet]

Depends if it's an entrée or if it's the main course.

 

[rcpratt]

Anyone else surprised at the OP? I was expecting someone ranting that the server conned them into buying some dish that they didn't like and then bought it and tried to refuse to pay for it.

Yeah, it was kind of misleading.

 

[Vic Vega]

In my state you are obligated to pay if you order food. Not paying can mean going to jail.

Most restaurants have some sort of "satisfaction guaranteed" policy though and if you end up not liking the food can get something else. Most places would rather lose money on a single meal than lose you as a customer for good.

 

[Spikesoldier]

If they strike it off the bill, leave some of the savings in the form of a good tip.

I always see it as an opportunity to be more generous given the generosity of the establishment and kindness and consideration of the staff.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

I send it back and get something else. It doesn't happen often but it happens. I've never been charged for a meal that I sent back.

 

[Aikouka]

I would insist on paying for it if they brought me what I ordered. Although, I'd probably just eat the food anyway... I don't really like wasting food. I went out earlier to eat for dinner, and the meal I got came with mango. After the first bite, I remembered pretty quickly that I don't like mango, but I ate it anyway .