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

[HamburgerBoy]

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.

Nicotine in the saliva sure gives me a charge.

 

[FoBoT]

i am not that picky, i'll order something to try it. unless it makes me gag, i'll eat it, at least once

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The vast majority of diners are gastronomic cowards so, I applaud the OP for trying something different. A good dining experience depends on good communication. Too many diners say nothing and simply don't go back if the food doesn't meet their expectations.

 

[Rhoxed]

If it was cooked properly, pay for it. Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean the establishment should have to cover it. What if 99 out of 100 people love that dish, but it just doesn't work to your taste, should they refund you?

I'm a head chef, and I see food come in all the time that people "just don't like" and order something else. Of course we comp the first meal, but you would be surprised how little people will actually pay for an item that they just didn't like (even if someone in their party got the same item and loved it)

My advice to anyone going to a restaurant - order something you know you like so you don't piss off the cooks and the servers. The server might be the best you have ever had, but guarantee they will be talking shit about you as soon as they hit the kitchen.

 

[zerocool84]

Protip: If you don't like something don't send it back. There will be a special surprise in your next dish.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Protip: If you don't like something don't send it back. There will be a special surprise in your next dish.

Protip: How to know you're eating at a ghetto ass restaurant. The idea that cooks or servers in reputable restaurants would ever dream of putting something in a patrons dish merely because they're being difficult approaches "urban legend" status. Note the term "reputable."

 

[poopaskoopa]

I don't think the waitress was all that weird. Some people care about customer service and will go that far. I do think that this is more common in the US than in other parts of the world, though.

 

[HendrixFan]

Protip: How to know you're eating at a ghetto ass restaurant. The idea that cooks or servers in reputable restaurants would ever dream of putting something in a patrons dish merely because they're being difficult approaches "urban legend" status. Note the term "reputable."

Most people who have worked in the industry have found the opposite to be true. The nicer the place, the more likely you are to get retaliatory food served to you. At "ghetto ass" places they could care less if you like the food or not, their work is mostly assembly line.

 

[coloumb]

If there was something really wrong about the meal or I had an allergic reaction - then no, I wouldn't pay for it, nor would I ask for something else [they already screwed up one meal, who's to say they won't screw up the next meal? Or put a "surprise"?]

I think most people don't go to a restaurant with the sole purpose of getting free food.

However, if you ate most of the meal, then I'd say you should pay for what you ordered.

 

[alkemyst]

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

QFT...most though report they didnt like it, yet ate it all anyway and now want a free meal plus a coupon.

 

[TecHNooB]

If you chose what you're given and it's properly cooked, you should eat it and pay for it.

 

[SaDiZTiKStyLeZ]

They should pay me for having to deal with such a terrible meal.

 

[Tristicus]

You chose to buy something you might not like...you took a chance, pay for it. 6 people are retards.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Most people who have worked in the industry have found the opposite to be true. The nicer the place, the more likely you are to get retaliatory food served to you. At "ghetto ass" places they could care less if you like the food or not, their work is mostly assembly line.

Who are these "most people?" I've worked in the industry for more than 35 years in every State west of the Mississippi and none of the places I've worked or heard of would ever consider a lowlife response like this.

 

[SandEagle]

You chose to buy something you might not like...you took a chance, pay for it. 6 people are retards.

coloumb, Lifted, mcmilljb, NightFox, Whoozyerdaddy,
Wordplay, x26

 

[Deeko]

Of course I pay. Me not liking it doesn't mean they didn't serve what I asked for. Then again, if the waitress offered, I would accept.

 

[Leros]

Yeah. I would always pay.

I've had a few instances where I don't like something, the waiter notices, and offers to bring me something else for no extra charge. Thats really nice and much appreciated, but I would never ask for free food.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

When I was a kid, I was taught to eat my dish entirely even if I didnt like it. I thought it was so strange when I went to American restaurants and they would remove dishes from the bill if a person didnt eat it. Shit go to an Asian restaurant and tell them you didnt like it and they would be like "so? wtf do you want me to do".

 

[wiredspider]

Used a groupon this weekend and ordered some wings that the waitress had bragged about. I didn't think they were anything special and she noticed this, she said could take them back and remove it from my bill. I declined, lol. So I guess it's sorta normal for places to do this.

 

[thereds]

You sure you didn't order your food with a generous sprinkle of human cremains?

 

[MotionMan]

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.


BTW, the OP only seems vaguely related to the poll. Is that on purpose?

MotionMan

 

[Scouzer]

Yes. I only say something if it's ridiculously shitty.

 

[MotionMan]

Yes. I only say something if it's ridiculously shitty.

Except OP did not bring it up or make a big deal about it. It was the waitress who insisted on taking off the bill.

It seems a little odd to me to argue when the restaurant wants to take something off your bill.

MotionMan

 

[Leros]

Yes. I only say something if it's ridiculously shitty.

Yeah. Also, there is a difference between shitty food and food that you don't like. I've sent back meat that was cooked too much, but I wouldn't send back a dish that just don't like the flavor of.

 

[Brigandier]

When I was a kid, I was taught to eat my dish entirely even if I didnt like it. I thought it was so strange when I went to American restaurants and they would remove dishes from the bill if a person didnt eat it. Shit go to an Asian restaurant and tell them you didnt like it and they would be like "so? wtf do you want me to do".

I was raised American, went to many restaurant and ate everything I didn't like. I wouldn't ever think of asking for an edible dish to be removed from my bill. I ordered them to cook food, and if they do it(to edibility), who am I to not pay?


I'd only send back a restaurant dish if it had bugs I didn't order in it. It'd take a lot for me not to pay.