Lousy service in a top rated restaurant

[springsgourmet9]

My DH and I went to dinner last night (Wednesdays is date night since the boys left for college a few years ago) at a local restaurant that has been rated very highly in Philadelphia Magazine.

Wow were we surprised at the lousy service given us. Our waitress rushed us to take our order, someone else dropped off our meals and we waited till the end of the meal to even get our waters refilled or more ice for our cocktails. He ordered lamb and I ordered the Dorado (whole fish). We had mussels and tuna for appetizers, no desserts or coffee.

The menu was somewhat limited but very exotic and unusual. So of course, we had a few questions. The waitress answered our questions very sharply and seemed to be in a big hurry. And we're by no means high maintenance customers. Later we see her outside taking her smoking break, guess thats why we were left unattended for so long.

After spending over $100 on a meal (BYOB so no liquer included), I'm really put off by these fancy smancy restaurants that you read about. Expensive entrees, no salads included (which is so common everywhere now) and lousy service. I've had better service at Chili's! We left a 15% tip, which I grumbled about but didn't want to offend the waitress if she was having a bad night or personal issues. The food was good but by no means great!

I'm not sure whether to write to the establishment and offer my thoughts in a constructive manner or let it go. Have you had this happen to you and do you leave a small tip to let them know?

[Escher]

I leave no tip whatsoever when service is lousy, and I tell management why I'm leaving no tip.

Tipping 15% says "I think service was average".

[funniegrrl]

I just want to point out ... many restaurants use food runners to deliver your food; it is NOT a sign of bad service that your waitperson didn't plop the dishes on the table, it's just the division of labor in that restaurant.

Also, the fact that salads don't come with the meal is also not about bad service. You may not like the practice, but it is quite common in high-end restaurants to have a la carte pricing. All-inclusive pricing is definitely more down-market, unless said high-end restaurant is having a special prix fixe meal. Those are simply the conventions of different levels of restaurants; going to an upscale restaurant is not about quantity of food and "value."

As for the other issues ... the curtness of the waitress and the lack of attention to beverages, etc. definitely warrants comment, especially given that it is a fine dining establishment. You could write, but I would actually pick up the phone and talk to the dining room manager. I wouldn't act irate, but disappointed, concerned that the mgr would want to know, etc. -- the honey vs. vinegar approach.

[funnybone]

The food was good but by no means great!


I'm not sure what you were expecting, but everyone has different opinions on food. I may love something and DH will say "it's okay", or vice versa.

I agree with what funniegrrl said too.

[Canice]

I think funniegrrl's right on the mark.

The server sounds totally out of her league, and the bussers asleep at the switch; management absolutley needs to know they're not doing their jobs.

...After spending over $100 on a meal (BYOB so no liquer included), I'm really put off by these fancy smancy restaurants that you read about....

It sounds like that's a fairly normal experience for you. I'm surprised, as we dine out regularly, also at some very high-end restaurants and have rarely had unsatisfactory service/experience, much less down right lousy. I love reading restaurant reviews and following the dining "scene" and have yet to find the food press untrustworthy. Maybe you would do better just getting recommendations from friends?

[stefania4]

I would've left a small tip (5% or so). I'd talk to the manager about the quality of the food (which I don't factor into the tip), but bad service is bad service.

[springsgourmet9]

Thanks for the comments. I have no problem with food runners (and realize the business uses them often) but inattention to our water needs or even to ask how the food is certainly in my opinion important service expected.

My complaint, funnybone, is not with the food but solely about the service.

Tipping should be earned, not a given. I plan on calling the restaurant with my concerns.

[Escher]

So then, why did you tip?

[greysangel]

To me a call is too late after the fact...I would have spoken with management that evening on the way out the door.

[funniegrrl]

To me a call is too late after the fact...I would have spoken with management that evening on the way out the door.

But a call later is still much better than remaining silent.

[ChristyMarie]

I'm really put off by these fancy smancy restaurants that you read about. Expensive entrees, no salads included (which is so common everywhere now) and lousy service. I've had better service at Chili's!

*shudder*

Ok, now that I've recovered from recalling my last Chili's experience...

From the tone of your message it sounds like perhaps you go into these "fancy schmancy" restaurants with a slight chip on your shoulder, maybe even expecting bad service? I think servers and customers pick up on body language and attitude and react without knowing it sometimes. For example, your view of not including the salad...I'm sorry but unless you are chowing down at a family restaurant where each entree includes soup and salad you are not going to *get* a salad automatically. One goes to nicer restaurants to order a customized meal, with the courses one wants instead of some package soup-salad-entree-jello experience. The exception, of course, is the tasting menu, a marvelous invention. :p

What I'm trying to say is take a moment to look at yourself and your behavior as a possible cause of continuously receiving lousy service in restaurants that are rated quite high by others. My inlaws are a perfect example of this - it ends up being a self-fullfilling process.

Of course, bad service is bad service and I will usually address it as soon as it is noticed and give the establishment a chance to correct it instead of suffering in silence through a horrible dining experience.

[luv2cook]

My dh and I once went to a very nice restaurant for dinner during our anniversary (when DH's sister was ill and living with us). The server refused to look at me. he spoke only to my dh and i was just infuriated. food took forever coming out, wasnt' right and the server didn't come back.

While we couldn't wait around to speak to a manager because we had someone sitting with SIL, but i did write to the dining guide. they published it and the GM called me that next week.

[mgs]

[QUOTE=ChristyMarie
What I'm trying to say is take a moment to look at yourself and your behavior as a possible cause of continuously receiving lousy service in restaurants that are rated quite high by others. My inlaws are a perfect example of this - it ends up being a self-fullfilling process.
[/QUOTE]


I was thinking this about my in-laws as I was reading your post! And they are way to cheap to go to fancy schmancy (althought they are loaded) so it is even MORE annoying. :rolleyes: