What would YOU do?
Tuesday night Pawpa and Mom went to a new restaurant. It was voted "2010 Best New Restaurant" in a magazine for a nearby city. It got 4.5 stars. And .. the food WAS good. But, here's the thing. Mom has inherited a family restaurant-related "curse" that means WHEREVER she goes, WHENEVER she goes .. SOMETHING GOES WRONG. Anytime. Everytime. Never Fails. Thus, her dining experience in a 4.5 star restaurant was somewhat marred.She ordered "Papardelle Pasta: Wild Mushrooms, Peas, Ham and Truffle Butter". This is what she got. That is ziti and don't get me wrong .. it WAS good. But it wasn't papardelle. This is a picture (not my picture) of papardelle and it was what Mom expected to find on her plate. ARGGGH! Even when you are used to stuff like this happening, it never gets easier. And you always have to make "that" decision .. do you ask about it or do you suck it up and just let it go. Gizzy's Mom hates, hates, hates to have to make that decision but sometimes she does choose "ask about it" .. like when you are paying $18.95 pre fixe for pasta using the "Sunset Menu". (The "Sunset Menu" is a choice of items served between 4pm and 6pm for a lower price than after 6pm. This IS an fairly expensive restaurant.) She asked the waitress why it was ziti and not papardelle. The manager visited, apologized, and offered the explanation that "they were out of papardelle and the chef substituted ziti". He offered a free glass of wine which was declined. He offered a different menu selection which was also declined.
Here's the thought that sticks with Gizzy's Mom today. In a restaurant that's rated 4.5 stars, she feels she should have been told there was no papardelle pasta at the time the chef discovered that fact and then she should have been offered the dish with the ziti substitution *BEFORE IT WAS COOKED* instead of being brought the finished dinner already cooked. She ate the meal because she hates making a fuss in public and if she returned it for a different selection Pawpa would be done with his excellent flat iron steak (which he was already eating). Pawpa was no help. He said "I would not have known what papardelle looked like so I wouldn't have known that wasn't papardelle."
What would you do?
7 comments:
Mom was right in what she did. Most people wouldn't know what papardelle pasta was supposed to be. And that Dad would have been finished with his meal by they time the got something out to her.
Unfortunately, the only other thing you could have done was leave without eating. Maybe they would have gotten the idea that they were wrong. I'm surprised they didn't offer to comp that dish on the final bill.
I wouldn't have paid $18.95 for baked ziti. The dinner they brought you did not look very good...I would have said take it back and bring me the menu again and re-order and they should have told you they were out of the correct noodles used in the dish you ordered and let you decide.
not a 4.5 star in my book.
Well Dang Giz!!!! Yesterday was not a good day at any restaurant...mom had a bad experience at lunch...that was x rated so she won't post it...
I think when one pays for food one should get exactly what one orders!!!
Madi and Mom
Well I sure know the OG would have treated it differently!!!
Papardelle looks like egg noodles to me. I think the waiter should of informed you ahead of time.
He was definitely wrong.
Your meal should of been free or given a voucher for both of you to have a free meal on your next visit.
I agree with you...inform the customer before making substitutions...
Hey B, it could have been worse, you could have been sitting next to a young nasty mouthed punk like at HiC's deli!
Hmmmm, that's a tough one. I think, in looking at your picture, the ziti looks tough and the ham looks to be prepackaged diced cubes. Now if it tasted good, not just "all right" I would have kept the selection. But at that price, I'd have made another choice on the menu and let hub have dessert while I finished my meal. But, I agree with you. Something should have been said as you made the order, not after you complained.
Liz
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