paigepea
Drama Llama
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Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Sept 16, 2019 13:23:34 GMT
Dh and I were at a foodie type vegetarian restaurant on the weekend. Dh is having trouble letting my experience go. I ordered a veggie burger no bun, which is how I love veggie burgers. I was told they are unable to serve the burger without the bun. I said ok - their loss because I wouldn’t be eating the bun. Then I asked for no ketchup, mustard, or mayo. The menu indicated all 3 condiments were served on the burger but I happen to like my burgers (and veggie dogs) plain. I was told the chef wouldn’t serve his burger that way. While surprised, I said I’d have a bowl of soup instead. Then the waitress said she’d ask the chef to make an exception because it was late and no longer busy. She came back and said he’d make the exception. Then dh ordered an artichoke sandwich with no avocado (allergy) and she said no problem. That was an accommodation they were used to making. Dh was so irritated he said he wouldn’t go back. I didn’t think the food was worth going back for so it didn’t matter. I understand sometimes I’m...particular and I tend to stick to more flexible restaurants. There must be others out there who don’t enjoy ketchup, mustard and / or mayo! Everyone must think I’m totally obnoxious
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Post by crazy4scraps on Sept 16, 2019 13:26:36 GMT
My DD always orders her burgers with no onions or mustard, and she always orders her turkey subs at Subway with only pickles, no mayo or sauce!
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Post by yodutchess on Sept 16, 2019 13:32:09 GMT
I don’t like mustard and onions, never have. I would not go back either. Onions you can scrape off, but mustard soaks in. Yuck ( to me!)
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Sept 16, 2019 13:33:03 GMT
I hardly think ordering a burger (of any type) without a bun or condiments is a big deal... or even rarely done.
I do understand though that chefs are sometimes reluctant to alter their carefully composed dishes too much. Perhaps without condiments, it's fairly dry and he fears that review going out into the world.
Nonetheless, they made the accommodation for you (both) so what is the complaint? That they were reluctant to do so?
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sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,580
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Sept 16, 2019 13:39:01 GMT
I do understand though that chefs are sometimes reluctant to alter their carefully composed dishes too much. Perhaps without condiments, it's fairly dry and he fears that review going out into the world. That's my first thought as well. I liken it to people who won't give out recipes for fear that someone will botch it and the recipe will get a bad rap.
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Post by summer on Sept 16, 2019 13:39:53 GMT
None of your request were unreasonable. Odd that they were hesitant to make the food the way you wanted it. I just wouldn't go back there since you said the food wasn't even that good.
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Deleted
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Oct 6, 2024 9:13:33 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2019 13:43:17 GMT
DS always gets his burgers with no toppings. Sometimes he gets a plain burger, sometimes he gets a cheeseburger, but he never wants mustard, mayo, tomato or lettuce. He will add ketchup himself if he can. I have no idea where he got this from. The rest of us will take the burger as is minus onions. I ask for no pickles. I have yet to be told I cannot ask for exclusions.
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Deleted
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Oct 6, 2024 9:13:33 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2019 13:43:46 GMT
Dh and I were at a foodie type vegetarian restaurant on the weekend. Dh is having trouble letting my experience go. I ordered a veggie burger no bun, which is how I love veggie burgers. I was told they are unable to serve the burger without the bun. I said ok - their loss because I wouldn’t be eating the bun. Then I asked for no ketchup, mustard, or mayo. The menu indicated all 3 condiments were served on the burger but I happen to like my burgers (and veggie dogs) plain. I was told the chef wouldn’t serve his burger that way. While surprised, I said I’d have a bowl of soup instead. Then the waitress said she’d ask the chef to make an exception because it was late and no longer busy. She came back and said he’d make the exception. Then dh ordered an artichoke sandwich with no avocado (allergy) and she said no problem. That was an accommodation they were used to making. Dh was so irritated he said he wouldn’t go back. I didn’t think the food was worth going back for so it didn’t matter. I understand sometimes I’m...particular and I tend to stick to more flexible restaurants. There must be others out there who don’t enjoy ketchup, mustard and / or mayo! Everyone must think I’m totally obnoxious Condiments should be optional. I wouldn’t go back either. I don’t embrace snobbery from unknown chefs.
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Post by nlwilkins on Sept 16, 2019 13:43:56 GMT
Sounds like they make up a bunch ahead of time and to give you what you wanted they had to make one up fresh. Which for me would be a reason not to go back.
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schizo319
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,030
Jun 28, 2014 0:26:58 GMT
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Post by schizo319 on Sept 16, 2019 13:49:23 GMT
It seems counter-intuitive to decline a customer's request for a less complicated meal. I mean, I guess I understand from a chef's perspective a bare patty doesn't exactly make for a pretty plate, but it seems a bit pretentious, especially where the condiments were concerned.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Sept 16, 2019 13:53:31 GMT
There must be others out there who don’t enjoy ketchup, mustard and / or mayo! That's me!
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Post by warrior1991 on Sept 16, 2019 13:58:27 GMT
I always ask for no ketchup or mustard on a burger. And NO pickle on the plate. I HATE pickles. I don't make a big deal about the pickle, but I am firm about not wanting it on the plate, as I don't want the pickle juice on my food. They many times bring it on a separate plate. It is quite funny as it sits there the whole time untouched.
Your requests were not out of line at all, it was strange that they were put out by you asking.
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
Jun 25, 2014 21:53:42 GMT
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Sept 16, 2019 14:02:55 GMT
I do understand though that chefs are sometimes reluctant to alter their carefully composed dishes too much. Perhaps without condiments, it's fairly dry and he fears that review going out into the world. That's my first thought as well. I liken it to people who won't give out recipes for fear that someone will botch it and the recipe will get a bad rap. I agree with all of this and I kind of see where the chef is coming from..I probably wouldn’t go back though.
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paigepea
Drama Llama
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Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Sept 16, 2019 14:11:36 GMT
Sounds like they make up a bunch ahead of time and to give you what you wanted they had to make one up fresh. Which for me would be a reason not to go back. I thought the same thing.
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Post by disneypal on Sept 16, 2019 14:12:31 GMT
I wouldn’t go back - I have never heard of a restaurant not accommodating their guest’s requests. Another reason not to go back is because the food wasn’t anything special. I would also put a review on Yelp. I put reviews on there good and bad. If I were going to go to this restaurant and checked it out ahead of time, I would appreciate knowing these facts.
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Post by auntkelly on Sept 16, 2019 14:17:54 GMT
I probably would have walked out when they said they wouldn't serve the burger w/out the bun. The chef sounds like a total prima donna who cares more about his or her ego than the customers' enjoyment of their food.
I can understand a fast food restaurant in the middle of the lunch rush, saying they couldn't do any special requests, but at a sit down restaurant I would expect the chef to be willing to comply w/ any simple request.
What if you had asked for them to hold the bun because you were on a strict low carb diet for health reasons and you didn't want to be tempted by the bun?
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Deleted
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Oct 6, 2024 9:13:33 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2019 14:23:51 GMT
What I am getting very very tired of is eating establishments using the same fryer for fish and fries.
I am being extremely careful right now with my sea life allergy. Really careful! And overly picky and I hate ranch dressing in any form. We went to Buffalo Wild Wings last night and they have no thousand island dressing, but 4 varieties of ranch. And everything is fried with shrimp. I didn’t see the burger menu so I wasn’t going to order anything. I did get the black bean burger. Bad choice, because they served the southwest flavored one. Ick.
I won’t be going back there.
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peabay
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,891
Jun 25, 2014 19:50:41 GMT
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Post by peabay on Sept 16, 2019 14:31:56 GMT
Now that I'm working in customer service, I'm wondering if it's what others suggested above: someone orders a veggie burger on a plate and then takes a picture and posts it on IG "OMG, look what I was served!"
Someone came into our day spa, told the massage therapist to please be gentle and then called and told us that in 24 hours she'd go on social media and complain about the "ridiculously light massage". The owner, to assuage the situation, gave her a free massage and the woman gave it to her daughter. Nice, huh?
So, I understand their reluctance. To a point - because, in the end, the customer is always right and you just give them what they want.
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NoWomanNoCry
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,856
Jun 25, 2014 21:53:42 GMT
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Post by NoWomanNoCry on Sept 16, 2019 14:36:51 GMT
Now that I'm working in customer service, I'm wondering if it's what others suggested above: someone orders a veggie burger on a plate and then takes a picture and posts it on IG "OMG, look what I was served!" Someone came into our day spa, told the massage therapist to please be gentle and then called and told us that in 24 hours she'd go on social media and complain about the "ridiculously light massage". The owner, to assuage the situation, gave her a free massage and the woman gave it to her daughter. Nice, huh? So, I understand their reluctance. To a point - because, in the end, the customer is always right and you just give them what they want. This is why I could never run my own business...I don’t think the customer is always right lol!
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Post by warrior1991 on Sept 16, 2019 14:43:19 GMT
My mom has ordered sandwiches before with no bun and they tell her she can take it off and not eat it. She nicely tells them she is trying to not waste food and they just stare at her. Sad how they don't understand that.
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Post by its me mg on Sept 16, 2019 14:43:29 GMT
The thing that baffles me is where would chef schmear the condiments? hard without a bun. Every restaurant I have ever worked in (for 17 years!) would automatically put them on the side.
I think your waitress is a ditz and just didn't understand what modifications are acceptable. I doubt "chef" would give a crap about skipping the mayo or bun.
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Anita
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,702
Location: Kansas City -ish
Jun 27, 2014 2:38:58 GMT
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Post by Anita on Sept 16, 2019 14:48:45 GMT
My DH is allergic to mayo and mustard, so that would have been unacceptable to him.
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pancakes
Drama Llama
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Feb 4, 2015 6:49:53 GMT
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Post by pancakes on Sept 16, 2019 14:55:48 GMT
I don't think it's strange, but I do think it's pretentious. It may be a chef-driven restaurant, but they're serving sandwiches, not molecular gastronomy.
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snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,294
Location: Colorado
Apr 26, 2017 6:14:47 GMT
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Post by snyder on Sept 16, 2019 14:59:29 GMT
What about those with celiac disease; they can't have the food that was even touched with gluten. Shame on that restaurant.
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Post by busy on Sept 16, 2019 15:21:02 GMT
Sounds like they make up a bunch ahead of time and to give you what you wanted they had to make one up fresh. Which for me would be a reason not to go back. I thought the same thing. I doubt that’s the issue. The chef most likely feels the veggie burger wouldn’t reflect well on the establishment with no bun and no condiments. I get that’s the way you like it, but maybe you’d be better off at a different kind of restaurant than a “foodie” restaurant that is going to take pride in the whole of a recipe. Leaving one thing of for an allergy or preference is reasonable. Leaving everything off is changing a chef’s recipe. It’s like when people leave recipe reviews online, describe a bunch of changes they made so it’s completely different and then say “one star, not enough flavor.” They didn’t even make the recipe.
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Deleted
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Oct 6, 2024 9:13:33 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2019 15:51:09 GMT
I would have left and gone somewhere else. Even McDonalds will serve you a "naked" burger. I bet those burgers were already to go and all they did was re-heat them and that was why they couldn't remove the condiments and serve it without the bun.
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Belle
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,309
Jun 28, 2014 4:39:12 GMT
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Post by Belle on Sept 16, 2019 15:53:08 GMT
About 3 weeks ago, DD and I were at a pizza place ordering lunch. We asked the waitress if the cheese for the pizza could be put on just one side as DD doesn’t eat diary but I do. The waitress told us that wasn’t possible. Sounds like we may have been at the same place as you! Why on earth could a restaurant not serve a burger without a bun or sprinkle cheese on only one side of a pizza?.
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Post by myshelly on Sept 16, 2019 16:00:40 GMT
I would have left. And I definitely wouldn’t go back.
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Post by ~summer~ on Sept 16, 2019 16:28:29 GMT
I would guess if it is a foodie type of restaurant the chef takes great pride in his dishes and doesn’t want to make a bunch of exceptions for the customer as he feels it will change the outcome and not be up to his standards. It’s like if you were making a specialty dish you are proud of and your sister requested it but with a bunch of changes that you felt would make it taste not so great....if this isn’t how a person likes to order than the restaurant and person are not a good fit.
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julie5
Pearl Clutcher
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Jul 11, 2018 15:20:45 GMT
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Post by julie5 on Sept 16, 2019 16:45:29 GMT
Condiments should be optional. I wouldn’t go back either. I don’t embrace snobbery from unknown chefs. Buns should be entirely optional too. I would have left at that point, but then I am old and cranky like that. ETA: I just remembered that the McDonalds in our area will serve their burgers without a bun, and without any condiment you request. When you can't match the service level that someone can get from a McDonalds, you don't really want my patronage. Same. When McDonald’s can get it right, you’re doing something wrong.
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