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Post by dewryce on Sept 16, 2019 16:55:57 GMT
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. I see what you’re saying, and agree about those types of reviews. But it’s a burger. If the burger patty can’t stand on its own and needs plain ketchup, mustard and/or mayo to taste good or be moist, the problem is the recipe. She wasn’t asking for the actual burger to be made without specific spices, or cooked in a way that wasn’t intended for the recipe. She just didn’t want condiments slopped on the top. |
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Sept 16, 2019 16:58:00 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. I agree. |
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Post by busy on Sept 16, 2019 17:01:45 GMT
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. No. It's not the same at all. They are completely different kinds of restaurants, with different purposes. |
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Post by busy on Sept 16, 2019 17:07:51 GMT
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. I see what you’re saying, and agree about those types of reviews. But it’s a burger. If the burger patty can’t stand on its own and needs plain ketchup, mustard and/or mayo to taste good or be moist, the problem is the recipe. She wasn’t asking for the actual burger to be made without specific spices, or cooked in a way that wasn’t intended for the recipe. She just didn’t want condiments slopped on the top. I also see what you're saying, but I disagree  A plain veggie patty is not a complete dish. |
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Post by mymindseyedpea on Sept 16, 2019 17:09:49 GMT
It makes me wonder if they have already made burgers with the condiments on it which would be so soggy gross that I’m sure that’s not the case. I definitely find it odd that they wouldn’t accommodate your order but they would with your dh.
And I don’t think I’ve ever had an sandwich or burger with all 3 condiments in it. That’s like having thousand island together with mustard 🤢 But maybe I just don’t know burgers.
We went to Chili’s last night for a work thing and one of my coworkers ordered a bacon cheese burger with no bun, onions, pickles, or tomato. And they had no problem at all doing that. They just gave her a heads up that they don’t have any lettuce wraps but she was fine with that.
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Post by mymindseyedpea on Sept 16, 2019 17:16:18 GMT
Same. When McDonald’s can get it right, you’re doing something wrong. No. It's not the same at all. They are completely different kinds of restaurants, with different purposes. I think she’s saying something like “even McDonald’s has better service than this other restaurant.” If I owned a fancy restaurant and I had customers say that McDonalds has better service than me, I would take that as a slap in the face. |
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Post by busy on Sept 16, 2019 17:18:46 GMT
No. It's not the same at all. They are completely different kinds of restaurants, with different purposes. I think she’s saying something like “even McDonald’s has better service than this other restaurant.” If I owned a fancy restaurant and I had customers say that McDonalds has better service than me, I would take that as a slap in the face. If that was based on the fact that the customers in question wanted to be served something that didn't meet the standards of said fancy restaurant, most restaurants would be fine with that customer going to McDonald's instead. Not every business wants every customer. |
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rickmer
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Post by rickmer on Sept 16, 2019 17:19:02 GMT
that doesn't really make much sense. it's just waste of a bun they can sell to someone else and they were gonna charge you the same price on the menus, even skipping the bun?!?! as for condiments... the majority of people seem to like their own version of condiments. so that cannot be that unusual of a request. i was thinking premade as well but now i am thinking the chef is just a dick. or my mother.... "what do you think this is? a restaurant??".  |
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Post by maryland on Sept 16, 2019 17:22:03 GMT
Our family doesn't like condiments, so we always order plain!
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Post by bc2ca on Sept 16, 2019 17:25:30 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  It isn't unusual to see "changes and modifications politely declined" on a foodie restaurant menus with a small, well thought out meals. We were somewhere recently where only one item on the small menu met my current restrictions plus personal taste because they had mushrooms on 3 or 4 items. This is not Red Robin or Burger King where you are invited to add-on and/or substitute to make it your way and/or condiment bottles are brought to the table. Menu decisions are made in a corporate office not by a chef in the kitchen. I'd also expect the ketchup, mustard and mayo to be made in the kitchen of a foodie place and not Heinz, French's or Best Foods. |
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julie5
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Post by julie5 on Sept 16, 2019 17:28:45 GMT
Same. When McDonald’s can get it right, you’re doing something wrong. No. It's not the same at all. They are completely different kinds of restaurants, with different purposes. They’re both in the business of serving food that people will enjoy. If your food relies on condiments to carry it, then yes, you’re doing it wrong. If you require a guest to take a bun they don’t want, you’re doing it wrong. If you can’t accomodate dietary requests, then why be a chef? It’s not about the chef. It’s about the guest eating the food and probably paying way too much for a plain veggie burger but she was ok with that. She wasn’t ok taking catsup mustard and mayo that she does not want. |
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Post by busy on Sept 16, 2019 17:28:53 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 It isn't unusual to see "changes and modifications politely declined" on a foodie restaurant menus with a small, well thought out meals. We were somewhere recently where only one item on the small menu met my current restrictions plus personal taste because they had mushrooms on 3 or 4 items. This is not Red Robin or Burger King where you are invited to add-on and/or substitute to make it your way and/or condiment bottles are brought to the table. Menu decisions are made in a corporate office not by a chef in the kitchen. I'd also expect the ketchup, mustard and mayo to be made in the kitchen of a foodie place and not Heinz, French's or Best Foods. All of this. |
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Post by busy on Sept 16, 2019 17:31:32 GMT
No. It's not the same at all. They are completely different kinds of restaurants, with different purposes. They’re both in the business of serving food that people will enjoy. If your food relies on condiments to carry it, then yes, you’re doing it wrong. If you require a guest to take a bun they don’t want, you’re doing it wrong. If you can’t accomodate dietary requests, then why be a chef? It’s not about the chef. It’s about the guest eating the food and probably paying way too much for a plain veggie burger but she was ok with that. She wasn’t ok taking catsup mustard and mayo that she does not want. I look at it from the other side. The customer is selecting the wrong restaurant if they go to a foodie-type restaurant and want to dictate the dish. |
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julie5
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Post by julie5 on Sept 16, 2019 17:32:02 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 It isn't unusual to see "changes and modifications politely declined" on a foodie restaurant menus with a small, well thought out meals. We were somewhere recently where only one item on the small menu met my current restrictions plus personal taste because they had mushrooms on 3 or 4 items. This is not Red Robin or Burger King where you are invited to add-on and/or substitute to make it your way and/or condiment bottles are brought to the table. Menu decisions are made in a corporate office not by a chef in the kitchen. I'd also expect the ketchup, mustard and mayo to be made in the kitchen of a foodie place and not Heinz, French's or Best Foods. I will concede to living in rural Indiana where foodies restaraunts aren’t a thing. Someone recently told me about a place in Bloomington where the entire transaction was done without ever having to speak to a staff member. You just entered your requests on an iPad. My husband and would never go for that. To me, foodie implies new wave, hipster. What’s wrong with good old fashioned service with a smile? Why does food have to be so complicated? |
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Post by MichyM on Sept 16, 2019 17:39:09 GMT
My thoughts: I wouldn't have given this any thought after leaving the restaurant. Your husband needs to let it go. And if he's considering something like leaving a neutral or negative review on Yelp or elsewhere, please tell him "just don't." It's just not a big deal.
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Post by mustlovecats on Sept 16, 2019 18:19:04 GMT
They’re both in the business of serving food that people will enjoy. If your food relies on condiments to carry it, then yes, you’re doing it wrong. If you require a guest to take a bun they don’t want, you’re doing it wrong. If you can’t accomodate dietary requests, then why be a chef? It’s not about the chef. It’s about the guest eating the food and probably paying way too much for a plain veggie burger but she was ok with that. She wasn’t ok taking catsup mustard and mayo that she does not want. I look at it from the other side. The customer is selecting the wrong restaurant if they go to a foodie-type restaurant and want to dictate the dish. I don’t think no mustard on a burger is dictating the dish. |
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Post by hop2 on Sept 16, 2019 18:23:40 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. A celiac person could not remove something from a bun or bread & still eat it. The crumbs would cause them problems. My mother ordered things without the bun/bread all the time. So restaurants have gone backwards in the last 10 years? |
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Post by mymindseyedpea on Sept 16, 2019 18:42:26 GMT
I think she’s saying something like “even McDonald’s has better service than this other restaurant.” If I owned a fancy restaurant and I had customers say that McDonalds has better service than me, I would take that as a slap in the face. If that was based on the fact that the customers in question wanted to be served something that didn't meet the standards of said fancy restaurant, most restaurants would be fine with that customer going to McDonald's instead. Not every business wants every customer. At my clothing store we have a “make it right” policy for customers when they get mad. That way we don’t lose them as a customer. The way diet has changed like keto, gluten free, dairy free...etc I don’t think those restaurants who have standards about recipes will last much longer. |
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Post by busy on Sept 16, 2019 18:51:04 GMT
If that was based on the fact that the customers in question wanted to be served something that didn't meet the standards of said fancy restaurant, most restaurants would be fine with that customer going to McDonald's instead. Not every business wants every customer. At my clothing store we have a “make it right” policy for customers when they get mad. That way we don’t lose them as a customer. The way diet has changed like keto, gluten free, dairy free...etc I don’t think those restaurants who have standards about recipes will last much longer. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I ate at three different restaurants last week that had some variation of "substitutions or changes politely declined" on the menu. They also clearly marked gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan dishes. I eat GF and was just fine. I go to fine dining restaurants so I can enjoy creative, delicious dishes that come from the mind of talented chefs, that I wouldn't/couldn't prepare at home. If I want something to my exact specifications, I'll either make it myself or go to a different kind of restaurant. What's the point in paying a premium for a good chef when what you want is a short-order cook? ETA: Fine dining wasn't the right term to use here. Last week, I was traveling on business and it was all fine dining, because client meals. But usually, we go to chef-driven restaurants at home that are delicious and creative but more casual than fine dining. It's the PNW. We're not into dressing up. But the same kind of "rules" apply at those establishments. They are very serious about their flavor profiles, presentation and limit/disallow changes. |
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freebird
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Post by freebird on Sept 16, 2019 18:53:51 GMT
Frankly, a restaurant that serves a hamburger with condiments doesn't count as a "highfalutin-chef-status" in my book.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Sept 16, 2019 18:56:06 GMT
I was coming back to this thread after being off doing something else and I'm glad I read all the way through. There are sooo many rebuttals I wanted to make, but then I read on and realized my girl busy had the wheel.  |
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Post by bc2ca on Sept 16, 2019 19:03:02 GMT
It isn't unusual to see "changes and modifications politely declined" on a foodie restaurant menus with a small, well thought out meals. We were somewhere recently where only one item on the small menu met my current restrictions plus personal taste because they had mushrooms on 3 or 4 items. This is not Red Robin or Burger King where you are invited to add-on and/or substitute to make it your way and/or condiment bottles are brought to the table. Menu decisions are made in a corporate office not by a chef in the kitchen. I'd also expect the ketchup, mustard and mayo to be made in the kitchen of a foodie place and not Heinz, French's or Best Foods. I will concede to living in rural Indiana where foodies restaraunts aren’t a thing. Someone recently told me about a place in Bloomington where the entire transaction was done without ever having to speak to a staff member. You just entered your requests on an iPad. My husband and would never go for that. To me, foodie implies new wave, hipster. What’s wrong with good old fashioned service with a smile? Why does food have to be so complicated? The OP lives in a city where food/restaurant culture is huge. I suspect she went to one of the most popular restaurants in the city. One that people are raving about and flocking to because of the menu. If you (general you) are so particular about how you want your food, then this just isn't the place for you. People who are going, are getting good service with a smile. I have friends who love trying the newest foodie places and friends who don't like to venture further than a Denny's or Cheescake Factory. I'll accept the foodie invites in a heartbeat and suck it up to go to a chain once in a while. Honestly, I don't need a lot of calories to fuel my body and like to save them for interesting and/or complicated food. FWIW, lots of places around here from fast food through to national chains have kiosks/ipad type order and pick up/delivery to your table. I've never seen it in a one off or family run business. Personally, I'm not a fan at all. I think the first time I saw this type of ordering was at Universal Studios at least 10 years ago. |
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Post by workingclassdog on Sept 16, 2019 19:05:52 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!) If any restaurant serves me with something with mustard on it, you better bet you butt I am sending it back.. most disgusting condiment ever..  If a restaurant said they wouldn't leave it off, I would promptly walk out. That is NOT customer service and I don't give one flipping crap about 'the chef'.. To me, if a fancy restaurant can't make a dish without an ingredient you might not like then maybe that chef can take some customer service classes. |
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Post by busy on Sept 16, 2019 19:06:07 GMT
Frankly, a restaurant that serves a hamburger with condiments doesn't count as a "highfalutin-chef-status" in my book. We're going on the OP's description of it as a vegetarian foodie place ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |
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iluvpink
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Post by iluvpink on Sept 16, 2019 19:21:35 GMT
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marimoose
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Post by marimoose on Sept 16, 2019 19:22:24 GMT
I am paying and unless my requests are crazy extensive I would expect to get my sandwich the way I order it. How do they know that I don't have allergies, not just pickiness. I AM picky. I do not eat any condiments and I hate pickles nd onions, I always have, I likely always will or at least until I loss my sense of taste. Just doesn't matter if I am paying. One place said I just want a fresh sandwich, implying that the ones they serve are not?!?! I would not go back and give them a second chance at all and the fact the food wasn't great only cements that fact.
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Post by bc2ca on Sept 16, 2019 19:35:02 GMT
No. It's not the same at all. They are completely different kinds of restaurants, with different purposes. They’re both in the business of serving food that people will enjoy. If your food relies on condiments to carry it, then yes, you’re doing it wrong. If you require a guest to take a bun they don’t want, you’re doing it wrong. If you can’t accomodate dietary requests, then why be a chef? It’s not about the chef. It’s about the guest eating the food and probably paying way too much for a plain veggie burger but she was ok with that. She wasn’t ok taking catsup mustard and mayo that she does not want. I hope you don't feel like I'm picking on you, but in plenty of restaurants it is 100% about the chef. It's never about a line cook, but people really do follow a chef around. I think it is unreasonable to expect a restaurant to be sensitive to dietary needs within every dish. |
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Post by dewryce on Sept 16, 2019 19:40:53 GMT
I see what you’re saying, and agree about those types of reviews. But it’s a burger. If the burger patty can’t stand on its own and needs plain ketchup, mustard and/or mayo to taste good or be moist, the problem is the recipe. She wasn’t asking for the actual burger to be made without specific spices, or cooked in a way that wasn’t intended for the recipe. She just didn’t want condiments slopped on the top. I also see what you're saying, but I disagree A plain veggie patty is not a complete dish. Maybe not a complete dish, no. But it shouldn’t be so unpalatable that they’d need to worry about someone leaving a legitimate bad review about it. Another pea posted the possibility that they’d post a photo and act like that was all that was usually served and they were misled. Sadly, these days, that I can see. But I think if the plain burger patty doesn’t reflect well on the restaurant, then they’re not much of a chef. |
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Post by buddysmom on Sept 16, 2019 19:44:02 GMT
As someone else said, even McDonalds does "custom" burgers.
We get one without condiments for our dog when we go through.
This stuff bugs me, I guess the chef thinks that he is so great that unless you get it "his" way it is no good.
And then he had no problem leaving off the avocado (he saved some money because it costs more than ketchup, mustard, etc.).
This does not sound like a fancy place since it was burgers/sandwiches/soup ordered so the chef needs to lighten up.
See if they are still in business next year.
Several years ago I was at a non-fancy Italian restaurant. I wanted linguini instead of spaghetti (or something like that). They said they could not change the pasta (even though they had many types of pasta) because that type of sauce (probably marinara or similar) did not go with the type of pasta I wanted. I mean, I will be eating it, not him, why should he care??
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Gennifer
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Post by Gennifer on Sept 16, 2019 19:50:13 GMT
I don’t think no mustard on a burger is dictating the dish. To be fair, taking a hamburger and removing the bun and three of the condiments is fundamentally changing it. If I order a turkey sandwich with no bread and start removing condiments... Eventually I’m not eating a sandwich anymore, I’m eating sliced turkey. My family owns a restaurant. We are known for our burgers... we’ve won many awards for them over the years, and even had an article written for USA Today describing ours as the best burger in our state. Our burgers come dressed. And they come dressed the way we recommend them... how we think they are best. If you order our Blue Burger without blue cheese, I’m gonna side eye you a little, because there are plenty of other options to choose from. Don’t like mustard? Great, we’ve got 7 burgers without it... why not try one of those instead? |
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A plain veggie patty is not a complete dish. 
