When is it appropriate to complain in a restaurant?
By Nursefrai06
@Nursefrai06 (2498)
Penrith, Australia
January 4, 2013 9:56pm CST
Yesterday, we went to this pizza place with my family. The waitress seated us in the couch. And then we ordered pizza, pasta, soup and drinks. We were expecting the soup to arrive in 10 mins, but instead it arrived at 30 mins but we were already so hungry, we let it pass and then the pizza, pasta and drinks arrived 15 minutes after the soup. The pasta was burnt and the top part was hard burnt and it wasn't cooked evenly. Like it was burnt on top but somewhat cold in the middle, the pizza wasn't really good too because the crust part didn't seem fresh and it was quite stale.
And then in the middle of our dining experience, a large cockroach scampered accross the table. We were so grossed out we didn't want to eat the food anymore. It was so bad. We asked for the bill and I left a bad comment card and we didn't leave a tip. I was feeling I should have complained more, but I don't know, but I'm sure that I will never go back to that restaurant again.
If you were in my place, would you have complained? Is it common in your country to complain about bad service? Do you think I should have left a tip cause it wasn't really the waitresses' fault that the food was bad and the place wasn't clean enough? What would you have done?
2 people like this
6 responses
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
5 Jan 13
Never complain in a restaurant if you intend to patronize that business again. The owners or waiters can spit on your food, or otherwise mess it up and you would never be any wiser.
Restaurant waiters can be quite nasty at your next visit. So tell them off and leave, but never go back!
1 person likes this
@Nursefrai06 (2498)
• Penrith, Australia
5 Jan 13
Omg, that's scary. XD do they always remember people who left the bad comment card? But then it would be their loss too cause they won't know that they have to improve on their service. I've told my friends about it and I don't think my friends will like to go there also. But it's quite mean of them to spit on other peoples food cause a customers feedback is also for their own good sometimes.
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30183)
• Philippines
15 Feb 13
Hi there! it is really up to you whether you would complain or not. But given the circumstance that you mentioned here, i would not mind waiting a few minutes more so long as the food is great... however I would probably not tolerate a restaurant with creeping roaches all over. If they have roaches on the dining table, then what more inside their kitchen.
I think if it was me, i would take a picture, complain and ask for a discount.. i might not even pay for the bill - i know its probably not just... but its just how they should know and how they will learn to run a restaurant business.
If i am in a bad mood and the manager would fight with me, i would even have them reported to the health office and have their business permit suspended. They can't serve food if their kitchens and dining area is not clean! OMG! you can have diseases in those pests.. God knows what else was there!
Most definitely, i won't suggest friends to go there, i would rather discourage them, and tell them to boycott the place, post the photos in the internet, instagram and my facebook - i just have to warn friends, i would not want them to get sick eating unclean foods they have paid for.
@Nursefrai06 (2498)
• Penrith, Australia
15 Feb 13
That'is so fit chiyosan. I think i was too lenient in them on my last visit as i didnt pit too much action in response to their very poor service. I payed for the money they asked for so i should get the service that i deserve. That's really true about roaches that is there are roaches outside then here must be more roaches inside the kitchen. That is one of the reasons why i dont trust people who prepare the food in restaurants as even the cleanest looking one here still has roaches in their kitchen. I think it is inevitable though as the kitchen s a very moist place and it gets used all the time. Roaches and germs like that kind of environment so its not surprising if they multiply there. I think i should really have put more effort into exposing their poor service. Maybe i should have reported them to the "imbestigador" 
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Jan 13
hi nursefrai I would not have left a tip and I wo uld turn that restaurant in to whoever governs restaurants in your country Here in the USA cafes that have cockroaches are shut down as that is food contamination for sure.I can understand you would be grossed out as I would have been too. Just thinking about it makes me go yuck.Here the powers that be feel that if there is roaches
their food is
contaminated and unsafe to eat.the roaches carry all sorts of nasty diseases.
their food is
contaminated and unsafe to eat.the roaches carry all sorts of nasty diseases.@Nursefrai06 (2498)
• Penrith, Australia
5 Jan 13
I live in a very poor Asian country. And roaches are quite common however they are not supposed to get that big. Oh my goodness! unfortunately our government pretty much is quite lenient about these things. It's sad really, no one does inspection, and not many people complain either. Some people actually think taking in a little amount of the contaminated can boost their immune system a bit. Living in third world countries is hard and it will surely give you iron stomachs.
@Hydraloth (185)
• Philippines
5 Jan 13
Im but an average guy, but im a strict gourmet when it comes to food and many factors matters to me when it comes to service. I think you and your family should toughen up and complained more to the extent not paying the food you've ordered for their place is the worst. The Management should understand that they are in a food business and cleanliness matters the most so as time and speed of service. If it was for me, i would thrash about in that place until they give me another food that is cleaner, and well served. But like you've said, the place is gross and they might add something more nasty in your food when they're going to replace it, so Complaining and leaving without paying is the best coice to do there if you would ask me because they don't deserve money for such worthless service they offer.
@Nursefrai06 (2498)
• Penrith, Australia
6 Jan 13
We will try to that next time we encounter another one, thank you for this. It's true about the quality and you don't have to pay for stuff you don't want and you're not having. Next time, we will complain and leave. :)
@Shavkat (140119)
• Philippines
5 Jan 13
If I have a problem in a certain restaurant, I used to ask the manager right away. It is better for the manager to know my concern, in stead of passing the information before it will be given a solution. I think that it is more appropriate than complaining to the other staff.
@Nursefrai06 (2498)
• Penrith, Australia
6 Jan 13
That's true, thank you for this. That way, no one spits on my food. :)
@Ashokraghute (158)
•
5 Jan 13
Should complain on looking the food and before eating and get ready to leave the restaurant, the manager will come to you and will give better quality of food and service as because of you proceed to leave he will fear in mind of leaving other customers and loss of reputation.
@Nursefrai06 (2498)
• Penrith, Australia
5 Jan 13
That's true about that cause I'm already guilty of spreading how bad the restaurant was, I've told so many of my friends about it and I don't think they'd still go there, it's quite sad though for the restaurant but the commenter no.1 is right, those waitresses can do horrible stuff with my food if ever I do eat there again so I don't think I'm ever going back there too. Haha.
