Things in your food? Complain to the manager or say nothing?
By Sawsen
@Sawsen (793)
United States
January 11, 2007 3:48pm CST
A few weeks ago, my husband, my mom, and I went out to eat at a local chinese restaurant. This was my husband's first time going there because he recently moved to my town, and therefore didn't know many local places. I was excited as well as pleased that he would be trying out some of the best chinese food in town, and I couldn't wait till he tasted it. We ordered Shrimp chow mein since my husband is big on fish, and I ordered chicken chow mein and fried rice for myself. My mom decided she would try out the shrimp chow mein with my husband since she had tried the other two meals before. We'll my food came first so we all ate some fried rice and chow mein until my husband's order came. He was telling me how good it tasted, and that I really knew how to pick good restaurants. As soon as he said that, his meal finally came. They put the plate in front of my mom, and my mom kind of looked at my husband and then at me. I asked her what was wrong, and she had this disgusted look on her face. She was trying to cover something up with her napkin. And then she said that nothing was wrong. My husband was about to begin trying out the shrimp chow mein when my mom nearly gagged. My husband asked her what was the matter, and she told him that she found a cockroach in it. After that I was too disgusted with my own food to want to eat anymore. My husband wanted to complain to the manager, because we were all too disgusted, but my mom told him not to and that it wasn't worth it. We paid our bill and were about to leave, and as we were about to leave, my mom left a tip for them. I was upset with her for leaving the tip since I didn't think that their service was worth leaving a tip for but she wanted to be generous. So here's my question, if you were in my position what would you do? Would you complain to the manager or keep quiet? And would you leave a tip?
7 people like this
76 responses
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
11 Jan 07
I would have definitely pointed it out to the manager. 9 times out of 10, they will bend over backwards to make it right. Things happen, and there are countless numbers of ways this could have got in your food. They probably would have comped your meal if you had pointed it out. Next time, be sure to tell the manager. I would have left a tip only after telling the manager about the problem. The server shouldn't be penalized, because it's not his/her fault what and how things come out of the kitchen.
@rosey3223 (1566)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I just need to point out that it is not ALWAYS the servers fault, but they are responsible for checking the plates to make sure that they are correct and that nothing is wrong or out of place. Now if the server was doing what they were suppose to, they would have seen it as fast as her mother did. And then it makes you wonder if they did see it but didn't care!! Ew!
@Sawsen (793)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Well it's funny that you mention the server. My mom told me that as the serving was bringing the food to our table, she had this odd look on her face, like she saw it but didn't want to make a scene.
@rosey3223 (1566)
• United States
12 Jan 07
See, that's just gross!! And I am sorry that your mom had to see that!!
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
11 Jan 07
Well that's just plain gross.
I would have complained about it immediately. I'ts quite possible they are not aware of thier roach problem..though I don't see how. But definately you should have told them. As for leaving a tip.. well usually that is left for the server. If the server did a good job I would still leave a tip, depending on how they handled the problem.
I certainly wouldn't eat my food that day anyway, even if they brought me something else.
I would still even now call them and let them know it happened. I had a fly in my mashed potatoes once, but that's different.
@Sawsen (793)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I think they're just careless about their roach problem. They have a certificate from the board of health, so I guess they feel like it's ok to be dirty until the next check up. I really am thinking about calling them up as an anonymous person and notifying them about their uncleanliness. Because I'm afraid for someone else to be in the same position next time.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
11 Jan 07
I would have complained and not paid my check. That is so unsanitary! The next day I would have called the health department. A place that allows roaches to get in their food needs to be shut down.
1 person likes this
@Sawsen (793)
• United States
12 Jan 07
That was my approach, but my mom wanted to be civil and gave them their money and even included a tip. She refused to tell them that she found a roach in the food. And another sad thing is that they have a certificate from the health department validating their so called cleanliness. I would call and tell them about their restaurant, but my mom doesn't feel that it's moral to people out of business.
@western_valleygirl (1363)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Yeah, that is true, but if you go back, and it happens again, I would definitely say something. And warn them that they will be getting a visit from the health inspector soon, because a lot of people could become ill from pests in their food, it is just too unsafe not to say anything.
@soldenski (2503)
• United States
12 Jan 07
sedel, I don't think a resturant "allow's" roaches to roam the place. I agree it is sick and would have complained to the manager. The manager may not be aware that there is a problem, and by not telling them, it does not help.
@akchaykumar (155)
• India
12 Jan 07
Thats a very well narrated story....Yeah I think I will stand forward and make a complain to the manager and notice him aboutthe quality of service they claim to provide...after all we are paying for quality of service rendered to us.
1 person likes this
@Sawsen (793)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Thanks, I'm an English major lol :) And unfortunately, when you can't forget something (in this case something traumatic) you can easily remember the details. The thing that bothers me the most is that I'm sure the waitress knew, but didn't go back and bring us new food. She just kept on coming and smiling at us. Like this evil smirk. I'm scarred for life from chinese food..that's for sure.
@Sawsen (793)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Yes, and this is considered to be one of the best restaurants in town. I mean there is never a day where the business is going slow. So you could see my surprise and shock when my mom said there was a roach in there, especially since it was my favorite place to eat at. And the sad thing is, I wonder what other things were in my food before that I didn't spot. With chinese food, it's hard to spot anything really. :(
@khalablue (309)
• Canada
12 Jan 07
I would approach this in a discreet way. I would ask to speak to the manager.
I speak from personal experience when I say that running a restaurant is a lot of hard work and does take many different skills. Cleanliness is as critical to a restaurant's reputation as is the quality of the food. An incident such as the one that you describe can destroy an otherwise successful and thriving business.
I have actually seen restaurant staff deliberately try to sabotage the reputation of a restaurant by placing such obstacles in the food themselves, which is why I would speak to the manager or owner. If you have been to this place on many previous occasions without incident, then the restaurant deserves the opportunity to redeem itself. Whether or not I went back would depend on the reaction I got from the owner.
1 person likes this
@anne_143god (5387)
• Philippines
12 Jan 07
This is very disguisting experinced you should talk to the restaurant manager after you discover it for them not to give that menu to other customer. They should always be careful in preparing the food. I wont definitely leave any tip for teh cook dont do their job to have a clean and presentable food.
@onesiobhan (1327)
• Canada
12 Jan 07
You should definitely have spoken to the manager. How can he fix the problem if he doesn't know about it? I would also talk to the health department, they can force a place to clean up or be shut down.
As for the tip, that would entirely depend upon the service person. They have no control over the food, so I wouldn't penalize them for bad food, only for bad service.
1 person likes this
@angelicEmu (1311)
•
12 Jan 07
Of course I'd complain, but discreetly. I'd not make a fuss, unless the manager was rude, or had an attitude. Mistakes happen, even in the best restaurants, and if the restaurant's any good, they'd rather you told them of any problems, so that they had the opportunity to rectify it, and make it right. They'd rather you enjoyed your meal than going off and telling your friends about how bad it was. It's not fair on you, or the restaurant management, if you don't say anything.
1 person likes this
@cuddleme01 (2725)
• Philippines
12 Jan 07
disgusting..if that was me, i surely would complain. as customers we deserve to be given the equivalent of the money we pay. i won't pay for the food with cockroach on it. that's so unsanitary, very very unhealthy. COMPLAIN! that's the RIGHT thing to do. don't just sleep on your right.
1 person likes this
@smily_skull (133)
• Egypt
12 Jan 07
I I was in your position I will pay the bill and complaint to the manager and I won't eat again in this resturant.I should you better choose a nice clean place before everything.
@lynn3024 (198)
• Canada
12 Jan 07
definetly tell the manager. i'm sure it was just a simple mistake and by you telling them about it there is a better chance that they can prevent it from happening again. also it's not like the waitress was rude to you. and like i said it was a mistake. if you had of let them know i'm sure they would have done everything to make it right. so yes i probably would have left a tip.
1 person likes this
@isavedlatintwice (72)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I never complain about anything, it's just something I'm so timid about. I think I treat being in a restaurant like being in someone's home, I feel grateful that someone is working for me at all even if I'm paying them. The rest of my family on the other hand always makes quite a scene when something goes wrong at a restaurant.
1 person likes this
@wolflvr (335)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I would have told the manager. I don't feel you should have to pay for food that has bugs in it. Most managers will try to work with you. I think that I would have a very hard time going back to that restaraunt for food. But anyone who works in a restaraunt will say if you only knew what went on in the kitchen you would never eat out again.
1 person likes this
@anjalisk2005 (1492)
• India
12 Jan 07
what u did was not good.when u r paying to eat u should make sure that u get things properly.it is like u have helped the hotel cheat people of the food they are eating.this sort of things can lead to sever stomach upsets and food poisoning too.u have been a very bad citizen here.pl. make sure the services provided for u when u r paying are always to the mark.i hope u will not reapeat the mistake!!
@Sawsen (793)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Well, here's my question to you. What if you owned that restaurant. And I found a roach in your food. What would you want me to do? See I'm trying to be analytical because I know that I should have said something, and I wasn't about to make a scene or anything, but I really didn't care for the refund because at the moment, I was too disgusted. But I think we did do the wrong thing by not saying anything. I hope I don't repeat the same mistake again. But then again, if it were your restaurant, what would you have me do?
@greengal (4286)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Awww...that must have been awful!! If I were in your place I would definitely complain. And if it was one of my fav restaurants then without hesitating I would make sure the mangement knew. No matter where we eat, we pay for it and the least you can expect is good food and standard hygiene. If you aren't getting that then you needn't be their customer! If wouldn't have allowed my mom to do any such thing.
@abaskamal (149)
• Malaysia
12 Jan 07
I won't pay for it.
Also won't eat at the place again & inform other folks.
@Sawsen (793)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I really wasn't too considered for the money at that time. I mean I used to be a regular customer, so it really offended and disgusted me to know that they really didn't care about our wellbeing. I think you just can't be too trustful of others anymore. And I think now had I said something, he would probably deny the entire thing.
@elusivedarkness (531)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I had a similar experience recently. I was eating lunch with my Uncle at a local burger place and he found a long black hair in his food. He was obviously very disgusted and quickly disgarded his burger. I tried to get him to complain but he refused. I think complaining is probably the only thing you really can do. You don't have to be really rude about it. You just need to say to them calmly that you are disappointed and disgusted by their lack of sanitation and they will probably give you your meal for free. I usually don't go back to plasces where I find hair in my food.
1 person likes this
@janet50house (9)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I most certainly would call the manager! We are a paying guest, and have a right to expect our food to be served properly. That means cooked approiately, served politely, and without vermin. If a resturant has a problem like that with a bug, they want to know about it. They need to know about it, and will take care of the problem, or else face Department of Health closing them down. I have found that most owners want to know, about any problem, not just vermin. If you are not treated properly by the staff, let them know, and also if you are treated great, compliment them, they also want to know that. Many times they will offer you a free meal to get you to come back again. You will not have to pay for the meal that is unacceptible, in most cases. If they don't know they have a problem, then they cannot correct it. If they know, they will most certainly act like they don't, and will apologise and offer restitution of some sort. You can report them to the Board of Health if you don't think they responded apprioately. That will cook their Goose! Without Vermin.
1 person likes this
