Do you accept substitutes

[dynk]

Yesterday I went to a new restaurant for lunch. I ordered a chicken salad roll-up and a diet coke. The girl takes my order, she then returns with my order. I take bite of the sandwich, and drink my diet coke. It is not coke but a diet pepsi. I called the girl over and said: "I ordered diet coke, not diet pepsi" She says we only serve pepsi here. I asked her why she did not tell me when I ordered, she said what's the difference. I just got up and left.

I also dislike it when I order a cup of coffee somewhere and say with Sweet n Low. Then they bring splenda or a generic item. I refuse to accept the order as it is not what I ordered.

Is anyone else disturbed when they get something other then what they ordered? I find most people just accept being walked on and say nothing.

 

[tx_doc]

Re: Do you accept substitites

At most of the restaurants I've been at they usually tell me in advance that they have "x" instead of "y". I haven't come across them making a substitute without my approval.

 

[makrell]

Re: Do you accept substitites

Christ, if you're *that* picky on brands, eat and drink at home!!

 

[blackbeltninja]

Re: Do you accept substitites

if they tell me at the table and why. i would say maybe or i would choose something else... They need to tell me before i order.

I agree. I wouldn't be happy if they swapped it without coming out to tell me that they need to do so and give me the option to change my order.

-d-

 

[joer]

Re: Do you accept substitites

Diet coke or diet pepsi, it doesn't matter to me. It's true the girl should have said we only carry pepsi products, but she didn't. Shame on her for making that mistake. Her response to you was also a mistake. She should have never said "what's the difference". She should have offered to replace the drink with something else that they carried that you would have liked.

 

[bedbugy]

Re: Do you accept substitites

never ever drink the black stuff coke/pepsi

 

[Swellegant]

Re: Do you accept substitites

While not a cola-drinker myself, if someone in food-service is so dense that she doesn't realize there's a difference between Coke and Pepsi, I figure she's more to be pitied than censured. If I were given a Pepsi when I clearly asked for a Coke, I would simply send it back and ask for something else, iced tea or whatever. I really don't like Pepsi at all.

My father and sister are big Diet Pepsi lovers (addicts, really), and if they order Pepsi and it's not on tap at that particular restaurant, the server always says so. If they only have Coke or RC or some generic brand, the customer should have the opportunity to choose something else. If they are not given that opportunity at the ordering stage, they must take the opportunity at the serving stage instead.

But the key issue is that if you order something that they don't have, it's up to the server to tell you so, and give you an opportunity to choose something else. Substitutions should always be announced beforehand, not just foisted on you. A place that would hire someone so unaware of service basics would not draw my custom again in the future.

Nevertheless, I wouldn't have left the restaurant. Once I get settled in, I don't like to move again until I'm full.

The problem of favored brands of artificial sweetener is an even greater menace, though, because unless you use the sweeteners yourself, you probably don't know that there's a difference between Sweet 'N Low and Splenda and Equal. I always use Sweet 'N Low for my iced tea because it dissolves in cold liquids, which the others do not... if they don't have Sweet 'N Low, I can't sweeten my iced tea, so I have to order something else. When I was seriously into iced tea a few years ago, when it was my beverage of choice and always had to be sweetened, I carried my own Sweet 'N Low with me in case of just such an emergency.

 

[randyreese]

Re: Do you accept substitites

Out of courtesy one should be told in advance what is on or off the menu at the time of ordering. One should feel that nowhere where you are dining or drinking, one should get what was ordered - if not leave the extablishment.

 

[dkonfrost]

Re: Do you accept substitites

Out of courtesy one should be told in advance what is on or off the menu at the time of ordering. One should feel that nowhere where you are dining or drinking, one should get what was ordered - if not leave the extablishment.

i agree with you there! when i used to drink soda, the waiter/tress would always say which brand they have on tap. it's their responsibility to tell you what they have

 

[Soilwork]

Re: Do you accept substitites

I once went for Brunch at this restaurant and ordered the "Chicken with Artichoke Hearts" off the menu.

My BF ordered Stuffed French Toast.

When she arrived with the food, it was almost 45 minutes later, and she brought my BF French Toast and me a Chicken dish with no Artichokes but with canned Mushrooms.

When we told her that she had got it wrong, she said "Oh, yeah, we're out of Artichokes".

I looked at my BF and said "What a fucking stupid twat".

She stood there for a moment looking at us dumbfounded holding the plates, not sure what to do.

Then we got up and left, leaving her there holding the food she had brought.

If they can't serve you what you ordered, they should either tell you right there or not expect you to pay for it. Or eat it.

Or ever come back.

 

[Drops of Jupiter]

Re: Do you accept substitites

I guess my answer would be "It depends." If I ordered chicken but got a lobster, well yeah I would complain and send it back.
A Diet Pepsi instead of a Diet Coke? No I wouldn't send it back, but would probably say something. If I got attitude from the waitress, like you did Dynk, then I would ask to speak to ger boss or walk out as well.

 

[Orlandude]

Re: Do you accept substitites

This is a new restaurant? Hmmm...given the brutal competition among restaurants, one would think that they would be more attentive to service. The Coke vs Pepsi is not even the real issue. The real issue is the flippant attitude from a waitress who obviously could care less. I would have had a few words with the manager and if his/her attitude was the same as the waitress, I would chock off the new restaurant as a loser.

I am often astounded at this "new attitude" in restaurants, and even bars, that seems to assume that the customer is a moron. As a customer, you have a RIGHT to expect what you ordered, no matter what it is. If they don't have it, you should be informed when ordering. By the same token, wouldn't they just crap all over themselves if you sat there, ate a meal and then informed them that you had no MONEY!!!? "Sorry, I'm out of money". The customer pays the bills. All the bills. As a customer, you should get what you asked for or, at the least, an explanation.

 

[bacchus]

Re: Do you accept substitites

i wouldn't have just left the place because of that- i would have gotten the manager first, explained to him why the waiter/waitress failed miserably at his job, and why i wouldn't be dining there again, as well as why i would be telling all my friends not to go there again

i've had it happen too many times where i ask for something without tomato or pickles (i'm NOT allergic, but the taste always gets in the way), and if my food comes back with either item i tell the waitperson that i am allergic to the item and they should be thankful that i caught it before my throat closed up and they had a huge-ass lawsuit on their hands

that usually clears up any confusion over what was done wrong, and why the service was so bad that most likely i will never come back again

 

[dynk]

Re: Do you accept substitites

I have spoken to some bosses and they don't see the problem. Pizzaria Uno is one that will not tell you they have pepsi, even when you order coke. I really think they should tel me when I order. It they did, I would say just bring me water. I would probrably avoid the place next time.

Another big problem here in the northeast is Haddock, it is very expensive and I have ordere it in restaurants and gotten cod in place of it. When returnin g it I have been told twice now "most people can't tell the difference". Now that tells me that they substitute a cheaper product knowingly advertising a better item. that is Stealing from me as far as I'm concerned.

 

[bacchus]

Re: Do you accept substitites

I have spoken to some bosses and they don't see the problem.

well see that is where the real problem is, i think. most of the managers i've spoken with (friday's, chili's, macaroni grill, applebees, etc) tend to be apologetic and offer to immediately replace my order, and comp the entire meal (just mine, not whoever i'm with, but still)

anytime a manager doesn't even begin to sound apologetic or offer to replace the meal, then we just get up and leave and don't come back. but we give them that one chance

 

[herenthere]

Re: Do you accept substitites

Establishments have the obligation to make sure the consumer has total knowledge of a subsitute. For the patrons good as well as liability issues.

My B/F order a piece of chocolet cake, what they failed to tell was it was actually chocolet-peanut butter cake. He is deathly alergic to peanuts in any form, including peanut dust. He ended up in the emergency room.

 

[Drops of Jupiter]

Re: Do you accept substitites

Another big problem here in the northeast is Haddock, it is very expensive and I have ordere it in restaurants and gotten cod in place of it. When returnin g it I have been told twice now "most people can't tell the difference". Now that tells me that they substitute a cheaper product knowingly advertising a better item. that is Stealing from me as far as I'm concerned.

Thank Cod you can tell the difference, Dynk!
I've haddock with places like this.
It's a good thing you didn't end up making a bass out of yourself.
These restaurants really do flounder in mediocrity some times... (*sigh*)

Oh... and now I will get off my high perch!

 

[Just_Believe18]

Re: Do you accept substitites

I work part time in the service industry. I'm always careful to mention we have pepsi products for fear of customers like you, dynk.

She wasn't very smart, but you didn't have to walk out like that. It was just a soda.

 

[NameTaken]

Re: Do you accept substitites

Rofl, you walked out cause she served you a pepsi instead of a soda. Way to WAAAAY over react!

 

[smellyass]

Re: Do you accept substitites

I hate when I ask for penis and they give me clit!