Do You Walk Out on Lousy Service

[Croynan]

you were absolutely right in what you did. there was no reason why you could not have been seated else where in the restaurant where the surroundings were a lot nicer and comfortable.

if i find this type of situation happening to me, i shall always say i want to sit somewhere else and i go in the direction to the area i want to be seated in.

if they are not willing to meet my request - then i walk out.

enough of that crap.

eM.

 

[alley]

I can only think of one or two times that I have walked out--and I would not have eaten there as well----if it was busy I could understand wanting to save the larger tables but during a slow time, makes no sense.

 

[Fiorino]

I give you credit for how patient you were, after the second room I would have said lets forget it.

 

[Alpha1851]

I would've done the exact same thing Yummers! What a bunch of assholes. I can't beleive they treated you that way!

Jason and I have had similar experiences. We can get seated, but it's as though the waitresses don't want to bother w/ us. It's hard to get them to refill our drinks or bring napkins or anything of the sort. Actually, we stopped at a "fancy" dinning place on our way back from a CLE class. Now normally, neither of us would want to spend big bucks on food but that was the only restuarant w/in a thirty mile radius. Well, before the hostess would seat us, the manager came over to discuss their prices w/ us! He wanted to make sure that we could afford it b/c we seemed so young. We both had on business suits but I guess we didn't look wealthy enough for him. Needless to say, we just left--after telling him how much money we bring in a year and inquiring about his own salary. I'm glad that we did leave b/c the mini mart down the road had great burritos and we ended up saving a bundle.

 

[cityboy-stl]

Well, Cracker Barrel is notoriously anti-gay, so you shouldn't be eating there anyway.

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[Jeimuzu]

I'd have done exactly the same. I'd have taken one look at the table, and taken a walk. But then again, you get types like him. She'd probably have found a nice two-seater by a window, somewhere comfortable and quiet, and there'd not have been a problem. As it was, he assumed he knew better - because he knew of a table designed to seat one, he thought "Hey, let's give him that!" even though it was a bloody horrible spot.

In a restaurant, they've really got to get everything right, not just the food. If they ever make you feel anything less than welcome, the meal will be awkward, and you'll just want to leave.

 

[gsdx]

I have little tolerance for poor service these days. There have been times I've walked out leaving a pile of items on the counter because the idiot behind the counter was too busy yakking on the telephone to tend to his/her duties.

 

[Telstra]

umm, maybe you didn't feel comfortable before you went in to that restaurant in the first place.

 

[Scrub]

Yummers

I would have done what you did as well. They probably took you to the only single table they had so as not to tie up tables for 4. It stinks.

I'm sorry you were treated that way.

 

[spooger]

Well, Cracker Barrel is notoriously anti-gay, so you shouldn't be eating there anyway.

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cracker barrel has been exposed several times for discriminatory practices against gay people and people of color...usually blacks

they were even brought to court for their abhorrent behaviors...and claimed to have changed their policies, training and practices

while i oppose their point of view, i have eaten there on occasions of desperation while traveling ...i find their stores to be cluttered with junk which they offer for sale (to whom?) ... their service to be mediocre at best, and their food to be boring

you made the best decision IMHO

 

[G-Lexington]

It's called Cracker Barrel for a reason.

A few years ago, we went to eat at Denny's. After being seated, we waited twenty minutes for someone to give us water, or take our order, or acknowledge our presence. Nobody did. So we just got up and left.

On the way out, Pubert said, "I've never felt so black in my whole life."

Lex

 

[Alpha1851]

^Good points Yummers.

 

[Orlandude]

Yummers you did the right thing. Even if the restaurant is packed, I will not accept a table next to the kitchen. I'll wait. Given that the restaurant was not that busy, your being seated next to the kitchen was an insult. I can't even address the Cracker Barrel. Hate the place. Enough said.

As for service in general, I won't put up with crappy service. Recently I was with 2 friends at a rather nice Italian restaurant. Not a chain but privately owned. I would say it was crowded but not packed. As "walk-ins", we did not have to wait for a table and were promptly seated. We were dressed in shirts and ties so it was not that we "looked" like street trash. That was literally the end of anything I would call "service". We sat there 15 minutes. No menu, no water, no waiter....nothing. I got up and pulled 3 menu's from the menu stand and some woman (who obviously worked there but was not who seated us) rushed over and asked me what I "thought" I was doing. Imagine. I explained and added that we have been MORE than patient.. She said "Your waiter will be with you momentarily". A waiter never appeared after 15 more minutes and we got up and walked out. Later, I heard from others "Oh THAT place! They have awesome food but you'll wait forever for it". I have no problem waiting for a specially prepared meal but this was not a 5-star restaurant. Hell it wasn't even a 2-star restaurant!! All we wanted was a plate of pasta and salad. Yes, the food is very important but the service is equally so.

It just amazes me that people run businesses like this, in good times or bad. I don't expect it to be like fast food either but waiting 30 minutes for a waiter and having to get your own menu in a sit-down restaurant is ridiculous. Bon Appetit!

 

[chillyboi]

i'm with you yummers
today people just don't give a shit
come to my restarunt i'll take care of ya

 

[spearsfan20]

Oh, I exactly know the restaurant you are talking about. My town has one on the south side. It is so crowded like almost every day and night. One morning I was suppose to had gone into work at 9. I was craving for some pancakes from Cracker Barrel. I walked inside the restaurant and there was only one hostess there. I asked for a menu and she gave it to me. Then she told me she would be back in a minute. Time passed, I already knew what I wanted, and I was waiting 10 minutes for a hostess to come back to take my order! I was thinking "why did you leave me waiting that long when you could had gotten somebody else?" I was already pissed off. I went ahead with my order of pancakes and just paid $7 for it. I had to wait 35 to 40 minutes for some damn pancakes! I had never had to wait that long when it was just a few people in the restaurant eating.

I nearly wanted to just tell those people just to give my money back and I would had gone somewhere else. Cracker Barrel has a reputation of providing slow service. I will never attempt to go back there unless if I am just placing an order to-go over the phone. Other than that, I've never had any run-ins with crappy service people who treat me second class. Some of them don't realize that it's the customers who keep money in these workers' pockets when customers are the ones keeping the business flowing. Crap like that on the OP is the reason restaurants fail day-to-day. Customers don't have to blame themselves at all. It's the environment in the business that should always take the blame for anything.

 

[strokes630]

Sorry...for being someone that has worked many years in the food service industry in the past...I have to mention these things:

-Some tables are meant for one or two diners only. Sometimes these tables are placed in not the best scenic spot in the restaurant since they are smaller.

-You get what you paid for ....if only I could have said this phrase to some of my tables in the past. If you want ambience and service at a certain level...why the fuck are you expecting it at Cracker Barrel??!!

- Also you will be treated by how you treat others....did you act appropriately in the restaurant? Did you say..."Excuse me....I'd rather not sit there. Can you please sit me somewhere else?" or did you say..."Um...NO, I will NOT sit here."

I think everyone should have to work in restaurant once in their lives.

 

[cocktales]

We ALL are very aware of how hard the food service workers "work" for their money....WE do too!

I'm NEVER rude; but I will NOT sit at a table near the kitchen; nor will I sit at a table near a large party......if they canNOT accomodate, I will go else-where.

Customer service does NOT have to suffer to do the right thing for the customer; and that does NOT include kissing anyone's ass, either!
If the people are rightfully trained, there are NO problems and all's well; but..........!!!

Food is NOT cheap and to eat out is to enjoy the food and ANY ambience without being treated like second-class citizens; NO there's NO need to overly do it, just treat everyone like you like to be treated, very well, and there is NO problem on either side.

Sorry, but if the service is NOT up to par; nor the food up to par, I will consult the manager and tell them..........and NO, I am NOT looking for a free meal either....in fact, I turn down the offer, because if they do not know the facts about the problems they have, how will they correct them and make it better for all?

I tip very well for good service; but ONLY tip normal for less than good service. I am NOT one to not leave a tip, cause that only makes one angry, and we know we all have to make a living...

DO your job as you're meant to do; otherwise, you should NOT be serving the public!

 

[Pushyourluck]

I did just last week. We were in a very nice bar/resturaunt just close to where I live and I was wating patiently at the bar for service. I was clearly waiting there, behind a couple and their children and the barman just ignored me. He didn't even bother to say that he was busy and could I wait for five minutes while he dealt with the family. I just stormed out.

 

[Giovanni]

I remember eating at a place called the Dragon Palace. The place is notorious for waiters with crappy attitudes. They stare you down and have this "I'm better than you" aura about them.

Real snobby for a cheap ass all you can eat Chinese place

 

[Danugh]

No i just don't go back after.