Generally absolutely not. But a couple of years ago my parents were visiting me (from another country) and I had been telling them how lovely the local cafes etc were. This was the first time they were visiting the country I live in and I was keen to give them a lovely time (and a good impression).There was a cafe in the the next village along which I particularly liked, and went to probably weekly, and the very first day they were here I took them there for lunch. My favourite dish there was the Moroccan shakshuka (the owner was Moroccan) and I encouraged them to have that. It had always been been really good.

It wasn't this time, all watery, looked more like a (very weak) broth. I hardly ever complain about anything but this was so disappointing. I went up to the owner, who knew I was a regular, and asked nicely if the dishes could be replaced as they were very watery. He didn't reply, or say sorry, or anything, and just got a waitress to take the dishes away. They came back a couple of minute later, the same bowls of food, just having had some of the water poured off, stone cold by now. No apology then or at all, from anyone. Bill presented just as if nothing had happened.

We ate, I paid, didn't say anything more. I was pretty embarrassed, and I never went back there. (It was such a pity, they had some lovely stuff and my DS loved their sandwiches, I still feel sad when I drive past but he is not getting my custom again).

i complained once about a cake. It looked lovely so my 5 year old chose it, then flatly refused to eat it as it tasted disgusting. I took a bite and it was indeed inedible. Tasted of nothing but baking power. We complained and were told ‘but it’s vegan and gluten free’ as though gf vegans deserve nothing but inedible cake. They grudgingly gave us a refund. I don’t like to complain but I’m not paying £4:50 for a slice of totally inedible cake.

I wonder how often those in the catering industry taste the food they make?

My DH had a small chain of restaurants some of which also had a take away service. He welcomed complaints from customers (though they very rarely had cause to complain) he would say that unless he knew there was a problem he couldn't make it right. He had a 'no quibble' policy in that it didn't matter if the customer was justified or not, he would replace the meal or refund their money without question.

There is a tea rooms in Essex, I won't divulge the village , where the owner and staff are really rude, and write hilarious come backs on trip advisor. But how cleverly done, people actually visit to see how bad they are.
Me and my friend did, and we weren't disappointed.
The tea and cakes are wonderful there.

You did! Talking about how the menopause has kicked in and saying"Well not for me he doesn't, I'm not 5, I can butter my own toast" to the person who served you, why say that, with the attitude you portrayed about 'Not taking any old shit anymore' instead of 'Could I have my toast unbuttered' I mean you don't even have to say please but you don't have to belittle or try to humiliate someone do you?
Because with that attitude and what you said, that's what you did, what other reason is there apart from you wanted to put someone in their place and feel a bit superior knowing not only you'll get what you want (as you should) but you've belittled someone in the process.
My post wasn't snarky, but it's interesting that people think it is because I'm asking why it's necessary to treat other people - namely service workers - with disdain.

I will say something if there is a genuine issue. I’m polite about it always. Any decent restaurant would prefer you to say something rather than be unhappy and not come back.
I got a free meal recently although I didn’t actually complain. The waiter basically forgot to put my order through even though I politely asked after my food when everyone else on my table had been served. After we got the bill he had removed the charge for my food. He knew he messed up and he did something about it. I was happy with that and I still left him a tip.

Who said I was snarky about it ?
Were you ever dropping in a nearby table. ?
And no it wasn't an excuse to feel superior..and here's you sounding pretty superior yourself.

Ooh aren't you clever and edgy?

(Now that's a snarky response to a snarky comment)

Zombie thread

Only if it’s stone cold or raw, both of which I’ve had (ds was served chicken fingers that were literally raw in the middle, he was 2!)

Not a bit like your own post then Mrs Pot?

I remember having to send a pasta bake back in Pizza Hut as it was frozen in the middle. Made a note only to ever eat pizza there.

I’ve also sent food back for being cold.

But the most common issue is that there are items missing from the meal that are promised on the menu, so i also highlight this.

My friend had a pie from a fish and chip shop and the top was hard and overcooked. She mentioned it to the owner who refunded the cost of the pie and then the following week bought a special pie heater that keeps the cooked pies properly whilst waiting to be sold. His pie sales trebled as a result of this.

If she hadn’t, nicely, mentioned this, his pie sales would have continued to be dismal.

He sees complaints as an opportunity to improve (unless someone is being an arse and you can usually tell the difference)

I get your point, but why do you feel the need to be snarky about it? That's the bit I don't get in situations like this.
A simple "I prefer to put the butter on myself, can you change it?" Would get the same result - toast you can butter yourself, and isn't putting up sign any old shit, the snarky "Not for me he doesn't I'm not 5, I can butter my own toast" isn't really going to change the outcome, make the toast magically unbuttered or something.
I don't understand what it adds to the situation.
I'm also menopausal but I can guarantee if I didn't put up with 'any old shit' like that sort of attitude from you without any need then I'd be told I'm out of order, menopause or not.
Sorry but it's just an excuse to feel a bit superior imo and experience.
Over buttered toast 🤷🏼‍♀️🍞

Generally, no, if it's just a little thing, but I did complain when my son was served a raw Cumberland sausage ring in a local pub, as it was inedible and could've made him ill.

If it's not to my taste I wouldn't. If it was inedible I would. One time for example I was served a chicken burger that was still frozen in the middle. I did send that back!

I think I've only ever complained twice and that was once when chicken was pink inside and when a burger was so charred it was inedible (the waitress was arguing the toss with me about that one but I insisted on it being sent back and a new one cooked).

I don't complain if it's just a bit meh, not very nice or not well-seasoned. In those cases I wouldn't return.

I very very rarely complain. Mainly stemming from having worked as a waitress in the past. Some of the ways people spoke to me were wild, many people do seem to think people who work in hospitality to be stupid or unworthy of respect.

Also, chefs are often totally stressed and cantankerous and having to go back and tell them something was wrong resulted in a very bad time for me or the customers. Either I would get shouted at, or awful things would happen to the food. I’ve seen a chef put a burger down his pants and back onto the plate, spit in food, absolutely grim.

I have a relative who complains about things like coffee not warm enough for her liking and I find it very embarrassing, not really the complaining itself but it just feels entitled. I’m like you OP, these people are waiting on me and that’s already a slightly uncomfortable balance of power, even though I pay.

@Sparsely

complain! So what if your kids are embarrassed?! It’s good for them to see you modelling appropriate behaviour when something isn’t right rather than just putting up and shutting up.

@BadMeal

why would you be grateful for something that you’re paying for , OP? They’re not doing you a favour out of the goodness of their hearts are they?!

We've got coeliac disease in the family (me and both kids), so if I think something is wrong it goes back for checking. If it IS wrong then I will absolutely kick off because it's our health. Not only will we be in bed for a week in agony, but it takes our stomachs right back to fucked up status. That's really, really rare though. I don't enjoy the argument but I would absolutely expect to be reimbursed, and I take it higher if I think I'm being brushed off. Training needs to be better.

Other stuff? Not really. If it's inedible I'll not eat it and send it back, but if it's just not what I expected or the pasta is too gloopy/pizza too thick, I'm not bothered. Not ideal but I'm not going to cause shit in a busy restaurant for people run off their feet. I will send back cold food though. But I'm nice about it, and I'll tip very generously if my concerns are met with respect.

Have your steak cooked medium but not your burger. I realise they are sometimes cooked medium. On the rare occasion I eat a beef burger I now ask that it’s cooked through and am often told they wouldn’t cook it any other way.

I actually hate being given free dessert as an apology..I want to not pay for the awful thing, not be given something I wouldn't have ordered anyway

If it isn't what i ordered? sure
if it's not cooked properly, or under/over cooked etc etc? for sure
Not in terms of "i want a freebie" but "i'm paying for this and what you have given me is unacceptable"

Luckily for me it hasn't happened often. Mostly overcooked steak because so many places don't believe that when i order my filet blue, that is what i expect, and serving it on a super hot place will have me sending it back.

I would not complain if something turned not to be to my taste. The best service I have ever had in a restaurant was when the waiter spotted my face when I tasted a dessert that turned out to have a texture I just couldn’t deal with. He came straight over to ask if I was not enjoying it and offered an alternative at no charge. It was a set menu so I hadn’t actually chosen the dessert. I would happily have accepted that it was my problem that I didn’t like it, DH loved it. The chocolate mousse that replaced it was delicious. Well done Quality Chop House in Farringdon.

I do complain if food is wrong, most recently a macaroni cheese that was sitting in a pool of orange grease.