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AIBU?

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Original poster

Pasta..

130 replies

MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 00:17

I went for dinner tonight and the menu said the dish I ordered was made with penne.. When the food arrived it was fusilli!

I hate fusilli, it’s the worst pasta beside angel hair (capellini), so I actually politely sent the dish back and asked for something else (they apparently had run out of penne and forgot to say).

AIBU - all pasta is the same
YNBU - fusilli is the worst pasta (or enter your worst)

OP posts:
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DreamTheMoors · 05/01/2025 18:02

Choccyscofffy · 05/01/2025 01:31

You do realise that she’s paying for this meal right? It’s not a freebie that he’s cooking for her?

I hope you don’t work in a restaurant.

Show quote history

My dad didn’t pay for a piece of charcoal, either, did he.
Wasn’t a question.

Tortielady · 05/01/2025 11:45

I like fusilli and probably wouldn't have minded. But I can understand your disappointment; you were expecting penne and what you got was a pasta you don't even like. I can't think of a pasta I actively dislike, but if I'd ordered, say rigatoni, especially one with thick ridges for a sauce with lots of mozzarella, I wouldn't have been pleased to get macaroni (smooth, no ridges, a bit dull) instead.

sashh · 05/01/2025 11:40

They should have told you the type of pasta when you ordered.

As for whether all pasta is the same, if you ordered chips in a restaurant would you be happy if they brought a plate of mash or some potato soup.

latetothefisting · 05/01/2025 11:34

Choccyscofffy · 05/01/2025 01:31

You do realise that she’s paying for this meal right? It’s not a freebie that he’s cooking for her?

I hope you don’t work in a restaurant.

Show quote history

exactly
how about, if you're the chef "Don't give people something different to what they ordered and you expect them to pay for?"

The vast majority of restaurants would much prefer people highlight issues at the time so they have a chance to fix it rather than smile and say it's lovely then post a moaning review on trip advisor.

If the meal was sold as "chicken with pasta" and OP complained then it's on her. If it's sold as "chicken with specific type of pasta" then that's what she should get, or at the very least she should be told before the order is confirmed that there's been a change.

If someone ordered chips it's reasonable to expect not to get jacket potato or mash or dauphinoise instead. This is the same thing. It might still be pasta but not the type OP ordered.

zingally · 05/01/2025 11:30

I'd disagree! Penne is the worst shape!!

Silly to send it back though. Very wasteful.

Pandasnacks · 05/01/2025 11:25

Choccyscofffy · 05/01/2025 11:22

I think OP is right in that the cost of the pasta will be very cheap. A portion of spaghetti if bought from a supermarket pack is 25p.

Sounds like OP had a basic pomodoro type sauce that a good restaurant will make as a batch.

So OP was absolutely right to raise that she ordered penne, not fusilli.

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She said the original dish was a chicken parmigiana, if you can produce that for 50p per portion let me no! Even without the chicken it would cost more than 50p, or the 15p she later reduced it to. And yes she was right to raise it and they were right to fix it, as I said very clearly multiple times. The cost is what I disputed as you can tell.

Original poster
MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 11:23

Talipesmum · 05/01/2025 11:19

How could they remake it if they’d run out of penne?

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No they couldn’t, sadly. I was just making a point that the cost of the pasta is negligent. I had pizza instead which again the cost of is negligent when you compare against the mark up of 5 meals ordered.

OP posts:
Choccyscofffy · 05/01/2025 11:22

Pandasnacks · 05/01/2025 11:15

If you can’t understand how businesses run and how everything is costed, and how food and oil prices have increased in recent years along side everything else, then I'm not explaining it to you. Not going into my job or any of that crap with you either. And honestly if you are paying £17 for food so cheap and nasty then that’s on you, better quality restaurants are also available.

Show quote history

I think OP is right in that the cost of the pasta will be very cheap. A portion of spaghetti if bought from a supermarket pack is 25p.

Sounds like OP had a basic pomodoro type sauce that a good restaurant will make as a batch.

So OP was absolutely right to raise that she ordered penne, not fusilli.

Original poster
MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 11:21

Pandasnacks · 05/01/2025 11:19

You are twisting what I said because your argument is wrong, I have clearly said atleast 3 times the restaurant should have replaced the dish at their cost.

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There’s no issue then. Besides you disagreeing about the costs.

OP posts:
Pandasnacks · 05/01/2025 11:19

MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 11:18

I do understand, I understand it very well hence it’s much better as a restaurant to remake ONE dish at very little cost, and ensure happy customers and return trade. If you have the attitude that you’re worried about saving a few pound at the expense of the customers experience, it’s clear YOU have very little understanding of how the restaurant trade works.

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You are twisting what I said because your argument is wrong, I have clearly said atleast 3 times the restaurant should have replaced the dish at their cost.

Talipesmum · 05/01/2025 11:19

MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 11:15

honestly, 50p for the pasta was generous. It would probably cost more like 15p for my portion. And my one ladle of sauce, 30p.. the fact is, the mark up on food is massive. Especially when you’re paying for 5 people to eat - there’s plenty profit to remake one dish because the customer was misold and doesn’t like it. As a restaurant, you should definitely offer something else (as they did) and try to ensure the customer is happy and will come back. I do not approach life with the attitude that I will pay for things / experiences I don’t like 🤷🏽‍♀️

Show quote history

How could they remake it if they’d run out of penne?

Original poster
MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 11:18

Pandasnacks · 05/01/2025 11:15

If you can’t understand how businesses run and how everything is costed, and how food and oil prices have increased in recent years along side everything else, then I'm not explaining it to you. Not going into my job or any of that crap with you either. And honestly if you are paying £17 for food so cheap and nasty then that’s on you, better quality restaurants are also available.

Show quote history

I do understand, I understand it very well hence it’s much better as a restaurant to remake ONE dish at very little cost, and ensure happy customers and return trade. If you have the attitude that you’re worried about saving a few pound at the expense of the customers experience, it’s clear YOU have very little understanding of how the restaurant trade works.

OP posts:
Pandasnacks · 05/01/2025 11:17

MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 11:15

honestly, 50p for the pasta was generous. It would probably cost more like 15p for my portion. And my one ladle of sauce, 30p.. the fact is, the mark up on food is massive. Especially when you’re paying for 5 people to eat - there’s plenty profit to remake one dish because the customer was misold and doesn’t like it. As a restaurant, you should definitely offer something else (as they did) and try to ensure the customer is happy and will come back. I do not approach life with the attitude that I will pay for things / experiences I don’t like 🤷🏽‍♀️

Show quote history

Your shrug doesn’t work, I said you shouldn’t pay for it and was happy they offered you something else. It’s their mistake to fix. 15p is just stupid so there’s no point further discussing this clearly.

Pandasnacks · 05/01/2025 11:15

MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 11:11

Prove me wrong 🤷🏽‍♀️ we pay mostly for service and experience when we go out to eat. Most of the restaurants cost go towards bloody business rates, n.i, tax and utilities.. take it from someone who knows.

Show quote history

If you can’t understand how businesses run and how everything is costed, and how food and oil prices have increased in recent years along side everything else, then I'm not explaining it to you. Not going into my job or any of that crap with you either. And honestly if you are paying £17 for food so cheap and nasty then that’s on you, better quality restaurants are also available.

Original poster
MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 11:15

Pandasnacks · 05/01/2025 11:12

Ah yes the sauce is already made therefore it’s free. What restaurant is charging £17 a dish with cheap pre made sauce, cheap dry budget pasta, no protein etc? Overheads don’t only apply to certain dishes.

Show quote history

honestly, 50p for the pasta was generous. It would probably cost more like 15p for my portion. And my one ladle of sauce, 30p.. the fact is, the mark up on food is massive. Especially when you’re paying for 5 people to eat - there’s plenty profit to remake one dish because the customer was misold and doesn’t like it. As a restaurant, you should definitely offer something else (as they did) and try to ensure the customer is happy and will come back. I do not approach life with the attitude that I will pay for things / experiences I don’t like 🤷🏽‍♀️

OP posts:
Pandasnacks · 05/01/2025 11:12

MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 11:08

How much is a bag of pasta please? Wholesale? Now divide that by I don’t know, 5? That would would be my portion. Boiled in water with a pinch of salt. Sauce is already made. Ovens etc are already on. To redo one portion of pasta would have cost 50p max! I think a lot of you are unaware of the mark up on food… when you go out to eat you’re paying mostly for service.

Show quote history

Ah yes the sauce is already made therefore it’s free. What restaurant is charging £17 a dish with cheap pre made sauce, cheap dry budget pasta, no protein etc? Overheads don’t only apply to certain dishes.

Original poster
MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 11:11

Pandasnacks · 05/01/2025 11:08

Ah see now YABU all the way OP, disappointing.

Show quote history

Prove me wrong 🤷🏽‍♀️ we pay mostly for service and experience when we go out to eat. Most of the restaurants cost go towards bloody business rates, n.i, tax and utilities.. take it from someone who knows.

OP posts:
Original poster
MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 11:08

DowntonShabbie · 05/01/2025 10:55

50p? Where are you getting that?

How much is a bag of pasta please? Wholesale? Now divide that by I don’t know, 5? That would would be my portion. Boiled in water with a pinch of salt. Sauce is already made. Ovens etc are already on. To redo one portion of pasta would have cost 50p max! I think a lot of you are unaware of the mark up on food… when you go out to eat you’re paying mostly for service.

OP posts:
Pandasnacks · 05/01/2025 11:08

MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 11:06

in costs, the pasta would have cost 50p maximum to redo. Chefs aren’t badly paid at all since they are in demand and short supply since brexit! Most chefs are paid very, very well.

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Ah see now YABU all the way OP, disappointing.

Original poster
MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 11:06

Pandasnacks · 05/01/2025 10:59

OP don’t be silly, 50p isn’t close to realistic. Restaurant staff wouldn’t be so poorly paid (and chefs so over worked) if the profits were that good! Not suggesting you should pay for a meal you don’t like of course, but that figure is waaaay off

Show quote history

in costs, the pasta would have cost 50p maximum to redo. Chefs aren’t badly paid at all since they are in demand and short supply since brexit! Most chefs are paid very, very well.

OP posts:
Pandasnacks · 05/01/2025 10:59

MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 10:50

The fact is it would have cost the restaurant maximum 50p to redo the dish with a different pasta. Whereas I would be £17 down paying for a meal I didn’t like 🤷🏽‍♀️ I really hate paying for anything I don’t enjoy 😂 it’s different if I went to your house and you served me fusilli, I would reluctantly eat it and be thankful.

Show quote history

OP don’t be silly, 50p isn’t close to realistic. Restaurant staff wouldn’t be so poorly paid (and chefs so over worked) if the profits were that good! Not suggesting you should pay for a meal you don’t like of course, but that figure is waaaay off

DowntonShabbie · 05/01/2025 10:55

50p? Where are you getting that?

Original poster
MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 10:50

Annabella92 · 05/01/2025 05:02

Is this the height of Western decadence? Is this why we're in civilisations decline? I thought this pasta fuss was a troll post.

The fact is it would have cost the restaurant maximum 50p to redo the dish with a different pasta. Whereas I would be £17 down paying for a meal I didn’t like 🤷🏽‍♀️ I really hate paying for anything I don’t enjoy 😂 it’s different if I went to your house and you served me fusilli, I would reluctantly eat it and be thankful.

OP posts:
Original poster
MumWifeOther · 05/01/2025 10:47

RossGellersCat · 05/01/2025 07:38

I wonder if some people are voting based on the differences between pastas and others are responding to the OP sending the dish back and reflecting that this behaviour was unreasonable?

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Yeah I didn’t really make the vote clear 😂

OP posts:
ManyATrueWord · 05/01/2025 10:46

I'm impressed you are sensitive enough to texture to be bothered. I simply don't have that amount of awareness.

Absolutely you are not unreasonable to send it back.

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