Do you send food back when eating out?

[Britpopbaby]

I’ve just sent some cake back due to how dry it was and I am not afraid to do this at all. Do you send food back?

If they ask how I want my steak and it isn’t how I ordered it, yes. Otherwise, I haven't.

Only if it's been cooked incorrectly. I've sent back almost raw chicken and steak that was too rare, and also food that's been allowed to get cold before it's been served.

I wouldn't send anything back just because I didn't like it or I'd changed my mind.

I wouldn't send back dry cake unless it was obviously stale, I'd ask for some pouring cream or something.

Yes, I have done a few times. Like a pp says, usually steak, although I once had to send back a jacket potato that was rock hard and still uncooked in the middle. I've occasionally had to go back to the counter in a burger restaurant and tell them that the burger they just served me is only lukewarm.

I once sent back a main dish that was still frozen in the middle - it was quite a posh restaurant too!

Also complained about something that was a ridiculously small portion (vegetarian) compared to my meat eating companions

I have only had to once. The manager apologised and agreed the food wasn't to standard.

I was offered cream to go on my cake but I expect cake to be moist and when you dig in to it with your fork that it takes effort and a piece shoots off the plate.

does not take effort that should say.

I visited somewhere in London twice and on the last occasion my meal arrived very quickly and which I suspect had just been heated the microwave. I’ve always regretted not sending it back and don’t regret not giving a tip.

Everything costs so much nowadays that yes, I would have done the same. If I'm going to spend up to a fiver on some cake I want it to be edible. If it was at a stall or bake sale etc then of course not.

yes - mouldy tomato at a chain restaurant who were really rude about it and mouldy bread at a small cafe who couldn’t be more apologetic.

Only if there's a real problem with it and I try and do so discreetly and politely so that they can rectify it. I sent a jacket potato back recently as it wasn't hot in the middle (not just lukewarm but fridge cold). They happily brought me another.

I am a waitress and I have to say I do not mind at all if you send your food back. You’re paying for it, it should be right.

I do mind when you’re rude/patronising/condescending. There’s just no need for that at all and I am a lot more helpful if you’re polite.

Yes I have no compunction about sending something back. It’s the only way a food vendor can ever get to know to do better next time.

I’ve never had any issues with staff about it and am always polite.

I’ve refused to eat a school meal containing a live slug (and wouldn’t ever eat school meals again after). I’ve taken back a brioche loaf covered in green mould to a supermarket. But I’m a vegetarian and have uncomplaining eaten such rare delicacies as an entire cooked parsnip without garnish while the meat-eaters were tucking into pork and elaborate vegetable sides around me. I was brought up quite stringently to eat what is served to me so I’ve eaten things that have made me sick, things I would never eat of my own accord, most notably beef which I’d not had before (or since).

Yes, twice in living memory but had no problem doing it.

I was served a rump steak ( I’m a cheapskate, their cheapest cut) at Hawksmoor once that seemed very sinewy, even for rump. When the waiter came with the “ is everything ok” spiel I said no and pointed this out. They whipped it away with profuse apologies, cooked me another ( delicious )steak straight away - then deducted the cost of my entire three course meal from the bill. I was glad I spoke up ! It’s also made sure we go back often , excellent service.

Yes.
Fish pie that was so full of bones it was inedible.
A plate that had salad that must have been prepared but sat in the fridge so long it had gone mushy, and new potatoes that were sprouting the manager couldn’t apologise enough and apparently the chef stormed out when shown and the manager closed the kitchen
A salad with a worm, manager was horrified
Cake with an eyelash on top

I never do from fear that they will spit in it.

If you trust them so little I wonder you give them your patronage. In fact, I wonder you eat or drink out at all.

Yes. A restaurant gave me a cold pizza once and when I complained they said “do you want me to stick it back in the oven for a couple of minutes?”

Silence and a wtf stare and he goes “should I just get you a new one?”

Yes. Yes you should.

I’ve sent back luke warm food before.

Was the vegetarian dish risotto or rigatoni by any chance!?

Never. I think it's so akward.
I also never complain i shops, etc.

(But I am almost always pleased with the food.)

I'd send it back if it was undercooked/dangerous to eat/off etc. Not eat majority if it then decide I didn't want it. Some examples over the years:

• Fish and chips in a hotel but the fish smelt off and the 'cooked' chips were crunchy!
• Asked for medium steak, but it was blue and cold
• Boiled eggs where the white was barely cooked and the yolk raw! I'd asked for hard eggs because I was pregnant!

I once sent a steak back as I'd ordered it blue and it arrived on the well done side. When I explained this to the waitress she said she'd ask the chef to cook it a bit more so it was more blue so there was obviously something lost in translation.

I've returned stale cake in Costa before. It was the last slice and had obviously been sitting around for a while. I know their cakes aren't fresh out every day so it was a stale issue rather than shit cake making. Although it is Costa so maybe a bit of both!

Have sent back chicken nuggets that were still raw in the middle before. Always check your kid's food before they eat it!

If something is wrong I'm happy to send back. If I just don't like it I wouldn't.