Restaurant Protocol

[rhood]

We went to a late dinner last night at an FMK Country Club. It was 7:30 when we got. there and were seated right away. Being it was Valentines Day, we expected it to be busy. We chatted as we waited for our waitress to bring drinks and take our order. It was over an hour before our entree arrived. Other parties that came after us had already been served. One couple had been served and had left before we got our entree which was ok because we were just socializing and in no hurry, but one of our party got in a snit.
When our food came it was cold. Ours was just warm. The two other couple sent theories back and when it came back, it was still cold. Wife and I continued to eat while the others were waiting. Felt odd to be doing that but we didn't't want our food to get any colder. Wondering what we should have done in the instance? Wait for the others or continue to eat? At the end, the manager was called and we got a 25% discount and a $20 gift card to another FMK restaurant. I felt sorry for the waitress as we could see that she was stressed over the situation. Tipped her good.

[Dana1963]

We went to a late dinner last night at an FMK Country Club. It was 7:30 when we got. there and were seated right away. Being it was Valentines Day, we expected it to be busy. We chatted as we waited for our waitress to bring drinks and take our order. It was over an hour before our entree arrived. Other parties that came after us had already been served. One couple had been served and had left before we got our entree which was ok because we were just socializing and in no hurry, but one of our party got in a snit.
When our food came it was cold. Ours was just warm. The two other couple sent theories back and when it came back, it was still cold. Wife and I continued to eat while the others were waiting. Felt odd to be doing that but we didn't't want our food to get any colder. Wondering what we should have done in the instance? Wait for the others or continue to eat? At the end, the manager was called and we got a 25% discount and a $20 gift card to another FMK restaurant. I felt sorry for the waitress as we could see that she was stressed over the situation. Tipped her good.
You should always speak up Gazpacho is a dish served cold

[golfing eagles]

You should always speak up Gazpacho is a dish served cold

So is Gak, but we don't have any Klingon restaurants in TV:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Stu from NYC]

Can understand a longer wait but lately have seen several restaurants where food was sitting for a long time before being served.

Whose fault is it that server did not pick up when it was ready?

[fdpaq0580]

So is Gak, but we don't have any Klingon restaurants in TV:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

So right. I get tired of having to make my own.

👽👽👽

[Skip]

We went to a late dinner last night at an FMK Country Club.

Well, which one?

Skip

[npwalters]

Wait for the others or continue to eat? At the end, the manager was called and we got a 25% discount and a $20 gift card to another FMK restaurant. I felt sorry for the waitress as we could see that she was stressed over the situation. Tipped her good.

I would have done the same as you and continue to eat after checking with the other couple(s). I would NOT have tipped for bad service; especially - not "good".

[Stu from NYC]

Wait for the others or continue to eat? At the end, the manager was called and we got a 25% discount and a $20 gift card to another FMK restaurant. I felt sorry for the waitress as we could see that she was stressed over the situation. Tipped her good.

I would have done the same as you and continue to eat after checking with the other couple(s). I would NOT have tipped for bad service; especially - not "good".

Did everyone get a $ 20 gift card?

[midiwiz]

We went to a late dinner last night at an FMK Country Club. It was 7:30 when we got. there and were seated right away. Being it was Valentines Day, we expected it to be busy. We chatted as we waited for our waitress to bring drinks and take our order. It was over an hour before our entree arrived. Other parties that came after us had already been served. One couple had been served and had left before we got our entree which was ok because we were just socializing and in no hurry, but one of our party got in a snit.
When our food came it was cold. Ours was just warm. The two other couple sent theories back and when it came back, it was still cold. Wife and I continued to eat while the others were waiting. Felt odd to be doing that but we didn't't want our food to get any colder. Wondering what we should have done in the instance? Wait for the others or continue to eat? At the end, the manager was called and we got a 25% discount and a $20 gift card to another FMK restaurant. I felt sorry for the waitress as we could see that she was stressed over the situation. Tipped her good.

you are actually supposed to wait for all to be served however under the circumstances the following applies -

All meals should have gone back, but that's a tough one. The kitchen isn't being run properly which you meal being delayed vs others is a key sign. Net is the varying temps. On some dishes that's a health dept violation due to temperature ranges.

It's not the server's fault - it's the mgmt and kitchen. plus the small reduction and gift card is a freebie for them and a nothing but a "get out" for you. Welcome to the ugly side of running a restaurant. They would have done better by doing a refire and getting the benefit of the tossed dinners.

[thevillages2013]

Revenge is the only dish that is “best served cold”

[banjobob]

Sounds like staffing in the kitchen issue, they should have compted the check, for such a poor performance.

[jedalton]

this seems to happening at a lot at restaurants. It's a National problem since COVID has caused a big shortage in help. We try to be aware of this problem and tip very well even if service is not up to par. If there is a problem we do ask for the manager and they usually compensate us in some manner. It's very trying times for all and we ty to keep that in mind. We don't like cold food either and that should have been corrected. Hang in there this too will pass sooner or later.

[Canada friends]

Here’s a hint don’t go out on Valentine’s Day!! Always way to busy and overpriced… go the night before

[Nannyof3]

we ate a MezzaLuna last week, the place was packed. got our drinks and ordered meals promptly and then waited. 1 hour and 20 minutes. we were told there were only 2 people working in the kitchen. we spoke to the manager and asked why they would they would seat a full house when they couldn't possibly accommodate everyone in a timely manner. He just shrugged and walked away.

[wamley]

I'm sure there is a lack of staff in both the kitchen and the sevice area. I'm sure you've heard of "I can't get enough people to work."

[Bill14564]

we ate a MezzaLuna last week, the place was packed. got our drinks and ordered meals promptly and then waited. 1 hour and 20 minutes. we were told there were only 2 people working in the kitchen. we spoke to the manager and asked why they would they would seat a full house when they couldn't possibly accommodate everyone in a timely manner. He just shrugged and walked away.

Interesting: we had the exact same experience but at a different restaurant. We felt the same way - why fill the seats if you don't have the resources (kitchen staff) to serve them? Manager did not have an answer, just told us we would be served "soon." Food was good when it finally arrived but the experience will affect our decision to return there.

Better way for the restaurant to handle this situation: tell the customer before they are seated that service is slow that night. We have happily waited over an hour when we informed of the delay up front.

[Petersweeney]

Elon Musk needs to work on kitchen robots and forget about Mars….

[GpaVader]

We had the exact same issue at another restaurant. The table next to us did as well, waited for over an hour for the food and it was cold. One thing if you wait that long and the food is hot and fresh another when it's cold. We called the manager over and she shrugged her shoulders and said they have staffing problems. We left as did the table next to them.

What they should have done is adjusted their intake of customers to reflect the staffing they had. I'd rather wait in the lobby or go someplace else than to go through that. We told the manager that. It's not fair to the customers, waiters or anyone one else. You need to manage peoples expectations.

[Goodi70]

An excellent point. If you invite 10 for dinner and you only have 7 pork chops, you're a bad hostess. If your kitchen can only handle 60 seats and you take 100 reservations, you're a bad businessman. If owners reserved according to staff available, we might see fewer restaurants.

[DaleDivine]

Did everyone get a $ 20 gift card?

Was wondering the same thing...
:shocked::shocked:

[Jeffery M]

We ate dinner at Mezza Luna on Valentines Day. We showed up around 7:30pm without a reservation and we only had to wait 10 minutes. The place was packed full. The food arrived within a perfectly acceptable frame of time. Every time we have gone there they are accommodating and provide excellent meals and service. The management usually approaches our table and asks how we are doing and if we need anything. I am sorry to hear about the bad experience you had there last week. Everyone can have a time when they are off their game due to some circumstances. I hope you will try them again later and have a much better experience as we always have had every time we have gone there.

[davem4616]

I learned long ago that going to a restaurant on a holiday like New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, Easter, etc. wasn't going to be the most relaxing and joyful dinner out...so I tend not to do that, unless friends insist...then I'll go, but without great expectations

having bused tables in college, I know how crazy it gets when you're slammed...waitstaff can get in the weeds, kitchen can get back up....certain items on the menu can run out...seating is delayed because earlier diners linger at the table...if a staff member doesn't show up for work, or has to leave, you're screwed trying to cover their station

add all that together with the current shortage of people that want to work...and it's a perfect storm, just waiting to happen

:popcorn::popcorn:

[Stu from NYC]

I learned long ago that going to a restaurant on a holiday like New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, Easter, etc. wasn't going to be the most relaxing and joyful dinner out...so I tend not to do that, unless friends insist...then I'll go, but without great expectations

having bused tables in college, I know how crazy it gets when you're slammed...waitstaff can get in the weeds, kitchen can get back up....certain items on the menu can run out...seating is delayed because earlier diners linger at the table...if a staff member doesn't show up for work, or has to leave, you're screwed trying to cover their station

add all that together with the current shortage of people that want to work...and it's a perfect storm, just waiting to happen

:popcorn::popcorn:

Very true

[Stu from NYC]

Getting tired of spending good money and not having a satisfactory experience.

Have noticed that quite a few have been able to give us a good experience and will continue to go there and some will be eliminated from our rotation.

They should understand how many tables they can handle with their current staff and not fill up the place beyond that.

[FredJacobs]

One of the problems with dining at the Country Clubs is that they get groups of 10 or more. Everyone at the table has to get their food at the same time. This keeps the kitchen super busy getting the large group (sometimes more than 1 large group) served while all the orders for tables of 2 or 4 wait until the kitchen catches up. When they do catch up, all the orders for the tables of 2 or 4 come up very quickly and the food sits under the heat lamps waiting for the server, who is still serving the group of 10, to catch up.

If you see a large group still looking over their menus, know that you are in for a long wait for your food to be served.

[jimmy o]

We went to a late dinner last night at an FMK Country Club. It was 7:30 when we got. there and were seated right away. Being it was Valentines Day, we expected it to be busy. We chatted as we waited for our waitress to bring drinks and take our order. It was over an hour before our entree arrived. Other parties that came after us had already been served. One couple had been served and had left before we got our entree which was ok because we were just socializing and in no hurry, but one of our party got in a snit.
When our food came it was cold. Ours was just warm. The two other couple sent theories back and when it came back, it was still cold. Wife and I continued to eat while the others were waiting. Felt odd to be doing that but we didn't't want our food to get any colder. Wondering what we should have done in the instance? Wait for the others or continue to eat? At the end, the manager was called and we got a 25% discount and a $20 gift card to another FMK restaurant. I felt sorry for the waitress as we could see that she was stressed over the situation. Tipped her good.

With today's staffing problems we need to expect delays. Also Valentine's Day is the busiest restaurant day of the year. It seems to me that your total response was the appropriate way to handle the situation. The restaurant conditions we are dealing with today is the fault of poor politics and brainless politician actions. Paying people to not work makes it difficult to hire anybody. The answer of raising salaries would only price customers away altogether. I feel sorry for the restaurants today, we all need to be patient. Let's be thankful for the servers and kitchen help that we do have, and we need to be generous during this "time of famine".

[TedfromGA]

We went to Bone Fish at 3pm, without a reservation. I was blown away that we were seated immediately, served promptly. Food and service was excellent. Since we didn’t have a reservation we didn’t linger. Left and the line was around the corner.

Very grateful for the experience and a great waitress (Allie) Never have had a disappointing experience at Bonefish, no matter where it’s been.

[flsteve]

We went to Bone Fish at 3pm, without a reservation. I was blown away that we were seated immediately, served promptly. Food and service was excellent. Since we didn’t have a reservation we didn’t linger. Left and the line was around the corner.

Very grateful for the experience and a great waitress (Allie) Never have had a disappointing experience at Bonefish, no matter where it’s been.

Agree! And... they have one of the top 3 cheeseburgers I have had going back to 1993:

1. Margaritaville, Orlando, 1993: had gravy on it with onions and swiss cheese.
2. Twin Peaks Hilton, Phoenix 2005: seasoned beef patties and exceptional condiments.
2. Bonefish Grill, Merritt Island, 2012 and current: still top notch angus beef.

I have had many GREAT burgers in my life, but some are hard to finish eating because you know they will be gone when you do! :icon_wink:

[Hape2Bhr]

Here’s a hint don’t go out on Valentine’s Day!! Always way to busy and overpriced… go the night before

We had reservations at a Suleiman Family Restaurant on Valentine's Day (psst, it was Prima Italian Restaurant)...arrived 15 minutes early for a 3:30pm reservation and we were promptly seated. The prices were higher than their normal fare, but we knew this going in. The service and food were excellent. My wife went with steak, while I had the tomahawk pork chop. We both took a portion home, and finished them at lunch the following day. :clap2::clap2::clap2:

Today, had a great Haddock Sandwich at Nancy Lopez

[Henryk]

One of the problems with dining at the Country Clubs is that they get groups of 10 or more. Everyone at the table has to get their food at the same time. This keeps the kitchen super busy getting the large group (sometimes more than 1 large group) served while all the orders for tables of 2 or 4 wait until the kitchen catches up. When they do catch up, all the orders for the tables of 2 or 4 come up very quickly and the food sits under the heat lamps waiting for the server, who is still serving the group of 10, to catch up.

If you see a large group still looking over their menus, know that you are in for a long wait for your food to be served.

If you see a large group still looking over their menus, order quickly!

[Garywt]

It is a tough call but eating is really the only thing you could do. We once got our bill before we got our food. The waitress never realized she never brought it out. When delivered we knew it had been sitting for awhile, how this happens, who knows. Could be the waiters fault, could be the kitchens fault for not having everything ready. It is definitely an issue at many restaurants.

[CFrance]

Getting tired of spending good money and not having a satisfactory experience.

Have noticed that quite a few have been able to give us a good experience and will continue to go there and some will be eliminated from our rotation.

They should understand how many tables they can handle with their current staff and not fill up the place beyond that.
We very much agree with this. We have actually sorted restaurants out by things we like to eat and quality of service. Legacy for Sunday brunch (love the Monte Cristo), Rae Rae's for lunch (LBT, Super Dave, Rubenizer), Harry's (shrimp & grits, mahi or grouper sandwich). We've not have a service/staffing problem at these places, and food quality is consistent. I have to admit we don't eat out more than once a week. If we did, maybe we would other go to more and maybe encounter a problem with service or quality. But that's our thought.

[nn0wheremann]

You should always speak up Gazpacho is a dish served cold
Tipped her good? You deserve poor service and cold food. Next time, send out for pizza delivery, or door dash from another restaurant.

[coffeebean]

I learned long ago that going to a restaurant on a holiday like New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, Easter, etc. wasn't going to be the most relaxing and joyful dinner out...so I tend not to do that, unless friends insist...then I'll go, but without great expectations

having bused tables in college, I know how crazy it gets when you're slammed...waitstaff can get in the weeds, kitchen can get back up....certain items on the menu can run out...seating is delayed because earlier diners linger at the table...if a staff member doesn't show up for work, or has to leave, you're screwed trying to cover their station

add all that together with the current shortage of people that want to work...and it's a perfect storm, just waiting to happen

:popcorn::popcorn:

In these trying times and when there are visibly people waiting to be seated, there should be NO LINGERING at tables in a restaurant. That is just rude behavior. We never linger at a table when there are people waiting and we have been doing that long before there was a pandemic and the chaos it has caused us all.

[coffeebean]

We went to Bone Fish at 3pm, without a reservation. I was blown away that we were seated immediately, served promptly. Food and service was excellent. Since we didn’t have a reservation we didn’t linger. Left and the line was around the corner.

Very grateful for the experience and a great waitress (Allie) Never have had a disappointing experience at Bonefish, no matter where it’s been.

Just wondering......do you think it is OK to linger (when people are waiting for a table) if you DID have a reservation?

[coffeebean]

It is a tough call but eating is really the only thing you could do. We once got our bill before we got our food. The waitress never realized she never brought it out. When delivered we knew it had been sitting for awhile, how this happens, who knows. Could be the waiters fault, could be the kitchens fault for not having everything ready. It is definitely an issue at many restaurants.

And I thought the appetizer arriving at the same time as the entree was poor timing. LOL.

[Stu from NYC]

And I thought the appetizer arriving at the same time as the entree was poor timing. LOL.

It has happened to us and we would refuse the entre. Not going to be rushed in a restaurant if the server is not paying attention.

[unialimon]

at school was there a sign labelled kick me on your back?

See no reason to just accept poor service.

nyc