[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by imbrennan

I didn't actually complain to the Manager. I didn't feel that sending a meal back justified asking to speak to him. I guess he has a lot of other things to deal with.

I just called one of the wait staff (think it was one of the receptionists who was going past) and told her I would like to send the meal back and the reasons why. She just went off and eventually a fresh meal was provided.

I didn't complain about the waitress - didn't want her to get into trouble. She wasn't rude or anything she just didn't seem to want to bother with us and just wasn't up to the sort of standard my husband and I have experienced before in The Villages -especially after the excellent service we have just had in Olive Garden. The Olive Garden waitress was excellent so it rather showed up the lack of attention we were getting there.

As a young man I worked in a number of restaurants. I will say this based on my experience: I would never, ever send a meal back to the kitchen asking for a replacement. I've seen too often what happens to that replacement meal before it's returned to the customer and believe me, it ain't pretty. Your waiter has no control over what happens when the meal is prepared.
I would, however, complain to the manager, perhaps getting a free meal on my next visit.
Never, never get the cook angry at you. You never know........

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by bluedog103

As a young man I worked in a number of restaurants. I will say this based on my experience: I would never, ever send a meal back to the kitchen asking for a replacement. I've seen too often what happens to that replacement meal before it's returned to the customer and believe me, it ain't pretty. Your waiter has no control over what happens when the meal is prepared.
I would, however, complain to the manager, perhaps getting a free meal on my next visit.
Never, never get the cook angry at you. You never know........

What exactly would happen to the food in the kitchen when it is returned? It's a pretty strong statement to leave hanging with explanation.

[golfnut]

come on th are you implying that you haven't heard any of the stories, you've been around the block a couple of times.....gn

[Xavier]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Why do you say the manager has a lot of other things to deal with? What could be more important than a meal being sent back to the kitchen?
You didn't complain about the waitress........and now she continues with "poor service".

How do you think Cane Garden can correct your observation of "poor service" if you do not bring it to their attention?
Do you think posting it here will accomplish that?
Too often people have an experience similiar to yours and come on here trashing the restaurant. The result is 500-600 views and now the restaurant has a bad reputation (is that what you wanted?). Isn't it possible that a 5 minute discussion with the manager might have avoided all of that?

Many of us have noted that this is not an unusual response to imbrennan's post. It's been delivered in much the same manner many, many times. I would even say that it's a good message. BUT it loses it's effectiveness when it's delivered like it is coming from a unapproachable father chastising his small child. It shuts down listening. It's all in the delivery.

imbrennan, I thank you for your post.

[golfnut]

....gn

[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

What exactly would happen to the food in the kitchen when it is returned? It's a pretty strong statement to leave hanging with explanation.

In one instance the guy at the grill also owned this particular greasy spoon.
One morning he was annoyed that someone sent their eggs back. He cracked new eggs on the grill, leaned over and blew his nose on this poor customer's breakfast. Then he said something like "let's see if he likes these eggs".
I was grossed out but I was a 16 year old kid who needed a job so I didn't say a thing.
I also saw folks in the kitchen clam on a couple of meals when the customer complained. Didn't happen often but still, I'll never send a meal back.

[golfnut]

greasy spoon...enough said...there are more of these stories on the internet than i can count...but i'm sure they are all true...moral of the story, ______, fill in the blank.....gn

[ohiogolf]

BlueDog103:

You made me LOL!!!! I had not heard the word "clam" used as a verb in almost 40 years. It brought back high school memories.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by imbrennan

Sorry if I upset you Bogie Shooter but, as I am sure you will agree, I'm quite entitled to express my opinion and you will notice that someone else wrote a thread which agreed with my comment.

OK so 500-600 people view the comments but they aren't lemmings that follow everyone else are they? Surely they have opinions and minds of their own and can go along and enjoy the food and service and make up their own minds.

We normally love Cane Garden and have always gone there and recommended it to other people. I just made the point that this time it wasn't as good as usual.

If I wanted to trash a restaurant I would have mentioned last year at Mallory where I definitely had an upset stomach after a white chicken salad. And no, I didn't complain to the manager because the upset stomach occurred after I left and what the heck could he have done about it anyway!

Hey if I am supposed to be trashing restaurants let's not forget Hacienda where the lasagna was disgusting and the Greek restaurant over near the old Walmart where hubby and I would never venture again.

Hi Imbrennan,
I agree you are not obligated to complain to management. I do like Bogie's suggestion, also made by others, that letting management know of a negative experience can be a positive approach. When done with honey instead of vinegar, it can-- no guarantees, of course-- be appreciated by management, and lead to positive corrective action (e.g., not firing but better training or quality control measures).

Your post could have the same result. If others experience the same slip in quality, they might be more likely to speak up, knowing that theirs was not an isolated incident-- as yours might well have been.

Personally, I love Cane Gardens and hope that if there are new problems, management will correct them. Thanks for heads up. Thanks too, to Bogie Shooter and others for encouraging those with bad experiences to communicate with management in hopes of keeping quality up to high standards for the all of us.

[sweetsu]

Everything is great at Cody's! And I mean everything! Angela who is a manager there is the sweetest and greatest gal. Definitely worth a try and I know you'll go back over and over again....so many choices.

[duffysmom]

We frequently get take out from Too Jays in Sumpter and are always pleased. Our last visit was unpleasant. The brisket was extremely tough and inedible. My husband was annoyed since he spent some time going into Sumpter to pick it up so he called to let them know of his disappointment. He was sent a coupon for the equivalent amount he spent on the brisket along with a personal letter from the manager apologizing. That is good management and explains why TJ's is always busy. Happy customers.

[golfnut]

toojay's classic (corned beef and pastrami) with a smear of liver is my absolute favorite sandwich, they are one of our favorite restaurants....gn

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by duffysmom

We frequently get take out from Too Jays in Sumpter and are always pleased. Our last visit was unpleasant. The brisket was extremely tough and inedible. My husband was annoyed since he spent some time going into Sumpter to pick it up so he called to let them know of his disappointment. He was sent a coupon for the equivalent amount he spent on the brisket along with a personal letter from the manager apologizing. That is good management and explains why TJ's is always busy. Happy customers.

I love TooJays! Been to one in Boca Raton and the ones on both squares in TV and never had a bad experience. It was nice of you to communicate your issue with management and very nice to know of the positive response!

[zcaveman]

TooJays has gotten very skimpy on their desserts. The elcair is about 1/3 of the original size and the Napoleon is about 1/4 of its original size and not as sweet. I asked about the eclair and was told that they were told to make it smaller. But I can special order the larger size. Too bad. I don't have time to sit around and wait for a special order.

[Russ_Boston]

Just buy 3 - problem solved