Dinner Was Ruined (1 Viewer)

[runner06]

This is how I feel now.  But they'd already shafted my family once, and me once...I should have said nothing, ordered another quick entree, and been done with it and know what to expect from that restaurant.  

Doesn't sound like you didn't anything wrong.

It's very possible she was having a terrible day already and something that was nothing (which it sounds like it was nothing based on what you said) caused her to start bawling. Maybe her boss yelled at her earlier in the day, maybe she boyfriend broke up with her very recently, maybe she got a large bill she doesn't know how she's going to pay for, maybe another customer had just yelled at her, etc.

I doubt her crying had much to do with what you said to her even if you had yelled at her.

 

[rockaction]

Doesn't sound like you didn't anything wrong.

It's very possible she was having a terrible day already and something that was nothing (which it sounds like it was nothing based on what you said) caused her to start bawling. Maybe her boss yelled at her earlier in the day, maybe she boyfriend broke up with her very recently, maybe she got a large bill she doesn't know how she's going to pay for, maybe another customer had just yelled at her, etc.

I doubt her crying had much to do with what you said to her even if you had yelled at her.

I hope it wasn't me. It doesn't seem like it would be. Even if I was yelling at her (which, seriously, I wasn't) it seems like an extreme reaction to an unserved entree.  But she got the manager, so it might have been just oversensitivity. I don't know. I can't know. I'm over it.  

 

[Dedfin]

Your family was weak. Disown them. Happy Tday!!

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Question answered: They no longer have custody. She just agrees to a time share between parents. 

Good parenting, IMO.  

It sucks that she has to pick, but at least they resolved that issue without any repercussions.

We had most excellent fried turkey that we ordered from professionals.  Damn, but that was good.  Hope yours was too.

 

[rockaction]

It sucks that she has to pick, but at least they resolved that issue without any repercussions.

We had most excellent fried turkey that we ordered from professionals.  Damn, but that was good.  Hope yours was too.

Thanks. That's awesome. Ours was good. 

 

[rockaction]

Your family was weak. Disown them. Happy Tday!!

Thanks, bud. I will disown them. Happy Thanksgiving.  

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Been in the business for a long time. You handled it fine. I will say holidays and Sundays are usually the worst guests you ever get. Not saying you were bad but I bet your server had plenty of bad tables and it just so happened she lost it because of that.

Yeah, I worked in restaurants for years...Wife still does.

Rock didn’t do anything wrong.  

 

[rockaction]

Yeah, I worked in restaurants for years...Wife still does.

Rock didn’t do anything wrong.  

Thanks, man. I think now that the situation is no longer in the forefront of everyone's mind it's cool; my family has now said I did nothing wrong. 

I'm cool with it. I more hope my niece will go out with us now that she's an adult and that she can count on us not to get into awkward situations.

It's all voluntary at this point, so I get it. She can say "fob off" and be done with it.  

 

[General Malaise]

Rock is like the anti-MOP.  Instead of relating a story where a female server ends up in tears and then getting defensive about it, Rock takes the feedback in stride and wishes to grow from it.  It's rather refreshing. 

 

[Henry Ford]

I hope it wasn't me. It doesn't seem like it would be. Even if I was yelling at her (which, seriously, I wasn't) it seems like an extreme reaction to an unserved entree.  But she got the manager, so it might have been just oversensitivity. I don't know. I can't know. I'm over it.  

Honestly, first thing I thought when I read it was “this is a big table, most of what I’ll make tonight, and I just screwed it up” or “I kept everyone here for this table that’s going to be here forever and we aren’t even going to make any money on it because of my screw up.”  Then tears. 

 

[General Malaise]

Can you still draw on the table cloths at Mac Grill?  

 

[Henry Ford]

Can you still draw on the table cloths at Mac Grill?  

If you have your own pen and don’t care about consequences you can draw on any table cloth anywhere. 

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Can you still draw on the table cloths at Mac Grill?  

Yes

 

[General Malaise]

Yes

Nice.  I don't feel like just kids should get to color when they dine out. 

Maybe Rock should have just drawn out how he was feeling instead of ruining everybody's evening with his words. 

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Nice.  I don't feel like just kids should get to color when they dine out. 

Maybe Rock should have just drawn out how he was feeling instead of ruining everybody's evening with his words. 

My wife worked at Mac Grill for years. Did training for them too. She can still write her name upside down and backwards.

 

[Dickies]

How the #### is Macaroni Grill in business. Haven’t seen one of those in a decade. 

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

How the #### is Macaroni Grill in business. Haven’t seen one of those in a decade. 

1. The food is decent for a chain place.

2.  This is America.

 

[Dickies]

1. The food is decent for a chain place.

2.  This is America.

Nope. The food is awful. 

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

Nope. The food is awful. 

Your face is awful.

 

[CurlyNight]

If you have your own pen and don’t care about consequences you can draw on any table cloth anywhere. 

 

[rockaction]

Honestly, first thing I thought when I read it was “this is a big table, most of what I’ll make tonight, and I just screwed it up” or “I kept everyone here for this table that’s going to be here forever and we aren’t even going to make any money on it because of my screw up.”  Then tears. 

I never even thought of that angle as she was serving other big tables, but that's a good take on it. So is the italicized. So many reasons. It's okay. My family's good, I'm good, I hope she's good. Wasn't necessarily her fault. I'm really over it, but for this thread I took out.  

 

[rockaction]

Rock is like the anti-MOP.  Instead of relating a story where a female server ends up in tears and then getting defensive about it, Rock takes the feedback in stride and wishes to grow from it.  It's rather refreshing. 

Thanks, man. I did survey the FFA for that purpose, and got it. Pro tips abound here. I just don't want to be in a situation like that again, really. It was embarrassing for everybody there. I hate that. Ingenue, yes. Willing to listen.  

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Keep in mind I'm being calm. The waitress starts to cry. I don't have my glasses on so I can't see, but this is what my family tells me. It gets uncomfortable

Disclosure:. I read this in Sol Rosenberg's voice

 

[DallasDMac]

Is Rock the chicken?

 

[General Malaise]

How the #### is Macaroni Grill in business. Haven’t seen one of those in a decade. 

They had a spicy shrimp pasta dish that was pretty good.

 

[Thunderlips]

Did I handle this correctly?

So my niece comes back from college, it's the first time I see her, my brother only has custody of her for the night, so we (my family and I) go out to dinner. At the Macaroni Grill, sadly, but that's what we got. So anyway, this is a place that's made us wait an hour and a half for our food before, has generally given bad service, etc. I don't really want to go there, but that's where the family is going, so I say okay. So we order. And wait. And wait. The table of fourteen that has come in after us gets served. Reasonably soon after (and I say this charitably) we get served. We've been talking the whole time, having a good time, catching up. The food comes out. It's 

• cold
  
• wrong
  

Mine is non-existent. We've been waiting an hour, mind you. They look confused. I tell them calmly, nicely, to take my food off the order and the bill. They insist that they'll get it. But I don't want to wait another ####### hour for food. So I say, firmly, " no, I don't want that. Please don't serve me and remove the charge from the bill, please." Keep in mind I'm being calm. The waitress starts to cry. I don't have my glasses on so I can't see, but this is what my family tells me. It gets uncomfortable, as if it wasn't already. So my mother starts saying "rock, rock" like I'm supposed to change what I'm saying. I don't want to be there for another hour. 

It ends. Then the manager comes over. Asks about the lamb shank. I say, "please just bring me a piece of bread and forget it." 

On the way to the parking lot, get a lecture from the Moms telling me that I was making everybody "uncomfortable." I'm not one to ruin a server's night, though. 

I'm sideways and on tilt. What is this ####?  What's the pro play?  

You're fine.*  I'd have done the same thing.

* Unless you were acting completely insane and are whitewashing it for us. 

 

[dickey moe]

Disclosure:. I read this in Sol Rosenberg's voice

 So did I. Wonder if he brought his shoes also. So he has them.

 

[rockaction]

You're fine.*  I'd have done the same thing.

* Unless you were acting completely insane and are whitewashing it for us. 

Nah, dead serious. My family is super non-confrontational, especially my brother's wife's side. But I got pro tips in this thread.  

Just want to make sure next time goes smoothly.  

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I never even thought of that angle as she was serving other big tables, but that's a good take on it. So is the italicized. So many reasons. It's okay. My family's good, I'm good, I hope she's good. Wasn't necessarily her fault. I'm really over it, but for this thread I took out.  

Over-analysis is your friend.

 

[Osaurus]

Was this at Romano’s Macaroni Grill?

 

[rockaction]

Was this at Romano’s Macaroni Grill?

I think so?  Seems to be.  

 

[Jules Winnfield]

The server crying over this means she must have been menstruating

She should’ve just stayed home

 

[Jules Winnfield]

No doubt it makes everyone uncomfortable when you aren't eating while they are.  It was the wrong move.  You should have switched your order to something that could be prepared quickly.

Say what? 

If Macaroni Grill “chefs” can’t time dishes correctly

OR

The expo can’t direct food runners properly

OR

The server is overwhelmed and can’t keep up and management doesn’t know how to help

then that isn’t the wrong move. I go to a restaurant to order lamb chops, halibut, etc...whatever dish and everyone’s food comes out and mines over cooked, cold, etc...I am not going to order a lame pasta to eat so others don’t feel uncomfortable...F! that, I’m not doing that.

I will let everyone know that they can go ahead and eat while I wait. 

He did NOT make the wrong move

 

[rockaction]

We all know a happy ending is impossible as soon as rockaction mentioned the restaurant name.

Who picked The Macaroni Grill anyway?

The niece, who loves her carbs.  She's eighteen -- it's not a transgression against all things good. It's somebody who likes their Mac and cheese.  

eta* I hate the place and would never go there if I had a choice. I'd rather wait at the Olive Garden, especially around here.  

 

[rockaction]

This is what the FFA can be. This was gold for me. Some of my favorite posters in this thread, felled by otherwise strong feelings about politics or health. Miss you guys. 

 

[BigJim®]

Did I handle this correctly?

So my niece comes back from college, it's the first time I see her, my brother only has custody of her for the night, so we (my family and I) go out to dinner. At the Macaroni Grill, sadly, but that's what we got. So anyway, this is a place that's made us wait an hour and a half for our food before, has generally given bad service, etc. I don't really want to go there, but that's where the family is going, so I say okay. So we order. And wait. And wait. The table of fourteen that has come in after us gets served. Reasonably soon after (and I say this charitably) we get served. We've been talking the whole time, having a good time, catching up. The food comes out. It's 

• cold
  
• wrong
  

Mine is non-existent. We've been waiting an hour, mind you. They look confused. I tell them calmly, nicely, to take my food off the order and the bill. They insist that they'll get it. But I don't want to wait another ####### hour for food. So I say, firmly, " no, I don't want that. Please don't serve me and remove the charge from the bill, please." Keep in mind I'm being calm. The waitress starts to cry. I don't have my glasses on so I can't see, but this is what my family tells me. It gets uncomfortable, as if it wasn't already. So my mother starts saying "rock, rock" like I'm supposed to change what I'm saying. I don't want to be there for another hour. 

It ends. Then the manager comes over. Asks about the lamb shank. I say, "please just bring me a piece of bread and forget it." 

On the way to the parking lot, get a lecture from the Moms telling me that I was making everybody "uncomfortable." I'm not one to ruin a server's night, though. 

I'm sideways and on tilt. What is this ####?  What's the pro play?  

Sort of reminds me of my birthday dinner at Olive Garden a few years back with wife and 2 children. We got just 3 of the famously all you can eat breadsticks during the hour we were waiting, because they were running short. I just basically gave up asking. The waitress spilled a pitcher of water in my lap at some point before food arrived, and seemed barely apologetic. As I sat in soggy pants, everyone's food but mine came. I considered saying eff it like you did, but I was hell bent on having my #&@% birthday tour of italy, come hell or high water. By the time mine was served (multiple "it'll be right out" updates... yeah), everyone else was done eating. After all that happened over 2 hours, I had to flag down someone else's waiter to get a check... 15 minutes later we got a fly-by a non discounted check placed on the table. It's in my nature to get sort of nasty with such pathetic service, but for some reason I shook it off that night. When that many things go wrong, I just wanted out. 

 

[rockaction]

Sort of reminds me of my birthday dinner at Olive Garden a few years back with wife and 2 children. We got just 3 of the famously all you can eat breadsticks during the hour we were waiting, because they were running short. I just basically gave up asking. The waitress spilled a pitcher of water in my lap at some point before food arrived, and seemed barely apologetic. As I sat in soggy pants, everyone's food but mine came. I considered saying eff it like you did, but I was hell bent on having my #&@% birthday tour of italy, come hell or high water. By the time mine was served (multiple "it'll be right out" updates... yeah), everyone else was done eating. After all that happened over 2 hours, I had to flag down someone else's waiter to get a check... 15 minutes later we got a fly-by a non discounted check placed on the table. It's in my nature to get sort of nasty with such pathetic service, but for some reason I shook it off that night. When that many things go wrong, I just wanted out. 

Oof. That sounds awful. Sorry, BigJim.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Mine is non-existent. We've been waiting an hour, mind you. They look confused. I tell them calmly, nicely, to take my food off the order and the bill. They insist that they'll get it. But I don't want to wait another ####### hour for food. So I say, firmly, " no, I don't want that. Please don't serve me and remove the charge from the bill, please." Keep in mind I'm being calm.

Unfortunately I've had to do this once before.  It was no big deal -- the person handling our table understood and didn't seem to take it personally.  It sucks that your waitress overreacted, but that's not your fault.

(I know I'm responding to a post from three years ago, but there's no statute of limitations on FFA advice).

 

[rockaction]

Unfortunately I've had to do this once before.  It was no big deal -- the person handling our table understood and didn't seem to take it personally.  It sucks that your waitress overreacted, but that's not your fault.

(I know I'm responding to a post from three years ago, but there's no statute of limitations on FFA advice).

Thanks. I don't know what prompted me to bump the thread other than Ditkaless Wonders in fine form, as well as Henry Ford, Tanner, and yourself. It's really a dead issue and I now know probably how to handle it batter. Just allow them to get something quick and easy on the table, like macaroni at the Macaroni Grill. Some sort of pasta with sauce. Anything, really. Just keep it moving on down the line. 

And don't order fancy stuff at a place like that. It'll turn out badly, most likely. 

 

[Dezbelief]

And don't order fancy stuff at a place like that. It'll turn out badly, most likely. 

I had a buddy learn that lesson for me, we stopped at a small town truck stop for food. I ordered a burger, he ordered shrimp. Food poisoning hit him so hard that night he went to the ER.

 

[rockaction]

I had a buddy learn that lesson for me, we stopped at a small town truck stop for food. I ordered a burger, he ordered shrimp. Food poisoning hit him so hard that night he went to the ER.

That's a no-no even I wouldn't do. Ordering a shank at the Macaroni Grill doesn't seem quite as drastic, but I learned. Try and stay away from the most intricate and expensive thing on the menu when dining at a place that is a little more cookie cutter and friendlier to standard orders, like the Macaroni Grill. Lesson learned.