Originally intended to document my experience of DeLorean ownership, focus is often radical and strange, boring and obtuse.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

"Char" Broiled Ribs?

There's definitely no E. coli bacteria in these ribs!

When I was tiny little I went somewhere with my grandma and my uncle. I forget where, but I remember thinking, "If they left me out here, how am I going to get back home?"

We decided to eat brunch at a small and probably family-run diner. My uncle pulled his 19-foot Cadillac into the lot, we hopped out and went inside. It was deserted, but the atmosphere was friendly.

My uncle was moderately particular when he ordered his eggs: The yolks had to be a little runny. About 15 minutes later we got our food, but my uncle was displeased. His yolks were as dry as Arizona. My grandma tried to convince him to eat them anyway, but his mind was made up. I cringed when he returned them. I had never seen anyone return food before.

Fast forward about 20-ish years. I was out for a lovely Christmas-type dinner with friends at a chain restaurant and decided this was an event to splurge on. I ordered their chicken and rib dinner with roasted potatoes.

When I got my plate, the roasted potatoes were looking rather french fry-ish, so I kindly notified our waitress. She apologized and took my plate. About 10 per cent of two hours later she returned with my food. Potatoes? Good. Chicken? Good. Ribs? They were.... charcoal. My friends told me to return them, instead of donating them to some needy art student.

I've never returned food before, but when a manager stopped by to ask how our meal was, I informed him that my ribs were completely overcooked. One glance at my plate and he agreed with me, took my plate and walked away.

Mmmm, full of squiggly E. coli.Thirty minutes later, as everyone was ordering dessert, my dinner finally arrived. Everything was correct. The ribs were now a more healthy brown and the sauce was actually saucy. With mixed feelings I ate absolutely every last bit of food on my plate. I felt horrible that so much chicken and ribs from my first plate was wasted. Those poor animals died for what? A cooking lesson for the chef? Their lives were worth more than that. So, despite being stuffed, I continued to eat until eveything was gone.

The manager apologized to me once more and said he had taken care of my meal for me. The waitress stopped by and apologized as well. I wasn't angry, so I told her not to worry. "I know it's not your fault. You didn't cook it." I said.

When the bill arrived, I was happy to see a big fat zero. I was expecting a fight, but was pleasantly surprised. I don't know if it was good customer service or Christmas. And I didn't care.

8 Comments:

Blogger Louisiana said...

oh that is a sweet smile. and may i say, i love ribs..the ribs and chicken combo is a must for me..and potatoes too, well, now i'm in heaven and starving...

glad they took care of the cost. that is good customer service.

3:19:00 PM

 
Blogger Unknown said...

Sometimes some very rare times being nice pays.

10:12:00 PM

 
Blogger Ellie Creek Ellis said...

were you starved by the time you finally got your food?

did you not keep your chicken and potatoes and eat them while your ribs were cooking?

did everyone feel sorry for you and give you bites from their plate as you waited?

did you eat your desert while you were waiting?

did you get desert?

i ate fast food last night. it was good, but the people that worked there were loud, groping each other etc. i wanted to complain, but the man incharge walked right through it completely oblivious...

come to our concert tonight!

9:05:00 AM

 
Blogger honkeie said...

I have a had time complaining about stuff like that. Exspecally if the waitress is nice or has a big rack. i just feel bad, and I also fear that the cook would take a poop in my food.
p.s.
This is was my word verification:
azwpwzqf

10:42:00 AM

 
Blogger Martini said...

No, I couldn't eat my chicken or potatoes because the manager took my entire plate! That surprised me actually.

I'm also afraid of having something disgusting vengefully put into my food, which is a big reason I never complain.

11:45:00 AM

 
Blogger Ham said...

Coming from the perspective of being a former server, we never dislike the customer or wish to vengefully affect their food unless they are arrogant jerkfaces about it. So - no worries for you. It was the kitchen's fault.

12:40:00 PM

 
Blogger Monogram Queen said...

Love that cheesey grin and free food ROCKS

8:36:00 PM

 
Blogger Martini said...

Thanks Ham. I'm always kind to the waitstaff, so I feel a little better. And maybe I just might have the courage to return any poorly cooked food I encounter in the future.

11:52:00 AM

 

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