But on the other hand:
Wasn’t I entitled to complain — even in this restaurant — about meat that was too tough?
On the one foot:
My mother was treating for lunch. So how could I embarrass her by saying anything to the establishment about my meat?
But on the other foot:
I have my rights. So what if my mother can chew her meat. Heck, maybe she’ll even be proud of me if I complain. (Not!)
OK, so did you guess what I did?
I excused myself from the table, strode over to the manager, asked him to visit my table, and went back to munching on my vegetables.
When the manager arrived and asked "How is everything?" I had my entrée. "Well," I offered, "my steak is done medium, and it’s difficult for me to chew my steak. I can’t eat it."
The manager chided, "Most people know that the longer a steak is cooked, the harder it is to chew."
Thank goodness for the manager’s rudeness! Now I could care less that I complained! I was absolved!
The manager said he would adjust the bill. I paid the price of a shrimp dinner. I tipped the waitress per the cost of the original steak dinner.
The Upshot: My Take on This
The restaurant customer is always right as long as he is polite (and honest). The management should treat the customer with respect at all times.
The customer need not hesitate (as I did) if he/she is dissatisfied with the food or service. The management should even encourage the customer to speak up, because the management should want to improve its food and service.
What are your thoughts? Happy Eating!
Mr. Ebsen is scheduled to soon be dining out at a family restaurant near you that serves vegetables. Well done.
