YumSugar

What Would You Do?

YumSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:00:44 -0700

We've all been in crazy situations, and I want to know how you handle entertaining fiascoes and bad restaurant behavior. I'll present a situation and you tell me what you would do. Here's today's scenario:

Your parents are visiting from out of town. You want to take them out to a nice but not too fancy dinner as a send-off, but it's Sunday and lots of places are closed. You've been wandering around for a while, and now everyone is hungry! You duck into one of the city's regarded restaurants on the off chance they have a table, and they do.

When you sit down, you realize this is much more of a fine dining experience than you were seeking. Three-course meals are the only option, and the price tag is high.

Not quite French Laundry level, but you were looking for something more casual. You can afford it, and since you're already seated, it's awkward to leave. What do you do? It happened to me, actually. Find out what I did.

What Would You Do?

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:00:22 -0700

You and a friend have sidled up to the bar at a small French bistro famous for burgers. You share the burger and a bowl of mussels, which are so good, you want to enjoy them to the last bite. But before you're finished eating, the waiter starts accosting you with polite, yet passive-aggressive questions like, "May I take your plate? Are you done with that?" You're still working on the mussels, but the shell plate - and all your silverware - get cleared without asking! After a few attempts to finish your meal sans utensils, you finally throw in the napkin.

Following the aggressively rushed service, you receive your bill, and want to tip accordingly. That's when you realize that the bistro's lone server is standing over you, watching you fill in the gratuity on the bill. What would you do?

To find out what I did - yes, it happened to me at a San Francisco hot spot! - read more.

Despite the server's rushed attitude, I refused to crack under the pressure. After all, I had already finished my meal before I was ready! My friend and I waited for what seemed like an eternity before he walked away and then signed our checks, which, it goes without saying, reflected the terrible service.

What do you think about the way in which the situation was handled? How would you have reacted if it happened to you?

Source

What Would You Do?

partysugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:50:56 -0800

You've heard positive things about a neighborhood pizzeria; upon arrival, the small place is crowded with no empty seats. You approach the waitress/hostess and inquire about a table. She replies in a slow, stoned voice, "Maybe I can find you a table soon. Actually, I don't really know how long the wait is." She doesn't take your name and you feel invisible. Fifteen minutes pass and she randomly offers you and your friend a table to share with another couple. You oblige, even though it's sitting with strangers - you're hungry!

You order salad and pizza. When the salad arrives, it's overflowing and hard to eat. It's clearly being served in a plate that is too small for it. As you eat, more and more lettuce falls off the plate onto the dirty-looking table. You try and motion the waitress - multiple times - but she ignores you. What do you do?

To find out what I did - it happened to me! - read more.

Instead of making a scene with a waitress who obviously had no desire to wait on me, I walked to the bar and stocked up on napkins. Next I placed a ring of napkins around my plate, so when lettuce did fall off, I could still eat it. Needless to say, I did not leave an extremely generous tip.

How would you handle the situation? What do you think of my reaction? Did I overreact?

At One London Restaurant, the Bill Is up to You

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 05:30:17 -0800

With the global economy floundering, restaurants have tried to come up with as many resourceful ideas as possible, from prix fixe dinners to built-in tips, to draw in diners and keep businesses afloat. At London's Little Bay Restaurant, however, one restaurateur has gone where few others have gone before: for the month of February, he's letting his customers decide how much they ought to pay for their meals - if at all. To learn why, read more.

"It's entirely up to each customer whether they give £100 or a penny. All I'm asking is they pay me what they think the food and service is worth," said Peter Ilic, the restaurant's owner, in a statement. "It just seemed the right thing to do with everyone . . . feeling pretty miserable."

This tactic sounds like it could be problematic, considering diners at the restaurant feast on such high-cost items as duck salad and caviar-topped haddock soup. But according to Ilic, the restaurant's made above its average spent per head over the last five days.

This focus on the honor code of customers isn't the first we've seen - last year, we told you about a San Francisco bar with a billing system that relies on the honor code. This is the first incident where I've heard of customers being given the power to decide how much they think a meal is worth. Since most of you said you wouldn't pay the full amount at an honor code-based system, I'm rather surprised by the news that the restaurant's seeing profits. After watching the clip below, tell me: Has Ilic put an admirable concept into practice, or is he simply setting his restaurant up for failure?

Source

What Would You Do?

partysugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:15:03 -0700

You're out at a popular luxury hotel's bar. You and some friends decide to get bottle service at a table. When the waitress delivers the juices, she accidentally dumps an entire carafe of cranberry juice all over you and your brand new (literally you cut the tags off of it that night!) white Prada sweater. What would you do?

To find out what I would do - this very thing happened to DearSugar - read more.

While trying my best not to get upset, I would ask the waitress to come with me to speak with the manager. I would politely explain that the waitress spilled wine on a new sweater and ask for them to cover the dry-cleaning bill. If the stain did not come out, I would hope they got me a replacement sweater.

How would you handle the situation?

Source and Source

What Would You Do?

partysugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:15:46 -0700

You've spent a lot of time planning a fantastic birthday party at your favorite bar. Although the party starts at 9, you made a bunch of small snacks - spiced nuts, truffled popcorn, caramelized peanuts, etc. - for your guests to enjoy with cocktails.

The snacks are prettily set up on a table near an open window that overlooks the street. The party is going fabulously when you look up to see three unidentified guests throwing your homemade goodies out the window! They are trying to hit people outside! What would you do?

To find out what I did - this very thing happened at my birthday party on Saturday night! - read more.

First, I rapidly determined if the food-throwers were random people at the bar or friends of friends. Since they happened to be the cousins of a friend, they were technically a part of my party. I made the food for everyone, but for everyone to eat, not launch at other guests. I walked over to the offenders and said, "Excuse me, that food is not for throwing. Please stop." Then I turned on my heel and left as quickly as possible.

How would you handle the situation? What do you think of my reaction? Did I overreact?

Source

What Would You Do?

YumSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:00:36 -0700

You've just moved into a new neighborhood, and the friendly family next door stops by to say hi. They happen to own a nearby restaurant that you've been curious about and wanting to try. The hang-up? They invite you over, and it turns out their house is disorganized, dirty, and ill kept - which leaves you questioning the restaurant's cleanliness and health standards. As you leave, the family encourages you to come to the restaurant sometime for a meal. What would you do?

To find out what I would do in this scenario - it happened to a friend! - read more.

Because they're such nice neighbors, I'd go to the restaurant to make nice. I would avoid ordering anything raw (like oysters), instead opting for a small dish and a drink. I'd choose something that's popular on the menu, as the food is more likely to be fresh and routinely prepared. And I'd definitely take a look at the health inspection scorecard on my way out!

Source

What Would You Do?

YumSugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:45:34 -0700

You're at a small (but popular) restaurant that sells burgers and sausages to go. When you place your order you're told by the abrasive girl at the counter that your wait will be at least 15 minutes.

Ten minutes into your wait, she suddenly cries out to everyone present:

Hey, listen up everybody! The tip jar is right here, and if you could make a generous contribution that would be great . . . dollars only, please!

What would you do?

To see what I would do in this situation - and it happened to me! - read more.

When this happened to me at a San Francisco restaurant, I was so stunned I wasn't sure what to do. Thankfully, I didn't have to make a decision, because my sweetie, who was waiting with me, wound up putting a dollar or two in the tip jar. If that were to happen to me again, however, I don't think I would tip her. Her salty attitude, combined with her demand for a bills-only tip at a restaurant with no service would not garner a tip from me.

Source

Would You Obey This Honor Code?

YumSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:16:43 -0700

Today in San Francisco, a new bar opens - and a social experiment begins. Honor Bar will have an honor-based billing system. While the wine list suggests prices ranging from $8 to $15 per glass, how much you slide into the provided money slot is entirely up to you and your conscience. The bar will also provide instructions (and a pour-it-yourself area) for a daily champagne cocktail. If this method of payment proves successful, it may spark a whole slew of bars based on the honor code. The appeal? Restaurants save themselves the cost of a bartender.

What do you think of this concept? I'd love to get your two cents (don't cheat me out of it!) Would you pony up the actual amount, or slide in a little less? Fear not; your answers are completely anonymous.

Source

What Would You Do?

partysugar — Thu, 29 May 2008 15:00:59 -0700

You're at a nice, chic restaurant where your table is next to an unlit fireplace. Instead of setting your purse and shawl on the ground, you place them on a shelf next to the fireplace. You have a lovely dinner with good food and great company. After paying the bill, you reach for your purse, and your shawl falls into a crack. You quickly pick it up but realize it's much heavier. Something is stuck to your shawl. Upon closer examination, you realize it's a sticky mouse trap with a furry dead mouse attached! What would you do?

To see what I would do in this situation - true story, it happened to BabySugar! - read more.

I would demand to see the manager immediately. I would ask him to throw away both my shawl and the mouse. Although I had already paid for my meal, I would expect him to give me a complete refund plus extra to cover the cost of the shawl. I would walk out of the restaurant and probably never go there again.

Source, Source and Source