COMPLAINING IN A RESTAURANT
An easy to follow guide to complaining in a restaurant that won't leave you blushing or raging. This article describes the correct etiquette involved in making a complaint in a restaurant.
Act immediately. The key to successful complaining is to highlight the problem immediately, thereby giving the restaurant the opportunity to resolve the problem with minimum fuss - don't wait until you've eaten half of an inedible meal, or for the bill to arrive, to voice an objection.
Remain calm and objective. You are less likely to get what you want by being rude or aggressive with a waiter. Discreetly call them over, explain the problem, express your disappointment and ask them to resolve the situation. But, it is important to remember that there are limits to what a server can do. They don't cook your food, so don't complain about waiting 30 minutes and still not having your steak. How long does it take to cook yourself a steak at home? Certainly not 15 minutes. Be patient.
Suggest a resolution that matches your complaint. Would an apology be enough? Probably. Its not the server that cooked your burger med-rare instead of medium. Would you like your food replaced? Or do you expect money off the bill? If a meal you have ordered is well cooked and served as described on the menu but you just don't like it, it's unreasonable to demand compensation. However, if you ask politely, many restaurants will be happy to offer you an alternative. If there is a hygiene issue, you are unlikely to want a replacement meal and would probably just like to leave without being charged.
Take it to the next level. If your concerns are not met with an acceptable resolution, ask politely to speak to the manager. Explain the problem and state that you are not satisfied with how it has been resolved.
Immediately report any illness. If, once you've left a restaurant, you become ill from food poisoning that you believe can be traced back to the restaurant, you should immediately report it to the restaurant first. Some municipalities require establishments to report any complaints involving more than one individual eating the same dish on the same day. You should then report it to the local health department or food standards agency if you are not satisfied that they are taking your report seriously and doing their own thorough internal investigation. This is for everyone else's benefit, as well as your own.
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Teacher Albert