# Do you send food back? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 12, 2016, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-send-food-back/762509 "2016-08-12T00:07:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-send-food-back/762509/101 "2016-08-20T03:40:23Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > This is why I won’t complain about something dreadfully wrong unless already paid for, and would never send anything back. It feels embarrassing. I can’t say that’s a logical response, but that’s the was it is. Nobody wants to be seen as the complainer. You don’t get out much, do you? I’ve had the misfortune of knowing a couple of people who gleefully and fraudulently complain, for the specific purpose of getting free food. I can assure you, that type absolutely does not care what people think of them. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2016, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-send-food-back/762509/102 "2016-08-20T03:56:44Z")
OK, fair enough. _Some people_ want to be the complainer. 😃 > [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > I had not heard that, but it would not surprise me. Waffle House is just the opposite, keeping it’s restaurants cold in order to increase table turnover (or so I’ve heard). I didn’t think Waffle Houses are particularly cold, but they’re also not crammed outside of breakfast (although their pies are _fantastic_). If they turn down the thermostat, it’s more likely because it would otherwise get dreadfully hot. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-send-food-back/762509/103 "2016-08-21T19:11:20Z")
Occasionally, but it has to be a gross or willful mistake, like the day I got served a steak with a bite out of it (having been returned by the table next to us about 20 minutes prior) Needless to say we never returned. (Nick’s in Pacifica --the view is the only thing that keeps it in business) Mostly it’s more trouble to get the order corrected than it’s worth–I vote with my wallet and never return. Too many other places eager to please, you know? ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2016, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-send-food-back/762509/104 "2016-08-22T22:22:04Z")
Sorry but I’ve been having burgers for fifty years and never once had the “waitress” take for granted that I wanted it “well done” ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-send-food-back/762509/105 "2016-08-23T00:36:49Z")
Yes. I would no more pay for incorrect food than I would expect others to pay for bad service in my business. However, I find myself getting irritated at cutsie menu names, especially for breakfast. I’m looking at you, Cracker Barrel. I want eggs, sausage, and grit. I don’t care of Grandma makes it, if Uncle makes it, if Grandpa makes the damned thing or whoever: just give me eggs, sausage, and grits. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-send-food-back/762509/106 "2016-08-23T03:19:06Z")
Very occasionally I’ll send food back, but it has to be something either completely wrong or a dicey proposition to consume. The most recent episode I can recall was about 3 years ago. My stepmom and I were having brunch at a self-proclaimed “upscale” restaurant that is housed in a famous museum in Los Angeles. I don’t usually order seafood dishes unless the restaurant is adjacent to the sea, but this one is pretty close and seemed to care deeply about its reputation. White tablecloths, too much silverware, waitstaff in formal wear, like that. So I took a chance and ordered the Bouillabaisse. The problem I had was with the mussels. Nearly three quarters of them hadn’t opened. An inauspicious start to our meal. To their credit, they whisked the offensive dish away with a great flourish and replaced it with a new one, replete with fresh, opened mussels. I only wish they hadn’t made such a show of it. I had made my complaint quietly and would have liked for them to respond in kind. I guess they wanted to make a point to their other customers that they would take care of such things quickly. But it was embarrassing. Still, there is no way I’m going to knowingly eat bad seafood. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-send-food-back/762509.md?page=5)