Theme music for your post.
OK, right there. There’s your guide. Never ever eat Mexican where the chips and salsa aren’t free.
They should tell you, but you should ask. No one is blameless in this example.
Nice. Even better, you could’ve pretended to call your estate planner.
I’m sorry but that is a gross exaggeration. Yes, some Mexicans use a tortilla to scoop their food but to say it is typical of the way most of us eat is mistaken. I generally roll my tortilla and occasionally use the whole one to make a taco out of the dish I am eating. In our extended family we don’t normally use a tortilla as a spoon or fork.
This is what I was going to say. Those are tortillas. Shells are hard things.
Agree with a very soft “should” … but more importantly this is a good example of a business being very stupid. In general loyal repeat business is the key to a restaurant’s staying power. You want regulars and regulars who love you enough to talk your place up. You do not want someone who is pissed at you as each one of them offset ten people who love you: pissed people complain more than happy people gush. They seriously annoyed a customer who otherwise loves the place over something that costs them pennies. It made them an extra buck that day but it put that loyalty and good word of mouth at risk.
The response he expected of them apologizing for the misunderstanding, taking it off the bill, and clarifying the policy for the future, was the far better option for them to take.
Some find it insulting and presumptuous to caution a customer that there is an added fee for extra food when requested. It’s like you’re worried they can’t afford it or something. If I ask for an extra serving, another glass, or more food, I expect it to cost a reasinable, proportional amount. If you can’t afford it, don’t ask for it. If you maybe can’t afford it, then ask the price before requesting it. IMO, it’s tacky for the server to mention prices unless asked.
That’s kind of the problem for the waiter; some people want to know in advance that there will be an additional charge, while others would be insulted by the perceived suggestion that they can’t afford it. One solution is for the menu to make clear what is and isn’t extra. Some menus I’ve seen indicate which beverages come with free refills (usually fountain beverages) and which don’t (the fancier non-alcoholic drinks).
How much did they charge you for the fork?
In the good old days white rice was free in Chinese restaurants, today it never is. Consider yourself lucky to get any rice at all. I don’t think Indian restaurants around me give away any.
My gf hates making rice for some reason. When she is going to make fried rice she buys a few big take-out cartons from the Chinese place we frequent.
Initially they didn’t want to charge her, but she explained that she’d be happier paying and knowing that she could buy it whenever the need would arise.
I did not expect or want an apology.
I asked for this thread to be locked a few days ago(obviously it was not) because I felt like I was looking like a huge cheapskate or nickel-and-dimer. I can not in writing make clear the impression the waitress made when she spoke to me.
When she asked “Anything else?” and I mentioned more shells(tortillas), it felt very much like she went along with the whole “sure, we’ll throw a couple more in there” vibe that I am trying to relate.
It really was a minor moment.
I think it was the Gringo Tax for calling tortillas “fajita shells.”
I agrre, she should have mentioned it. I would hav asked her why she didnt.
Like beverage refills, I got charged one time for a refill.
I order iced tea with extra ice and lemons? Extra charge? Whe I order nachos (real nachos, with real cheese) I ask for fewer jalpenos and more cheese- extra?
But yeah,I agree , you were scammed.
Here in my pueblito we say “Regálame a glass of water”, or “Regálame extra tortillas”.
Which means “gift me”. And there is no confusion.
Interestingly enough, in just about all the Chinese restaurants around me (lots of them authentic) provide rice for free. On the contrary, just about all the Indian restaurants (most of the authentic) do not.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Chinese restaurant that didn’t include the rice with a meal. And one can usually get fried rice included if you ask for it.