# Your next action: Bad takeout food **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 27, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268 "2016-04-27T17:27:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/1 "2016-04-27T17:27:10Z")
You get food “to go” from a casual restaurant you’ve visited before and enjoyed. When you get home, there’s something not right with the food; it’s edible, it’s not going to harm you in any way, it’s just… not good. The restaurant is halfway across town, let’s say a 20 minute drive. It was not particularly expensive. What do you do? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/2 "2016-04-27T17:29:27Z")
I go to their website, if they have one, and bitch. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/3 "2016-04-27T17:39:40Z")
They lost me as a customer. My time is too valuable to be wasted calling/writing/etc. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/4 "2016-04-27T17:43:52Z")
Are we talking about something that’s been clearly done incorrectly (it’s not what you ordered; it’s missing an ingredient; it’s clearly under- or over-cooked)? Or just something that doesn’t taste very good? ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/5 "2016-04-27T17:45:41Z")
It depends. Anyone can have an off night and if this restaurant has a good track record, I won’t eliminate them based on a single bad experience. A second time might be enough to avoid them altogether. I’m not really one to complain much, but if it’s really below their usual standard, I’ll say something. Either call or e-mail depending on what I know about how the restaurant is run. Typically, I like putting complaints in writing, but I know some restaurants pay more attention to email than others. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/6 "2016-04-27T17:45:56Z")
Well, if they have a good track record, I’d simply mark it off as a “shit happens” and probably order from them again someday. Upon my next ordering, I might mention very politely, that my last order was a miss. I actually did this with a pizza joint that screwed up my order. Got a free pizza out of the deal. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/7 "2016-04-27T17:47:02Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/8 "2016-04-27T17:53:17Z")
“It depends.” As noted by others, anyone can have an off night. If the quality is lacking when we try them again, **then** we take them off the list. Also as noted, a simple word to the wise to the owner or manager is more helpful than open bitching, and can get you free stuff to boot! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/9 "2016-04-27T17:56:16Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > “It depends.” > > As noted by others, anyone can have an off night. If the quality is lacking when we try them again, **then** we take them off the list. Also as noted, a simple word to the wise to the owner or manager is more helpful than open bitching, and can get you free stuff to boot! Agreed. I would not publicly complain–tell management first if it really was a problem and let them know and try to rectify the situation. Personally, I would chalk it up to an off night and order again, then complain if its consistently off. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/10 "2016-04-27T19:32:36Z")
I complained to a local pizza place I like when a pizza arrived barely warm. They gave me a freebie. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/11 "2016-04-27T19:57:15Z")
I went to a Panera once and got their special-of-the-month sandwich, which ended up being very few ingredients on very thin bread for $10. One of the few ingredients, the cheese, was completely left out. I didn’t realize until I got home, 20 mins away. I was livid because the sandwich was so expensive and the ingredient was so crucial (it was in the sandwich’s name! Something like cheddar apple turkey) I wrote an angry yet calm email to corporate to let them know that the kids working at the place were either not trained well enough or not paying attention, and they really screwed me over. I got a coupon for a free meal. Of course I had to come back to that exact Panera, within 30 days. It was in a weird spot where I rarely travel but I made it back. I made peace. I don’t order their special sandwiches anymore. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/12 "2016-04-27T20:07:37Z")
We have many good restaurants here, and there is no reason why we would go back to one where we had a bad experience. My wife and I suffered food poisoning after eating at a Famous chain restaurant. Once I stopped vomiting I called the manager and he denied that it could be true and as much as accused me of trying to get free meals. Not gonna happen. I have no plans to eat at Dave’s chain restaurant ever again. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/13 "2016-04-27T20:26:53Z")
Food is best at a certain temperature. When it loses that temp, it’s just not as good. You can reheat some items and get back to 90% but you will never get back to 100%. It will \*never \*be as good as eating it there. The OP doesn’t state if I had gotten take out there before. If I did, I would just chalk it up one bad day, everyone has one. If not, I would continue going to the restaurant, but would think twice about take out. We had a Chinese place in L.A. that had ‘special’ dumplings that we quite enjoyed. Tried to get them for take out once and they refused. The owner said that once they cooled down, they were no longer special. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/14 "2016-04-27T20:31:37Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Food is best at a certain temperature. When it loses that temp, it’s just not as good. You can reheat some items and get back to 90% but you will never get back to 100%. It will \*never \*be as good as eating it there. I have to disagree with this statement. Almost every time I take food home for leftovers, it’s always better than it was when it was served fresh. Who knows why? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/15 "2016-04-27T20:44:24Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Food is best at a certain temperature. When it loses that temp, it’s just not as good. You can reheat some items and get back to 90% but you will never get back to 100%. It will \*never \*be as good as eating it there. This is surely a personal quirk, but I tend to like my food not “piping hot” but not quite lukewarm, erring on the cooler side. I find a 10 - 15-minute drive home leaves food at the perfect temperature, for me. When I get food fresh at a restaurant, even if I’m eating there, I let it sit for a few minute before I tuck in. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/16 "2016-04-27T21:35:08Z")
I write a letter or send an email to **the parent company,** the McDonald’s Corporation or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/17 "2016-04-27T22:02:49Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > This is surely a personal quirk, but I tend to like my food not “piping hot” but not quite lukewarm, erring on the cooler side. I find a 10 - 15-minute drive home leaves food at the perfect temperature, for me. When I get food fresh at a restaurant, even if I’m eating there, I let it sit for a few minute before I tuck in. Yeah, not me. There’s definitely a lot of foods that suffer from wait. Anything deep-fried, for instance. There’s even a pizza place I go to where I just ask for the pizza par-cooked (they don’t deliver, it’s pick-up only) and finish it off in my oven, because it just loses so much if I drive home with it. It’s weird, though, because that particular pizza is awesome cold. Great hot. But anywhere in between, and it just doesn’t do it for me. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/18 "2016-04-27T22:17:54Z")
Depends on just how bad it is. If I just don’t like it, I don’t go there again. If they screwed up my order, they are getting a phone call. If they make me happy, I remain a customer. If not, bad Yelp review. If I get food poisoning, and I have very good reason to believe it’s their food (say, people who ate with me also got sick, and we didn’t eat anything else in common), they are getting a call, their main office, if it exists, is getting a call, the health department is getting a call, and I may post to their website too, just in case a large number of people got sick. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/19 "2016-04-27T22:23:46Z")
Other - burn the restaurant to the ground so they can’t ruin anyone else’s life. But seriously, I’m somewhere between never go there again (until enough time has gone by and I’ve forgotten) and depending on the place, give them another shot. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268/20 "2016-04-28T00:17:09Z")
This happened to some friends of mine this weekend. Two weeks previous, when we had last met, we had ordered delivery from a local Chinese place, and we all agreed it was pretty good. Not amazing, but certainly worth the relatively low price. This past weekend, when deciding what to eat, we all said “Well, that Chinese place was pretty good; let’s get it again”. Significantly, this time, each of us ordered something different from what we had the last time. And this time, we all agreed that it was lackluster. Maybe they had a different chef on duty. Maybe they just happen to be better at the dishes we ordered the first time than the dishes we ordered the second time. I dunno. None of us have yet followed up on it, and I don’t know where we’ll order from the next time we meet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-next-action-bad-takeout-food/753268.md?page=2)