Restaurants...to complain or not to complain?!

A couple of weeks ago friends came over from Taiwan and my husband and I decided this would be a great opportunity to go out for dinner, catch up on gossip and generally have a good time, and indeed it was a good time. However, the evening did provoke a discussion, and that is, if you're not entirely happy with food or service in a restaurant should you complain and potentially receive food complete with 'extras', or do the British thing, and sit and not happily, whilst inside you're seething.

Let me tell you a bit more about my character in this tale. It takes a lot for me to complain in a restaurant, I'm 37 and have been 'eating out' in the broadest sense for 20 years - yet I can only remember complaining in a restaurant 3 times, and all 3 were this year (2 in one night). So what's changed, am I more appreciative of service? Am I becoming a grumpy old woman? or have I finally grown a preverbial set of 'balls' when it comes to eating out?

Anyway back to dinner. The evening started very well, gin and tonics all around and time to sample the menu, which looked delicious. Starters consisted of twice baked cheese souffles, salads, scallops and terrine - all rather yummy. Main courses consisted of 'slow roasted duck breast' (me), and steak (remaining 3). Now, I was waiting for the slow roasted duck breast, as to me slow roasted should mean soft, melt in the mouth duck. However it wasn't, it was slightly touch, chewy and tasted like it had been flash fried and not rested. So, I did the unthinkable, I complained (in a very nice and polite way). When asked if the food was ok, I informed the waitress that the duck breast was tough and did not taste like it was slow roasted, but flash fried and not rested. I was informed by the waitress that it had been slow roasted AND flash fried - oh lordy me, how long had they been cooking this poor little duck breast. Anyway, the waitress offered to cook a steak for me quickly as an alternative, and I accepted, and asked for the steak rare, which is how I like it. Bearing in mind that I had eaten one mouthful of duck breast, I was now a little hungry. Suffice to say the steak arrived very quickly, and looked delicious. I cut into it and it was certainly rare, but it was ice cold in the centre. Now I know that there is a debate raging vis a vis chilled steak and room temperature, but my foot is firmly in the 'room temperature' camp. I could not eat the steak, and after one mouthful, yep you've guessed it, I once again did the unthinkable. I was told that it was my fault the steak was cold in the centre as I "didn't like" the duck, so they'd rushed to cook an alternative for me. Hang on a cotton picking minute, don't they bring a number of steaks to room temperature anyway to cook to order? Nope, I was informed as most people like their steak medium to well done???!. In frustration I told her to take it away.

Desert was a better affair, after all how could they screw up cheese and crackers. But when the bill came, I'd been charged £13 for a main course - when I pointed out that I had not eaten a main course, yes you've guessed it, the waitress told me that because I "didn't like" any of the main courses I ordered, they were just charging me for the cheapest one on the menu...aaaaarrrrrrrrrrrgh. Bearing in mind that the bill between 4 of us was £230, I thought this was a bit rough.

Now the place where this fiasco occured is usually pleasant, and I understand has a good local reputation, and no doubt I received some little 'extras' and floaters on my food after complaining, and as its something I don't do lightly, took a great deal to voice my opinions- however what I don't appreciate is being made to feel like the rudest person in the world by commenting on food - so what would you do, what should I do...no wonder us Brits nod politely and say its fine when asked about the food, as making a comment in the UK is not worth considering.

So where did it happen...of course I won't use the blog to name and shame, but the restaurant is in Wrightington near Standish, Wigan, Lancashire, and name is the High Moor.

See you for now
Cath