if you order a dish in Thailand and it's not cooked how you like it, would you send it back?

[Mike_Hunt]

2 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

For me it is a resounding yes.

 

Countless times i've ordered thai food not spicy, then too spicy, steaks medium well, then raw, burgers cooked well done, then raw in the middle.

curries not spicy, blew my firggin head off.

beer with no ice, comes in a glass filled with ice.

pizza with no pineapple, theres pineapple all over the shop.

 

the worst and most dangerous is under-cooked chicken. many times ive sent chicken back that was still pink inside, that is extremely dangerous and could actually kill someone.

 

time to up your game, thailand.

get your bleedin act together!

 

regards,

bob.

 

Cool story bro. 

[Robert_Smith]

24 minutes ago, connda said:

I went to a restaurant about 17 years ago in Korat and ordered a filet minion medium well. I did so knowing that cooks tend to undercook steaks so I expected to have a nice medium steak.  I got the steak on a plate swimming in blood.  I sent it back.  The staff we beyond impolite.  They were unhappy.  In retrospect they probably "lost face."  Sending a steak back in the US was never, ever was a problem.  Like I said, you can undercook a steak and fix it.  You can't overcook a steak and fix it. So I expect uncooked meat. Anyway, got the steak back still in a pool of blood. They didn't give me a new plate, just plopped it back in the now cold pool of blood.  I'm sure they did that on purpose.
I got up, paid for the meal, and left vowing never to return or recommend that restaurant to anyone.  I even wrote the farang owner who offered me a free meal.  I didn't take him up on it, not because of anything he did - he did the right thing and tried to make it right.  But rude, impolite, and unaccommodating staff are a business-killer. Food can be fixed, but I don't abide by rude staff. Someone needed to be fired. Especially for the price I paid for that meal - multiples of what the staff gets paid. That only happens once and you lose my business for good. That restaurant lost my business for good. 

Face is without a doubt the worst facet of Thai culture.

 

When an adult cannot admit that they are wrong and apologize, then they are nothing but mere children.

 

regards,

bob.

[worgeordie]

Macho Bob , complaining if his food has a chili in it , this is part 2 of complaining

about having to send food back ,because not made to his liking , poor Bob ,nothing

ever seems to go well for him , 

 

regards worgeordie

 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, CharlieH said:

I think I've had cause to do this about 3 times in the last 20 years!

 

The reason in every case, was too much chilli for me to handle. Never experienced any other issues with the food I'm happy to report.

 

The one thing that does get me upset quite quickly on the service issue, is the Thai insistence on NOT bringing the food to the table complete.By this I mean, if there are 2 of you or more, everyone gets there food at different times. Accompanying things like garlic bread, doesn't arrive until after you've eaten Yr meal! Timing on food is awful, many times I've actually finished my food before others have even got theirs!

Not the only 'operator' that delivers part of the order late.

 

I flew AA from Tokyo to Texas. With one meal AA offered heavily discounted small bottles of a well known popular white wine, with the meal. Full flight.

 

Well before service stared the American lady next to me pressed the cabin crew button, crew member came 10 minutes later all in a fluster.

 

Passenger asked 'Do I order the white wine now or what?"

Crew member (quite overweight older American lady) didn't know. Passenger said 'well I would like an answer. Crew lady disappeared, 10 minutes later returned 'Order it when your tray table is distributed'.

 

Much later tray comes, crew member is totally disorganized had to continuously go back to the galley for something.

 

Lady next to me and myself said 'we would like to order the white wine'.  Response 'you're too late have to order in advance. American lady starting to lose it says 'but you're the crew member who told us earlier cannot order in advance.

 

Older crew member lady shrugs and walks away.

 

We arrived, same old crew member standing just inside the aircraft door with 2 bottles of white wine, opened and a sign showing the 2 seat numbers.

 

American passenger says it's way too late, I don't want it now and I rather doubt it's legal to walk into the airport with an open bottle of wine in my hands. Crew member says '$8.95 please'.

American passenger brushes the crew member aside and keeps walking, I did the same.

[Robert_Smith]

1 minute ago, scorecard said:

Not the only 'operator' that delivers part of the order late.

 

I flew AA from Tokyo to Texas. With one meal AA offered heavily discounted small bottles of a well known popular white wine, with the meal. Full flight.

 

Well before service stared the American lady next to me pressed the cabin crew button, crew member came 10 minutes later all in a fluster.

 

Passenger asked 'Do I order the white wine now or what?"

Crew member (quite overweight older American lady) didn't know. Passenger said 'well I would like an answer. Crew lady disappeared, 10 minutes later returned 'Order it when your tray table is distributed'.

 

Much later tray comes, crew member is totally disorganized had to continuously go back to the galley for something.

 

Lady next to me and myself said 'we would like to order the white wine'.  Response 'you're too late have to order in advance. American lady starting to lose it says 'but you're the crew member who told us earlier cannot order in advance.

 

Older crew member lady shrugs and walks away.

 

We arrived, same old crew member standing just inside the aircraft door with 2 bottles of white wine, opened and a sign showing the 2 seat numbers.

 

American passenger says it's way too late, I don't want it now and I rather doubt it's legal to walk into the airport with an open bottle of wine in my hands. Crew member says '$8.95 please'.

American passenger brushes the crew member aside and keeps walking, I did the same.

what the hell has that got to do with Thailand???

 

regards,

bob.

[ChipButty]

This is were Thai's have a stinking attitude in restaurants as they don't like being told they are wrong or you sending back your food, 

We don't eat out much these days only if we have family or friends down for a few days but we will always stick to the same places we know, 

Last year in May my daughter and her husband and the little one came for 2 weeks holiday, and they stayed at a 5 star hotel in Karon, it was the first time her husband been here to Thailand, so we used to go out to eat somewhere different every night, Most of it was disappointing and on most occasions it was food under cooked, They let themselves down badly, 

The only places that were any good was were a Farang was involved, a well known chain on the island half cooked burgers, another place half cooked pizza;s, another place green curry was like a bowl of piss, my wife and daughter ordered the same, 

The only good places was a Iranian restaurant in Nai Harn, and a Turkish place in Karon, both gave us loads to eat,  

[proton]

Give it to the mrs, she will eat anything😆

[impulse]

I've never sent any food back, but I have left some Thai food on the table when it was too spicy for me.  I just order something else.  That's just one of the risks I accept when a wimp like me eats out where even "not too spicy" is too spicy for me.

 

I'd do the same if they brought undercooked meat. (Though I don't recall that ever happening.)   I'd order something else and leave the undercooked meat on the table.  It's not like it's going to affect my finances.  But when some Thai workers are making 300 baht a day (or less), it may make the difference between a good day and a bad day for them.

 

[Robert_Smith]

14 minutes ago, impulse said:

But when some Thai workers are making 300 baht a day (or less), it may make the difference between a good day and a bad day for them.

...oh my heart bleeds for them.... honest.

 

regards,

bob.

[Harrisfan]

28 minutes ago, Robert_Smith said:

...oh my heart bleeds for them.... honest.

 

regards,

bob.

Are any of these stories true?

[KireB]

First you smile, than you ask to get it re-cook it. Always works for me.

[champers]

3 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

Hope you get a nice dose of food poisoning soon, so you know exactly what I am talking about bruv/chumps....

 

regards,

bob.

Sick.

[richard_smith237]

Its very very dependent...

 

... Where I am, what food it is, my expectations and how much I'm paying. 

 

The last times I complained about the quality of food somewhere - I first called over the bill. Paid it. Then called the manager and explained the issue... Telling him, I'm not complaining because I want a discount... I'm complaining because there is a genuine issue.

 

 

In most cases... 

If its a cheap Thai restaurant and a steak doesn't come out right - I'll accept it. 

If its an expensive international restaurant and a steak comes out over cooked - I'll return it. 

If its an expensive international restaurant and a steak comes out slightly undercooked - I wont mind.

 

If the food comes out more spicy than expected, I'll give it a go.

 

 

I think a lot of the time, there is a way to complain or say something is not right that can be respectful and get the point across.... If the restaurant does not receive the complaint / advice - pay up walk straight out, thats it.

 

------------

 

The biggest issue I face is the wrong dish coming out...   

Wife orders or I order, we both understand whats been said.... the waitress makes a mistake, forgets, brings the wrong thing, misunderstands etc etc...   but we always get them to repeat and even then the wrong dish comes out !!!....  the mind boggles... 

...  if its something we are ok with eating, we'll have it... If not, it goes back... Simple really, nothing personal, nothing to get upset about...

... mistakes happen, they're more common in restaurants here. 

[Robert_Smith]

12 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

.. mistakes happen, they're more common in restaurants here.

...why do you think that is?

 

regards,

bob.

[Stocky]

3 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

it's my human right to moan.

 

regards,

bob.

I wasn't suggesting you weren't allowed to moan, just pointing out that that's pretty much all you do every day.

 

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone.

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

 

Cheer up Robert.

[richard_smith237]

11 minutes ago, Robert_Smith said:

23 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

.. mistakes happen, they're more common in restaurants here.

...why do you think that is?

 

regards,

bob.

 

Numerous reasons... in no specific order.

 

1) Being a Waiter here is a career job - not usually pursued by the brightest, but good restaurants look after their quality staff and treat them very well.

2) Being a Waiter is boring - its mind numbing, they are often treated poorly by poor restarants.

3) Waiting here is paid terribly low, what can we expect ??

4) Being a Waiter in Europe is a 'part time job' - they are usually students or working towards something else, they're generally smarter.

5) Language issue - a lot of waiters in tourist area's are often not Thai and may not understand us clearly when we speak Thai to them (even our Thai wives, hence the mistakes).

 

 

In short - if we are expecting the consistent same standards here that we would in decent restaurants back in the West, we'd be stupid....    meanwhile, the crappy restaurants here and the West have fairly crappy service. 

 

 

[rough diamond]

17 minutes ago, Robert_Smith said:

...why do you think that is?

 

regards,

bob.

Because you claim to have been there and complained.

[richard_smith237]

16 minutes ago, Stocky said:

I wasn't suggesting you weren't allowed to moan, just pointing out that that's pretty much all you do every day.

 

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;
Weep, and you weep alone.

~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox

 

Cheer up Robert.

 

Not quite so for Bob... 

 

"Laugh and the world laughs at him"

"Weep and the world weeps laughing at him"

 

 

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

what the hell has that got to do with Thailand???

 

regards,

bob.

 

It has a lot to do with the context of 'YOUR' thread Bob....   

 

His point was about quality of service and not accepting poor quality - this is exactly what your thread is about.... 

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

Face is without a doubt the worst facet of Thai culture.

 

When an adult cannot admit that they are wrong and apologize, then they are nothing but mere children.

 

100% Agree... But 'saving face' is not soley a Thai or an Asian custom, many threads on here we'll see guys arguing black is blue just to save face when they are so clearly wrong - its as amusing as it is childish.

 

Regarding, food, restaurants, service quality, issues etc... there is a right way to handle everything and if we go about 'our side' of the conversation correctly, the 'other-side' of the conversation should fall into place... 

... If it doesn't they why worry... pay, leave, don't go back !!!... Places rely on return custom and its why places remain in custom.... 

 

... This is particularly more important in area's of high repeat footfall, such as many many restaurants in Bangkok that rely on repeat trade - We go back to many of the same restaurants because the food is reliable and staff excellent.... 

 

... In area's of high tourist footfall, the standards are usually lower...  I suspect this for a number of reasons... Transient / seasonal staff... and the owners don't care, they've become jaded and they know there is little repeat trade.

 

 

 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Its very very dependent...

 

... Where I am, what food it is, my expectations and how much I'm paying. 

 

The last times I complained about the quality of food somewhere - I first called over the bill. Paid it. Then called the manager and explained the issue... Telling him, I'm not complaining because I want a discount... I'm complaining because there is a genuine issue.

 

 

In most cases... 

If its a cheap Thai restaurant and a steak doesn't come out right - I'll accept it. 

If its an expensive international restaurant and a steak comes out over cooked - I'll return it. 

If its an expensive international restaurant and a steak comes out slightly undercooked - I wont mind.

 

If the food comes out more spicy than expected, I'll give it a go.

 

 

I think a lot of the time, there is a way to complain or say something is not right that can be respectful and get the point across.... If the restaurant does not receive the complaint / advice - pay up walk straight out, thats it.

 

------------

 

The biggest issue I face is the wrong dish coming out...   

Wife orders or I order, we both understand whats been said.... the waitress makes a mistake, forgets, brings the wrong thing, misunderstands etc etc...   but we always get them to repeat and even then the wrong dish comes out !!!....  the mind boggles... 

...  if its something we are ok with eating, we'll have it... If not, it goes back... Simple really, nothing personal, nothing to get upset about...

... mistakes happen, they're more common in restaurants here. 

My daughter in law's big brother is a full on loud talk too much lady boy. We stopped going to dinner when he comes to town because he causes total confusion with the food order. 

 

Orders his meal then 2 minutes tells another waiter to cancel it. Three kids order meals, all done, same they have ordered / eaten before, but L.boy then insists 'no you won't like that, you should have xxx then tells the waiter to change that kids order.

 

My son intervenes, tells ladyboy to be quiet and reinstates what his 3 daughters have ordered. all done.

 

Ladyboy says he's going to the toilet finds the waiter are reverses the food order again. and cancels what his sister (my son's wife) has ordered along with 'don't you remember when you were a little girl you got sick from that food, then tells the waiter 'cancel' and ladyboy orders new food for his sister.

 

Then ladyboy says that I will have to go to a different restaurant because this one has no farang food. Son now annoyed tells his l'boy BIL, 'the farang eats Thai food every day because he likes Thai food and spicy'.

 

I don't go to another restaurant.

 

Now when L.boy come to town son's wife makes phone / online orders for pizza, hamburgers and KFC for home delivery. When delivery rider comes with the food, L.boy is prevented from trying to talk to the delivery boy.  

[JAG]

5 hours ago, connda said:

went to a restaurant about 17 years ago in Korat and ordered a filet minion medium well.

Pedantic I know, but why would you wish to dine off a monocular children's cartoon character (a minion) with its bones removed?

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, JAG said:

Pedantic I know, but why would you wish to dine off a monocular children's cartoon character (a minion) with its bones removed?

 

Loved those movies !!!

 

[JamesPhuket10]

3 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

...why do you think that is?

 

regards,

bob.

 

It is probably not a fact but a perception.

 

Food in Thailand is cheap so the average Joe living here can afford to go and eat out almost every day, a high number of visits means more chance of a dodgy meal being served.

 

The same people could not afford to eat out every day in their own country due to the cost hence less chance of a dodgy meal. 

 

That is one explanation. 

 

I for one hardly ever go to restaurants in Thailand, because I have seen the kitchens, many of them would be closed down in places like the UK.

 

Another is I had a 200-seat Thai restaurant in England for 27 years (I did not work in it as it was a side business) so restaurants are not appealing to me.

 

But I prefer to have my meals cooked at home with meat from NZ or Australia, with local vegetables, etc, that way I know I am getting quality food and know it is clean and healthy food. 

 

Plus I will never have the "I drank three beers but had to pay for four beers catastrophe as I don't think I could ever survive one of those". 😃

 

[FriscoKid]

Bob, you need to dump the "undercooked food and I'm pissed off" theme. You've done it to death already.

 

What we need is for you to re-energize us with one of your fabulous stories about going out on the piss in Soi 6, trannies and all. It's been a while since we've heard from you on that front. Cmon Bob, give the boys an update on your nightly escapades. That's what we really need!

[Robert_Smith]

1 minute ago, FriscoKid said:

What we need is for you to re-energize us with one of your fabulous stories about going out on the piss in Soi 6, trannies and all.

given the time of night, is that where you are just coming home from?

 

how's your ar$e feeling right now??

 

regards,

bob.

[FriscoKid]

1 minute ago, Robert_Smith said:

given the time of night, is that where you are just coming home from?

 

how's your ar$e feeling right now??

 

regards,

bob.

Not tonight Bob, was thinking about it and then decided I couldn't be arsed. 
 

Arse is doing good. Feels like an arse. What about your arse? Does it feel like a milkshake?

[Robert_Smith]

4 minutes ago, FriscoKid said:

What about your arse?

bit musky as i've had the $hits for the past few days..

 

regards,

bob.

[LALes]

Undercooked chicken or bacon and overcooked beef...you bet I will send it back.  Especially, in upscale places where you're paying real money.

[AlexRRR]

18 hours ago, Robert_Smith said:

For me it is a resounding yes.

 

Countless times i've ordered thai food not spicy, then too spicy, steaks medium well, then raw, burgers cooked well done, then raw in the middle.

curries not spicy, blew my firggin head off.

beer with no ice, comes in a glass filled with ice.

pizza with no pineapple, theres pineapple all over the shop.

 

the worst and most dangerous is under-cooked chicken. many times ive sent chicken back that was still pink inside, that is extremely dangerous and could actually kill someone.

 

time to up your game, thailand.

get your bleedin act together!

 

regards,

bob.

 

My experience once out of BKK its a crap shoot on ordering food, and im with you with the undercooked chicken, look they just toss any meat and just and I mean just brown it, food in Pattaya just about everywhere is ordinary, when you do find a decent place go back 2 months later its crap, honestly this place is the worst on the planet for restaurant food.