Sunday, June 19, 2011

Truth in Menu

So it's father's day today (HAPPY FATHERS DAY BABBO!)
My family met up at this country club for lunch and let me tell you,
not the best dining experience.
First of all, the waitress didn't have a pen to take orders down with (strike one).
Secondly, the menu had errors ALL over it!
Take for example, their "Winter Salad" of goat cheese, cranberries and arugula
(last time I checked, it was June 19th, days before summer).
Also, I had ordered the "Turkey Burger" that was supposed to be on a brioche bun with
pickled onions. What did I receive? A ciabatta roll with no onions at all. Talk about
false advertising! Not to mention that the turkey burger was dry as a bone. Yes, I complained.
And I have to admit, I do feel like a snob sometimes when my family sits there saying , "So
Ms. Food Editor, why don't you like the food?"
The problem 99.9% of the time is either that the FOOD I order is wrong, doesn't match the
description, is undercooked or not cared for at all and overcooked. So, I'm not picky, I just expect decent, edible,truthful food. Is that so hard to ask?!?!
If you ever become a server, KNOW what is in each item. Note the obvious.
--> The only thing they had going for them was the mini fryer basket of sweet potato fries.
For example, if there is a chowder for the day, is it cream-based or Manhattan-style? I asked my server.
Her answer was: "Um... I think it's creamy since it's a chowder".
What did I receive? A broth consisting of tomatoes and vegetables.
So my friends, when it comes to serving and creating a menu, be true to yourself. Update
the descriptions for crying out loud, make it read and seem logical. And it's not a bad idea
to quiz your servers once in a while so that you know that THEY know your food.
These things are crucial, and such tidbits can make or break a restaurant. Don't run the risk
of getting in trouble one day with the "truth-in-menu" law featuring and item that doesn't match
its' description or title. And yet so many restaurants get away with it, I'll never understand.

2 comments:

  1. Wow...did you share any of this with the restaurant? I would think they'd like to know...

    ReplyDelete