Can customers really request a return of restaurant food in the USA?

Can customers really request a return of restaurant food in the USA? - Man Standing in Front of Bowl and Looking Towards Left

In the US version of the TV show Kitchen Nightmares, I see customers returning food for any reason. But when I am in the US, I pointed out problems with the food in restaurants. They apologized but didn't give me replacements and just asked me to pay. In the first occasion, the worker sneezed on my plate. The restaurant owner says that is normal for a person to sneeze and they can't do anything about it. In the second case, I had pizza with crust that was still dough, clearly not finished cooking. They still asked me to pay for it. Should I be able to expect replacement food in such cases? Can they call the police if I refuse to pay?



Best Answer

In addition to Andy's suggestions, if the restaurant is giving you food that they sneezed on, that will be of concern to the state or local department of public health. I would encourage you to contact them and submit a description of what happened. (If you're ever in a similar situation, simply threatening that you will tell the department of public health can sometimes make a difference.)




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Can you send back food in a restaurant?

The consensus among dining experts is that it's OK to send food back to the kitchen if you're not completely happy with it.

What would you do if a customer sent back a meal?

Apologize to the customer for the problem, empathize with his situation and assure him you will act immediately to address his complaint. This is not the time to worry about who is to blame or to make excuses. Remain calm and try to keep the situation from escalating. Thank the customer for pointing out the problem.

What happens when you send food back in a restaurant?

Sending it back lets the chef taste the dish to see if she thinks it should be modified or changed. If you notice any of these red flags you're about to eat at a bad restaurant, you might want to turn around and find a new spot.

What are the common reasons for the guest to return their food?

8 Actually Legit Reasons to Send Back Food at a Restaurant,...
  • You receive the wrong menu item.
  • Your protein's cooked in a way you didn't ask for. ...
  • Your food is burned. ...
  • Your food isn't cooked the way it was described on the menu. ...
  • Your food came out at the wrong temperature. ...
  • Your food is loaded with salt. ...




Survey finds top reason people don't return to restaurants




More answers regarding can customers really request a return of restaurant food in the USA?

Answer 2

Just to simplify, I'd say you don't need to accept food that's sneezed on and you can totally argue with the restaurant owner without fear (as @Andy said, at least if they intend to run the place for more than a week!)

Although with all good intentions, the reason I don't go over legal advice is that sometimes the questioner or whoever sees these questions later, don't live here and not familiar with how things work. Anything that smells court or police involvement, may scare someone to an extent of not saying anything and prefer a mistreat over a dispute with the restaurant!

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Images: Clem Onojeghuo, Kampus Production, Frans van Heerden, Kampus Production