Over at Serious Eats, Robyn Lee put the question to the food community on whether they’d send back an overcooked burger. I’ve found that the majority of recooks sent back to the kitchen are undercooked, but it is an interesting question. Personally I only send a steak or burger back if I’m paying top dollar. I can endure an overcooked $5 burger, but a $45 filet you can bet is going back to the kitchen. It’s also the cook’s job to ensure you get the perfect meal, so no one should feel bad about sending improperly cooked food back. You should only feel bad when you’re a jackass about it. If you left a 10% (or less) tip for the waitress because the cook messed up, then you’re in the jackass category.
Which brings me to my counter question: have you ever sent food back to the kitchen that was either properly cooked or only slightly off in order to get something extra? Whether it’s a new steak to take home, or perhaps the offered free dessert that is the raison d’etre of restaurant management when there’s a problem with a meal, it doesn’t really matter. I’ve seen just this thing happen a number of times, so I know it occurs. But I often wonder about the thought process behind it.
And this isn’t to say you’re being a sinister crook who’s trying to get free food. Although I believe some of you are, what with your shifty eyes and overbearing personality. I think this is a fair question. If we have to hold the restaurants to a standard of honesty and professionalism it is only proper that customers afford the people serving them a standard level of respect. I’ve sat and watched a friend pocket flatware and pepper grinders before, so I am certainly not immune to the moral quandary of being a good customer.
