Worst. Lunch. Ever.
I really hate to do a post about the worst ‘dining’ experience ever, so to make it fun you can leave your worst experiences in the comments.
Today for lunch a business associate and I decided to try our luck at Baby Acapulco’s by the Gateway Cinema up here by 183 and 360. Unbelievable. Our waitress was a dimwitted girl, and quite unfortunate-looking. She came by to get our order and, as usual, we must have queso to start. I mean, do you ever get Mexican food without starting with the queso?
We finished our chips and salsa and still no queso. When our meal arrived I made sure to tell our server that she should just forget the ‘appetizer’ and make sure it wasn’t on the bill. But then, all we had to deal with was the food. Talk about disappointing. I mean, how can you mess up a taco? Somehow, Baby A’s managed it spectacularly.
Our server never reappeared for the duration of our meal. When we flagged her down with our credit card it was to pay so we could just leave and try to forget this ever happened. For the first time in a very long time, I left absolutely zero for a tip. I did write down, poor service, poor food. I managed to stop myself from asking to speak to the manager, though.
Grade: F x10.
My friend, never, ever go to the 620 Cafe. I had the absolute same experience there multiple times. Barf x 10.
Having spent years working in a resteraunt, you should ALWAYS ask for the manager in a case like this. I know you’re trying to avoid making a scene and looking like an ass, but really you don’t do anyone any favors when things like this go unnoted. It’s not necessary to yell or flip out, just politely explain how bad the service was and nine times out of ten they’ll go out of their way to resolve it. Any manager would rather you walk away saying that you had a horrible experience but that they tried to take care of you in the end. In my resteraunt we’d happily have comped the meal and given you a gift certificate to try to get you to give us another chance.
Yeah, I have to agree with Kyle on this one. The poor service is something that should be addressed so that others don’t suffer. Restaurant management is usually good about this and there’s no reason to be a dick when you do bring it up.
As far as the food sucking…well..it’s Baby A’s. Does anyone go there for anything except the margaritas with everclear in them?
That location is cursed anyway. My wife talked me into going there when it was Bahama Breeze one evening roughly two and a half years ago. What a nightmare. The drinks sucked. The live music was excruciating and so was the crowd. Bleah.
I have to agree with Ttrenaham – nobody goes to Baby A’s for the food. That was your first mistake. It’s all about the disgusting purple margarita…
Good for you – not leaving a tip was sufficient to express your displeasure. It’s not the customer’s job to alert managers to their own staff’s deficiencies, that’s the manager’s job. Leaving zero tip puts the blame squarely at the responsible party’s feet, and if enough customers have the same experience the blame will eventually flow to the manager as well.
I’ve never understood the concept of getting a gift certificate at a restaurant where you never want to eat again. Once you talk to the manager, you’re saying you want things to get better so you will eat there again. Best to just stop going there.
I would have definitely notified management, whether it be in person or a simple note.