Restaurant changes

[winter_elf]

So, what do you do when a place you've been eating at regularly starts using cheaper meats?

Me & my co-worker eat lunch in the area. We have about 5 or 6 places we like that do nice sandwiches and salads and trade off at each place during the week. At one place that made this wonderful chicken sandwich with egg, and has been using nice, cooked chicken breasts, today had greasy, fatty chicken thigh meat instead. *sigh* Sorry, but I can tell the difference.

It's happened before with other places I've gone. One was a chinese, and I no longer eat there. I'm sorry, but I prefer the taste of white meat, and I don't like fat. And once they start to use cheaper chicken, then it's cheaper beef and everything else. *sigh*

So, has anyone else had this happen to them? Do they say something, or just stop going to the restaurant?

Comments

[sgamadison.livejournal.com]

Tonight I nuked a Lean Cuisine Chicken Fettucine dinner that had, and I count, four pieces of chicken in it the size of my thumbnail and some watery sauce with tasteless noodles. At one time, this was a dinner I would happily consume. I ended up throwing it away--the *dog* wouldn't even eat it!

I simply will not buy it again. And I would be the person who quietly left the restaurant too--but I think these days I would be more inclined to politely ask to speak to the manager on the way out--after I've paid my bill. I would point out my disatisfaction with the meal and ask if this was an off day or the new standard. Anyone can have a off day. But if no one knows you're upset, they will continue to try and get away with substandard food. For every person who complains--there are 10-15 more who feel the same way but say nothing.

But then I'm getting pissy in my old age! :-)

[april-art.livejournal.com]

If it's a restaurant you care about, definitely request breast meat before you order again.

It's not necessarily indicative of them going cheap on everything, particularly if it's Chinese. Chinense tend to prefer dark meat over breast meat. I totally adore dark meat (thighs rule!) and actually ask for it over breast, even though it IS less healthy (heheh).

On the other hand, with this economy, it could be them cheaping out on things... So maybe ask for breast only when you come in, to make sure you get what you want. If they can't do it, then I guess you go elsewhere with your business... But they should be able to make sure you get breast meat, since they're preparing it right there!

[the-impassive.livejournal.com]

I ask them about it, and they usually say they "have a new supplier," and I stop going. Usually "having a new supplier" also means "increased prices for worse food," too. Betcha.

[rahirah]

Go "Yay!" because I like thigh meat better than white meat.

[melvh.livejournal.com]

Talk to the manager. Ask if this is a permanent change, or just a supply issue. If he says this is the new menu, let him know in the best way possible that you are dissatisfied and likely will no longer patronize the restaurant as a result. Explain that the quality of the food was what kept you coming back/recommending the place to friends.

If they get enough polite complaints, they may go back to the old recipes rather than lose business.

[hotmarscube.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we had an issue with Jasmine Bitro in Parkway Plaza in El Cajon. The food had always been good but when we went there a month or so ago it was horriable. Lousy service, missing ingredients, just a mess.

We complained after paying the bill... but even that took a while. We asked to see the manager and had to wait a good ten minutes to have him come over. He apoligized and said they were having issues, but didn't elaborate. I think he was short staffed and who knows what else. He took my name and said the next meal would be on him, but we haven't been back. Not sure if we'll give it another try or not.

And I agree with you completely about how annoying it gets to have a place you like go downhill.