Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
A Comedy of Errors—Mexican Style
When we go to our favorite Mexican restaurant, we always count on flawless service, pleasant wait staff, and delicious food. Last night we decided to settle for two out of three, and the mishaps were so unexpected that we began to enjoy watching the show.
This particular restaurant is a bit of a drive for us, so we don’t go often and look forward to the visit. As we entered, a pretty blonde greeted us, asked if we wanted a booth or table and after checking booth availability, she seated us at one.
So we gazed at the menu and munched on chips and salsa as we waited for the waiter.
We waited. And waited. And finally, as a young waiter was buzzing by our table, I reached out and asked if he would see who our waiter was. He smiled and went to check; a few moments later he sheepishly returned said he was our waiter. They hadn’t told him. Or so he said.
Well, those things happen and we gave him our order: two margaritas, rocks, no salt. Jerry wanted a chicken burrito with refried beans and rice; I asked for a chicken enchilada with steamed vegetables on the side, a substitution listed on the menu and one I frequently order (although I love their beans and rice).
As we waited for our margaritas, we noticed the people in the booth behind us (who had arrived after us) were turning down margaritas—which we suspected were ours. We waved the helper over and sure enough, they were ours (easy to tell with no salt on the rim).
A little while later, we noticed that the people behind us were turning down one of their meals; we were still waiting for ours. As the helper took one of the plates back to the kitchen, I looked over at Jerry and said, “Something is going to be wrong with our order. Watch.”
Sure enough, Jerry’s chicken burrito with refried beans and rice was fine. I was, however, served refried beans and rice. At that point, I figured, what the heck, I like their beans and rice. I cut into my enchilada, took a bite and thought the chicken tasted odd. In fact, it tasted like cauliflower. The next bite tasted like zucchini. As I peeked under the top of the enchilada, I realized I had not received a chicken enchilada, but a steamed vegetable enchilada.
I’m not kidding.
But it was pretty good! I love veggies, and they steamed them just right. I decided to have my steamed vegetable enchilada with refried beans and rice, and enjoyed my unexpected and delicious meal.
We didn’t see the waiter again until our plates had been cleared (another oversight since the wait staff always check-in) and he asked us how our meals were. I answered, “Well, I actually ordered a chicken enchilada . . . “ and at that moment, we both knew what he had done. He had not only mixed up the order, but the order that was sent back to the kitchen—that was my chicken enchilada. Judging from the originally misdelivered margaritas, he must have used the wrong table number .
He was very apologetic and asked how the steamed vegetable enchilada was, and I said it was actually very good or I would have tracked him down. He apologized again and I couldn’t help laughing.
Yes, I could have handled the whole situation differently. I could have complained about having to wait. About the beans and rice. About the steamed vegetables. About his absence. But sometimes life is too short to complain about getting the wrong food when it’s delicious.
Besides, it made a funny story, too.
Published in Culture
I just realized my explanation still doesn’t explain how I got a steamed vegetable enchilada. I suspect it had to do with what he put on his little hand-held computer, although I’m pretty sure it doesn’t offer that type of enchilada, only the veggies as substitute. I guess it will forever remain our little mystery . . .
Hmmm. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a steamed veggie enchilada and probably wouldn’t have settled for it but I would have been nice about it also. We keep saying that we’re going to cut back on tips with the rising prices but we always get wait staff who are trying really hard so we always give in to the 20%.
And we were never able to find a good Mexican restaurant in Florida. Maybe we’re just spoiled by California and Arizona?
I’m usually pretty easy on wait staff. The waitress isn’t at fault if the sirloin is a catcher’s mitt.
Actually I believe it’s part of a small chain. Azteca d’Oro? And there are lots of Hispanics who eat there, too. We’ve had the same reaction about tips. As a friend of mine once said, “Who needs the money more?” Then again, if the service is lousy, I always give something, but less.
Steamed veggie enchilada does sound good. I don’t get out to my favorite Mexican place often enough, though, and when I go, I’ll stick to cheese and onion, my favorite combination.
So many restaurants are short staffed these days that I also try to cut them some slack. Had a similar story happen at brunch last weekend. The waiter ended up comping my friend’s order because it arrived so late. Still tipped well. It depends on the attitude of the waiter and he was very apologetic.
Sorry that happened, though it was a cute story. I wouldn’t eat a vegetable enchilada, but I’ve had situations where some aspect of the order was off but ultimately tolerable and I’ve decided to just roll with it, either because I don’t want to wait for them to fix it or it’s clear everyone is busy enough that some other mistake might happen. I know some places around me just don’t into food service and that by going I’m basically agreeing to not hold them responsible for any errors that they might make ;)
Small note: I try to avoid complaining but sometimes a restaurant is just way off and it isn’t acceptable. Like my local B-Dubs: I called and asked for a cheeseburger and fries (the burgers are good there) and they gave me a chicken wrap. The chicken wrap is fine in and of itself. But I wanted a burger. You can’t get away with stuff like that. Just like I try to avoid complaining about door dash
A group of friends, eight of us, went out to dinner on a Saturday night to a relatively expensive restaurant. One of our group consistently complains nearly every time we go out with her. She is single, and as such is an extra odd number at the table. She gets her own check. Let me tell you, Susan, if she had been in your situation she would have refused to eat and would have made the restaurant “comp” her meal. It’s a certainty. However, the night I just mentioned was an exceptionally bad night for this restaurant. After having eaten, I told the waiter that he had done an excellent job, but the kitchen let us all down that night. I told him that I wasn’t looking for any hand-outs, we had all eaten our mediocre meals, and our impossible to please friend already had her meal “comped”. The food for nearly all of us was quite sub-par. The manager was aware and came to our table (we were actually in a small private room) and announced that she was very sorry and would be removing all of our meals from the check. We thanked her, paid for our drinks, and tipped the waiter for what would have been the actual total cost of the dinner.
Every business has its bumps where its best side doesn’t make it to the front. You, being a reasonable and gracious person, accepted the situation, made the best of it, and ended up enjoying your evening. Well done!
You must like her enough to continue going out with her. I’m not that tolerant.
My own mother used to make up stuff to complain about in order to get a comp. I told her if she ever did it while with me I’d walk out and leave her. So she didn’t.
Wouldn’t work for me either! When you want a burger, you want a burger!!!
Thanks, @cdor! I loved how your situation was resolved, too!
Winter Haven?
Susan, I think you’re figured out how to enjoy your trip through that portion of eternity that was allotted to you.
You’re right. Life is too short to worry too much about the small stuff. Only fools sweat the small stuff.
Your hair is lookin’ good.
She’s a friend going all the way back to high school. Politically she’s much more aligned with my thinking than any of the others in the group except, perhaps, one other who is also my doctor. But, you are absolutely correct. After that evening my wife and I both decided we had enough and would not join that group again at a restaurant.
Really! That’s just a step too damn far!
I think that’s part of the same chain. We go into Orlando because the driving time is about the same.
Hey, thanks, Kent! You can actually see it now!
@susanquinn, Kent said it before I got around to. You’re a champ!
The marquee at one of the fast food joints in town recently changed from “we’re hiring” to “start work now . . . Right now!”
Kent
Steamed cauliflower in enchiladas is not small stuff!
Eeeew!
The way I complain about a restaurant is by not returning. There are more than enough around.
I find that when I report problems to a manager, maybe a district manager in the case of larger chains, they’re happy to get the information. As one of them said to me, that might be the only way they ever find out about problems! Which doesn’t happen if you just don’t go back. They have no idea why, or if maybe you were just traveling through the state so you weren’t ever going to be there again anyway.
You don’t mention it unless I missed it but it sounds to me like you a newbie. Had you seen him there before?
I completely agree, and that is what we ordinarily do. I just didn’t feel like it last night, and made an exception.
And you found out they have some really good cooks, who could make a steamed vegetable enchilada that wasn’t disgusting!
Thanks, @kedavis! There’s that, too!
Your story reminded me of the reviews I read on Yelp. Your story was very descriptive, warm and positive, in contrast to all the unnecessarily descriptive, snarky and negative restaurant reviews on Yelp. It does me, and probably the whole world, no good to have a review start off with a comment as unnecessary and unhelpful as a paragraph long description of the attitude of a wait person, concluding with a one star rating. Your story would be the perfect review of less than perfect service from a restaurant. As I learned a long time ago, restaurant service is not always perfect. Instead of carrying resentment home and giving bad word of mouth about a negative experience, a manager at a good restaurant, if informed of a problem, will make every effort to rectify the situation. What restaurant wants no return customers? It’s not that a mistake has been made, it is more important how a restaurant handles those mistakes.
I don’t really understand, since I think the government subsidies for not working have stopped, but everywhere seems to be looking for help. We have kept up getting carry-out (with larger than usual tips) at the places we like. Last week, one new waiter was training a newer waiter. I tend to be pretty tolerant in those circumstances.
And it may be that trainee waiters need feedback even more than more experienced ones, if it’s done without anger etc.
That’s exactly how I felt when I was a business owner. Please tell me if you are unhappy with us. It’s the only chance I’ll have to correct the situation. That’s why I told the waiter in my comment above. I didn’t want a free meal, but I felt he should have a chance to alert his manager.