Restaurants Should Give Patrons What They Want
There is nothing that angers me more than seeing a note on the bottom of a menu that reads, “NO SUBSTITUTIONS.” The Executive Chef usually even has the gall to add a “Please.” I can only ask, what culinary institution teaches a Chef to tell his customers, “My way or the highway!” If the customer is always right, why not just give them what they want. My guess is the Chef either has a giant ego or is just plain lazy.
If Chef’s are going to put notes at the bottom of menus telling people how to eat their food, than every steak house in America ought to have a note that says, “Steaks served medium rare only.” When someone orders a $45 dollar steak “well done” I’m sure the chef cringes, but he still cooks it that way.
My wife Amy and I ate at Terrelli’s in Dallas yesterday for brunch. We love this little Greenville Ave. gem for it’s great food and live Jazz. But I couldn’t believe it when I saw the dreaded note at the bottom of the page, “because our meals are fresh to order, please, no substitutions, thank you.” Call me crazy, but if I can’t ask for what I like, the meals are NOT made “to order.” And a restaurant of Terilli’s caliber should not have to tell people meals are served “Fresh.” That should be a given at any fine restaurant.
I had an Italian Sausage Omelet, my wife had the Frittata with Salami. She didn’t want the salami, but apparently, God forbid, we ask the chef to leave it out. You can’t tell me it would slow the entire kitchen down to leave the salami out of the frittata or even substitute it with some tomatoes, which is what Amy really wanted.
Every executive Chef I have spoken with tells me, if he has the ingredients, he will gladly make it for the customer. Our all time favorite Dallas Restaurant is Three Forks Steak House. This is a place that can serve 500-1000 people on any given night. The executive chef there prides himself on giving his customers what THEY want and cooking it they way THEY like it, even though it may be a hassle or not the “right” way.
“NO SUBSTITUTIONS” give me a break! To be fair, the food at Terilli’s was good, Amy just wanted some tomatoes.
May 13, 2008 at 8:05 am
I agree with you and you should be able to get what you are paying for…I am a little fussy at times with what I eat and there are many dishes I would like to try if they would just remove certain ingredients that I don’t like! Maybe this resturant will hear what you had to say and others too!
July 13, 2008 at 11:45 pm
the dish your wife ordered, is baked, like a quiche. you can’t leave something out of casserole unless you pick through it with your fingers. do your homework before you comment!