Dinner Tonight

[Audrey]

My vent for today!!! My daughter has eaten at Macaroni Grill and loved it. I'd never eaten there before. So, we went to the mall (40 minute drive for us) and then headed to Macaroni Grill. It smelled wonderful in there. We sat down and waited and waited. Finally she took our drink orders. When she brought the drinks, she said she'd soon bring bread for the 3rd time. We were there 15 minutes before she came to take our orders.

Literally seconds before that, all 3 of us opened our napkins and all 3 of us had dirty silverware.

The combination of her making us wait 15 and the dirty silverware was more than I could handle. I looked at her and said "this silverware is all dirty" She looked at me blankly. I said "run your fingers over these knives, they all have dirt on them". Finally she said "I can bring you new silverware". I said "you know I'm a bit freaked here that all of your silverware is dirty, we're going to leave" and we did.

We then went to Applebees, right next door. We ordered dinners with salads. After many minutes I said "we will have our salads before our dinner?". Remember we are now in a 2nd restaurant. She said "yes, I'm trying to help everyone here, I'll be right out with your salads". Next thing we knew a man delivered our dinners. We asked him to please let her know we did not want our salads.

She quickly stopped by and said "you don't want the salads?". Umm nope. She never came again, never refilled drinks, never asked how our meals were etc.

I was so irratated, no tip at all. My belief is they get paid a salary to take my order and serve it to me. She didn't even do that. Tips are for service. We did not get service, she did not get a tip.

So..that was dinner tonight.

[Ravish30]

I am not fond of the Macaroni Grill or Chili's....the worst for me is the Chili's Restaurant. We have tried them TWICE and both times it was awful. The restrooms were filthy, it took too long to get served and get our meals and the table was not cleaned properly. Our server was rude too, so they are on our boycott list now.

[Audrey]

I think with chains, some are good and some are not. We have a Chilis here and we've always had good food and good service.

Perhaps it's how each one is managed?

[Ravish30]

It could be! I just know we won't go back to Chili's again. We got a Chili's gift card for christmas too, we turned around and gave it to our daughter to use as Sam just won't go back there again.

[Audrey]

Well, I wrote both corporates today. We'll see if either reply to me.

[mhobbs25]

I too am not too fond with the Chili's in my area. Last time we went, our table was dirty and she rarely came around to fill our drinks. I understand she had many people to wait on, but I refuse to eat at a dirty table, and when she walks by and ignores my empty cup sitting next to the edge! I've never had trouble at Applebees though. Each time I go, my servers are wonderful and actually listen when I have a question or comment!

[Audrey]

I got a phone call from Applebees. The man who called was the manager of the restaurant we were in. He apologized which was nice. He also told me how puzzled he was as he and one other manager were there that night.

I told him I was now further disappointed that two managers and our waitress allowed us to be treated as we were.

He did offer to send me coupons. I declined. That truly is not what I wanted. I told him instead to work with his staff so that other customers don't walk away unhappy as we did.

Ok...they do credit for following up on the next work day and with a phone call. I know those are tough calls to make.

[judilynn]

I think that the service in places like that really relies on the management. So it doesn't surprise me that the managers were there. Seems like the staff was just taking their cues from them.

I have often wondered what has happened to customer service. These service oriented business often seem to have profit rather than service on their minds. Eating out is expensive. If you want my money you best have the service I am looking for.

Just my 2 cents. You can see I have waited tables in the past ehh? And our manager was always drilling it into our heads, customer service. That was 20 years ago though.

[Audrey]

There are just so many choices that going back there is not going to happen.

Two managers and not one person noticed we did not get the service we should have had.

Oh well....still no word from Macaroni Grill LOL.

[honey415]

I have to agree I think it is the manager and how he/she runs the resturant. Both the Chili's & Applebee's near me are great.

I am not a big fan of Chili's food, but my fiancee loves thier ribs. Everytime we went there though the service was execclent.

Applebees on the other hand is my all time favorite resturant. I love thier food & the service is always been execllent.

I have never been to the Macroni Grill but my grandmother has & she didnt have an complients.

I used to wait tables as well I we always got pounded into our heads that " the customer is always right". At least in the resturants near me I see that. Sorry for your bad experinces.

You might want to get ahold of the cooprate offices of both resturants and let them know what happened I am sure that they will not want managers like that running thier resturants.

[MaryAnn]

We've pretty much given up on the chains. The service is usually awful. The managers don't care. The food is glorified fast food. We save our money and go out less often but when we do, it is a good sit-down restaurant.