Should I have complained at the restaurant?

Question

I ordered a take away curry at a small Thai restaurant. The cook prepared the meal, and handed it in the plastic take-away tub to the assistant who takes orders and operates the cash register. The assistant grabbed a spoon off the table, dipped it into my food, and ate a chunk of meat and some of the sauce! Then put the lid on the container and handed it to me.

Do you think I should have complained at this? I wanted to ask for another meal to be prepared, or at least call them out on this. But I just wanted to get out of there.

Answer 1

Oh, for HEAVEN"S SAKE, I can't believe you are even asking this.

OF COURSE you should have complained...but not to the assistant. You should have insisted on seeing the manager immediately, and/or the cook, and explained what you saw. Your meal should have been prepared fresh at once. Not only was it unsanitary and certainly against health department regulations....it was gross.  

Answer 2

That is not acceptable behaviour and very unprofessional. This assistant was pushing their luck. They must have been extremely hungry. Why would they do it in front of you though?

I had a Chinese last night and I would not have expected them to do that. God knows what they do in the back - I don't care, as long as it's not in front of me!

Hey, at least it shows they have high standards of hygiene if they're willing to eat the restaurant's food too!!

I wouldn't let it spoil the food unless that spoon went BACK IN! And I wouldn't try and complain now. Next time, exert your rights as a consumer and do not be intimidated. If they try and deflect it, simply repeat what you said, calmly, over and over until it sinks into their head.

Answer 3

if you wanted to complain, i guess you should have. i would be cool with that, but i'm just a cool guy.

Answer 4

I would of complained if you order a meal you don't expect somebody to eat some of it do you... It would of been right to complain so the person who serves doesn't do this anymore.

Answer 5

Getting out of there should have been your response to the action.  You should have said 'Excuse me, but I think you were eathing my meal' and walked out.  That would have gotten their attention.

Answer 6

Yes, you should have complained. Why did you want to get out so quickly?

(first responder) It is not unhygienic - the Ask-er did not state that the server double dipped or drooled into the food.

(second responder)

"I would of complained ... i would of been"

would HAVE

(fourth responder)

Good answer - deduct the price of that chunk of meat - probably 10-15% from a typical take-out order.

Answer 7

You should've asked the ASSistant, "What the he11 was that"! Then definitely complained right there. That was disgusting, obnoxious and stupid.  

Answer 8

Not only is that gross, that's just kinda weird. I think I would have been so shocked that I probably wouldn't have said anything either. But if you do go back there and it does happen again, definitely say something. Maybe he was just taste testing, but even if he was, he should have done that in a different container that isn't being sold to customers!

Answer 9

I'm curious why the assistant would do that in plain sight of customers and other employees unless the place is dodgy to start.  He used a clean spoon I assume or you wouldn't have paid for it right?  Instead of complaining, I would have asked him why he did it.  

Food like this is often tasted by someone (usually in the back) during preparation and before it's served.  Just giving the benefit of the doubt here, but I taste anything I cook (unless it's obvious by looking at it) before I serve it to my friends.

Answer 10

Ok chung bud, you eat you pay for that one. If I am paying do not eat my dish I want a full package

Answer 11

i think i would just leave too... i would then get in the car and immediately call the health department.

had you already paid for your meal? did you take it? DID YOU EAT IT?

Answer 12

yes

Answer 13

You should have complained and never order anything from there again. You can't be sure what will be done to the other meal you could order instead after the incident!

Answer 14

Yes. You absolutely have a right to complain and should have. That is unhygienic and completely unprofessional. Although it still wouldn't have been alright, are you a regular at this restaurant and know the servers so maybe they felt comfortable eating out of your food?