Eating out comes with its own share of risks and rewards, with memorable moments that can either make you say “Oh heck yes!!!!” or “Oh ______ no!” Emphatically.
One Queens, New York, man had an experience that definitely qualifies for the latter response, and you too will disapprove of what went down. You will also be double checking your restaurant receipts from now on.
Curtis Mays was being treated to a Father’s Day meal by his daughter and granddaughter at the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden in Astoria. ABC’s Channel 7 News reported that upon receiving the receipt, Mays noticed “PLEASE SPIT IN IT TOO” was printed on it.
Worse than that? He’d already eaten his entire burger. He told the news station he asked the waitress about it:
“I felt like I was gonna throw up. I asked her ‘Why would you do this?’ And she couldn’t explain it. She said she didn’t do it, so I was like ‘Who prints out the receipt?’ So she said, ‘I take it up there and print it myself. So you did it? Why are you lying about it?’ She just walked off.”
Mays did state that she was pleasant when taking care of their table. After speaking with a manager, he was given a refund and the server was let go immediately.
However, in a Facebook message posted shortly after the incident, the eatery stated that they suspended the waitress pending the outcome of an investigation.
Making comments to ABC News, the manager asserted that the server was never a problem before, and it was unlikely that the cook actually spat in the food. He also expressed understanding for the customer’s concern.
A few days ago, the restaurant issued a press release regarding their investigation and offered this explanation:
“Based on the investigation, we found that the note included with the food-order ticket was incorrect and a result of an inappropriate and juvenile action. It was disregarded by the kitchen staff and reported to the supervisor.”
According to the press release, the employee responsible for putting the comment on the ticket was fired. An apology was also issued to patrons for the incident. The company defended its commitment to treating customers with respect and regaining their trust.
The beer garden has been around for over 100 years and is a popular neighborhood spot for locals and visitors alike. If you check reviews on the place, you will notice over 1,000 consistent four and five-star ratings. They even possess an “A” rating from the state’s health inspection board.
Unfortunately, there was no way to deny that this message was really printed on the receipt, and the restaurant has taken a small hit to their reputation. As a result of the news coverage, online commenters have been leaving less than stellar reviews. Ouch!
After this, we would not be surprised if more people paid attention to the descriptions printed on their receipts. Nobody wants to discover a surprise side order like this one.
What are your thoughts on this story and the restaurant’s explanation? Would you eat here after hearing this? How would you have reacted if you saw that on your receipt?
