Did YOU know about Red Lobster's Policy!

Thanks for everyones input and thoughts.



I sure didn't mean to upset or offend anyone.




Guess I should have made it clear I was OUT to lunch with my friend spending the entire day together...So was not going home...till hours later...in 90 temps would have been food poising to keep it OR a waste of money and food to toss or leave it uneaten......Hence the reason I asked for the smaller portion.



I am not too far out from surgery -7 weeks....so NOT able to eat the larger amounts yet-child size is the right portion for me right now or just a few bites off someone elses plate...HOWEVER the gal I was with today likes different food than I can eat so no sharing there.




Since you don't know me you don't realize I am a quiet person and I WAS VERY NICE in all I said and HOW I said it...I did NOT make a big deal of anything. We did end up eating there and I left a $4.00 TIP for a 5.00 MEAL...

Perhaps it was just that location that had that attitude ...All I could go by was the waitress info which she verbally told me in front of my friend. I was not made aware that I could purchase any half orders which is what I had asked for smaller portions.



ALL That said let me add:
Guess I am careful where I spend my hard-earned money. If they can't accommodate me handicapped or not they don't need my business or money.


I don't shop at stores or businesses that don't allow folks to use their bathrooms when there is an emergency with children or sickness, nor do I support business that will not make allowances for mental or physical handicaps mistreat animals or elderly etc.




Sorry to have stired this up I was just suprised by what she stated was their policy and I would want others to tell me if they it had happened to them...

  It's all good, Paula! 

When I was that early out, I just ordered something like soup or an appetizer when I went out. French onion soup was my "go to" alternative for quite some time, or hot and sour soup at a Chinese place, or sometimes broccoli cheese soup. I just made sure I got my protein at other times of the day, carrying a protein bullet with me many times just in case.

One simple way of handling less than accomodating servers (or any other customer service person) is to very quietly and sweetly request to speak to the manager. No need for showing ANY emotion or anything at all. "Oh, I see. May I please speak to the manager on duty?" *sunny smile*

Manager appears, looking all solicitous of course. "Sir/ma'am, I would *really* like to give your establishment my business. In order to do that, here is what I need. I have a tiny appetite, and I would like very much to have just one skewer of your shrimp scampi. Would you please be so kind as to make that happen for me?" Or, "Sir/ma'am, I'm quite thoroughly astonished. I was under the impression that this, a restaurant, is in business to server its customers. Wouldn't you agree?" *agreement* "Well, this is what I need from you. *make order*"

Absolutely NEVER fails for me. I virtually never give information about WHY I want whatever it is I want. Often enough it's just because whatever's on the menu doesn't appeal to me that day, since I'm far enough out that the portions are not much of an issue. (I just don't finish the side dishes is all.)

My friends get a huge kick out of how I sweet talk managers LOL. They always hope that a manager will NOT be accomodating so that I can escalate my complaint--which I've never had to do in a restaurant. Once I got on the phone and called a Staples regional manager right in front of the store manager, though, regarding an issue of bathroom hygiene. Next time I was in that restroom (I used to take a crapload of Lasix, so I used restrooms in just about every store I frequented), it was so clean it squeaked *veg*.

Okay, here's my suggestion and it's only that -- but I've gotten lots with this:

Keep your card in your purse for emergencies.  Some get offended when a wls patient whips out this card thinking their entitled to special treatment, which sounds like what you encountered.

Instead, I explain my love of their food, but I have a small appetite and hate leftovers.  From there, I ask what items on the menu are easy to give me a half-portion or lunch portion of.  For the most part, they are usually very accommodating.  Bonefish was the only restaurant that wasnt willing.

The Journey is another one here in Indy that stated they would not honor it, but refused to let me 'consult' the manager regarding it.  But then again...the person helping me had very limited English...I am hoping that was the problem.

Fine if you don't honor it, but a manager should ALWAYS be available.

I'd say the language barrier is def a problem there.  It sucks taking a hit at the buffet places.  I avoided them until I knew I could get my money's worth again!  No problems now!

I've played this both ways.   Back at Mother's Day my family was wanting to go to an all you can eat seafood buffet brunch that is $30.00 a person.  Well, seeing as that I was going to eat probably  2 sausages and a couple pieces of bacon at the time, I called the restaurant beforehand and asked if they only served the AYCE that day or if I could order off the regular menu. I didn't mind ordering off the regular menu but I wasn't paying $30 for what I was going to eat.  The chef made arrangements with me to do that and when I got there for the waiter to ask to speak to him.  When I did that though, the chef said for me to order the buffet and just pay the child price which was $15 (about the same price as ordering off the menu and less hassle for him that day im sure).  I still ate about 2 sausages and a couple pieces of bacon. LOL  It sure beat paying $30 for it though.  I tend to stay away from buffets though, always have.  All the food tastes the same to me.

On the flip side, I sometimes order the larger portion in a restaurant so that I WILL have something to take home for a later leftovers meal.  At Texas Roadhouse you can get either 1 porkchop or 2. I always get 2 and take one of them home for the next day.  I ordered the larger crabcake just yesterday so that I would have some leftover for today.  :)

Teri

Hi,

I find most restaurants extremely accomodating if I just say that I cannot eat very much. What do you recommend?? I never expect special treatment because of my WLS. I prefer to frequent restaurants where I know I can share or where I can order something really small off the appetizer menu. If all else fails, I get the full meal and take the rest home.

Babs

Ummm, so? Order an appetizer.

I consider it rather odd that anyone would hand out personal, private health information to a restaurant server just to save a buck or two. It's not like there aren't perfectly acceptable alternatives in just about any menu in any restaurant. If I'm going to publicize the fact that I had WLS, I'm sure as heck NOT going to do it by dunning for a discount. That's why I carry my "before" picture and wear my DS Renegades shirt :-).

Thank you all so much for taking time to reply and your experiences and advise.

Normally left overs are a plus or sharing a possibility BUT not the case yesterday due to being out and about all day.

Guess it was the principle of the matter that took me by surprise which is why I wrote about it.