The other night when Vince and I left the restaurant where we had eaten – where his steak was dry and overcooked and where I got a pork chop after having ordered a beef filet, we left kinda shaking our head that the whole meal was below average at best. We decided . . it’s history, we won’t go back, so stop talking about it but I haven’t stopped thinking about it. I’m over the meal being bad but here’s what I keep thinking: It’s a brand new building with a gorgeous view, with enough money behind the whole operation; the menu consists of only 7 or 8 entrees. How hard can it be to come up with 7 or 8 amazing dishes? Figure at least two of them are going to be beef . . grilled sirloin or ribeye and filet . . so then you only have to come up with 5 knock your socks off dishes.
As I’ve thought about our dinners at home the past two nights, I’ve been thinking about what I would put on the menu if I had to come up with 5 meat dishes. Without a doubt, not every customer is going to like all five of them but I would hope the average customer would narrow it down to three that sound great and then two that sound really great.
Have you ever thought about planning a menu for a restaurant? I’m sure cost has to be a big factor. The entrees at this restaurant were all in the $18 – $22 range. It has to be something that’s easy enough to prepare . . probably when ordered.
If you were going to put three entree items on a restaurant menu, what would you put? I’m thinking most anything Pioneer Woman cooks would be a pretty good choice. It isn’t easy to name three dishes. I’ve gone through the recipes in my recipe section and am not sure any of those would go on a restaurant menu. We like them but they may not be restaurant quality or “I can’t wait to go back there and have that again”.
What recipes that you fix would you suggest for a restaurant menu? And, what have you had at restaurants that you would go back again and again just for that dish?
wanda j says
Well being a home grown Texan it has to have Chicken Fried Steak, Catfish, Ribeye, Southern fried Chicken and let’s see any other kind of steak. Yep that would be my choices if I had to pick just 5.
I really think you should go back and tell them about what happened. When people make mistakes like that it runs off business. They may not know that their food wasn’t up to par. They will never change unless someone tells them the truth instead of just not going back. They might have great building, views and stuff inside but food is the business.
Always let them know. Send wrong food back.Sure you might be there a little while longer but money is money be it yours or theirs. You deserve good food for your money no matter what.
I’ll give you example just last night we went to diner. We got our drinks. The first thing hubby did was take a big swallow of his DR. P. and just about spit it out. It wasn’t right. He sent it back. Low and behold someone had mixed the diet with regular and not said a thing. Sure it wasn’t the cost of it, It was undrinkable to him. Now if no one said anything it would have gone on till no telling when. These places want to know bad service, food or or anything( maybe we are different here in Texas we want facts). So go ahead it won’t hurt their felling they will thank you.
Now that is just my 2 cents worth.
Helen Koenig1 says
Twice I’ve sent food back. The first time – I recived a salad with a – ummm – critter in it. Restaurant was otherwise healthy, clean and so on – and it HAD been a rainy spring with almost every place I knew of having problems with these critters. I told my waitress I wanted to speak to the manager (who I knew was the only one who could make the decisions that needed to be made) and that – yes, she was fine and not to worry. I told the manager – very quietly, and showed him the problem – said everything else was fine but that he might want to discard the makings of that salad BEFORE a health inspector showed up or someone else complained. I also told him that the rest of my meal was excellent. Poor man turned 7 shades of pale! took the offending salad and went straight to the kitchen!
The other time – I took a long drink of my iced root beer – and quickly realized that while colored the same as the beverage I wanted, apparently they had run out of the syrup they add to the carbonated water – and what I had was colored carbonated water! The waitress tried to tell me they had just changed the syrup container. I suggested that she might want then to check the hose that goes from the container to the – um – opening where the syrup and carbonated water are mixed. Apparently there was a problem because she went from rather huffy to very apologetic – and brought me my glass of root beer!
Judy Laquidara says
We did let them know about all the issues with the food. They weren’t real concerned or accommodating.
wanda j says
Well that is just wrong. You are right they won’t be in business long if that is the case. I’ve never heard such a horrible thing. Not once that I can remember talking to a upper manger did they not correct the problem. Now kids well they are flakes most of the time. They really don’t care as long as they get their tip.(Not all but most kids let me say that right off the bat.) There will be a for sale sign up in a couple of months and they will be wondering why.
Unless this is just a passing thing they thought they would try to do. Loads of people think they can run a eating place and don’t know a thing about it.Watch Kitchens form hell if you get a chance with Gordon( excuse his mouth dirty sometimes)
I’m sorry you spent really good money of slop( that is what we call it here in the country when it is bad)
Sherrill says
WOW!! I’d REALLY be ticked if they KNEW they served a pork chop instead of filet and didn’t comp your meal!! Write a review on urban spoon or something so others will know and not waste their dining dollars the way you did. That’s ridiculous!
Carrie says
A really great lasagna would be on my list!
Laura says
Mine too!
F. Zuerner says
If they are not concerned, they won’t be in business long. We are having an event here called Houston Restaurant Week (though it goes on the whole month of August) Restaurants come up with a special menu for either $35 or $45 per person. This is an appetizer/salad, entree with a side, and a dessert. They donate $5.00 from each meal to Houston Food Bank. We went last Friday night and had the best dinner. We ate steaks at a restaurant that is known for its seafood. They were cooked perfectly and were 8 oz. filets.
We have gone to some of these where the food they served for this event was just really not that great and we son’t go back to that restaurant for regular price food. Your restaurant will either need to change or there won’t be any customers left.
Michelle Harrison says
I live in the mountains. When I go to a restaurant, I would LOVE to order shrimp and lobster, but I know I am better off with local, fresh-caught fish. I think a restaurant would do well to promote local food and produce. In fact, that is a huge draw in many parts of the USA. Seasonal veggies, well prepared chicken and, fish, pork, and beef from local suppliers. Lamb, too, if you are in the right place.
Sometimes it takes a month or so for a restaurant to hit its stride. Maybe you should try it again but prepare to go back the next afternoon to talk to the manager.
I think well-prepared is a key, also. Maybe they have not had enough time to train their people. Surely their servers need some help. I recognize a pork chop when I see one! I thought most people did!
Judy L. says
They’ve been open well over a month.
Carol says
Were they out of the steak you ordered? What was their reason for that HUGE mistake?
Jeanne in Ohio says
A restaurant near my home has a favorite of mine: Mediterranean Chicken with fresh vegetables and feta cheese. I order it every time and just love it! It’s not beef, but I think everyone want chicken once in a while and this is really popular and probably pretty easy to fix.
Helen Koenig1 says
Re menu items….
Steak – probably Rib-eye and maybe a special weekly on Prime rib
A fish entree – depends on what part of the country … in the Midwest – fried catfish. On the East Coast – Perch, filet of sole, possibly salmon – and possibly vary by day
A seafood entree – depends on the pricey-ness and location of the restaurant. Shrimp mostly or lobster (including lobster thermidor) – again menu can vary by day of the week. Pricey-ness can definitely be on weekends!
Chicken – again depends on the type of restaurant and priciness – can be chicken parmigianne (sp – sorry!), Chicken cordon bleu, fried chicken
Fifth entree depends again on TYPE of restaurant and location. Italian restaurant – definitely spaghetti. Might add a possible sixth entree of canaloni as well! and vary the sauces – meat, a florentine type (has spinach in it), etc.
A steak restaurant might add a Sirloin for the 5th entree, while a seafood restaurant might add another seafood dish – say scallops, or if popular in the region – crab meat, etc.
A vegetarian restaurant would forgo all the meat, poultry, etc. dishes – and might go with an Eggplant Lafayette, various soups, sandwiches, Moosewood cookbook type recipes.
Mexican restaurants might go with Enchiladas: chicken, sour cream and cheese. Tamales – and offer one or two popular varieties. You might find quesadillas, tortas, and a variety of entrees that are available.
Same goes for Indian food – 5-6 kinds of entrees that are well known – including my favorites as well!
It all depends – on the TYPE of restaurant, the LOCATION of the restaurant (ie, fried catfish would NOT go over as well on the east coast – but in the midwest – you can specialize in all you can eat catfish and make a mint as a resteranteur!
CindyM says
This is a fun question! Other than the 2 steak choices, I’d choose Iowa pork chops (who wouldn’t>), a baked salmon (although I usually grill it, I feel you need a choice that isn’t grilled and salmon is an easy one to bake and get it right. A lamb dish — perhaps kabobs with nice veggies over a bed of rice or couscous. A rotating vegetarian dish– probably different pasta dishes with a choice to add shrimp or chicken to it when appropriate, but also to include a vegetarian lasagna, eggplant parmesan over pasta, etc.. I’d probably rotate the chicken offering, too– with Chicken Masala, Chicken with orange sauce, — all dishes that start with chicken breast and finish cooking in a sauce.
Of course I’d never work in a restaurant — one of the toughest businesses going with horrible hours. God bless those who do it and do it well.
CindyM says
.. and on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I’d offer buffalo meatloaf.
Margie says
There is a place in the mountains in Colorado that we love. They serve one kind of steak each evening. Your choice is the number of ounces and how you want it cooked. You get a house salad with house dressing, baked potato and bread. The only other thing on the menu is vegetarian lasagna. Every thing is prepared beautifully and not expensive. (No need to stock tons of stuff, keeps their cost down.) Not a place for everyone, but they have been in business for years.
Sandy says
Margy, Where is the great restaurant in Colorado? We’re headed there to see grandchildren and would love to visit your favorite place.
Dorothy Matheson says
I choose shrimp rossoto, chicken fried chicken, filet minion, salmon.
One time my Mom and I went to a pricey restaurant and as we walked in the door the serving of the day was a salmon with shrimp sauce over it. We did not think to ask the price and was so surprised that what we were expecting in the 10 dollar range was $25. It was ever so good and such a large serving that we each had two more meals of the salmon. It was on a bed of great rice. We happily paid for the meal and took the extra home. They should have put a price on it. We would not have ordered for that price or would have split one order.
Jo's Country Junction says
I would for sure have a meal that always changes..it would have seasonal goodies for sure.
Carolyn says
I love this question and I love seeing everyone’s responses! I know I might or might not complain, about food, but definitely a wrong order! LOL Someone else got your dish! As for menu’s I like soup, potato, a vegetable and maybe a chicken.
Entrees a fish dish, rib eye! and ribs!
When are you opening your new restaurant? I bet that place will be vacant soon.
swooze says
I always thought it would be fun to have a restaurant that had a meal of the day sort of offering. For example Wednesday you got spaghetti and meatballs or sauce or whatever and that was the only entree. Then offer salad, bread and other veggies. Each night would be one really well done meal. Just getting families back to the dinner table and you eat whatever momma cooks!
Jannette B says
A mainstream restaurant should offer several types of meat, as already suggested (chicken, seafood, lamb or veal, etc.). As well, if there is a specific ethnic group in the town / city, offerings from their native country would also be a good idea – not only for “homesick” patrons, but for others to experience a different culture. We have a Vietnamese sandwich shop that opened just down the street from us – they offer a different special every night, as well as basic items served every day. They’ve been open almost 2 years, and are doing REALLY well – in a small town of approx. 12,000 where there are no Vietnamese residents!
Now my restaurant “horror” stories – dining with my daughter – my Caesar salad was horribly salty – I complained to the server (who wasn’t the most energetic person on duty). She went to the kitchen with my complaint, and came back to tell me that the cook thought that my “taste” was too sensitive, and didn’t offer any other options. When I asked to speak to the manager, I was told that he wasn’t available, and I was instead given a $5.00 voucher for my next visit – as if I’d go back! Also, 2 W/E ago, we were eating in a national chain, and my order again was too salty – my husband offered to eat it for me (he has a cast iron stomach!), and when the server came back to see if everything was alright, my hubby told him that everything was fine….
I wonder how people with high blood pressure eat “out”…
SaraF says
Restaurants that don’t value customer service don’t last long usually. Hard lesson to learn. My husband has always had the theory that if someone in the party is going to have a mix-up in the order, it will be me. But most places are eager to fix the mistake.
I would have a steak option, a grilled fish option, and . . . then I would have a hard time narrowing it down to something else. Depending on where you are, another beef dish or another seafood dish would probably need to be that third choice. Local specialties most likely.
Barbara says
“And, what have you had at restaurants that you would go back again and again just for that dish?”
This is the only part of the question I can answer as I very rarely eat out…our local restaurants just aren’t worth the trouble.
I’m from south Louisiana and I still remember going once a week to Billello’s for crab stuffed flounder. I still think about it sometimes and it has been 40 years since I’ve eaten there.
When I married my first husband I found out that he was friends with one of the Billello brothers who lived just down the street from us. Every now and again we would get a knock on the door and he would be standing there with a large plate of something he wanted us to test for them before they offered it on the menu…good times!!
pdudgeon says
5 entrees….
1.spaghetti and meatballs,garlic bread & green salad
2.fried or roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy,
3.fried cat fish,hush puppies, cole slaw
4.pot roast with veggies,salad and rolls
5.top sirloin, baked potato, salad
Quilterbee says
I love salads but hate iceberg lettuce. I know it’s cheaper but I won’t eat it. Most restaurants serve iceberg lettuce.My DD loves iceberg and hates romaine and the other good for you dark greens. I would say a variety of salads and dressings. Fresh vegetables are also not offered enough. A few varieties of homemade soup not the canned stuff. Homemade breads. Chicken. Turkey, steaks, pork, seafood. Change up the pork dishes ribs, pulled pork, pork chops, pork roast. The same idea for the other meats. Sometimes a great hamburger or sandwich is perfect for lunch when you don’t want a big meal or you are in a hurry. If I want Mexican or Chinese food we have several good restaurants near us so we would go to them instead of ordering that type of dish elsewhere.
Brandy M. says
Beef Stroganoff
Filet Mignon
Lasagna
Linguini with clams in a Lemon-Wine-Caper sauce
Grilled Salmon or Halibut
Scallop Saltimbocca
Roasted Chicken
I’d also do as many fresh & locally grown veggies as I could, a few different salad options with at least having pears, cranberries (or sliced strawberry or blueberries), and roasted pecans. If my entrees were in the $20 range, I’d offer a choice of 2 sides from another menu section: various potatoes, sautéed chard with pine nuts and sherry soaked raisins, hushpuppies, and a few other tasty options.
🙂
FUN question!!
Ranch Wife says
What a fun question! I’m not going to answer it though because I could never limit it to 5 – I love food too much and I spend a lot of time thinking about it…and eating it! LOL. We rarely eat out and it always amazes me what some places serve. I mean how hard is it to make decent mashed potatoes? I had some a couple of months ago that were not fit for consumption and no, I’m not a picky eater. I make what I think is a really good potato soup and I had potato soup at one restaurant that was no more than potato water. How do these places stay in business?
I don’t complain, although I suppose I ought to, I just don’t go back.