1130 posted:first never rate a restaurant when they first open, after all they are still in learning mode. Second why does everyone think they should get something free at restaurants? how many times do you mess up? does your work comp something if they make an error? Many a times I have had to go back to a store and not gotten anything more than sorry. Now think about that you have to drive to the store (not to mention find the time) where at the restaurant it just cost you maybe minutes. Average restaurant profit is around 5%. Maybe we should all just slow down and relax.
so back to your work, what do you comp?
I can understand reluctance in reviewing a new restaurant but I feel it's appropriate just as long as people know it's a newly opened place. True they are in learning mode but that's why some places have soft openings or family openings so that they can get accustomed to serving people. Additionally, many times, staff will have worked at other restaurants so be more familiar with what goes on and more accustomed to the pace.
As for the comp issue I have some conflicting views. I do believe that restaurants, or businesses, should compensate customers for errors that are obviously the businesses fault. I do know that some restaurant patrons go in and set up situations where they try and get free things or free food but I think those are a small minority of people. When a restaurant makes a error then I believe it's their obligation to compensate if that error is a large one and ruins the meal or to the point where the patron is no longer able to eat due to the error. If it is a mistake though, maybe caused by the staff misunderstanding the order or the kitchen not understanding it then some leeway can be given.
Most people know that if a steak is undercooked you can cook it up a bit more and most don't mind waiting so no biggie but if they over cook a steak and then do it again then it's fair to expect that the steak will be comped and most times the patron that ordered it can't eat it anyway given the time that went by and they have filled up on bread and drinks. Or there are times when a customer has to leave due to time constraints and doesn't have time to wait for a restaurant to make it up. In the case of Riverzurinski I do believe they should have not been charged for the food that was in error, or should have been issued credit toward a future meal.
I eat out, more than most, and I don't expect it but when a mistake happens, as they do often, and it's taken care, whether deserved or not, then you, as a patron, not only are more willing to overlook certain errors but are more apt to return much faster, back, to the restaurant and have a much better feeling about the place and the management. When you feel that you have been taken advantage of, though, then you aren't as apt to return so quickly or freely. Also some places charge a premium for their product and thus you have higher expectations as you are paying more for the product. If a place is going to charge you for perfection then they should deliver on it.
Also there is so much competition these days, for a customer's dollar, anything a restaurant can do to up it's ante is to it's favor (my own opinion mind you). I don't feel obligated to take the brunt of a businesses mistake just because I'm there to patronize them. I look at it as their business is to serve me and they are there attempting to do it one better than their competition in order to earn my money. Yes I believe minor mistakes should be over looked and especially with the understanding that a place is new but a gross error or gross mistake or one that ruins the whole meal should be compensated, at least that's how I feel as it's the restaurants responsibility to get it right once the order is correctly given/delivered. It's like if you pay a painter, or any service provider, but they do a bad job or make a error then you aren't going to want to pay full price for a substandard job, you expect them to make it right or fix it. I believe the same is expected of restaurants that make errors. A mistake is one thing but an error is another all together but often determination of the difference between mistake and error is so subjective and vague. I will, though, return to Las Troias as I believe it will be a very good restaurant and improve the choices in the Mexican/Tex-Mex cuisine.