Commentary by Jeff Worrell
That meant the waiter didn't refill my iced water. And given that there were only four options on the kids' menu (none of which were vegan), it was just too much to bear. The only responsible thing to do is to fire up your laptop and warn fellow citizens near and far. You'll never set foot in that disgusting establishment again, and neither should they.
While we understand the value of customer reviews in the appropriate forums, it is not polite to send out a flood of negative comments motivated solely by the need to punish, harm or exact compensation.
First, remember that behind every restaurant or business serving our community are real people. Owners, managers, and employees are working hard, especially in these unpredictable and tough economic times. Finding empathy and putting yourself in their shoes is a great first step to keeping things civil.
Before you publicly declare that a chef doesn't know the difference between a pork shoulder and a leg of lamb, why not contact the restaurant directly and let them know your opinion? Give them a chance to remedy the situation, or at least take your perspective into account and realize something they may not have noticed.
It's certainly valid to point out what went wrong, but also mention what went well: maybe the service was slow but the food was great, or maybe the atmosphere was poor but the staff was very friendly.
So the next time you're tempted to publicly complain that a chef's signature dish tastes like water, try adding a little civility and making the recipe a little more palatable.
