Is there a circumstance where you would walk out of a restaurant and not pay the bill?

[Hotsauce]

Have you ever had such horrible service from an often absent waiter that you would consider just leaving a restaurant without paying?

For some reason lately I have had a string of really poor service from a variety of different restaurants. 

Most recently I was seated, it took the waiter 10 mins to take my order, never refilled my drink, and came back once to check in on me while I ate. I sat around after I finished and waited probably another 10 mins to get my check. Eventually I got another waiter to bring me my check. 

I strongly considered just leaving, but didn't feel right about it. Is this something you would or have done?  I'm not asking about doing a dine and dash

[Doyle]

6 minutes ago, Hotsauce said:

Have you ever had such horrible service from an often absent waiter that you would consider just leaving a restaurant without paying?

For some reason lately I have had a string of really poor service from a variety of different restaurants. 

Most recently I was seated, it took the waiter 10 mins to take my order, never refilled my drink, and came back once to check in on me while I ate. I sat around after I finished and waited probably another 10 mins to get my check. Eventually I got another waiter to bring me my check. 

I strongly considered just leaving, but didn't feel right about it. Is this something you would or have done?  I'm not asking about doing a dine and dash

I say no, pay the bill, but never go back.  Too many variables to know what's going on at the restaurant that day. 

[Jase]

no.

[dave-o]

I have left before being served but not after eating....

[Anybodyhome]

Remember, part of your bill is paying for the people you didn't directly interact with- bus person, line cook, dishwasher, etc. 

I would never think of walking on a bill, but I would also never walk without expressing my service concerns to the shift manager. If you're that pissed at the service, you don't leave a tip. 

[PhillyB]

43 minutes ago, 15 said:

nah I'd at least ask for my meal to be free or something first

don't be that guy

[chknwing]

wow am I the only one to try to do this at every restaurant?

[Khyber53]

Always, always, always speak with the manager. Be calm and explain what your problems were. Then listen to what they say, there may be a circumstance you weren't aware of (kitchen injury, chef walkout, wait staffer just got bad news from home) and a good restauranteur will offer to comp your meal or a dessert. 

If the manager doesn't offer an explanation, get up, pay the bill and only the bill and don't come back. You've got to give them a chance to make it right, but if they don't then the world has a million restaurants lined up to treat you better. 

Restaurants can be on a tight margin, dashing on a meal can hurt a lot of good, hard-working folk just because some wait staffer is having a hard day or is sneaking a sip from every cocktail they are delivering. (Work in the restaurant biz for any length of time and you will see people at their worst, and you'll meet some of the finest hardworking folks in the world.) If management is bad, though, you really shouldn't eat there.. and not just because of the money, but if they take such bad care of the customers, how do you think they are treating the food?

 

[Toolbox]

Yeah last week waiter took way too long to take our order.. he was outside smoking and nobody covered for him.

[pstall]

Ya can't eat then walk. Douchey move. Like someone said, talk to the mgr and voice your displeasure. 

 

[stankowalski]

1 hour ago, Toolbox said:

Yeah last week waiter took way too long to take our order.. he was outside smoking and nobody covered for him.

To be fair, it was a really good cigarette, and you're a shitty tipper anyway.

[Mother Grabber]

eating without paying is stealing, so there's that.

[pstall]

Then you park in handicap spots or for expecting mothers or veteran's.  It's a slippery slope of being a self centered createan.

Might as well smoke a cig while pumping gas. Which amazes me.

[Ja Rhule]

You pay for the food in America?

I think I was doing it wrong...