The extra meatball is free, unless you order it

[TheGoodTexan]

We went to a great local scratch-kitchen Italian restaurant tonight.

I ordered the spaghetti with meatballs. I was really hungry, so I asked to add an additional meatball. -ok-

A couple at our table ordered the spaghetti with meatballs too, and asked if they could have an extra plate because they intended to split it. -ok-

When the food came, I received a plate with spaghetti and 4 meatballs. The couple received two plates, each with spaghetti and two meatballs, prepared/served that way from the kitchen.

Seeing that I had plenty of food on my plate, I mentioned to the waitress, "I ordered an extra meatball and didn't get it, but that's ok. This is a lot of food and I don't need the extra one. I just wanted to make sure I don't get charged for it."

She said, "Oh you got it. You have four meatballs there right?"

Me: "Yes. But they ordered the same thing and..."

Waitress... "The kitchen gave them an extra meatball no charge because they split their order. Since that entree comes with three meatballs, it's kinda hard to spit it evenly. But you ordered an extra one."

Me: ??

-ok-

 

[Edsel Presley]

It's a nice gesture on the restaurants part. Now you know to ask for 2 plates next time.

 

[Papa Joe]

 

[SquashBlossom]

I made 43 meatballs last week. I only have 8 left. I didn't make any extra meatballs. At least none that I know of. The problem is extra meatballs look just like regular meatballs. This is what causes the confusion.

 

[TheGoodTexan]

It's a nice gesture on the restaurants part. Now you know to ask for 2 plates next time.

That's what I murmured under my breath as our waitress walked away.

I'm a very bold man.

Technically, it's none of my business I guess. I got exactly what I ordered and was charged exactly what I expected for it. So I need to keep my murmuring mouth shut.

 

[Chud]

Some restaurants add a split plate charge. Very nickel and dime shenanigans, but you can also murmur that maybe they got what was coming to them in the form of a split charge. Lol

 

[AnAxeNamedBeverly]

I've been in the business long enough now that I no longer view a split plate charge as petty. Everything costs money, including washing that extra plate, any extra garnish necessitated, etc. People don't get that ANY extra attention they demand slows down the whole show. What If every single person got an extra plate and an extra meatball?

 

[src9000]

Next time, BYOMB!

 

[Sandhill69]

Half full, half empty? As Edsel pointed out above, probably better to see it as an act of kindness to the couple at your table rather than as an offense to you...sounds like a nice attitude on the restaurant's part.

 

[1293]

Like you said, you got, and paid for, what you ordered. I give them credit for being gracious to your companions. Spaghetti and meatballs isn't Italian. It's an American thing.

 

[Steve 78]

Do you order prawn crackers when getting Chinese takeaway, or hope that they throw them in for free?

 

[AnAxeNamedBeverly]

I worked at a sports bar that would let people order their wings (against my recommendation) "No Drums". Guess what, by the end of the night I've got upset patrons because they don't want all drumettes (perfectly understandable)
and that's all that's left. Being gracious and accommodating is not always what's best for business.

 

[Sandhill69]

Being gracious and accommodating is not always what's best for business.

No, but to the extent that you can do it, without otherwise doing damage, it is always what's best for business.
And yes the outer 2 bone part of a wing is the premium part, and it would be perfectly reasonable to tell customers sorry, you get an even mix or pay premium.

 

[ebb soul]

If we've shifted to the economics of it all, cutting a meatball in half would have been the way to go, cost wise.
Appearantly to difficult to comprehend.

 

[AnAxeNamedBeverly]

No, but to the extent that you can do it, without otherwise doing damage, it is always what's best for business.
And yes the outer 2 bone part of a wing is the premium part, and it would be perfectly reasonable to tell customers sorry, you get an even mix or pay premium.

Thank you, I love hospitality and if It doesn't hurt our bottom line or our other guests, I will bend over backwards, but the customer is NOT always right.

 

[AnAxeNamedBeverly]

If we've shifted to the economics of it all, cutting a meatball in half would have been the way to go, cost wise.
Appearantly to difficult to comprehend.

Economically, if you are budgeted to gross a certain amount to stay in business and all your customers decide they only want to purchase half a plate of food, cutting a meatball in half won't keep the doors open.

 

[GuildX700]

Any place that would cut a meatball in half has a lot more serious problems and I sure as hell would never eat there. Good for the place you went to,they get it.

 

[ebb soul]

Economically, if you are budgeted to gross a certain amount to stay in business and all your customers decide they only want to purchase half a plate of food, cutting a meatball in half won't keep the doors open.

But they are spitting a whole plate of food.
Which is the point.
That won't keep the doors open long.
And then throwing in xtra meatball, because they did?
Haha, I'm going to,have to go,with my math, on this one.

Btw, most of you missed the fact that the OP did not, in fact, get what HE ordered.
Which was NOT split.

 

[AnAxeNamedBeverly]

But they are spitting a whole plate of food.
Which is the point.
That won't keep the doors open long.
And then throwing in xtra meatball, because they did?
Haha, I'm going to,have to go,with my math, on this one.

Btw, most of you missed the fact that the OP did not, in fact, get what HE ordered.
Which was NOT split.

He DID get an extra! But so did they.

 

[william tele]

Now you know how I felt when I encountered a diorama built into a wall in the Old Market area of Omaha Nebraska in 1976. It contained an assemblage of automatronic engineering marvels and mechanical mechanisms of all configurations.

The coin slot said "coin here". I reached in and brought out a quarter. I thought anything this amazing should surely be worth 25 cents.

I dropped my quarter in the slot and watched it roll down a circular metal trough and hit a pinball type switch and disappear in a hole in the floor.

The only thing that happened was in the back of the display a tiny little stenciled sign painted in dayglow green started flashing the message... "thanks"