Manager With Poor Attitude at TGI Fridays

give me a freaking break. you should know that you need to pay for
what you order in a restaraunt, and if you order anything, expect to
be charged extra. i think the fact that you ate the bread and butter
and then refused to pay for it was due to your own lack of common
sense, and was equally as rude on your part.

i mean, geeze, do people go to your job and expect you to just give
them free things every time you neglect to inform them of their own
insulence? the customer always loves to be the victim.

People like you are idiots! Nothing is free in this world, youre upset
over 1.99 for something you asked for? Let me go to youre place of
business and ask for some free stuff. Get a life Kim

and the end of the letter...if they gave us coupons...yeah you're not
looking for freebies...you just got free bread which is a menu item
and he had the bad manners to explain he was giving it to you
free,what a jerk. if you had not looked at the price for your steak
should it be free too, my favorite are those who get a medium rare
steak and say they want it done more then want it free because they
didnt feel it was right get a life!they're a restaurant not a soup
kitchen.

I agree with everyone here...I always ask especially at thses type
places. I say "does it come with breadsticks?" and they usually say
yeah they are 2 dolalrs or whatever the cost...

Not to assume things, but i'm guessing by the bread and butter request
and the attitude, that this person is elderly and is used to the old
school places where you usually get a bread service with the
meal...granted she was probably gonna take it home in her purse
anyway...( I have a 73 yr old grandma so I know what these crafty
ladies do) and don't try to rebutt that accusation, i've seen you all
at old country buffet wrapping desert and dinner rolls and grabbing
handfuls of sugar packets and stuffing them in a purse.

You got the two dollars back, what more do you want. Unless TGI'
Friday's has free bread stick with the meal your friend ordered you do
not get the bread for free. I am sure that on the menu it says that
the breadsticks cost $1.99. I am also sure that the menu also tells
you what meals come with free breadsticks. You claimed that you were
never informed of the charge of the breadsticks when you ordered them
and if you knew about the charge you would never have ordered them.
Well, with your logic I could have ordered a steak dinner and refused
to pay for it because I was never informed that I had to pay for it.
Why should they coach the manager. The only people with the poor
attitude is you. You should not have made such a big deal over $2 in
breadsticks. Exactely how many people were in your party. I am sure
they could have each spared 50 cents for the bread sticks. The
restaurant is not managed poorly, it's the customer that misread the
menu. It's the customer that should apologize. It's the customer
that has a poor attitude. You already got the money back for the
breadsticks which they should not have done because it was probably
printed on the menu that the breadsticks cost extra. You should not
have gotten the $2 back, but since it was only $2 they gave it back to
you rather than make the situation worse. The manager had to tell you
this because he did not want you to try the same thing again and make
a habit of ordering food and refusing to pay for it because you
"thought" that it was free. He does not want you telling all your
friends about your petty complaint so they can do the same.

Once again, someone else who has obviously never worked in a
restaurant. Did it say on the menu that bread was included with your
friend's meal? Probably not or there wouldn't have been a charge. Why
would you expect this to be free? The server probably didn't want to
tell you that there was a charge in fear of making you feel
uncomfortable. If they had told you there would be a $1.99 charge you
probably would have written in claiming that they discriminated
against you and thought you looked like you couldn't afford it! I'll
tell you like I've told the other outrageous restaurant complaints.
You only give the staff and managers a good laugh with your petty
complaints. Who cares if you never return to that store, I'm sure they
don't want you to and it's definitely not as if the whole company of
TGI Friday's will collapse because they miss out on your business.

give me a break, I do not treat customers bad if they do not give me
an attitude. But it does not matter, some customer are so ignorant,
that they think everything what is going on in the restaurant is
servers fault. And it reflects in their tip.
I know I hate this job, but this is the only thing I can do right now,
while I'm in college. But this is also a great experience to know
people better and to realize that this job is not a piece of cake and
that is why I will always tip my server!

give me a break, I do not treat customers bad if they do not give me
an attitude. But it does not matter, some customer are so ignorant,
that they think everything what is going on in the restaurant is
servers fault. And it reflects in their tip.
I know I hate this job, but this is the only thing I can do right
now,
while I'm in college. But this is also a great experience to know
people better and to realize that this job is not a piece of cake and
that is why I will always tip my server!

I feel sorry for the person that ordered the bread and butter but
could not afford it. She expected something for free. What a cheap
friend you have. And to complain after they took the $2 off and
demand coupons just to return. I hope you don't hear from them again.
They don't need customers that make a deal out of a petty two dollars.

It just struck me; is eating at TGIF's considered "dining"?

This seems to be your first dining experience with TGIFridays. If you
are dining in an unfamiliar restaurant, and you look around to see
that ever other table has a breadbasket or loaf of bread, then it is
perfectly acceptable to question your server if you do not receive
this bread within five minutes of being seated. However, if you walk
into a place you have never dined at it is quite rude to immediately
expect a service that the establishment might not offer. By requesting
"bread and butter" at Friday's, you forced the server to find the
closets match- breadsticks.

Breadsticks at Fridays are available to be used as garnish for salads
and particular dishes. If a customer requests them they can be served
for a small additional charge. If the server had not charged you,
they could get written up by their manager under suspicion of giving
handouts to friends/family.

The manager that came to your table was probably pretty frustrated.
Because it probably took enough complaining to the server about the
charge that they actually went and tracked down the manager over it.
That or you actually requested a manager. The manager obligatorily
took the charge off your bill, and here you are still complaining to
corporate. The manager simply stated that it would be a charge in the
future. They have to tell you this, because some people come in
multiple times trying to get charges taken off because they had gotten
away with it in the past.

I don't feel any sympathy for you. If you didn't know it wasn't free,
that's one thing. But to make such an ordeal out of it is quite
another. If you can't afford an extra $2, then maybe you can't afford
dining out. After all, it is a luxury, not an entitlement.

Were you informed that your entree was going to be given to you for a
price?? Probably not VERBALLY, but you knew you don't just get things
GIVEN to you when you go out places...

I dont think they manager was rude. Just letting you know for next
time. For Cripes sake you got the bread free! Usually if bread or
chips with salsa are free they bring it with the water before they
take your order.

I can't see the manager being rude. She was merely letting you know
that as a curtosey, she would refund or remove the 2.00 charge,
however another manager probably wouldn't. She was doing her job, and
it sounds like you got upset because you didn't get your way, more
than anything else... which is what I've found most of these
complaints are.. which really hurts people who have legitimate
complaints and have truly been given bad service.

you ordered it. did it say on the menu that bread and butter came
with what the person initially ordered? if not, why on earth are you
surprised you got charged? restaurants aren't in business to give
food away. you think the manager is being petty about two dollars,
but you are being just as petty, or you wouldn't have brought it up in
the first place. a note for the future: when you are at a restaurant
and ask for a food item don't be surprised if they have the audacity
to charge you for it and not kiss your rosy red behind when you get
huffy.

you mean, you were charged for food you ordered? You asked for bread
and butter. I don't know about you, but when I go to the grocery
store, I have to pay for the bread and butter in my shopping cart. I
assume that most people do and that includes the people who buy for
the restaurants. That means, that when you order it, you have to pay
for it.

Just curious.. where was this Friday's? By the way, the customer isn't
always right, nor do they always deserve respect. However, I would
have said, "Oh, okay folks, I will add that bread to the ticket and
have it right out." That is a subtle way to let the table know that
they are being charged.

Than to chastize someone who thought free bread was coming versus
something you pay for? How long has it been a tradition where bread
and butter are free commodities in a restaurant? Forever I think.
Most still provide that freebie (although I'm sure the cost is hidden
somewhere, like in the bar bill or somewhere else), but at least it
seems like something free. So back off the poor lady. I don't blame
her. And then to get attitude from a manager who was obviously having
a bad night, and took it out on her and her family. I think that's
what you can expect from a TGIF or for the most part, a national
chain. I've said it before in previous chains, I'm not a fan of
national restaurant chains when there are a gazillion other better
options that are locally owned, singly operated restaurants that have
a higher quality of food, better service, more inventive menus, and
all for pretty much the same price. You get what you pay for and that
also includes service and attitudes.

The complaint is about a snotty manager. The breadsticks weren't
ordered. Bread and butter was. Come on, you trigger happy knee jerk
types, read the letters and try to understand them before you start
looking for something to complain about. The behavior the OP is
speaking about has no place in a service institution like TGI Fridays.
Customers should always be treated with respect.

I'm just curious, has anybody noticed she has a link to her website
with her phone numbers, and if so, did anybody call her and tell her
how stupid this complaint is?

Next time I go to a restaurant I'm going to ask for steak. If they
don't tell me up front that there's a charge, it must be free!

as the resident restaurant owner..

I would have to say "count your lucky stars they even took the $1.99
off the bill"
My waitstaff are trained that everything "extra" costs "EXTRA"...
it costs me money to provide it to you.. so why shouldn't it cost you
money to eat it?
my restaurant is no where near the sales / profit scale of TGIF , but
even as a small 100 seat restaurant in a very small town.. we
understand the concept of "APPETIZERS" which is what garlic
breadsticks are!

maybe next time try going to applebee's and ordering dinner and drinks
and ask for a free beer chaser to go with your booze! im sure they'll
give you 1!!!

unfortunately , with the rising costs of everything.. especially
fuel!!... those of us in the food service industry are paying more for
food than you pay at local grocers.(we even have to pay for the fuel
to get it delivered)... and because of this.. that cost is passed on
to the consumer.no more free bread & butter , no more free chips &
salsa , no more free anything at most places..

and some places even have an extra charge for the to-go containers
when you order food to go!

we could keep things the way they were(with the freebies) , if 2
things happened.
#1 lower costs of fuel to what they were 3 years ago
#2 get cheapo people to stop trying to get something for free just
because they're cheap!

your cheap- thats why you went to that restaurant in the first place.
1.99 for bread sticks is not bad, if you wanted bread then go to a
place that serves free bread. You should know better that to expect
that from a chain restaurant. As for the manager being rude- times
your complaint by 60- the number of complaints she got before yours.
The $40,000 a year times 12-14 hours a day it not much. If you want
perfection go to a restaurant that has a hire check average of $8.00.
I feel sorry for all the potential restaurants you are going to visit.

-sincerely
"that fed up manager that deals with cheap people like you all day
long"

My very first though about this letter was "Is this woman serious?" I
mean, when I go to a restaurant and order something, well golly I
expect to be charged for it. Can this woman really be this dense? But
then I realized, the problem is the snotty manager. And that's what
the complaint is about. No matter how ignorant a customer is, the
manager should respond professionally. I admit that if I was the
manager, I wouldn't be thinking the most professional thoughts about
her. But that's not the point.

I have a somewhat different take than many of the commenters.

This letter is not so much about the cost of the bread, but in how the
manager handled it.

There's no need for a manager to lecture someone. The point, that the
bread is not free, had already been made. There's no need to say to a
customer "in the future..." or "we're only doing this for you... this
one time..."

I've had this happen to me. A business did something nice for me, but
a particular employee decided to lecture me on how I was "never, ever,
to ask for a favor ever again."

There's no call for this.

Whether or not the OP ate the breadsticks, should have known, or
whatever... that's besides the point.

I understand that many restuarants do give each table bread and butter
for free, but your quandry comes from 2 things and bother were
failures on YOUR part.

A. TGI Fridays is NOT an upscale joint. Its a chain resturant all over
the country and the prices are in general quite low. You're not paying
extra for the atmosphere, white linen, etc. And that includes free
food.

B. You asked for bread and butter. You received garlic breadsticks.
Here's what a customer who genuinely cares about doing the right thing
would have done "Excuse me, Waiter? I asked for X and received Y. This
seems to be a menu item and I was thinking we would get just normal
B&B for free. Oh, you dont offer that? Well, I'm sorry, but we're not
interested in adding these to our bill." Instead, you (mentally) went
"Cool! Free upgrade! Silly kitchen probably didnt even notice! Hurry,
eat them up!" Then you act shocked that you were charged for a menu
item.

Personally, if I were in your shoes and had actually consumed the
breadsticks, later discovered there was a charge and had the waitress
agree to take them off, I would have been falling over myself with
apologies. I would have assured her that it was my own stupidity and
that it would never happen again. THen, I would have thanked her to
the high heavens for not making me beg in the streets for $2 (becuase
physically NOT having $2 would be the only reason I would have
accepted the discount).

The fact that you used this manager's GOOD customer service as a
chance to score freebies says everything that one needs to know about
you, your complaint and any future complaints you may file. I hope TGI
Fridays does what is appropriate: give kudos to the manager.

I guess that could be annoying since the breadsticks were brought by
mistake. However, it's not so big an issue that a letter needs to be
written about it. It's just 2 dollars, not a big deal.

Did it state somewhere on the menu "free breadsticks with your
meal"??

I'm guessing not, which is why you were charged for them. Try again
when you have a valid complaint.

I don't see how the manager had a bad attitude. You expected something
for free because "you didn't know there was a charge". if it was soda,
and it said free refills and they charged.. that would be diff. but
come on... use your head...

Okay, I'm completely mystified by this "complaint", so I have to ask;
has anyone ever ordered an item and had the server state, "You do know
you're going to have to pay for this, don't you?"

*SIGH* rolls eyes

I can't really add anything to what's already been said, but I was
just so taken aback by this bizarre 'complaint'.
Why would you not expect to be charged for something that you ordered?
And if that $1.99 was such a hardship and the end-all be-all of your
dining experience, why wouldn't you at least ASK if there was a
charge?

Normally I try to be somewhat even-tempered in my comments, but you
really make me ill.
Eat at home from now on. For everyone's sake.

You should have stayed home at eaten peanut butter

They took off the $1.99, which they didn't have to do, so I'm not sure
why you think you'd be entitled to anything else. Maybe you misread
the manager's attitude, or maybe she was just having a bad day.
Besides, you had a good meal and you even got free breadsticks out of
it.

Nice freebie grab! You misunderstood that you would be charged for
the breadsticks and they removed (the whopping) $2.00. They told you,
so that you know, that in the future you would be charged for them.
Pretty decent of them, I think, considering they are listed on the
menu as a side order.

Oh but wait, you'll never darken the doorstep of a TGIFridays again
but, wait, maybe if you got some coupons, you might. Nice.

Here's a hint. If they don't automatically put something on your
table when you are first seated and you ask for it, it's not going to
be free. I believe Chili's does this with the salsa.

"Perhaps we would consider returning in the future if they did give us
coupons, but not to that location as long as it is being managed so
poorly!"

so treated "good" means getting a free meal! Wow, what a concept, you
placed an ORDER and are expected to PAY FOR IT. You did get what you
ORDERED, so why should you not pay? I love people like you, exactly
why this country is becoming a third world wasteland of consumerism.

Unfortunatly I encounter this a lot as a waitress! I had someone
order dinner and a soup, then get offended when I charged him for his
soup. He thought it came with his dinner. I smiled and said "sorry
about that, but at least it was good soup right?" I didn't give it to
him for free!
I also have people complaining about paying for gravy. I'm sorry, but
if it costs my boss money - it's probably gonna cost you money!
My favorite was "Why should I have to pay for the gravy? It came on
the fries, not on the side" Being pretty cranky that day I responded
with "Yes, but either way it was served, it's taken from the kitchen
and we're no longer able to serve it" Believe it or not the lady then
said "ohhhhhh" like the light bulb just went on.

Sorry if this seems disjointed, I just got home from work and dealing
with people like this all day!

you were lucky to have gotten the WHOPPING $2 charge taken on your
bill. Gosh, and I thought I was cheap... I wouldn't have made a big
deal. I woulnd have expected to pay for it. Does TGIF give you
breadsticks when your seated? I haven't been there in a while but I
don't remember them doing so. If this is the case, of course your more
than likely going to get charged.

When you received the breadsticks,, if you had questioned why you did
not receive bread and butter, but rather the breadsticks, you would
have been told upfront that they only serve the breadsticks and may
have been shown the item on the menu. Just in receiving the
breadsticks, I would have assumed a charge would be added on.

I agree, they shouldn't have an attitude about it, but should have
explained it. However, I wasn't there and I didn't see how you
approached the situation when you brought it to their attention
either.

They did compensate you for your misunderstanding of the price of the
breadsticks but informed you that next time there would be a charge as
it isn't a free item. I think $1.99 is very reasonable for them.

As JuliePie noted the item is on the menu. There's absolutely NO
reason why a server should tell you "upfront" about a charge if
something is on the menu. With the request of the breadsticks came an
"implied contract" for you to pay for the breadsticks.

You must be living under a rock to not know that TGIFs is not a
Sunday, dinner-with-Grandma type of restaurant that serves
complimentary rolls and butter with dinner. Did the menu say anywhere
that an entree comes with bread?

The manager was probably fairly certain you were trying to get
something for free. Your suggestion that you get coupons in addition
to free food is consistent with that. I don't think they will miss
you.

The garlic breadsticks are on the menu under sides, and it states the
charge right there.

You sound very cheap. Maybe next time you ORDER something, you should
consult the menu, or ask if there is a charge. They didn't have to
take it off, but they did. I hope they don't send you coupons, because
I think they'd be better off if you DIDN'T return. Ever.

I didn't realize that TGI Fridays was in the habit of proving bread
and butter complimentary. Unless the last dozen times I've been there
the servers have been lacking in providing this.

The fact is, TGI Fridays does not offer complimentary anything when
you sit down. If you'd wanted something to munch on when you sat down,
you should have gone to another place that gives out things like
that.

And the freebie grab is just downright tacky. For shame.

Six garlic Breadsticks for two bucks sounds about right.

Did they realize the bread was shaped like a stick and the butter
tasted like garlic? Did they lick their fingers when they finished
eating them?

Gee, if I ordered "Bread and Butter" and got "Garlic Bread Sticks",
ONE SNIFF and I'd be calling the server over and telling them "I
ordered bread and butter, these OBVIOULSY are Breadsticks that smell
oddly like garlic, would it be much trouble to exchange them for bread
and butter?" Nine times out of ten guess what happens? They can't take
food back and re - serve it. They may toss it or leave it free of
charge, bring the bread and butter. Happy Server, Happy Manager, Happy
Customer.

I'm curious about this "negative tone" that I keep hearing about. It
seems to rear its ugly head ONLY when the poster is being told
something that he/she doesn't wish to hear.

If I'm reading this letter correctly, you got free food. That's what
you asked for. That's what you got. If the manager wasn't doing back
handsprings & jumping for joy that she had to give you free food
because you weren't smart enough to understand that you actually have
to PAY for food that you order, I'm not totally surprised. I guess
I'd respond with the dreaded "negative tone" in that same situation!

Wow, imagining having to pay for something in a place that does
business by means of selling food.

She was probably using a negative tone because you were trying to get
free food. You should pretty much assume that if the menu doesn't say
something comes with your meal, it's not free.

Kimberly P.,
Somebody asked for something, they got it and you have to pay for it.
The future reference by the manager makes sense to me.
You make no reference to the location of the restaurant compunded with
your claim to never return I am sure not much attention will be paid
to your letter.
BillR.

Did mommy and daddy forget to tell you that there is no such thing as
a free lunch?

I believe that when someone sits down in a restaurant and says "may I
please have some bread and butter" it is assumed by the server (and in
turn, the manager) that the customer has consulted with the menu and
knows whether he or she will be paying extra for it or if it's
included with the meal they anticipate ordering. Some restaurants
serve bread and butter to their customers while they wait to order and
some don't.

So, as this story goes, someone in your party asked for bread and
butter and when it was discovered at the end of the meal that there
was a charge for it, someone complained to the server who in turn went
to the manager to get the charge removed - - right? So it makes sense
that the manager would let you know that in the future the charge
would not be removed.

You want to talk about respect? The manager is responsible for
running the restaurant and she has to put up with your attitude over
$1.99 worth of breadsticks?

Hold it - - now I get it - - this whole disturbing experience would go
away if you got some coupons to use at a different Friday's location.
Got it.

Of course you have to pay for it! It was requested!

I should try that next time I go to Friday's. I'll just tell them that
I requested a complete meal and didn't know I had to pay for it. :-)

Yes, the manager shouldn't give customers attitude over $2
breadsticks. But customers shouldn't be so cheap as to expect free
food at a restaurant. That bread and butter isn't free for the
restaurant; it shouldn't be free for you. And no diner should assume
that such extras are on the house, unless the server brings them to
the table unasked, as part of the "dining experience."