A very disappointing experience at Chilli's for a family

"A very disappointing experience at Chilli's" Is there any other
kind? My few experiences with this restaurant have all been mediocre
to poor. Dirty, poorly managed, mostly crappy food. Just don't go
there in the future; as far as I can tell, not many people do! I am
betting this chain will be gone-gone in a few years.

I'm of two minds about this complaint.

On the one hand, I can see it being at least somewhat valid, in that
the OP was told she could pay extra for the side of pasta, and once
she accepted that, she was then told "Nevermind, management said no,"
and was not given a good reason as to why. Perhaps the waitress
misspoke, perhaps management realized they didn't have the resources,
whatever it was, the OP did deserve some explanation.

On the other hand, it seems like a huge fuss to make when basically
all the OP was told was that, no, she couldn't break the rules and get
her child free/very cheap food. In all honesty, the price difference
is so small between a child's meal and a side of pasta, and leftovers
can be boxed up and reheated, so I'm a tad surprised the OP had to
kick up such a fuss.

As many others on here have said - be prepared! If your young'un won't
eat enough to justify her own meal, either plan to eat something she
can share, without major alterations/extra special requests, or bring
a jar/baggie of food along for her yourself.

It's very possible that Chili's food is pre-portioned in such a way
that special-making you a small side dish would waste half a serving,
therefore making it more effective for the restaurant to request that
you simply purchase the child's meal.

One final thought, again echoing previous posts - it does often come
down to how you ask the question. When I ask to special order or
substitute something at a restaurant, I ask as politely as possible
and do so with no expectation that my request will be granted, as they
don't have to grant it if they don't want to.

I used to work for Chilis as a Bartender until last summer. Unless she
is asking for the mac and cheese (pre-packaged)as a side dish (which
they do not do). the pasta comes already weighed out by the kitchen
staff to be used in the pasta dishes. It is not to be used as a side
dish. It is not accomidating for the company to waste food, time, and
money. most side dishes are $1 or $1.50 like she said but that does
not include the pasta. Also i am sure she asked for a kids drink which
comes free with a kids meal puchase but she did not purchase one. If
she has a three year old why not share meal with that child. From my
experience they most 3 years old never finish the kids meals, they
come with entree and side dish. anyway most servers hate people with
little kids they are cheap, kids make a horrible mess and almost never
a good tip. Even if every thing goes great.

I usually get a hamburger for myself when I go there. I can never
manage to eat the whole thing. I think next time I go in I will ask
for 1/2 of a hamburger. JUST ORDER A KID'S MEAL! Are you telling me
your kid is not worth the extra $2.49 you are haggling over? Don't eat
out if you can't afford it.

What happened to the ziplock bag of cheerios in these situations??

Just for the sake of argument, let's say that the OP's mothers group,
along with anyone else who might listen, successfully boycott this
Chili's. Successful in that it damages them economically
(hypothetically, of course). Who do you think is going to pay the
price for this? The wait staff and cooks, by seeing their hours cut
or their jobs eliminated altogether. For what? Because some mother
didn't want to pay a couple of bucks for a kid's meal?

It's painfully funny how sometimes people can't see the result that
their actions might cause, all because they're slightly
inconvenienced. Of course, thinking that 142 mothers will all band
together and cause even a dent in Chili's economic status is pretty
fool hearty too, but then, I was being hypothetical.

The only pasta I even see on their menu is on the kid's menu. It is
Kraft Mac Y Cheese and something called Pepper Pal Pasta and both
dishes are $3.99. When I had a one year old and took them to a
restaurant, I always fed them at home and got them a little something
or shared my dish.

If there are 142 more people as entitled as you in Southern Orange
County, I am going to avoid that part of NY like the plague.
I hope that the rest of the mothers in your group aren't like you. I
have 4 kids. And I'll either buy the extra kids meal and take the rest
home, or have the kids share. I'm sure one of my older kids can spare
5 pieces of past for one the little one.

Sheesh.

What would bother me is that they offered it to you, and just as you
accepted it, they changed their mind. We don't really know the reasons
why they changed their mind, whether it was about having to do it for
others or their concern that you would be coming back knowing you
could always have this accomodation for the same price which isn't
listed on the menu. We may not ever find out.

I have to say that responses to this post are very disappointing!!!
You people are just plain rude. The OP made a simple request to
accomodate the baby and said her family was disappointed. As a
"breeder" I am glad to know that Chili's is inflexible and will not go
there and expect to substitute. Oh, and to the comment about
"breeders" - you should be thankful that your parents decided to
"breed" otherwise you would not be around to criticize anyone else!

You DO know they have a CHILD'S menu, yes? We just went there with
friends of ours and their 1 year old and he was happy with his
broccoli and chicken. They also do sides of veggies there if you
didn't want a full meal. Or split one kid's meal?

Either way, I don't think you're going to convince 142 people to not
ever go to Chili's again because you didn't like their policy nor did
you bother to ask the manager about it. Sounds like you just gave the
waitress a hard time.

I belong to a baseball league with 240 members. Everytime someone
threatens to open their contact list and persuade hundrends of others
not to go to a a particular establishment, I tell the people in my
league to go there at all costs. I figure the business they gain from
my hollow threats will make up for any customers they lose from your
hollow threats.
It makes me laugh to think that you think a fair punishment for a
place that choses not to accomodate anything you ask for deserves to
lose (in your mind) thousands of dollars in lost business no matter
how insignificant your 'ordeal' was.
Everyone wonders why customer service keeps getting worse. It's
because $40 customers like you expect top be treated like a movie star
spending thousands, everywhere you go without exception.
You were annoyed they were going to charge $1.50 extra. Based on the
fact they have to pay for pasta and the wages of the chef and
waitstaff, they need to charge you. That is how a business works, they
pay for the product and charge you what they paid plus the amount they
want to make as profit. They are not going to cook 5 noodles for free
because that is all you require. That is just assinine.

Ok, my take is that the manager said no to the side of pasta because:
A: They don't sell sides of pasta, B: They don't make plain pasta
and that's what the OP was asking for, C: They were running low on
pasta. No matter what the issue was, the time to ask about it would
have been at that time. Although, having two kids myself I don't see
why the OP couldn't just split a meal with the 1 year old. Macaroni
and Cheese is on the kids menu and could have been split between the 1
and 3 year old. I've also split sandwiches over the years with my
children. At 1, the child should have been able to eat shredded up
bun and chicken or hamburger and chicken. The rice would have been ok
too as long as it wasn't spicy. I was on board with the OP's original
request, I just don't like the fact that she was upset at being asked
to pay additional. And then again at being told that the waitress had
made a mistake and a substitution couldn't be made at all.

As soon as the word Chili's showed up on the title, I had to see if
Dora went back...I'm glad she didn't.

It was not unreasonable, but the manager should have been able to fix
you something for the baby that the child would enjoy.

Thats really bad service if they couldn't accommodate every guest at
the table.

However, word of mouth is a good thing, and I recommend that you talk
with the other mothers and find out places that are accommodating to
children.

Breeders! Go figure!

Sorry but I doubt that 142 mothers will stop going to Chili's just
because you had an incident there. Unless of course you are
blackmailing them all.

My opinion...I think you wanted to substitute the pasta for the rice
in your entree' and they would not do it. Granted the baby could have
had a few pieces of the pasta but they would not let you substitute
nor order it as a side. So instead of making this a complaint about
why they cannot substitute sides in their entree's you brought the
baby into it.

Sorry but I always carried something in my diaper bag for my baby
whenever I went anywhere. One does not always get home in time for the
usual feeding and you always have something to give the baby in
instances such as this.

At one, you can start feeding the kid anything. Mine loves Mac and
cheese. But, yeah, baby food is bland. You can start "spicing"
(adding flavors, salt, pepper, paprika, ect...) food up then. Another
thought I had was, Why didn't the OP just share a little of the 3 year
olds dinner? I don't think a 3yold will eat a whole kids meal.

Oh, yes! I have brought things in his bag for him to eat. Just in
case!

I do not see where Chili's has pasta listed as a side dish so I see
why the manager would not be willing to sell you a side dish of pasta.
Rice is listed as a side dish on the kid's menu. Pasta is also
available on the kid's menu for approximatelt $4.00.

If it meant that much for the 1 year to eat, why not give him/her some
rice or just order the pasta dish from the child menu. Any leftovers
could have been brought home and given to the 1 year at another meal.

All this arguing over what boils down to $3.00

Another option for you is to bring a small container of something from
home for your 1 year old until he/she is able to eat from the kid's
menu

You know I was kind of with you until you stated that you will share
your experience with your mother's group, that's just not right.

I actually think that there was a breakdown in communication somewhere
and I think it had to do with the quoted price of $1.50 for a side
order of pasta. I think that's what the manager objected to. The
waitress may have quoted the wrong price for a side order because
$1.50 sounds really cheap for a side order.

Personally, I would have asked to speak with that manager and find out
why he said it couldn't be done. I think that would have gone a long
way in clearing this up.

At least you were samrt enough not to ask for waffles.
It is your choice to ask the restaurant to go above and beyond, or to
look at it another way, to break the rules for you. It is their choice
to say no. It is then your choice to cancel your order and leave. I
really think that you are making a mountain out of a mole hill. They
told you they couldn't do something for you, you don't like the answer
so you are huffy.

Dear lord. Your 1 year old can eat rice as well as pasta. While I
think they very well could/should have sold you a side dish of
something (what's that hurt them, anyway?).

142 other mothers do not care. Please don't be the obnoxious person
in the group who wants everyone else to join your boycott.

When reading this letter, all that came to mind was "Waffles".

I also live in Southern Orange County and was wondering which Chili's
you are referring to. We've been going to the one in Harriman Commons
since it opened and have never had a problem there. I am very
surprised that they refused to accommodate you. Under the
circumstances, I think your request was reasonable, as a one-year old
is not going to eat a kid's meal. They have always been more than
willing to substitute, and I don't understand why the manager gave you
a hard time.

Are you out of your mind? Substituting pasta for one of your sides
for the purpose of feeding your child, in lieu of ordering a child's
meal? That is what the child's meals are for. $1.50 to feed your
kid? That is a BARGAIN. Not good enough for you - you want something
for free.

If they catered to every "minor request" to break their rules, they
would be breaking rules all day long and wouldn't need rules anymore.
Unless your entree was advertised as "Serves Two," I don't see why
they should break their rules to make it do so.

If you find this disappointing, I wish you the best of luck in the
years to come.

Why did'nt you ask to see the manager and explain the situation?

I don't see a reason they cant substitute pasta for rice though...I
mean you were willing to PAY for it.

As far as informing 142 separate mothers, is this via email or
message board? Or are you going to knock on their door personally? As
for the freebie grab at the end, the time to get that was when the
manager was available.