Restaurants

Why do some restaurants in the US insist on bringing your main course almost as soon as you have started to eat your starter??

TGI Fridays (what has happened to it in the states, no ballons, miserable staff, no whacky hats or badges) we ordered a big plate of fully loaded potatoe skins and had no sooner started to eat them when our main courses arrived.
The same thing happened at Planet Hollywood. We only had the soup/salad addition to the Entree, but our main courses arrived just as we began eating the salads/soups. I had soup and Fajitas, i continued to finish my soup but it meant that the Fajitas continue to cook (burn) if they aren't tucked into when fresh.

I personally like to eat my starter and then have a break before my main course arrives, anyone else???

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ujpest doza
Why do some restaurants in the US insist on bringing your main course almost as soon as you have started to eat your starter??

TGI Fridays (what has happened to it in the states, no ballons, miserable staff, no whacky hats or badges) we ordered a big plate of fully loaded potatoe skins and had no sooner started to eat them when our main courses arrived.
The same thing happened at Planet Hollywood. We only had the soup/salad addition to the Entree, but our main courses arrived just as we began eating the salads/soups. I had soup and Fajitas, i continued to finish my soup but it meant that the Fajitas continue to cook (burn) if they aren't tucked into when fresh.

I personally like to eat my starter and then have a break before my main course arrives, anyone else???

[/quote]

Tell them you will order you mean meal...after you get your starters.....they don't like it much...because it cuts into their tip money where you're using the table longer......but you're paying the bill....if they fuss.....ask for the manager.....

Must admit we only have a main meal, thats big enough for us

Yeah, have to agree with Chris here, I have a healthy appetite but can only manage a main course and if I can't face dessert I order it as a take out and have it later at the villa or for brekky!!mmmmm

Ann-Marie:D:D

Very rarely eat dessert, but usually have the soup/salad or shar something such as Awesome Blossom at Chillis or Skins/Shrooms.

Did have a dessert at Perkins though, lovely if a bit sickly and a bit dry without cream, a piece of Peanut Butter and choclate cake.

Never thought about getting tables clear quick for tip money from other punters, but shall in future at least ask for the main course to be held back until we have finished our starters.

Must agree with you though, that I like at least 15 minutes in between my courses or I don't enjoy my meal as I feel totally bagged up.[V]

Ann-Marie

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:[i]The same thing happened at Planet Hollywood. We only had the soup/salad addition to the Entree, but our main courses arrived just as we began eating the salads/soups. I had soup and Fajitas, i continued to finish my soup but it meant that the Fajitas continue to cook (burn) if they aren't tucked into when fresh.

I personally like to eat my starter and then have a break before my main course arrives, anyone else???

[/quote]

You don't know how lucky you were! At Planet Holywood in May they completely overlooked bringing our starters. The waiter seemed bemused when we declined his offer to serve the starters after we'd finished our main courses! It wasn't even busy - 3rd and probably last visit there for a while

By the way Graham, are Ujpest Dozsa still around? Haven't heard that name since the 70's/80's.

I agree on TG Fridays..the service has gone down hill..Your lucky you get your food right away..We usually wait too long..Have stopped going there and started going to Perkins for a fast bite.

That happened to us on xmas eve at Celebration Town Tavern.

The waitress was very upset when asked to take all the main courses back until we had finished the starters. We actually ended up calling the manager who insisted on cooking us all new meals.

It was all fine in the end but........ I doubt we would eat there again.

It seems TGIs in the States don't follow the same rules as the ones here. Your server should not enter your main course onto the Micros system until your appetisers have been put down on the table. That way you get a break between courses - provided you aren't a really slow eater and then you may get it as soon as your apps is cleared. You will occasionally have to wait slightly longer if your harrased server forgets to put in your mains and you ordered your steak well done. [:I][:I] Yes, I've been guilty of this.

I must admit I don't like the uniform in TGIs over there. It's really very difficult to spot the server from the general public with them wearing black polo shirts and jeans. The stripes we wear here are a pain to iron but I think they look a lot better (except at the end of a shift and they're all covered in BBQ sauce and JD Glaze:D. As for the whacky hats, they're a right pain, really hot and sweaty when you're busy but the kids love them. I managed to find a Statue of Liberty crown in Newark airport and wear that as it open in the middle and not too hot. Mind you, the spokes have bent a bit so am contemplating either getting them some viagre or starching them.:D:D:D


Jacqui

I am sorry that you had a negative experience in the Town Tavern. We have only ever found the staff and service to be very good.

It happened to us a few times in 2002 (must have been a bad year), we refused to pay for the starters. In one pizza resturant we knew we had a 45 minute wait for the pizza so we ordered a starter. After complaining 3 or 4 times we asked for the manager and as we were talking to him the starter and main course arrived together. He let us off the price of the starter but it ruined the meal a bit and put us off going there again.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Beverley
That happened to us on xmas eve at Celebration Town Tavern.

The waitress was very upset when asked to take all the main courses back until we had finished the starters. We actually ended up calling the manager who insisted on cooking us all new meals.

It was all fine in the end but........ I doubt we would eat there again.
[/quote]

Word of warning..............only ever complain about food when you have finished eating!!!!

I agree with you all about feeling really rushed through the courses. TGI was great when we visited several times, although sometimes a break would have been nice.

I have to say the Key lime pie at the Red Lobster is to die for, we had one to share and them ordered another!!

Can anyone tell me where Perkins is, I regularly see its name on the forum with rave reviews.

Andrea

[msntongue]

The perkins I know is on the 192 heading away from Disney at the Juntion of poinciana. Its a great
place and the food was fanatstic. We are going to eat there a few times this year as it was so good

We went to Perkins on the corner of I-Drive/Sand Lake Road, it was quite busy, the food was good but small portions given the prices. They also managed to give the kids Root Beer instead of Coke/Diet Coke, they nearly sprayed it over everyone!!.

There is Perkins on the US27 near Grand China Buffet, it's always a busy place.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by PeteF
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:[i]The same thing happened at Planet Hollywood. We only had the soup/salad addition to the Entree, but our main courses arrived just as we began eating the salads/soups. I had soup and Fajitas, i continued to finish my soup but it meant that the Fajitas continue to cook (burn) if they aren't tucked into when fresh.

I personally like to eat my starter and then have a break before my main course arrives, anyone else???

[/quote]

You don't know how lucky you were! At Planet Holywood in May they completely overlooked bringing our starters. The waiter seemed bemused when we declined his offer to serve the starters after we'd finished our main courses! It wasn't even busy - 3rd and probably last visit there for a while

By the way Graham, are Ujpest Dozsa still around? Haven't heard that name since the 70's/80's.
[/quote]

As far as i Know Ujpest Dozsa are still around in Hungary, some friends visited their stadium in 1997 when we played Ferencveros.
Ujpest Doza is used as a user name due to them being the team we beat in our only major European final (avatar is Wyn Davies with the cup!).

Graham, I was born in Newcastle so I suppose I should be a fellow fan - not sure just now why I chose Leeds instead. Still no regrets!!

When you asked if they were still around, I was assuming you were referring to a group or band[msnembarrased]

Now speaking of football teams of the 70s Leeds United were the best. Still hate living in Chelsea Close:D:D:D

Jacqui