Although it is normal for restaurants to enforce strict policies regarding their meals and prices, such policies don’t always sit well with every customer. A recent outburst from one displeased customer who visited a restaurant in San Diego, California, is a case in point. The man criticized the restaurant for sticking to their policy and charging for his old mother’s extra rice despite spending over $50. According to the customer’s post on Reddit, he ordered three bowls for over $50. One out of the three bowls belonged to his 85-year-old mother, who “has a very restricted diet.”
He listed the contents of her plate, “Her bowl had exactly three ingredients: rice, steak, and cucumber. No sauces, no toppings, no extras.” Soon, the old mother realized she needed little rice added to her serving.
However, when they asked for a “small scoop,” they were informed they had to pay extra.” They took further steps to avoid the additional fees, even speaking to the manager about his mom’s health condition.
The man recounted, “I spoke to the manager-Andrea-who flat-out said, ‘That’s our policy.’ I explained my mother’s age and dietary needs, the simplicity of the bowl, and the fact that we’d already paid $50+ for our meal. Still, no flexibility. Just cold corporate policy.”
Concluding his narration, the man lashed out at the organization for failing to be lenient with them. He wrote, “It honestly blew my mind that a restaurant like this would nickel-and-dime a customer-let alone one asking on behalf of an elderly woman with health issues.
In no time, the post caught the attention of other social media users who had mixed reactions about the experience. Some social media users criticized the customer for being entitled.
One netizen wrote, “Sorry, but your grandma’s age and dietary needs do not exempt her from paying for extra ingredients. The sense of entitlement in this post is wild.” Two other netizens called the man a “Karen.”
A third individual added, “Some people like to do their job how it’s meant to be done. Don’t take it so personally and just go somewhere else instead of playing the victim.”
On the other hand, some netizens took sides with the customer and blasted the establishment. This critic wrote, “Rice is very inexpensive. It’s ridiculous to charge extra for it. Meat I can understand, but not rice.”
A second person added, “That extra scoop of rice was probably less expensive than all the other ingredients you asked to not include. Charging you for it is greedy, and in this case, the manager should’ve acknowledged it as a fair trade.”
Was the customer too entitled or in the right?
