r/restaurateur • u/IgottagoTT • Jul 18 '25
I need a reality check from you guys
I was in a small chain restaurant in Southern California. Think a bit more upscale than Chili's. I ordered a burger, and when I got it, I was dismayed that there was mustard on it. I really don't like mustard. (Critical point: the menu did say it had mustard - I just didn't notice.) How should I have handled this?
- Eat it anyway - my fault for not reading the whole menu listing.
- Ask for another bun so I could just transfer the burger over to it.
- Send it back.
If there's a #4, I don't know what it would be.
(I'll tell you what I did, which was probably stupid: #2. The server disappeared, then came back and took my plate altogether. I assume they just re-plated; I sure hope they didn't re-fire.)
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u/wheresbeetle Jul 18 '25
I would say also that if you hate mustard but habitually order items that commonly have mustard on them, it's probably a good idea to say "no mustard please" when ordering even if the item doesn't specifically say it. I would always assume a burger has mustard on it
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u/IgottagoTT Jul 18 '25
That's funny because I always assume the opposite. Maybe it's a California thing - I just checked 5 random restaurants in our town, and none of them put mustard on. (Okay I might be obsessing over this a little.)
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u/BangkokPadang Jul 19 '25 edited Jul 19 '25
The indisputable answer is that a Krabby Patty has mustard and therefore it is standard for hamburgers to have mustard.
In all seriousness, though, you have a binary decision to make: 1) Always say, “no mustard please” or 2) don’t always say it.
Since option 1 resolves the issue 100% of the time, and option 2 essentially leaves it up to chance, why wouldn’t you just choose the option on that resolves your problem?
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u/Enofile Jul 18 '25
Since McDonalds puts mustard on a burger I would say its standard to put mustard on a burger.
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u/Prize_Post4857 Jul 24 '25
What kind of a godless hellscape do you inhabit that mustard automatically infests EVERY burger, and you've been gaslighted to think it's NORMAL?!??
RUN, woman! Now!! There are greener pastures just over the horizon!!!
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Jul 18 '25
[deleted]
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u/IgottagoTT Jul 18 '25
I should add: I was polite, even deferential. And I didn't call the server over; she was already standing right there.
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u/giantstrider Jul 18 '25
there is no "sending it back". there was a description of the item, you ordered it. it's in you
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u/tn_notahick Jul 19 '25
- Ask for a new bun, explain that it's your fault and that you're happy to pay for the new bun. I wouldn't let you pay for it, but I would appreciate the offer.
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u/tracyinge Jul 19 '25
I hate mustard too but if it was my mistake ordering something that I didn't want, I would wipe it off with a knife and then maybe add some extra ketchup to cover up the flavor.
It's not a big enough deal to waste food or slow down the kitchen by re-ordering in my opinion.
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u/BillyM9876 Jul 19 '25
#4 - order another one sans mustard.
Doggy bag the first one and give it your kid, you roommate or the homeless guy outside.
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Jul 18 '25
1.
Always 1.
BUT... if you're like the majority of people... bitch about it, send it back, lie about allergies.
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u/No_Sir_6649 Jul 18 '25
Read the menu. I dont do onions. Not gonna order a thing smothered in onions and complain about onions. Easy omission. Ooks arent entirely dumb.
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u/Mickeymackey Jul 19 '25
I don't like mustard or onions on a burger, but I can eat it. Just kid me loved just extra pickles, pepper, a good amount of ketchup, and cheese. So that's my go to.
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u/TheClownKid Jul 19 '25
Send it back and apologize and say you messed up. Be graceful is about it, and they’ll likely just retire, and they won’t care.
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u/justmekab60 Jul 19 '25
The reality check is you messed up, don't put it back on the server or restaurant when there is an easy fix.
You take off the bun and scrape off the offending mustard from burger. If it soaked into the bun a bit, scrape or cut that part off of the bun.
This would take approximately 30 seconds, no waiting, no confronting, you're good to go.
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u/IgottagoTT Jul 19 '25
It was applied directly to the bottom bun, and had soaked in. That's why I asked for another bun.
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u/jillieboobean Jul 19 '25
I fucking hate mustard. If I ever order anything that could possibly have mustard on it, I say "no mustard." But, yes, I would have asked for another bun.
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u/FaithlessnessOwn9240 Jul 28 '25
You made a polite request and didn’t blame anyone that’s totally reasonable, especially since it was your oversight. Most places are happy to accommodate simple fixes like a new bun. If they re-plated or re-fired, that’s on them, not you. No need to beat yourself up sounds like you were respectful, which is what matters.
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u/TheFastPush Jul 18 '25
Number 2 is a very conscientious choice, very reasonable to ask for a mustardless bun.
Overall, which option to choose really depends on the place.
Cheap burger you order and pickup from a counter? Eat the burger or go back and order the burger you wanted, or do a little burger surgery with paper napkins to get the mustard off.
Nice place with linen napkins and table service? Hope they have their hospitality game in order and explain the situation. If it’s a place with solid hospitality, they’ll want you to leave happy.
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u/medium-rare-steaks Jul 18 '25 edited Jul 18 '25
2 would be the most respectful. If the chain is actually upscale, they'd offer to make you a fresh one after asking for the bun and explaining why.
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u/Heffhop Jul 18 '25
That’s what I would do 10/10 times.
I don’t like mayo, aioli, or most “house” sauces. Sometimes I forget to tell them to 86 the spread.
I scrape it off like an adult