Wanted to post this here for archival sake. Below is the letter I sent to the person who runs the lunch spot here at my workplace over 2 years ago. I’ve been boycotting it since I wrote this letter. So, for the record, this is why I bring my lunch and get food delivered and eat out of vending machines here.
Note – This is probably pretty boring, really… don’t read this unless you have nothing better to do.
Before the letter – A little history. The L—- at my workplace is the only place within walking distance anyone can buy food. It’s a small little building with a full kitchen and a few small tables. For years I spent about $5/day at this place getting my lunch.
I’m a vegetarian, and so I asked on occasion about adding vegetarian entree’s. This was all done politely and in the spirit of feedback, not mean or abusive. But that’s how he took it. Below in my letter I site a few examples.
To: (name withheld for confidentiality)
I am quite upset about an incedent that occurred at ‘The L—-‘ today when I asked F—- a question about his menu. Attached is my letter I have written him, but suffice to say I was yelled at by F—- while in line with at least a dozen other people, and don’t plan to ever visit the summer kitchen again while it is under F—-‘s management. Maybe it’s just me but he seems very edgy and upset these days and even before todays incident I have felt wary of eating there.
Thank you for listening.
-Matt
At 02:18 PM 01/04/2002 you wrote:
F—-,
First off, I want to apologize if I have come across as someone that is just being nitpicky or annoying in regards to items on the menu. I never realized that my questioning you about items on the menu or making suggestions about future additions was annoying to you until you confronted me today. I certainly never intended to upset you, and while I know I have made jokes with you in the past I never meant them to insult you, your service or your restaurant. In the past 14 months we have corresponded via your suggestion box and casual chats about things such as hummus sandwiches etc. I have always thought that you were willing to hear suggestions from your customers, and while we have disagreed on some of your choices, I have always respected your decisions. Certainly it must have been obvious to you that I liked your restaurant and service enough to keep coming back since I have been eating their 4 or 5 days a week for the past 14 months. Had I known you felt I was being a ‘whiney vegetarian’ or a pest by asking questions or asking if you were going to be adding other vegetarian options to the menu, I would have stopped talking to you about your menu long ago. I wish you had, in a more polite manner, confronted me in the past if you felt I was insulting you, your service, or your establishment. Again, that was never my intention, and if that was how I came across, I am truly sorry.
However, I feel you were out of line when you publicly embarrassed me by yelling at me in line while I was trying to order today. In the past you have been short with me on other occasions but I’ve chalked that up to your having a bad day. Specifically, once before I asked you for vegetarian chili and you yelled at me because you assumed I was ordering it because it was no longer on the menu, and then when I glanced up and pointed to a section of the menu that still included veggie chili as an option (right at my eye level), you got even more upset because you thought I was just being a pain. However, again, I figured you were just stressed and let it go.
I don’t feel I can let todays incident go without comment though. Just because I was asking if you still offered Caesar salads now was not an outrageous question, especially since it wasn’t listed on the new menu. I’m sorry if you feel my questions this week regarding things like veggie burgers, egg salad sandwiches and other items not being on the new menu agitated you. As you know I order a sub-set of your vegetarian options everyday, and I think in this case it just was a coincidence that some of the items I regularly order were no longer on your hand written menu.. and since that menu was up there because you were making changes to it, it certainly seemed reasonable for me to ask you if something was still being offered or not. As far as I knew I was the only one ordering veggie burgers and you had chosen to stop offering it!
The fact that you took these questions as my hassling you, and then yelling at me in public about it, was not called for and was very insulting. I do realize you have an array of vegetarian options, and I have never accused you of not offering choices. However, I have the right to not like the way some things taste, and I don’t see how my asking if you had plans for adding any other vegetarian options or encouraging you to consider them was anything but a suggestion. On the rare occasions where I did have a criticism about the manner or style a dish was prepared I always did this via the suggestion cards or quietly in person with you. Todays reaction was overboard though, It is not my fault that you took my questions as an insult or criticism, you reacted in a manner that was unwarranted, insulting and to be honest, rather disturbing.
Finally, since you’ve made it quite clear you don’t want me as a customer anymore, I don’t plan to return to The L—- again.
-Matt