Thread: On noise and eating out... Review on Chili's Restaurant

On Sat, 06 Nov 2010 09:32:28 -0600, Omelet <[email protected]>
wrote:

>How do you feel about abusive noise that others might like but you hate?

I vote with my feet!


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On Nov 6, 11:32*am, Omelet <ompome...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I finally re-tried Chili's restaurant out of desperation for a steak out
> a few months ago... *I was starving after a medical procedure and was
> still too high from the IV Deprivan to want to cook.
>
> I'd not eaten there in years as the first time I ever tried them, they
> sucked. That was at least 15 years ago.
>
> I was really impressed with the change in their food quality and menu
> choices. They were really good!
>
> So last month, I took dad there. *He and I eat out together once per
> month and that is about all we eat out. *It's a treat to us. *He liked
> it so much that we decided it would be our monthly destination for
> awhile.
>
> Yesterday we went back and the food was as good as ever, but the damned
> hard rock music was so loud, the other patrons were having to shout to
> be heard over the music for normal conversation. We asked twice to have
> the music turned down and were told they would, but we could hear no
> difference.
>
> Dad is hard of hearing and the noise bouncing off the walls was still
> hurting his ears. We took bits of napkin and stuffed them in our ears
> but it did not help much.
>
> We finally packed up the rest of our meals and took them home to eat in
> peace and quiet... *Still left a good tip as it was not the servers
> fault but let them know how we felt. That we'd intended to eat there
> regularly but now might never be back due to the sheer pain of the noise
> we were tortured with.
>
> I might still order out there, but have not decided if I'll ever try

I'd call write the manager and tell him or her how many people
complained about the music.

I've quickly cruised in and out of many a store (e.g. Gap) where the
late-teen help drives away customers with the blaring 'music'.
Management needs to know these things.

"Omelet" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]..
>I finally re-tried Chili's restaurant out of desperation for a steak out
> a few months ago... I was starving after a medical procedure and was
> still too high from the IV Deprivan to want to cook.
>
> I'd not eaten there in years as the first time I ever tried them, they
> sucked. That was at least 15 years ago.
>
> I was really impressed with the change in their food quality and menu
> choices. They were really good!
>
> So last month, I took dad there. He and I eat out together once per
> month and that is about all we eat out. It's a treat to us. He liked
> it so much that we decided it would be our monthly destination for
> awhile.
>
> Yesterday we went back and the food was as good as ever, but the damned
> hard rock music was so loud, the other patrons were having to shout to
> be heard over the music for normal conversation. We asked twice to have
> the music turned down and were told they would, but we could hear no
> difference.
>
> Dad is hard of hearing and the noise bouncing off the walls was still
> hurting his ears. We took bits of napkin and stuffed them in our ears
> but it did not help much.
>
> We finally packed up the rest of our meals and took them home to eat in
> peace and quiet... Still left a good tip as it was not the servers
> fault but let them know how we felt. That we'd intended to eat there
> regularly but now might never be back due to the sheer pain of the noise
> we were tortured with.
>
> I might still order out there, but have not decided if I'll ever try
> them again.
>
> <sigh>
>
> Too bad because their food really is good, especially those Southwestern
> egg rolls.
>
> How do you feel about abusive noise that others might like but you hate?
> --
> Peace! Om
>
> Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
> Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or
> no influence on society. -- Mark Twain

Whenever I have an unpleasant experience, I always relate it to the manager.
Or ask to speak to them, and just ask, "What do you think of the music sound
level right now? We came here to converse." We had a meal at a chain
restaurant where screaming kids were allowed to run the aisles. And I mean
that scream like an icepick in the ear that only a two year old can do.
Parents acted like, "They're not with us." The manager said, "This IS a
family restaurant." I said well, I will never be back, and haven't been. I
wrote a letter to corporate, relating the story, but not the I'll never be
back portion. Got a reply apologizing, yet essentially stating that it WAS
a family restaurant. Sent reply that I would never be dropping a dime there
again, and didn't hear from them.

I was in a restaurant like that once, and started talking seriously loudly
to order. The server said she could hear me just fine, and I said that I
couldn't hear her because of the music, and assumed she was having the same
problem, and asked HER to talk as loud as I was so I could hear her. People
started looking. She left after taking the order, and the music was
promptly turned down.

Funny, one day, it's Muzak at barely inaudible levels, the next, it's head
slapping screaming angry grunge band music.

Go figger.

Steve

Heart surgery pending?
Read up and prepare.
Learn how to care for a friend.
http://cabgbypasssurgery.com

"Mr. Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]..
> On Sat, 06 Nov 2010 09:32:28 -0600, Omelet <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>How do you feel about abusive noise that others might like but you hate?
>
> I vote with my feet!

Me, too, but I never leave without talking to a manager.

Steve

On 11/6/2010 11:41 AM, Mr. Bill wrote:
> On Sat, 06 Nov 2010 09:32:28 -0600, Omelet<[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> How do you feel about abusive noise that others might like but you hate?
>
> I vote with my feet!
>
>
Me too, I am not partial to big box industrial restaurants in the first
place.

Too many local places are available that have good food and the owner
isn't some faceless megacorp located 10 states away.

In article <[email protected]>,
Mr. Bill <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Sat, 06 Nov 2010 09:32:28 -0600, Omelet <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> >How do you feel about abusive noise that others might like but you hate?
>
> I vote with my feet!

Which is what we did, but I did let them know...
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or
no influence on society. -- Mark Twain

In article
<[email protected]>,
Kalmia <[email protected]> wrote:

> > We finally packed up the rest of our meals and took them home to eat in
> > peace and quiet... *Still left a good tip as it was not the servers
> > fault but let them know how we felt. That we'd intended to eat there
> > regularly but now might never be back due to the sheer pain of the noise
> > we were tortured with.
> >
> > I might still order out there, but have not decided if I'll ever try
>
> I'd call write the manager and tell him or her how many people
> complained about the music.
>
> I've quickly cruised in and out of many a store (e.g. Gap) where the
> late-teen help drives away customers with the blaring 'music'.
> Management needs to know these things.

I did let them know before we left.

That we might very well never be back even tho' we loved their food.
Atmosphere, to me (and dad) are about as important.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or
no influence on society. -- Mark Twain

On Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:34:02 -0400, George <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
> Too many local places are available that have good food and the owner
> isn't some faceless megacorp located 10 states away.

There are too many areas in the USA that are a vast wasteland of
bedroom communities and malls filled with chain stores and chain
restaurants. I've only been to Chili's once, at least at least 10
years ago, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food was at
the time. The reason we went there was because the wait was too long
at the restaurant we normally eat at in the area, so we defaulted and
went to Chili's (which was so crowded that we ended up eating in the
bar).

--

Never trust a dog to watch your food.

In article <[email protected]>,
"Steve B" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Whenever I have an unpleasant experience, I always relate it to the manager.
> Or ask to speak to them, and just ask, "What do you think of the music sound
> level right now? We came here to converse." We had a meal at a chain
> restaurant where screaming kids were allowed to run the aisles. And I mean
> that scream like an icepick in the ear that only a two year old can do.
> Parents acted like, "They're not with us." The manager said, "This IS a
> family restaurant." I said well, I will never be back, and haven't been. I
> wrote a letter to corporate, relating the story, but not the I'll never be
> back portion. Got a reply apologizing, yet essentially stating that it WAS
> a family restaurant. Sent reply that I would never be dropping a dime there
> again, and didn't hear from them.
>
> I was in a restaurant like that once, and started talking seriously loudly
> to order. The server said she could hear me just fine, and I said that I
> couldn't hear her because of the music, and assumed she was having the same
> problem, and asked HER to talk as loud as I was so I could hear her. People
> started looking. She left after taking the order, and the music was
> promptly turned down.
>
> Funny, one day, it's Muzak at barely inaudible levels, the next, it's head
> slapping screaming angry grunge band music.
>
> Go figger.
>
> Steve

I'd rather have total silence, no music at all, than have to talk loudly
to be heard over the background noise or have it assaulting my ears.

Why do we need it at all? If I want it, I'll take my MP3 player.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or
no influence on society. -- Mark Twain

In article <ib401n$ld9$[email protected]>,
George <[email protected]> wrote:

> On 11/6/2010 11:41 AM, Mr. Bill wrote:
> > On Sat, 06 Nov 2010 09:32:28 -0600, Omelet<[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> How do you feel about abusive noise that others might like but you hate?
> >
> > I vote with my feet!
> >
> >
> Me too, I am not partial to big box industrial restaurants in the first
> place.
>
> Too many local places are available that have good food and the owner
> isn't some faceless megacorp located 10 states away.

I'd start eating at Grin's again, but their food is not as good as what
I've experienced at Chili's. :-(

But the assault to my ears is not worth it.

We can go back to our Chinese Buffet that we like so much, and it's
about 1/2 the price too.

That was our standby until now.
We got bored with it as it was always the same thing.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or
no influence on society. -- Mark Twain

In article <[email protected]>,
"Steve B" <[email protected]> wrote:

> "Mr. Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news[email protected]..
> > On Sat, 06 Nov 2010 09:32:28 -0600, Omelet <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> >
> >>How do you feel about abusive noise that others might like but you hate?
> >
> > I vote with my feet!
>
> Me, too, but I never leave without talking to a manager.
>
> Steve

We did.

But were not convinced it'd do any good.

We'll likely try it again but if the noise level is too loud, we will
leave without ordering.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or
no influence on society. -- Mark Twain

Omelet wrote:

> I'd not eaten there in years as the first time I ever tried them, they
> sucked. That was at least 15 years ago.

Ditto. I went once and saw no reason to return. I'm not hard
to please, so for me to remember a place as 'never again,' it
was just a crappy experience.

> I was really impressed with the change in their food quality and menu
> choices. They were really good!

A friend of mine gave me a gift card to thank me for watching
her dog while they went on vacation. What are you going to do,
it'll be fine.

I was shocked to find I had a really good meal (likely fajitas), make
that great compared to my expectations.

> So last month, I took dad there. He and I eat out together once per
> month and that is about all we eat out. It's a treat to us. He liked
> it so much that we decided it would be our monthly destination for
> awhile.
>
> Yesterday we went back and the food was as good as ever, but the
> damned hard rock music was so loud, the other patrons were having to
> shout to be heard over the music for normal conversation. We asked
> twice to have the music turned down and were told they would, but we
> could hear no difference.

That is extremely annoying. I'm not an old fogey, I generally eat in
bars. I cannot stand when you can't hear yourself think when you're
trying to eat. Generally I walk out. It drives me out.

> I might still order out there, but have not decided if I'll ever try
> them again.

You've gone before and it wasn't a problem. Likely some manager
or bartender was on that night who doesn't get it, they won't be
around every time. if they are, I would give feedback to corporate,
online, they have a contact email.

> Too bad because their food really is good, especially those
> Southwestern egg rolls.

I love those things at Cheesecake Factory. I don't remember if I
had them at Chili's, but I am a sucker for them.

> How do you feel about abusive noise that others might like but you
> hate?

If it's that kind of restaurant, like this Buffalo wing place they opened
at the mall, I would just deal with it or not eat there. I don't expect
them to change for me. If it's a restaurant where it's not expected,
and a restaurant I like, I would try to change it.

nancy

In article <[email protected]>,
sf <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:34:02 -0400, George <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> >
> > Too many local places are available that have good food and the owner
> > isn't some faceless megacorp located 10 states away.
>
> There are too many areas in the USA that are a vast wasteland of
> bedroom communities and malls filled with chain stores and chain
> restaurants. I've only been to Chili's once, at least at least 10
> years ago, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food was at
> the time. The reason we went there was because the wait was too long
> at the restaurant we normally eat at in the area, so we defaulted and
> went to Chili's (which was so crowded that we ended up eating in the
> bar).

So why haven't you been back since? :-)
I'm a very picky eater, (especially where oversalting at most chain
restaurants is concerned) and I'm still reluctant to give up Chili's
after only one bad experience with noise assault.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or
no influence on society. -- Mark Twain

In article <[email protected]>,
Omelet <[email protected]> wrote:

>review snipped
>
> How do you feel about abusive noise that others might like but you hate?

I hate noisy restaurants because I have some hearing loss as well. (Too
much loud music back in the day.) If I can't hear my dinner partners
over the din on my first time at a restaurant, I don't go back. Among
other sins of omission and commission, the restaurant where SO and I
celebrated our anniversary this year was too loud. I should have known
better from the high ceilings and proximity to the University, but I
made the reservation nonetheless.

Cindy

--
C.J. Fuller

Delete the obvious to email me

On Sat, 06 Nov 2010 11:16:56 -0600, Omelet <[email protected]>
wrote:

> In article <[email protected]>,
> sf <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > On Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:34:02 -0400, George <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Too many local places are available that have good food and the owner
> > > isn't some faceless megacorp located 10 states away.
> >
> > There are too many areas in the USA that are a vast wasteland of
> > bedroom communities and malls filled with chain stores and chain
> > restaurants. I've only been to Chili's once, at least at least 10
> > years ago, but I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food was at
> > the time. The reason we went there was because the wait was too long
> > at the restaurant we normally eat at in the area, so we defaulted and
> > went to Chili's (which was so crowded that we ended up eating in the
> > bar).
>
> So why haven't you been back since? :-)

We are headed to the sushi place, not Chili's, when we go in that
direction. Chili's doesn't even enter my mind unless I see the sign.
As I said up-thread, the wait where we were going was too long so we
ate there by default not because we had planned to. Remember, I'm the
one who hasn't been to Outback yet. I'll get there someday to see
what all the hoopla is all about.

> I'm a very picky eater, (especially where oversalting at most chain
> restaurants is concerned) and I'm still reluctant to give up Chili's
> after only one bad experience with noise assault.

Try a different day or a different time. The noise factor (I'm sure
there was noise, but I don't remember loud music contributing to it)
didn't bother us, but we don't have hearing issues. We have a friend
who has had bad hearing for years, so we make it a point to pick a
quiet restaurant when we plan an outing together.

--

Never trust a dog to watch your food.

On Sat, 06 Nov 2010 11:00:48 -0600, Omelet <[email protected]>
wrote:

> We got bored with it as it was always the same thing.

I hear you. I get tired of the same ole, same ole all the time too.
We had lunch at an Indian buffet last week, in fact... that was a
first for me.

--

Never trust a dog to watch your food.

On Sat, 06 Nov 2010 11:01:56 -0600, Omelet <[email protected]>
wrote:

> In article <[email protected]>,
> "Steve B" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >
> > Me, too, but I never leave without talking to a manager.
> >
> > Steve
>
> We did.
>
> But were not convinced it'd do any good.
>

Sounds like they cater to the college crowd and losing the business of
one or two old farts doesn't matter. Give it enough time and the
manager will change. With that, priorities of the management and
customer service responsiveness may change too.

--

Never trust a dog to watch your food.

In article <4e137ebe-0e7e-4a13-b95b-d4e15f494ec8@
26g2000yqv.googlegroups.com>, [email protected] says...
>
> On Nov 6, 11:32*am, Omelet <ompome...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I finally re-tried Chili's restaurant out of desperation for a steak out
> > a few months ago... *I was starving after a medical procedure and was
> > still too high from the IV Deprivan to want to cook.
> >
> > I'd not eaten there in years as the first time I ever tried them, they
> > sucked. That was at least 15 years ago.
> >
> > I was really impressed with the change in their food quality and menu
> > choices. They were really good!
> >
> > So last month, I took dad there. *He and I eat out together once per
> > month and that is about all we eat out. *It's a treat to us. *He liked
> > it so much that we decided it would be our monthly destination for
> > awhile.
> >
> > Yesterday we went back and the food was as good as ever, but the damned
> > hard rock music was so loud, the other patrons were having to shout to
> > be heard over the music for normal conversation. We asked twice to have
> > the music turned down and were told they would, but we could hear no
> > difference.
> >
> > Dad is hard of hearing and the noise bouncing off the walls was still
> > hurting his ears. We took bits of napkin and stuffed them in our ears
> > but it did not help much.
> >
> > We finally packed up the rest of our meals and took them home to eat in
> > peace and quiet... *Still left a good tip as it was not the servers
> > fault but let them know how we felt. That we'd intended to eat there
> > regularly but now might never be back due to the sheer pain of the noise
> > we were tortured with.
> >
> > I might still order out there, but have not decided if I'll ever try
>
> I'd call write the manager and tell him or her how many people
> complained about the music.
>
> I've quickly cruised in and out of many a store (e.g. Gap) where the
> late-teen help drives away customers with the blaring 'music'.
> Management needs to know these things.

Personally I'd have asked the waiter to get the manager.

"Omelet" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]..
>I finally re-tried Chili's restaurant out of desperation for a steak out
> a few months ago... I was starving after a medical procedure and was
> still too high from the IV Deprivan to want to cook.
>
> I'd not eaten there in years as the first time I ever tried them, they
> sucked. That was at least 15 years ago.
>
> I was really impressed with the change in their food quality and menu
> choices. They were really good!
>
> So last month, I took dad there. He and I eat out together once per
> month and that is about all we eat out. It's a treat to us. He liked
> it so much that we decided it would be our monthly destination for
> awhile.
>
> Yesterday we went back and the food was as good as ever, but the damned
> hard rock music was so loud, the other patrons were having to shout to
> be heard over the music for normal conversation. We asked twice to have
> the music turned down and were told they would, but we could hear no
> difference.
>
> Dad is hard of hearing and the noise bouncing off the walls was still
> hurting his ears. We took bits of napkin and stuffed them in our ears
> but it did not help much.
>
> We finally packed up the rest of our meals and took them home to eat in
> peace and quiet... Still left a good tip as it was not the servers
> fault but let them know how we felt. That we'd intended to eat there
> regularly but now might never be back due to the sheer pain of the noise
> we were tortured with.
>
> I might still order out there, but have not decided if I'll ever try
> them again.
>
> <sigh>
>
> Too bad because their food really is good, especially those Southwestern
> egg rolls.
>
> How do you feel about abusive noise that others might like but you hate?
> --
> Peace! Om
>
> Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
> Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or
> no influence on society. -- Mark Twain