I would never make a request like that to begin with. A restaurant buys their food supplies based on what is on the menu and volume of orders per particular item so I completely understand the managers points of view. If this guy is such a loyal customer why would it burn a bridge in the first place. Sounds like a completely irrational person.
I don't ask for menu adjustments just like I don't shout out story suggestions in the theatre. Hell, unlike the theatre they even let you freely review what is available before deciding to sit down.
I'm completely with the restaurant on their policy.
Probably cost them a bit of money here but they might be successful enough that it doesn't matter.
Edit: why do some restaurant goers think the menu is a starting off point for suggestions?
at what point does asking for something make it special? My wife almost always asks for salad dressing on the side.
I almost always ask to hold the onions, no matter what i've ordered.
I dont think asking for a egg on a burger is unreasonable.
many restuarants will offer "grilled cheese" for kids even if they don't have a "kids menu" isn't that a special order?
They asked for an egg on their burger, they were a lost cause anyway.
wrong, fried egg on a burger is actually fantastic.
Absolutely idiotic he was given a possible full meal comp over an egg
sometimes it not about the money, its the principle. Asking for a fried egg isn't unreasonable.
I used to work at both a BBQ restaurant. I had customers who dined there and expected anything they could imagine, from pizza to Chinese food. They always threw a fit.
this is idiotic and completely unreleated. You go to a bbq restuarant and ask for pizza you're not being unresonable, you're being a moron.
It's a reasonable request and he got a reasonable answer that they are using eggs for a special today.
The fact he wrote a story about how much he spends and his total bill cost tells me he's probably an asshole.
Good chefs combine specific ingredients and cooking methods for a reason. Refusing to alter a recipe does not make them a bad chef.
lets be real here, a burger isn't exactly fine dining. No matter how many "gourmet" burger chains are popping up around the country. We went to burger lounge in san diego last month, motherfuckers put 1000 island on their burgers. I told them to hold that shit. Is that a "special order." Also the burgers sucked anyway, overcooked dry meat.
What if i don't want onions in whatever is on the menu? Is that still a special order? Am i being unreasonable or should i just eat whatever the chef has prepared because he's the chef? Should i also let the chef decide the temperature my steak should come out as? Or do i get that option, after all they are the "chef."
Yea the restaurant has every right to refuse, but it should be taken on a case by case basis. A fried egg? Takes a couple of minutes, no big deal and for a regular who supports the business in the way he has? A smart manager would have said no problem. If he asked for completely random ass shit? Then no.