So, I just got back from Taste of Texas and I probably go there 3-4 times a year. However, this time, I had the worst experience ever! When you wait for 2.5 hours for a steak, you expect it to be cooked the way you order it and to taste good. Unfortunately, my medium-rare steak came out as medium-well and kinda tough so I told the waiter and at first, they offered to take the ribeye back and bring me prime rib because that would be ready quicker and my family had already got their food and were half-way through their meal. I told him that I did not want a prime rib, I ordered a ribeye and I've waited for 2.5 hours for this ribeye and paid $40 for it so I expect a perfect steak.
A couple minutes later the waiter came back and apologized for the way they cooked the steak and offered to buy me desert...I told him that I wanted him to comp the steak because of the inconvenience and he told me that he would let the manager know. Soon enough, the manager Norm came over. They took my steak an told me they'd bring out another one. About 20 minutes later, my steak came out and it was cooked medium-rare; however, the company I was with had already finished their dinner and I had lost my appetite from arguing with Norm. Norm then came back over when I got my new steak to see whether I was happy with it and offer me cake again. I reiterated that I wasn't here for the cake, that I waited 2.5 hours outside in the Houston heat and humidity for my steak, that they've raised the prices of their steaks and I would have gladly paid for a steak that came out to my liking but it didn't, that I was upset and that his actions had ruined the occasion that I had been there to celebrate, and that I expected him to comp my steak. He said if I didn't want it anymore, he would take it back. He then offered me cake again and we then nearly got into a heated argument in the crowded restaurant with he telling me that he was absolutely NOT going to comp my steak. I finally told him to leave the table and that if he wasn't going to comp it, I didn't want him there any longer.
He left the table and my steak sat in front of me basically untouched until the bill came. When the waiter asked if I wanted the steak boxed, I asked him whether Norm had agreed to comp the steak. When the waiter replied ""no"", I told him that if Norm is going to comp it, then I'll pay for it and take it home but if he wasn't going to, I don't want the steak anymore. The waiter came back and told me that the steak had been removed from the bill, yet Norm still kept the steak and probably threw it away (hopefully they didn't re-serve it).
The way I see it, Norm had 3 options: (1) he could have comped the steak and allowed me to take it with me or eat it so that at least I would have been compensated for my inconvenience, (2) he could have provided me with a gift certificate to induce me to come back to this restaurant and to prove to me that they're better than what happened tonight, or (3) he could have refused to comp the steak and stick to his guns, thus making me pay for the steak and take the steak home with me. Instead, he chose the worst option, option (4) - this option entailed throwing away 2 steaks (the first one that was cooked improperly and the second one that he refused to both comp and let me take home).
By his actions, he not only threw away two steaks, but didn't get paid for either one of them, has lost myself and my family as customers forever including everyone that I tell about this horrible experience (we used to be loyal customers), and has caused me to write this review, along with others. This guy Norm doesn't know customer service from the back of his hand and I would not be surprised if the owners of the restaurant let him go - in fact, I hope that they do for the sake of their restaurant.
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