After how many minutes can you walk out on a slow food order?
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After how many minutes can you walk out on a slow food order?
This question has been inspired by my recent experiences in Colombia, but I've had this sort of thing happen in Cambodia also, so I figured I would ask the question here.
Let's say you go into a bar/restaurant, you order a drink, and you order food. Obviously, there's an implied contract, that once you place a food order, you can't just walk out 5 or 10 minutes later without paying for it. But how long do you really have to wait for the food? After 30 minutes, can you just say "Forget it, I don't want it any more I need to be somewhere" and walk out? 45 minutes? An hour?
Twice in Colombia last week I ended up sitting there like a chump, just waiting and waiting for a burger or chicken wings to show up. I'd ask after 30 minutes or so, and the staff would say something like "Your food is coming" and then I'd still be sitting there after 45 minutes, or after an hour. My fear was that if I tried to cancel the order and leave it would turn into a debate about paying for the food. I would of course be seen as the impatient American dickhead, and then my food would arrive in middle of the debate, and then I would have to awkwardly stay there and eat it once it showed up.
I know I've been out to dinner at least a couple of times in Cambodia with a group, and a lot of dishes are ordered, and then every dish comes except one. So everyone eats and finishes all the other dishes, and everyone is ready to leave, except that one dish is still "coming."
After how long waiting for food are you absolved of your obligation to pay for it? My opinion is that if you try to walk out without paying less than 30 minutes after ordering, you're a twat and a restaurateur would be quite correct to insist that you pay, or call the police, or stab you, or sic the local tuk tuk drivers on you. But anything more than 45 minutes, assuming it's a regular menu dish, I think you should just be able to pay for your drinks and walk out without guilt and without fear that the owner is going to bite your face off.
Let's say you go into a bar/restaurant, you order a drink, and you order food. Obviously, there's an implied contract, that once you place a food order, you can't just walk out 5 or 10 minutes later without paying for it. But how long do you really have to wait for the food? After 30 minutes, can you just say "Forget it, I don't want it any more I need to be somewhere" and walk out? 45 minutes? An hour?
Twice in Colombia last week I ended up sitting there like a chump, just waiting and waiting for a burger or chicken wings to show up. I'd ask after 30 minutes or so, and the staff would say something like "Your food is coming" and then I'd still be sitting there after 45 minutes, or after an hour. My fear was that if I tried to cancel the order and leave it would turn into a debate about paying for the food. I would of course be seen as the impatient American dickhead, and then my food would arrive in middle of the debate, and then I would have to awkwardly stay there and eat it once it showed up.
I know I've been out to dinner at least a couple of times in Cambodia with a group, and a lot of dishes are ordered, and then every dish comes except one. So everyone eats and finishes all the other dishes, and everyone is ready to leave, except that one dish is still "coming."
After how long waiting for food are you absolved of your obligation to pay for it? My opinion is that if you try to walk out without paying less than 30 minutes after ordering, you're a twat and a restaurateur would be quite correct to insist that you pay, or call the police, or stab you, or sic the local tuk tuk drivers on you. But anything more than 45 minutes, assuming it's a regular menu dish, I think you should just be able to pay for your drinks and walk out without guilt and without fear that the owner is going to bite your face off.
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- Miguelito
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You go to Colombia and order burgers and chicken wings?
Here are some suggestions for you. Get a real steak and Andres, or a long ceviche lunch at one of the many cevicherias.
Here are some suggestions for you. Get a real steak and Andres, or a long ceviche lunch at one of the many cevicherias.
- horace
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Two weeks I went to Sovanna the bbq place for breakfast - it's a usual breakfast place for me. The restaurant was half when I arrived but within ten minutes it was packed. The coffee arrived first after about five minutes, then ten minutes later the bone broth and pickles arrived after another ten minutes of waiting for the pork n rice I got up ,laid 2000r down for the coffee and walked out. Have been back since and there has been no issues.
k440, something to do when you're pissed.
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- Wun Gwo Pee
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20-30 minutes maximum. Anything after that and I tell them that if I haven't got my order in five minutes, I'm leaving and paying nothing.
The most annoying thing is when their excuse is that they're busy. Thats nice, but why is that my problem?
The most annoying thing is when their excuse is that they're busy. Thats nice, but why is that my problem?
- spitthedog
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In the KOW i tend to just put up with whatever slow service i get with the thought that they are likely making crap margins as it is. I will generally just remind myself to not likely eat there again rather than cause a fuss.
So basically as long as the beer service is prompt then i'm happy..
You can evidently go 3 weeks without solids, but will die after 3 days without liquids.
So basically as long as the beer service is prompt then i'm happy..
You can evidently go 3 weeks without solids, but will die after 3 days without liquids.
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It depends on a lot of things, but I reckon alan is right, gavinmac, chase them a bit if you find yourself twiddling your thumbs and looking at an ugly cashier.
The real question you want answered is how do you make them go slow if she's cute, right?
The real question you want answered is how do you make them go slow if she's cute, right?
ירי ילדים והפצצת אזרחים דורש אומץ, כמו גם הטרדה מינית של עובדי ההוראה.
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Alan Clarke waiting for his meal?
"I don't care what the people are thinking, i ain't drunk i'm just drinking"
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I was actually channeling vladimir at one point wondering if they were deliberately going slow so that I would end up ordering 3 beers waiting for my food.
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When you make an order and the promptly send 'the boy' out to the market to get the vital ingredient. I try to watch out for this and call across the waitress to try to get a clear idea of waiting time.
When they know that you know then you are in a better place for walking out if it is excessively slow.
It depends on how hungry you are, other local options, vibe in the place etc.
The places which make the food anyway without the key ingredients crack me up and I have refused to pay.
My wife ordered a Ginger Rogers cocktail once - made with Sprite because 'Ginger Ale - finish already'. They didn't even fess up until we queried.
Or the sweet and sour dish without pineapple...
When they know that you know then you are in a better place for walking out if it is excessively slow.
It depends on how hungry you are, other local options, vibe in the place etc.
The places which make the food anyway without the key ingredients crack me up and I have refused to pay.
My wife ordered a Ginger Rogers cocktail once - made with Sprite because 'Ginger Ale - finish already'. They didn't even fess up until we queried.
Or the sweet and sour dish without pineapple...
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I'd say a half hour, you go there because you're hungry in the first place, they must realize that, if they fail to understand, i'd
walk right out after 30 mins...
walk right out after 30 mins...
Disclaimer:Reading Khminglish can cause a persistent and seriously disturbed perception of reality...
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I think the average Sihanoukville expat bar/restaurant owner would stab you for trying to walk out without paying after 30 minutes. Or maybe he would just take the food cost out of the salary of he cook or waitress.boomer wrote:I'd say a half hour, you go there because you're hungry in the first place, they must realize that, if they fail to understand, i'd
walk right out after 30 mins...
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Luckily for me then perhaps that it's never my destination...gavinmac wrote:I think the average Sihanoukville expat bar/restaurant owner would stab you for trying to walk out without paying after 30 minutes. Or maybe he would just take the food cost out of the salary of he cook or waitress.boomer wrote:I'd say a half hour, you go there because you're hungry in the first place, they must realize that, if they fail to understand, i'd
walk right out after 30 mins...
Disclaimer:Reading Khminglish can cause a persistent and seriously disturbed perception of reality...
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- Wun Gwo Pee
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You post that as if it's a bad thing. It's remarkably accurate.spitthedog wrote:Alan Clarke waiting for his meal?
- vladimir
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I get quick service. They know I can only afford 1.gavinmac wrote:I was actually channeling vladimir at one point wondering if they were deliberately going slow so that I would end up ordering 3 beers waiting for my food.
ירי ילדים והפצצת אזרחים דורש אומץ, כמו גם הטרדה מינית של עובדי ההוראה.
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