The WORST Dinner Disasters
These places are not getting a good tip. Whether it is bad service, gross food, or Grandma’s “special” recipes, sometimes going out for dinner just doesn’t go the way you want it to.
1. The Mystery Kitchen
Back in the good old 80s, a slew of Nouvelle Cuisine restaurants began popping up in my city. So, my coworkers and I decided to try out one of the newer spots, which was getting a lot of good buzz.
Around 15 of us were due to attend this work outing—and to streamline things, we pre-ordered all our meals, giving the restaurant ample prep time.
When 7 PM rolled around, we arrived and were shown to our tables by the cordial maître’d. We ordered drinks which were brought to us rather quickly. After downing those, we ordered a second batch.
But by 8:30 PM, there hadn't been even a hint of our food coming out.
So, we flagged down a waiter to ask what was up. He blamed it on the kitchen being swamped, but the restaurant wasn't even full. This resulted in us coming up with a somewhat ingenious backup plan. At 9 PM, still with empty plates, a quick call was made to Pizza Hut. And believe it or not, they delivered right to the restaurant.
So, we dug in, finished off our drinks, and then decided to head out. To this day, I can't help but wonder just what on earth the kitchen was up to that night.
2. Airport Food
My family and I were hopping on a plane to Iceland and found ourselves stopping to eat at Durgin-Park in Logan Airport. We didn't choose this spot for its gourmet reputation, but for its convenient location and speed.
Little did we know, the service would be much slower than we expected.
We waited half an hour just to place our drink orders. To make matters worse, my glass came with an unexpected feature—someone else's lip gloss smudged on it. Another 20 minutes rolled by before someone took our food order. Knowing our flight wouldn't wait, we asked them to deliver the check immediately.
Unfortunately, another nerve-wracking 30 to 40 minutes went by, our flight began boarding, and our food was still nowhere in sight. Frustrated, we flagged down the manager to complain, and their response wasn't helpful.
They shrugged, saying we would have got our meals for free, had we not already settled the bill.
Our food finally arrived just as the last boarding call for our flight was announced. Sadly, it was cold and clumped together, so we had no other choice but to toss it.
To give credit where it's due, our waitress tried her best within the chaotic environment. Still, it was probably one of the most poorly managed eateries I've ever encountered.
Each server was juggling 15 or so tables, and judging by the state of our meals, the kitchen wasn't exactly overflowing with chefs.
3. Grandma’s Specials
My granny had a few set dishes that she'd always prepare. "Swiss steak" involved the most budget-friendly cut of meat. She'd cook it till it hardened and turned grayish. She would then add a can of mushrooms on top and heat them until they merged into a sticky coating. But that wasn't all.
Her preferred timing for cooking Ramen noodles was right until they became kind of soupy. When she wanted to add some flair, she'd incorporate a can of tuna into the noodle dish along with the seasoning packets.
Her version of "fruit salad" was a mix of orange or lime Jell-O and canned fruits. A combination of mayonnaise and cream cheese served as the topping. And at times, she'd heat up some McDonald's French fries and use up old condiments and spices.
4. And For Dessert…
Back in high school, a buddy of mine asked a few of us to join him for dinner at his house. We were served homemade chicken soup, which was pretty decent. For dessert, we had a chunky chocolate cake. The manner in which his mom served this cake is something I'll never forget.
Rather than dishing it out on clean plates, she circulated around the table cutting a slice for each of us directly into our soup bowls. And yes, there was still some chicken broth in them.
I never thought I'd say this, but I don't recommend chocolate cake fused with the taste of chicken broth.
Not a culinary experience I'm eager to relive.
