I had just the absolute worst possible experience at a Chipotle Mexican Grille. It's the one on 249 and 1960. I showed up around 9pm. There was no one else in line. I ask for a carnitas fajita burrito. The lady takes out 3 small tacos and asked me if I want the tacos. I said no I want the fajita burrito. Then she takes out the regular tortillas, but forgets to heat it. I figured, hey maybe it's been a long day for the server. Then she asks me whether I want any beans or sauteed peppers and onions. The menu SAYS fajita burrito = "just like a burrito but with sauteed peppers and onions"... and so I nod and smile and said "yes please". Then she asks me what meat I want. I said I want carnitas. She just looks at me. And I repeat carnitas. And she still just looks at me. And so I repeated carnitas again. And she still just looks at me. I'm chuckling now with a puzzled look on my face. She looks me in the eyes and asks me: "You want carnitas?" I said "Yes". Then she proceeds to put a spatula-full of STEAK cubes in my burritos! I'm dumbstruck... I said "but but but... I said I wanted carnitas!" She says "Yes, carnitas are in this bucket here, not this one." (pointing to the bucket she just drew the steak from). I'm like WTF? And so I just blurted out... "aww, shucks, whatever, steak'll be fine". Then she makes as if she's ready to throw the one away and make me a new one. I'm like "that won't be necessary... I'll just eat steak". Then she proceeds down the aisle, and asks me whether I'd like pico and salsa, and I said both please. So she just puts the pico and NO salsa (which makes for one hell of a dry burrito), and then she throws the sour cream and lettuce on and finishes wrapping it. Never once apologizing for the mistake, and frankly was pretty rude to me. By now, I'm kinda despondent, and after paying $7+ for the entire thing (spent $1.50 on a drink), sat down and ate what was the most unappetizing burrito I've ever had. The tortilla was cold, the steak was dry and hard, there was no sauce to soften the blow or enhance the otherwise totally dry and flavorless mass I was holding. It's been years since I got angry at a restaurant... I mean on Christmas eve, my dad and I were driving through Lake Shasta in the Sierra Nevada and sat down to have what must have been the most salty/MSG-filled two dishes we've ever had. The server also recommended and brought us roasted tofu which had gone sour. I downed about 6 cups of tea in 15 mins. My dad had 8+. Then we ran out of tea. And my dad and I simply couldn't go on with the meal... But we were totally laughing about it the entire time. This time it was just terrible. Sadly I remember when the store first opened I went with some buddies and it was consistently good... But man when I left, I just wanted to burn the place down. I was that angry. Sucks being Taiwanese. I just stayed a chum and sucked it up like a gentleman/wuss.
That lady shouldn't have been working customer service if her hearing or English-speaking skills were bad. I was waiting for the ethnic slur, and I happily accepted it at the end. Why does it suck to be Taiwainese?
well... according to the stereotype, we're supposed to be nice people... hard-working, waste-hating, accommodating gentlefolk and suckers. and there i was living up to our reputation in every possible way. i needed to give that server a earfull....
Did you promote the stereotype? I think you did. Did you get bad service? I think you did. Were we shocked to hear that it sucks to be Taiwanese? You should have spoken to the management. Surely someone else there could have done your order or helped the clueless worker do it right. You're smarter than that, man. Use your head.
I've had similar experience at chipotle. Sometimes the servers can't understand english. Its not their fault you just got to be patient.
Our white, english speaking, God loving, forefathers would not appreciate your sentiment. You have to start a revolution, take power!
Yeah... Just realized that might have come across the wrong way there... I'M the taiwanese. That server and just about everyone in that store there was hispanic. But hey race had nothing to do with it. The restaurants with the best service typically are the good Mexican places. it's definitely one of those places where it would definitely the right place to throw a tantrum, but like years of training and repressing any sign of external emotion (lest we show weakness - gasp!!!) just killed the response right there at the moment I should have spoken up and done something. And then afterwords, the decision was more about whether it was worth it to cause a scene after the fact, etc. etc. I just said screw it and left. Thank god for Clutchfans.... VENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNTTTTTTTTTTT.
WTF? It is their fault. Patient schmatient. Lil was, as far as he could, and was smart enough not to let it make a big scene and cause a raucus. They DO have to speak English because they're serving English-speaking people. Lil , you did good, man. Next time, just speak politely to the management. Everything would be cool. EDIT: Sorry I kept calling you LIL PUN, yo.
I mean.... the servers were hispanic... And every single word I said in there was... Spanish... I said: "Carnitas Fajita Burrito" ..... ..... "No no no... FAJITA burrito" "Carnitas" "Carnitas" "Carnitas" "Yes, Carnitas" "No, no, no! I said I wanted carnitas"... Is it me and my British accent throwing them off?
This part here is not in Spanish, and thus, their misunderstanding of you. Swoly will not correct your post, and put it all in Spanish.
I think Chipotle goes out of their way to hire non-English speaking servers. Twice I have gone there (not the same one as you) for my wife (both times for burritos with carnitas) and I have gotten that same blank stare or reaching for the wrong thing. I speak enough Spanish so that I can switch but even then there is still confusion (just as yours not knowing "carnitas" even though it is on the menu). Sure, my accent is rusty but it gets ridiculous. It is really...confusing. Oh yeah - one time there were two trying to help me and neither could follow.
Dude. No offense. You're an idoit for standing there, smiling like a jackass, and taking the crap she created for you. Stand up for what you're wanting & paying for, fool!
I have to agree...if i saw that going on with my burrito i would have been telling them to make me a new one. That's not what i wanted so i want to make sure i get what i am paying for. Why did you just settle?
So your saying if your not Taiwanese, your not hard-working, waster, unaccommodating to gentlefolk and suckers. As a korean at least i'm not a self centered, self race loving, can't stand up to a chipotle worker who eats dinner at 9pm by himself. just kidding!
Taiwanese also have the stereotype of being "frugal". So either A) you should've complained to get your money's worth on a 7 dollar meal you thought was worth spending. or B) quench your fast food Mexican fix and save money by going to Taco Bell and getting something from their fake meat value menu.
I think it pays to be nice to servers. I usually get treated well. I go to the medical center a lot with my wife- 1 time a month, my father in law- about once a month - and my mom - about once every 2 mos, an my son - once a month. We go to the Chipotle near St Luke's on Fannin-usually ok service. Sometimes I park at the museum garage-if we have an appt at Park Plaza medical and we eat at Cafe Express- which I prefer. There is one server at Chipotle that always mixes up the order-and I catch grief from who ever I'm with. All of them - my wife, son, mom, and father in law are crazy picky-particular about their food. I hate to order for them-as they are never happy. If the difficult server is working - I get my mom or father -in-law to accompany me to do the ordering- they are both near deaf and speak extremely loud. I am beyond being embarrassed as they order their lunch at 60 decibels. They get their order -and if wrong- they are mad at the server- not me. Very juvenile- but it gets me out of the hot seat. If I had my way we would brown bag a lunch and eat in St. Luke's lobby and save the $ 6 or $7 and the aggravation I love to eat out and try new places and food- but it can be so much trouble I sympathize with you man - for bad service- talk to that manager next time you are in- I bet he will be interested- When I complain (because of my relatives whining) they always give me coupons or something. I find the coupons funny-a reward - offering for morre food and potentially more bad service. I always take the coupons though....God I am cheap
