Well.

It happened again.

A server comes to the host stand carrying a filet.

She asks to speak to me. Seems table 25 ordered a medium rare filet. She was cooked a filet. And it was medium rare.

It arrives at the table. She cuts into and immediately announces that it’s well done.

She calls the server over and sends it back.

The server takes it to the kitchen.

The chef takes one look at the steak and loses his mind.

The steak is cooked. A picture perfect medium rare.

He takes a breathe and tells the server to find me to tell the guest that it’s a picture perfect medium rare.

So she has found me. And I see the steak. And it’s a picture perfect medium rare.

I take the plate. And I go to the kitchen. I check in with the chef. He, as his passionate self, lets me know he won’t cook another steak. He cooked it to order. To the temp she wanted. He is not going to do do it.

So I take the plate to the table.

And I ask what the problem is. And I’m told it’s over cooked. And I explain that it’s absolutely not over cooked. It’s a picture perfect medium rare.

At this point the guest explains that she ordered medium rare to rare.

I don’t even know what to say. There is no such thing as medium rare to rare. It’s either medium rare. Or rare. It can’t be both.

She pushes back.

I explain that we’ll be happy to cook something else for her. Anything except a steak.

She huffs. Waves her arms and says she’s never experienced such rude behavior.

I walk away.

40 minutes later or so they leave. The two women don’t speak to me. One of the husbands stop to chastise me. Telling me how rude I’d been. How inappropriate that I’d been.

I don’t really know how to respond.

Of course I have practiced my response for the next time. I’ll have it ready because it will happen again.

They left a survey review. Said the steak was well done. And that I was rude. I don’t mind being called rude. But I hate when they lie.

More though, they told the server over and over that this was not her fault. She couldn’t help it if the owner and manager are rude. Then promptly tipped her less that 15%.

How much would they have tipped if it had been her fault?