Meat given when ordered vegetarian meal in a resturant

[sally_smith]

I recently went to a restaurant and ordered a vegetarian meal (as I am a vegetarian) but was given a meat version. I took a mouthful before I realised. I complained and they replaced the meal (but I could not eat it) and offered to refund the meal. Do you think that I could ask for compensation and if so how much?

[smudge]

No, I wouldn't ask for compensation. If they offered you a replacement meal and/or a refund, then that should be sufficient.

[BillyNoMates]

Compensation for what exactly ? Were you mentally traumatised by this ?

They offered a replacement and no doubt apologised. Perhaps they could have gone a little further and offered a free meal at a later date as it probably spoilt your evening. However, you can't expect any more than that.

[Emoire]

I'm not sure what your position would be regarding compensation, but just wanted to say I sympathise with you on this. Having been a vegetarian for over 15 years I would be horrified to have been in this situation.

[MargeB]

Did they offer to compensate the family of the cow that they ruthlessly slaughtered to bring you that tasty morsel?

[Pinotage]

They made a mistake, they apologised and refunded the meal cost.

OK, it was unpleasant for you, but why on earth should you get compensated? Its very sad we are moving into this greedy compensation culture where its alway someone elses fault.

They put the plate in front of you, but you cut into the food, smelled it and put it in your mouth.

 

[sally_smith]

Firstly I would like to add that the meal was a curry so I did not cut it or smell it - so i only relised that it was meat after I had put it in my mouth.

Secondly, I am not asking for a huge amount of compensation. Yes, the offered a refund, but I did not accept it at the time as I was very shaken by the whole event and wanted to write to them so that they could re-look at their practices, rather than look at this at a one off problem.

What I really wanted to know, was how much is a spoit evening worth. It was meant to be a celebration which was totally runied by incompentent staff.

I have been not eaten meat for over 15 years, I wear non-leather shoes and I ensure that all I buy is of a non animal product. This incident made me feel very ill and I have not really been myself since.

[Gef]

I find it amazing that someone who has not eaten meat for 15 years could not tell the difference between a vegetable curry and one with meat in it.

[MargeB]

You probably would get compensation if you could prove (witnesses sufficient) that: you ordered a vegetarian meal, they brought a meat meal to the table, and specifically gave it to you. That you have suffered as a result of their negligence is not difficult to prove, just a little hard to quantify. You may have had a meat allergy, so any damages may be slightly punitive to the restaurant. They have clearly been negligent, everyone knows that vegitarians don't avoid meat for whimsical reasons, but have sometimes strong feelings about it.
Get a lawyer to write a letter to them, threatening court action. They'll very very very likely pay up. If not, take them to court. (the embarassment to them would be huge, they'll try hard to avoid it). You'll probably get about �400.

[vinny200]

Ive been a veggie for 20 years.If a restaurant did that to me, i just would not go back again.Just accept the refund and be done with it!!

[smudge]

Vinny - Our daughter is a vegetarian & she would do the same as you. Once bitten twice shy, is what they call it.

[silly moo]

Have you never made a mistake?
remember 'only the creator is perfect' and sometimes looking at people around me I wonder about that

[smudge]

silly moo - I so agree with you!!

[nicola_red]

I'm also veggie (vegan in fact) and I was given meat samosas in a curry house last year.  I sensed something was wrong with them and broke one in half before I bit into it, which I wouldn't normally do.  We complained and they brought more which turned out to be meat ones again!  When we came to leave they had knocked the price off our drinks off the bill, but that was it.  I understand sally that you were shaken by the event, but it never occurred to me to try and claim compensation.  All I did was resolved never to eat there again!

[ursula62]

Once when I was a veggie years ago, I ordered veggie fajitas at a mexican restaurant that claimed to cook veggie food on separate cookers and using separate utensils.

When the meals arrived, I noticed a piece of meat in the veg mix on my plate and asked how it happened. They explained that although the food was cooked in a separate area of the kitchen, when the food is ready it is all placed on a shelf so it could be brought to the table. They said that someone's steak fajita was probably on the shelf above my food and a bit of meat had just dropped on my plate.  They apologised profusely and offered me a free meal there and then and a voucher to go back there another time, but it was over a year before I felt I could go back there. Even though they claimed to be veggie friendly in the cooking, their delivery to the table left something to be desired.

I don't think you can expect compensation, even though it was upsetting and spoiled your evening.

It is your choice to be a vegetarian. The only way to guarantee you don't get any meat products whatsoever in your food is to make it yourself from scratch, or to eat at an accredited veg or vegan restaurant.

It's a hard truth, but one you have to accept if you want to be a veggie.

[Dark Angel]

I sympathise with you, however the restaurant did apologise and offer you a refund/replaced meal. They did all that was possible to say they were sorry for their mistake. If I were you, I''d not ask for compensation, but never go there again.