I have a very restrictive diet for health reasons and it is usually pretty difficult to find anything I can eat when I go to a restaurant. Last night, we went to a local fish place, Shanty on the Shore in Burlington. No link since I do not recommend the place. Keep reading and you’ll know why.

The server was definitely not miss personality but given the fact that it was almost 9:00, I let it go. I explained our delay in ordering by telling her I had food allergies and had to make a careful choice. I was looking at some kind of broiled fish like shrimp, scallops and salmon which the menu said was broiled in herb butter. I asked her if it was really just herbs and butter and she said yes so I ordered that with a plain baked potato.

When I tasted my food it was obvious there was wine in the herb butter. Although I was disappointed, I didn’t complain or send it back. You may be thinking, “but the alcohol burns off in cooking”  but the alcohol is not the problem. It’s the fermentation process and sugar. I was annoyed but I hoped it was also pretty minor in the scheme of things so I sucked it up and ate the dinner which was pretty good.

We paid the bill and on the way out I asked to see the manager. My intent was simply to inform him of what happened and hopefully get him to educate his servers a bit more, improving things for the next patron with dietary concerns. Which, at that point, still may have been me.

Not a chance now.

I explained very nicely that I have food allergies. I told him the menu said and the server confirmed that “herb butter” was nothing but herbs and butter but in fact, I could taste the wine. Before I could say anymore, he cut me off and told me it was my responsibility to tell the server exactly what my allergies were. I was pretty surprised at his defensive posture and tried to explain the situation further to get him to understand, to no avail. 

I was not asking him to adjust the bill, I had already paid. I certainly had no intention of suing the restaurant. I wasn’t even upset, I was simply trying to provide some feedback that may help him run a better establishment that caters to all kinds of customers. But he wasn’t interested in listening. He just kept saying it was my fault for not being specific with the server about what I could not eat. Obviously I should have been and I will know better next time. 

But this guy could not have cared less about me or my point.  I wasn’t being unreasonable or making a scene and still I was not treated with respect or caring. This guy took no responsibility whatsoever. He did not apologize or say he would remind servers about the importance of food allergies and of disclosing ingredients. He showed no empathy whatsoever toward me or my situation. And he’s a manager?? Wow, nice people skills dude! Who trained you in customer service?

Seeing me raise my hands in defeat, the friend who was with me tried his hand at getting the guy to understand but I stopped him, saying, “forget it, we’re wasting our time, he doesn’t care.” and I pulled him out of there.  

It is a huge pain in the ass to eat this way, especially when I go out. Then people like this bonehead make me feel I should just stay home rather than inconvenience restaurants and their employees.

No one is more deserving of my Bonehead of the Week award!

What do you think?

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