Sep 17 2007
How Would You Like That Cooked?
Yes, please.
Boyfriend and I have been trying to save some money by not eating out as much. However, when the weekend rolls around we are usually out of the proper foods to make a meal and in no mood to go grocery shopping, so we end up eating out. Saturday night we opted for LoneStar Steakhouse. We’ve been there before, and I used to eat there a lot when I worked for Mad Scientist, and have never had a bad experience. Until now.
We ordered our drinks, the usual diet sodas. After more than a few minutes went by, we still had no sodas and I was starting to get the feeling that this was the wrong choice in food joints. A few seconds after I mentioned this to Boyfriend, the manager on duty came by and said they were having trouble with the CO2 line on the diet soda and offered us something else to drink. We made our selections, and were also offered a free appetizer for our wait and inconvenience. Since we already ordered one, it was taken off our bill.
The server came around to take our dinner orders. Boyfriend placed his order, and I placed mine. I was ordering the Sweet Bourbon Salmon - a dish I had ordered many times before and have had good luck with. When I told the server what I wanted, she informed me that they cook it medium, and asked if that was ok. Excuse me? I told her that I wanted it cooked the way salmon is supposed to be cooked - all the way through. There are no degrees of done-ness with salmon - just raw, done, and leather. It should be cooked until it is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. After a few minutes of me making it perfectly clear that I wanted my fish COOKED and Boyfriend telling me to calm down, the server went to put our orders in. When our dinner arrived at the table, they asked me to cut into it to make sure it was the way I wanted it. It was not. My salmon was still translucent and a very different color on the inside. It finally came back a few minutes later, cooked properly and the manager on duty apologizing profusely and offering to take it off the bill. In the end, we only ended up paying for Boyfriend’s dinner and drink (I drank water). We also agreed that we would not be visiting LoneStar again for a long, long time if ever.
Now, I know that there are some fish varieties that do have degrees of done-ness. Sushi is one thing I refuse to eat. I don’t eat raw fish, and I don’t eat cold fish. Ahi tuna is another one that I’ve seen served rare - seared on the outside and raw in the middle. Again, not something I’ll eat. Until Saturday evening, I’ve never heard of salmon being cooked any other way than all the way. I have salmon quiet frequently at home and when eating out, and have never had it offered to me any other way than DONE. I did end up going to LoneStar’s website and letting them know how appalled I was at the restaurant offering undercooked seafood. I’ll probably get some coupons in the mail.
After the dinner debacle, Boyfriend and I went home to watch a movie. We ended up watching Dogma
ew that place sounds gross. you’d never get undercooked salmon in new england!!!
and, why aren’t you joining the bloggy book club, missy??? you’d be perfect for it. and you get a month to read each book so don’t give me the no time thing.
Boyfriend just might be on to something about eating seafood in a landlocked (and desert climate) state.
Book club - I can’t tell you the last time I picked up a book. I do like reading, but I so rarely have time anymore. Seriously. I started reading a book over a year ago and I’m still not done. In fact, it’s still packed with most of my stuff in the garage.
Try eating partially cooked hobbit sometime!
Grundir - Um, thanks for the offer, but my taste tends to be a bit more on the semi-vegetarian side. Why do you think I tried to order fish at a steak house?
I had that same problem with salmon a few years ago at a restaurant. (It might have been at LoneStar for all I remember, but I’d have to call the ex to confirm… not going to happen) I agree completely. Fish should be well done unless it is sushi grade, then I’ll eat it raw. I know, that doesn’t make any sense. But it’s how I roll.
minijonb - I’ve been out to eat where my salmon was accidently and slightly undercooked, but not way undercooked on purpose like this.
What’s with these chain restaurants anyway? They seem to want you to believe they have a master chef instead of line cooks! I once got the undercooked salmon at a real restaurant and free drinks were had by all as well as huge discount off the bill!
Mommy - we got my meal free, and a free appetizer because the bubbles on the soda fountain wasn’t working, so we only ended up paying for Boyfriend’s meal. It’s nice to get free food and discounts, but not at that sort of inconvenience.
Sorry to hear about your horrible dinner!
I love all Kevin Smith movies; Dogman was a good choice!
DSB - I did like Dogma, and I’ve seen 1 other KS movie (that I’m aware of). I’ll have to check out some more of his stuff.
I can understand why you both don’t want to go back there..
This kind of situation happened to me several times..
You feel disgusted when they serve you not to the level of your expectations as if you went there to eat for free.. or your money has no value!!
If I were in your place I would have reacted the same way…
rentrino - I hear what you’re saying - all these restaurants think their food is the bomb.
flowline - many others have said the same thing.
Mistake number 1: ordering seafood at a franchise steak house.
mlankton - I’ve had the salmon there plenty of times with no issues whatsoever. But I should have followed my own rule about never ordering outside of a restaurant’s specialty.
Thanks for visiting!