19 replies to this topic

[Rancheros]

Whilst having breakfast on the plaza today where I eat almost every morning because the breakfasts are great and well priced, I heard a conversation between a group of us "foreigners" and the waitress. They did not want to pay the prices on the menu and were rude to the waitress and trying to bargain with her. 2 people in the group had dogs, and I have no problem with that as a dog lover. I do have a problem when your dog is sitting on a chair and at one point the other dog got up on the table. That is not acceptable when you are being rude and trying to bargain a price and comparing to other restaurants where I know the breakfasts are not comparable. I was embarressed at the behaviour shown to the waitress and the lack of control over the animals. We are guests in this country. If you don't want to pay the price listed noone is forcing you to eat there. Rudeness should never be an option unless possibly in retaliation and this time the waitress was more than obliging. I know that many of us are here on budgets, but if that is the case then eat at the places that suit you and don't make it a problem for local business owners. Rant over. Thanks!!

[Whitey]

Whilst having breakfast on the plaza today where I eat almost every morning because the breakfasts are great and well priced, I heard a conversation between a group of us "foreigners" and the waitress. They did not want to pay the prices on the menu and were rude to the waitress and trying to bargain with her. 2 people in the group had dogs, and I have no problem with that as a dog lover. I do have a problem when your dog is sitting on a chair and at one point the other dog got up on the table. That is not acceptable when you are being rude and trying to bargain a price and comparing to other restaurants where I know the breakfasts are not comparable. I was embarressed at the behaviour shown to the waitress and the lack of control over the animals. We are guests in this country. If you don't want to pay the price listed noone is forcing you to eat there. Rudeness should never be an option unless possibly in retaliation and this time the waitress was more than obliging. I know that many of us are here on budgets, but if that is the case then eat at the places that suit you and don't make it a problem for local business owners. Rant over. Thanks!!

Kudos to you for your post. It's unacceptable behaviour to say the least and I for one am glad you made a point of saying so! Hope the people responsible are reading this. We too have breakfast in the square and have noticed the little dog (dogs) on the dining chairs. We love our dogs as much as everyone else but letting them up on tables and chairs in restaurants in disgusting!

[Bisbee Gal]

Do you mean the Jardin Cafe in Ajijic? I think they have great breakfasts and great prices. Regardless, for anyone to dicker over prices on menus is simply ridiculous and most especially for people who are guests in another country.

On the dog issue....I have no problem with those who sit calmly and quietly under the table. I have a big problem with owners who think it's OK for their pets to plant their butts on seats and tables.

Sat across from a couple one night at a very nice restaurant (read: somewhat expensive, upscale) with a small yappy dog, sitting in their owner's lap, yelping loudly from time to time. To his credit, the husband/male partner of the couple, did use one hand to close the mouth of the dog, while trying to eat with the other hand. Ulitmately, neither the owner nor the dog could have been enjoying themselves.....and neither did we.

We've owned dogs for about 20 years (not currently), but we never felt compelled to take them everywhere with us. Generally, I like the notion of allowing well-bahaved, disciplined dogs in restaurants, as long as they remain under the table, quietly. What did Barbara Woodhouse, famed British dog trainer say: There are no bad dogs, just bad owners.

[Chapala Payaso]

What did you do about the situation?

[zerbit]

Whilst having breakfast on the plaza today where I eat almost every morning because the breakfasts are great and well priced, I heard a conversation between a group of us "foreigners" and the waitress. They did not want to pay the prices on the menu and were rude to the waitress and trying to bargain with her. 2 people in the group had dogs, and I have no problem with that as a dog lover. I do have a problem when your dog is sitting on a chair and at one point the other dog got up on the table. That is not acceptable when you are being rude and trying to bargain a price and comparing to other restaurants where I know the breakfasts are not comparable. I was embarressed at the behaviour shown to the waitress and the lack of control over the animals. We are guests in this country. If you don't want to pay the price listed noone is forcing you to eat there. Rudeness should never be an option unless possibly in retaliation and this time the waitress was more than obliging. I know that many of us are here on budgets, but if that is the case then eat at the places that suit you and don't make it a problem for local business owners. Rant over. Thanks!!

Who thinks it is acceptable to try to get food in a restaurant cheaper than the menu price. If the prices are too high when you see the menu, you politely leave. If you dine there and feel the portion size was too small for the price, you pay the bill and talk to the owners about it if you care to return in the future. If you don't plan on going back, just leave. Why pick on a waitress? Sounds like Caesar Millan needs to make a trip to Ajijic to train owners and dogs.

[cookie]

I'm a bargainer from waaaaay back..it's fun......but bargaining on food is just rude. Hopefully this was someone just "passing through?...I sincerely hope? If not I think you should at least post...initials.

Cookie


quote name='zerbit' date='19 August 2011 - 02:15 PM' timestamp='1313781317' post='234770']
Who thinks it is acceptable to try to get food in a restaurant cheaper than the menu price. If the prices are too high when you see the menu, you politely leave. If you dine there and feel the portion size was too small for the price, you pay the bill and talk to the owners about it if you care to return in the future. If you don't plan on going back, just leave. Why pick on a waitress? Sounds like Caesar Millan needs to make a trip to Ajijic to train owners and dogs.
[/quote]

[Ginger]

One of them was probably the woman who offered half for the price of the reading glasses being sold at the Cruz Roja table at LCS.

[cookie]

You've got to be kidding!!

One of them was probably the woman who offered half for the price of the reading glasses being sold at the Cruz Roja table at LCS.

[lakeheron]

It really sounds like this is some "gringo type" who has a vision of Mexico as a place where all is bargainable. I don't think a long-term full timers would ever think you can bargain at a restaurant any more than you can at a doctor's office. It's just too dang bad that this makes all of us ex-pats look bad in the eyes of some Mexican workers who tolerate and tolerate bad behavior, not just from us but from upper class Mexicans as well. And it's a shame and shameful.

[Ginger]

You've got to be kidding!!

I wish I were!

[sioux4noff]

That's incredible. To me, whether or no you are a "guest" in a country doesn't matter, that was just rude, and pretty dumb to boot.

BTW, I do not consider myself a "guest" in Mexico any more than I considered my Argentine coworker in Texas to be a guest in the USA.

[Travis]

I hope the rude, offensive, and entirely out of line patrons of the restaurant were visitors to the area, and not full- or part-time residents, although the last couple lines of Rancheros original post leads me to wonder.

I also notice that beginning today, I have a warning from Chapala.com that my posts need to be approved by a moderator before the post will be shown. I only just discovered this in trying to reply, and hadn't received any warning, or whatever. Good thing I did, otherwise I might have suggested an intervention next time these diners exhibit the same behavior at another area restaurant. But I would never suggest that, because...

It seems I could use a bit more moderation.

[Betsy]

That's incredible. To me, whether or no you are a "guest" in a country doesn't matter, that was just rude, and pretty dumb to boot.

BTW, I do not consider myself a "guest" in Mexico any more than I considered my Argentine coworker in Texas to be a guest in the USA.

Even though people always say that with the best of intentions, most don't realise how this statment is interpreted by a lot of Mexican people.
Guests in Mexico are held in high regard, they hold a place of honour. They are special and are given preferential treatment.
When a foreigner proclaims himself to be a permanent guest here, it can come off as sounding as if we expect special "guest" treatment.
I have watched Mexican men and women laugh till they cried over this statment, sometimes they just fall into an embarrased silence.
I always feel a little uncomfortable when someone lumps me into that "guest' category that some foreigners like to put us all in. I just consider myself to be a legal resident of Mexico, and try to keep everything between the lines no matter what country I'm in.

[the walkers]

the plaza jardin restaurant just redid their menu and it may have been a regular who was complaining about a favorite dish not available or at an increased price. most of us know the wait staff at this restaurant and wouldn't consider a "kervetch" out of order....just saying you make a lot of assumptions.

[gringal]

the plaza jardin restaurant just redid their menu and it may have been a regular who was complaining about a favorite dish not available or at an increased price. most of us know the wait staff at this restaurant and wouldn't consider a "kervetch" out of order....just saying you make a lot of assumptions.

We are regulars at a number of restaurants, and have seen menus or prices change at the pleasure of the owners. The waitstaff has no control over these matters, so why get into it with them? IMO, complaints about any restaurant issue ought to be directed to the manager or owner.

Also, when you arrive at your table and are presented with a menu, you are able to look at the selections and prices before ordering. That's when you decide to stay and pay....or politely leave.

We hold the dogs on chairs and tables issue to be self-evident, so no comment.

[MtnMama]

Years ago a friend told me that he expected I would be "one mean little old lady". He was right - I am. I am afraid I would have been forced to walk over and explain that one does not "bargain" with restaurants over food prices, NOB or here. Since I have been known to tell parents not to allow their children to walk on the restaurant benches, I might have been forced to comment on the doggy bottoms as well.

[golden bead]

Years ago a friend told me that he expected I would be "one mean little old lady". He was right - I am. I am afraid I would have been forced to walk over and explain that one does not "bargain" with restaurants over food prices, NOB or here. Since I have been known to tell parents not to allow their children to walk on the restaurant benches, I might have been forced to comment on the doggy bottoms as well.

Amen! So often there are reports of obnoxious behavior, embarrassing behavior and then outrage by observers BUT no one speaks up at the time. It doesn't have to be confrontational. The worse thing that can happen is the behavior will now be directed at the person intervening. Some will say it is none of my business, then why post???It might show the Staff we have respect for them.

[martystagg]

Amen! So often there are reports of obnoxious behavior, embarrassing behavior and then outrage by observers BUT no one speaks up at the time. It doesn't have to be confrontational. The worse thing that can happen is the behavior will now be directed at the person intervening. Some will say it is none of my business, then why post???It might show the Staff we have respect for them.

All this mayhem is the reason why I never, ever eat in restaurants which allow dogs

Given the choice, I would far prefer smokers.

[Betsy]

This post reminds me of years ago when I went with two friends to the Ajijic Grill , where we were regular customers. We went as the guests of an American guy that we had recently met who lived in Michoacan.
We had just ordered when the waiter came up and put his hand on the guy's arm to get his attention ....and the creep actually hit him! After we picked our jaws up off the floor we told our host what we thought of him and he left in a huff.

There is a saying " people who are not nice to waiters are not nice people". I have never found this old saying to be wrong.
Some people are just jerks and ....no matter where they go, there they are.