Is anybody else frustrated with the Denver food scene?
Fuck, where do I even start? Portion sizes are a joke. Cost is through the roof. Then you got general fuck ups constantly! I don't go out a ton because of the cost. I usually order to go or delivered. I'm constantly met with wrong orders! Like, I place perfectly reasonable orders not asking for anything special or outside of the parameters of their menu only to get the completely wrong thing or no item at all!
I have worked in the service industry as a line cook, server, and bartender. I know the industry. I'm baffled as to why so many of my BASIC orders are not being fulfilled!
So, one example so you don't think I'm just some crazy person expecting something special. I ordered take out this weekend. It's pretty uncommon for me to do that but I was feeling like I wanted to blow some cash.... I rarely go out or order takeout and the amount of times the order is wrong is insane!
Order: Buffalo Wild Wings. Walked in. Sat at the bar. Ordered a tall beer. Ordered to go (all on menu, nothing picky): 30 wings, all flats, half traditional buffalo and the other dry rubbed lemon pepper.... I finished my beer, pay 20% tip, and took my food home. Found half original buffalo and half something called "Asian Zing".. Not even a dry rub.. Over the last few years of me living here, this is my average experience ordering food from local places or corporate chains in Denver.
Anyway, I have lived in Denver for about 3 years and this is my typical dining experience overall. Like, what the fuck? Are Denver folks not capable of completing basic tasks errrr.....?
For my part, I haven't experienced this phenomenon - I tend to get what I order when I order things, idk.
Maybe my perspective is skewed after living here a while, but I feel like our portions and prices are reasonable for a mid sized city. Recent trips to Cali and DC yeilded about the same.
Usually when people complain about Denver food, they complain about how a city this size should have food that tastes better. And they are probably right. My take on that is that there is simply less per capita demand for the sort of indulgence that drives the creation of really tasty food. The crowd that would be providing the most money to, say, greasy taco trucks or high end restaurants - yuppies with no kids - are going to split their time with recreation in the mountains. Hence the Denver culture of Friday night consisting of grabbing a beer or two at the brewery with some friends, then being in bed by 10, because you are waking up at the ass crack of dawn to bag a 14er. Hence, with less money flowing into the food scene, the food isn't as good. Though, on the other hand, we are he-hem... hotter than all the other cities per capita, too, so... ya win some, ya lose some
Usually I don't have an issue with getting the wrong thing (your complaint is valid and you don't need to justify getting takeout though) but it did grind my gears when I got some special nachos Taco Bell had (online order), only to find they were out when I brought the order home. They substituted plain nacho cheese. I came home to a very disappointed wife, so back to the drive thru I went (it's not far away) and THAT'S when they told me they were out of the thing that cost a heck of a lot more than a standard nachos they thought would be an ok substitute. Tried to get them to give me a taco instead but they refused offering whatever sauce I wanted instead 🙄
Oh, and another time I had some Doordash gift card I used on carry out, and they missed half an entree from L&L. They deferred to Doordash, who was like "here's a $3 credit, that's all you're getting byeee (oh, and a thumbs up/down to see how I felt, not that they would do anything different for me)
But what really drives me nuts is the increasing prevalence of hidden fees. Even 3% or whatever. Just raise your fucking prices and don't play games!
Thank you for helping me procrastinate sleep though.
I just want to point something out. You complain about the Denver food scene but then you say you don’t go out because of the cost (which is totally understandable).
But then you are not really complaining about the Denver food scene. You are complaining about DoorDash drivers and fast food places fucking up. Again, totally understandable.
To me, it weird to complain about the whole city’s “food scene” which to me implies non-chain restaurants, when you say you tend to not go there.
uhhh, they went into the restaurant to order. they didn't use scam services like doordash.
also, I get what they are saying. 10+ years ago.. it felt like people had pride in their food service jobs.
these days, it feels like they aren't even there. minimal good interactions, food overcooked or just old looking, things thrown together without a care for any real presentation.
it gives me the impression that people have just checked out on average and don't care.. when comparing to how things were precovid (that's kinda my baseline for a LOT of industries where they all have seemingly decided CX service/products really don't matter anymore)
I'm with OP.. even though i have never touched down in Chicago. it feels like this in major cities.
country hole in the wall restaurants, yeah.. they still appreciate the business I find and typically don't fall into the above
honestly, ALWAYS check the food before leaving the restaurant. mistakes do happen, and yes it's been getting worse and worse and worse since COVID happened.
always go in to pickup, and always open the box/packaging to ensure you got what you ordered. good places show you then close it up... most, just hide it and hand you a bag. never leave without ensuring you got what you bought.