3dot14

My family and I find ourselves in the restaurant of a 4 star hotel (in Expedia rating) in Montreal's Old City tonight.

I did not have a favorable view of the experience, but before I fly off the handle with a negative review on various travel sites, I would like to check to see if I am justified.

Question of the day: is this lettuce spoilt?


I ordered a cheese burger with fries, and the burger have a piece of lettuce on it.

The lettuce has a couple brown spots and one edge has what I consider to be an spoilt edge (the kind that gets oily looking)

See attachment: the brown spots are at bottom left (7 to 8 o'clock range of the picture ) and the alleged spoilt oily edge at the right edge (3 o'clock)
This picture was taken about 5 min of having received the burger at the table. it was served closed.

Is this lettuce spoiled?

I asked the waitress over, and asked what she thought about it. She told me this is normal, because the lettuce touched the heated beef burger. (this is a cheese burger, so the beef has cheese on top of it. so perhaps she meant heated cheese?)

I find it dubious for the brown spots, and outright unbelievable for the right edge. But I am no burger chef, I can't actually opine on transferred heat damage on lettuce. But I feel she is trying to bluff herself out of a bind. Had this been a cold dish, I feel 100% confident it's spoilt at the edge and going off in the spots.

What do you think? Did the waitress try to bluff me? Or I just need to cook more burgers?

She did offer a replacement for the lettuce leaf, but I frankly don't trust them enough. So I declined.

Your crowd sourced views will help me craft the review. I am debating between calling it mediocre vs accusing them of maliciously bad service.

I am withholding the name of the establishment at the moment, in case I over state the degree of the perceived offense.

Thanks for reading.

rickg523

I wouldn't eat that, because I'm very particular about produce quality.
And I don't know if that wilted edge is a result of heat contact.
But since you could have had a fresh leaf, brought on a seperate plate, you could have easily tested her contention when you mounted the lettuce yourself.
Because the staff offered a replacement without you having to ask, I'd give the restaurant a pass if you review. I personally wouldn't even mention it. Was the burger any good? That's important.
Mistakes happen, it's recovery that counts.

mathprof

Can’t imagine a hot burger or cheese would do that if the lettuce started out pristine. A good reminder of what I promised myself before but haven’t been practicing: order cold burger toppings on the side.

CDTraveler

That lettuce is spoiled, as in bacterial action is breaking down the tissue. Would it kill you to eat it? Probably not, but I personally do not wish to act as lab rat for the restaurant's life sciences experiments. The waitress was either clueless or lying, not having met her, I can't offer an opinion on that matter.

I've had lettuce on many a sizzling hot burger: it wilts, it doesn't decay in under 10 minutes.

FLYMSY

I agree with rick’s comment.

IMO, you need definitive proof before accusations of lying or malicious bad service. An unattractive piece of lettuce. Staff offered a solution. You declined it. First world problem. Move on.

MSPeconomist

The upper right discolored slimy part looks past its prime and spoiled to me, but I'd be more concerned about the white frothy spots in the center, just on the edge of the curved part. To me, that looks like it could be some sort of mold.

Eastbay1K

I'd place my bet on that lettuce suffering some freezing damage. This will cause the discoloration and slimy result when thawing. I'd also probably just remove the lettuce, not eat it, and not waste part of my life ranting on "various travel sites." (I say that while I waste part of my life responding on FT ) I'd then make comment to my server.

Bill Maher did a good piece on everyone reviewing everything just over a week ago. A good thing for those compelled to review everything, including a piece of lettuce, to view.

Looks like mayonnaise or whatever dressing that hit the bun/burger.

3dot14

The part that gets to me is that staff attempted (IMHO) to gaslight me and suggested it was not a problem -- i.e. no it is not spoilt, but if you want, I can get you a new one. Whereas I am almost certain it is a problem. And I felt that sort of behaviour (attempting to bluff out of mistakes) should be discouraged.

However, I do take your (and the post below)'s point -- even if I feel for certain it's a problem, it's still a first world problem.
So I will not be going back to that establishment, and won't recommend it... but no point wasting more time.

kipper

I think that's mayo or depending on the cheese used, melted cheese.

gfunkdave

Looks like the lettuce was partially frozen. I wouldn't probably eat it in a salad but on a burger I probably wouldn't notice.

So the staff was right: it's not spoiled and we can bring you a new one if you like. At a super fancy restaurant I'd expect they wouldn't give you freezer-burned lettuce in the first place. But if it bothered you why not just remove it and enjoy your lunch?

vloglady

Send this pic of the lettuce to Corporate.

BamaVol

I've probably eaten worse things. My restaurant complaints are more centered on doneness of meats and promptness of service.