The Shell Game

I run a sushi restaurant. I had a couple come in and look over the menu. I personally took their order, and they told me to make sure there wasn’t any shrimp in anything.

They had ordered a “spider” roll, which contained soft shell crab with the claws sticking out on each end, and a couple other rolls, but no shrimp. Once they ordered:

Customer: “I want a box right away as we’re in a rush and know we won’t be able to finish in time.”

Um, okay, sure, I gave them a box. Their order comes out, and the guy starts throwing a fit.

Customer: “The spider roll looks like there’s shrimp in it! I’m not eating that!”

I’m a manager, and I take allergies very seriously.

Me: “Sir, I can assure you that it is not shrimp; it’s crab; hence SOFT SHELL CRAB.”

I look at his girlfriend and assertively ask:

Me: “So you don’t want any of this?”

She sighed and looked as if this wasn’t her first rodeo, and she was already tired of his s***.

Customer’s Girlfriend: “No, he won’t eat any of it.”

So, before they could scam me and box their food up and have their check comped, I took all of their food out back and sent them on their way. The customer paused for a second, realizing he wasn’t going to be able to take anything home, and stormed out. 

I knew it was a red flag when they asked for a box at the same time that they’re putting their order in, thinking I’ll comp the check AND let them take the food they just complained about. Sorry dude, I won’t make you pay for something you don’t like, but you also don’t get to take it home for free!