Negotiating with Reception hall help

angelmum

I'm the MOG and I've been asked to join the upcoming meeting concerning the food.  The venue had a mass tasting for all brides in a 6 month period - 150 people... which I thought was great to see how they handle the crowds etc   I also researched this venue and it got top reviews on many boards, including the knot, yelp, tripadvisor etc

The food was horrific!  The Fillet was cut small,and gristly  but it was the awful over seasoning, that seemd canned and old.  The Prime Rib seemed a poor quality as well - the "au jus" was heavily thickened with corn starch, so it was awful...

The fish was just as bad - 

So they agreed to do another tasting with the chef 

My question is what questions do I ask?  At $80 a plate for the beef option I do expect better quality.  Its a Friday June wedding, and the only wedding that day.  

I thought of going in to ask a restaurant chef for help - esp in the quality of beef - I've been to buffets that have Prime Rib that charge $29 per person and that's the quality of Prime Rib we were served.  The quality of Fillet is confusing, I understand serving it thin and small for a mass tasting - but it was the seasons and taste that I question, not to mention the gristle!

Any ideas would be appreciated

NOLAbridealmost

The only thing I can suggest other than insisting that they order a particular quality of beef is that you ask about trying some things other than beef when you meet with the chef. 

It might simply be that you're not a huge fan of the way this chef prepares beef and the chef's hands could be tied by the venue in terms of ordering more high-quality cuts.

Ask to try to some chicken, pork, seafood, lamb, etc. and see if there's something else that he does really well.    I'd rather have awesome chicken than crappy filet, know what I mean?

angelmum

yes I do know what you mean - we're going with another caterer for lamb (for cocktail hour)  Their chicken was worse, we asked to try another round of beef and fish

and we have said we'll give them our recipes -so my thoughts would be to have their prime rib, but make sure they dont over season with old dry heavy handed seasons, just salt and pepper - and a better au jus has to be available!

the mother of the bride is a nutritionist and she is going to insist on better quality fish and not to poach it - hopefully grilled (they grill the fillet, so we thought to swap and grill the salmon and bake the prime rib)

I'm just confused how this place gets such 5* ratings everywhere - they must delete any negatives!  

lyndausvi

Even good quality meats and fish can be prepared poorly.  You can also take a so-so quality and season it so it's tastes good.  You also have some punks working in the back trying to pass off sirloin for filet thinking someone is not going to notice.  Unfortunately, taste is subjective. So there's that.

 I assume you gave feedback on the first tasting.  So I would just eat the food first to see if they listened to what you had to say.  Then go from there.  If it's still bad and they didn't listen to any of your complaints I would just find a different place.    If there was improvement but still not prefect ask for different preparations or cuts of meat, stuff like that.    

How the chef interacts with you makes all the difference to me.  If they seem willing to work with you then I give them a chance. If they make you feel like you are bothering them and difficult move on.

Loopyseven

I agree with Lynda.  If the chef seems willing to work with you, great.  If not, I'd look for a different venue.  By the time you realize the food is still awful and they didn't follow your instructions on your wedding day it's too late to change the experience your guests are going to have. 

Ella and Pedro

Honestly, it sounds like you already have a back-up caterer (or two) in the wings.  I'd do tasting with three and go with the one who does the best job for you in respect to food quality, communication and respectful engagement, as well as price and value.  If the one you find is not the 'best reviewed' so be it. Your guests will not care, as long as it's delicious.