Fine Dining: Need to take picture but server asks me to cut into steak to check temperature
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I would carefully cut into it, have a look then put the piece back together and take the photo when the server leaves.
Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain
I have never had the server ask me to cut into a steak right when it was served on a fine dining assignment...and have probably evaluated over a dozen steakhouses. They usually check back with you after 2 minutes.
That said...as far as they are concerned, you are a customer. You have a right to cut your steak up when and how you see fit. If they asked me, I'd just say, "Check back with me in a few minutes and I'll let you know."
I no longer have any reservations about taking food photos. You don't need an excuse. More than 50% of diners are photographing their meals at fine dining establishments that I go to. It's a pretty normal thing to do these days.
That said...as far as they are concerned, you are a customer. You have a right to cut your steak up when and how you see fit. If they asked me, I'd just say, "Check back with me in a few minutes and I'll let you know."
I no longer have any reservations about taking food photos. You don't need an excuse. More than 50% of diners are photographing their meals at fine dining establishments that I go to. It's a pretty normal thing to do these days.
I've never been asked to cut into my steak....could they have thought you were a shopper, seems like a weird request. You should be able to cut into your steak on your own time. I would have said, I'm not ready yet, I'll let you know if there's a problem.
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Hmmm. That's weird. I've had that happen many times when dining out not on a shop. This shop's questionnaire, in fact, asks if the server asked me to check my steak when it's delivered.
I too have seen this happen before.
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At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
I freaked st my very first fine dining photo shop because they asked me to cut into the steak. When I wrote into the help line email, they told me not to worry and to explain the situation in my report. I've never been cited for this. The same thing when a server took it upon himself to dish up the side dish without asking. You can only control what you can control, just go with it and explain yourself. I'm sure you'll be fine!
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At Texas Roadhouse, whoever serves your entrees is supposed to ask you to cut into your steak immediately and let them know if it looks right before they leave. Then the server comes by 2 minutes later. But the Roadhouse does not require pictures. And TX Roadhouse is not really fine dining. Most fine dining places haven't asked me immediately to cut into the steak.
I have been asked, both during and not during shops. No big deal -- if I ever had a shop where pictures were needed, I would take the picture post-cut and notate a reason why. But really, if you just make a single cut that does not go all the way across, it will be practically invisible when you put the pieces back together.
That happened to me, once. I reminded the over-anxious, hurried server that the steak needed to rest for a couple of minutes to let the juices redistribute, and to check back with me.
@roflwofl wrote:
At Texas Roadhouse, whoever serves your entrees is supposed to ask you to cut into your steak immediately and let them know if it looks right before they leave. Then the server comes by 2 minutes later. But the Roadhouse does not require pictures. And TX Roadhouse is not really fine dining. Most fine dining places haven't asked me immediately to cut into the steak.
I think that was my initial point. If it's fine dining, I don't think they'd do that...but perhaps it's a regional thing. If it's a restaurant that requires that behavior as a standard, then they would obviously be understanding as well.
Slightly off-topic, but this thread reminds me of a time where I was at a well-known upscale steakhouse in L.A. for a work diner and the client who brought me there voluntarily cut into his steak when the server delivered it, then asked for it to be more well done. The chef returned with the steak 30 seconds later in the same condition, and in a thick French accent announced, "When you are in my house, you will eat your steak that way I make it!" Every time I drive by that place I still chuckle a bit. I have never seen it mystery shopped...
@Danish wrote:
At a fine dining shop, if the server asks me to cut into my steak to check if the temperature (i.e., medium rare) is appropriate, how do I get the picture first? Do I just tell him/her I want to send a picture of my meal to my teenager (or whomever) first? I don't know if I feel comfortable pretending to have a blog or stating I'm taking a pic for Yelp. Do you just say you want to take a picture first and leave it at that without any explanation?
Yes. "I'd like to take a picture first." Thanks.
Too funny Steve. Every Christmas day I make a beef tenderloin or two. A couple members of the family only like their meat well done. At first their slices would briefly go in the microwave because there was no way in Hades I was ruining a beautiful cut of meat just for them. I stopped that and instead make sure the balsamic reduction covers enough of the the meat they don't know it is rare. Neither has noticed and both actually enjoy it more now.
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"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
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"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
In a small restaurant, the chef came out of the kitchen to tell me he would not cook a "well done" steak. He knew how to best prepare the meat, and every steak was cooked to his standards and satisfaction. He told me to order chicken. I was about 17 at the time. Scarred for life. SOB French chefs!
I had that happen on a non-shop before. My cousin ordered a steak and it wasn't prepared to her liking before. After the server bought the second steak, they asked her to cut it to make sure it was to her liking.
I've had servers ask me to cut into my steak a few times. It does happen.
About thirty odd years ago I was at a nice Chinese restaurant and asked for a change to my dish. The server went into the kitchen and shortly thereafter the beefy chef came out brandishing his large hatchet cleaver..It was pretty scary. I thought he was about to chop off my head. He was pretty upset when he got to the table and told me a similar tale about how he prepares food but luckily did not bring that cleaver he was waving around down on my neck.
Some of these stories remind me of the Soup Nazi 
on Seinfeld.
on Seinfeld.
Stop stressing cut and look! Then take the pic!
I have been to many steakhouses where they ask this. With social media, it is perfectly acceptable and common to take a picture of the steak BEFORE cutting. I would hate to go to a high reimbursement shop and find out my shop was unacceptable because I took a picture after I cut into it. Especially since it specifies to take a picture of the food untouched.
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**Throw me to the wolves and I'll come back leading the pack!**
**Throw me to the wolves and I'll come back leading the pack!**
Never had this situation and I have done many. I probably would have complied and thought of something afterwards. Now that I have read this, I am prepared to say later waiter. I do think explaining what happened would be acceptable to the client and MSC.
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