Downtown Deli- 25 cents for mustard!

Fishy Cover · 08-02-2009, 09:34 AM

I had lunch last week at the Downtown Deli in Laconia, a place my wife and I frequent 3 or 4 times a year. I ordered a reuben and when I was called to the counter to pick it up I remembered that I had forgotten to ask for mustard so I asked for it. The owner, who had waited on me, went into a large cooler and got out a one gallon jar of Gulden's mustard and then spent a few minutes looking around for a spoon to get some mustard out since the jar was nearly empty. All of this while my sandwich was getting cold. He finally poured the mustard out into a small paper cup, handed me the runny mess and said "25 cents please".

Change from my sandwich was laying on the counter and I slid a quarter to him.

This was the first time in my life that I have been charged for condiments. I spent about $7 including chips and a drink and think this was completely unreasonable. I wish now that I had raised a fuss.

Although cold, the sandwich was really very good, but it is my last at the Downtown Deli because as a customer I won't tolerate this treatment. He made a quarter but lost a customer.

phoenix · 08-02-2009, 02:04 PM

i also never heard of this. I also wouldn't go back if I got charged for mustard penny-- wise pound foolish

Newbiesaukee · 08-02-2009, 02:15 PM

Although I agree that it is unreasonable to charge for a condiment that the patron forgot to have put on a sandwich, is it possible the owner misunderstood and thought you just wanted to take some home with you, similar to a side order? I would also have been annoyed; but did you ask if this was the policy in your specific situation; that is, an already purchased sandwich? I truly do not doubt that the facts are as you presented, I just want to make sure it was not a miscommunication.

angela4design · 08-03-2009, 04:57 AM

Quote:

He made a quarter but lost a customer.

I had given up on them, as well, long ago. I didn't find my experiences friendly, and the sandwiches (wraps) that I got weren't very good either. I like chicken salad, and I've never seen it like they made it. It was ground up to the consistency of baby food - and too dry! Am I the only one that likes it a little chunky? hmm. I didn't complain, I just didn't go back. And paying for condiments? Not great practice, IMHO. I understand that it costs the business owner something, but we see in this instance how that works out.

My favorite for Chicken Salad btw? the "Governor's Island" at Jon's Roast Beef. Cheaper than your Downtown Deli reuben too!

dpg · 08-03-2009, 06:28 AM

"at Jon's Roast Beef. Cheaper than your Downtown Deli reuben too! "

As well it should be, after all it's only Chicken.

08-02-2009, 09:34 AM	#1
Fishy Cover Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 134 Thanks: 10 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Downtown Deli- 25 cents for mustard! I had lunch last week at the Downtown Deli in Laconia, a place my wife and I frequent 3 or 4 times a year. I ordered a reuben and when I was called to the counter to pick it up I remembered that I had forgotten to ask for mustard so I asked for it. The owner, who had waited on me, went into a large cooler and got out a one gallon jar of Gulden's mustard and then spent a few minutes looking around for a spoon to get some mustard out since the jar was nearly empty. All of this while my sandwich was getting cold. He finally poured the mustard out into a small paper cup, handed me the runny mess and said "25 cents please". Change from my sandwich was laying on the counter and I slid a quarter to him. This was the first time in my life that I have been charged for condiments. I spent about $7 including chips and a drink and think this was completely unreasonable. I wish now that I had raised a fuss. Although cold, the sandwich was really very good, but it is my last at the Downtown Deli because as a customer I won't tolerate this treatment. He made a quarter but lost a customer.

08-02-2009, 02:04 PM	#2
phoenix Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: phoenix and moultonboro Posts: 1,549 Thanks: 60 Thanked 273 Times in 192 Posts	i also never heard of this. I also wouldn't go back if I got charged for mustard penny-- wise pound foolish __________________ it's tough to make predictions specially about the future

08-02-2009, 02:15 PM	#3
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,353 Thanks: 947 Thanked 573 Times in 298 Posts	Although I agree that it is unreasonable to charge for a condiment that the patron forgot to have put on a sandwich, is it possible the owner misunderstood and thought you just wanted to take some home with you, similar to a side order? I would also have been annoyed; but did you ask if this was the policy in your specific situation; that is, an already purchased sandwich? I truly do not doubt that the facts are as you presented, I just want to make sure it was not a miscommunication.

08-03-2009, 06:28 AM	#5
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,591 Thanks: 150 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	"at Jon's Roast Beef. Cheaper than your Downtown Deli reuben too! " As well it should be, after all it's only Chicken.