So, This Happened. Breakfast Edition

Why do I feel like crying when I get really upset? It’s not sadness exactly—it’s more when I feel like I’ve been treated unfairly. It doesn’t happen every time, but it still surprises me when it does. Maybe it has to do with my underlying emotions at the time—whether I’m exhausted, stressed, or just not in the mood to deal with nonsense.

This morning, after barely any sleep and an early start, I went to have breakfast while waiting for a family friend who was at an appointment. I had to wake up earlier than normal and was already a bit concerned about the day ahead. Since I wanted to wait in the area, I decided to sit at a nearby restaurant to work, eat, and have some coffee. I’ve been coming here for a long time, even though the menu isn’t exactly vegan-friendly. The atmosphere is nice, it’s a good spot to get work done, and most importantly, it was close to where my friend was, so I wouldn’t be late picking her up.

When I walked in, the manager handed me a menu. I already knew there wasn’t a single proper vegan option, so I did what I usually do—I scanned the menu for something I could modify. I pointed to a wrap that had meat, cheese, and egg and told her I don’t eat meat but usually ask for a wrap with just veggies instead. In my mind, I was just using that wrap as a reference—like, "Hey, I’ll take a wrap, just not this one."

She went to check on the available veggies, then returned to ask if I wanted sweet peppers. I said yes. Again, I reiterated—"Any veggies, just no meat or cheese." The regular server came and I ordered my coffee and confirmed the dairy-free milk option that I wanted to have in my drink.

So, imagine my surprise when my food arrived… with egg in it.

I got up and quietly told the regular server that I hadn’t expected egg in my wrap. She apologized and took it back to be remade. No big deal, right? Apparently not.

Next thing I know, the manager—who took my order—comes over and tells me, "You didn’t say no egg, and you didn’t say you’re vegan, so you have to pay for the wrap."

I was shocked. I’ve never had this happen before. Yes, it was a miscommunication. No, I didn’t explicitly say "no egg." But it was an obvious mistake. I come here all the time and never order meat or dairy. Of course, it’s not their job to remember that, but still… is it unreasonable to make a new one and take the loss on one wrap?

She then asked if I wanted to order anything else. On principle, I said no. I just couldn’t bring myself to give them more money after that.

As I sipped my coffee, I fought back tears. I was tired, hungry, and upset at how the situation unfolded. Restaurants take back plates of food for all kinds of reasons, so why was this different?

If it weren’t for a familiar face sitting nearby, I probably would have let a couple tears roll down. But instead, I sat there, hungry and frustrated, debating whether I should just leave.

Then I had a moment of clarity.

I called the waitress back—not the manager, but the other server who had taken my plate away. I told her, "I just want to say that I’m really not happy”. I explained what I meant when I ordered, and even though I don’t think I should have to pay for the first wrap, I also know I have a long day and need to eat. She looked like she genuinely felt bad and said she wasn’t the one who took my order. I reassured her that I wasn’t upset with her—I just needed to say my piece.

And because I knew I couldn’t function on an empty stomach, I ordered another wrap. My one-million-dollar veggie wrap.

But I won’t be back. I’ll stick to my neighborhood café from now on.

As my friend pointed out when I shared the story, in 2025, servers should be trained to ask clarifying questions. If a customer says, “No meat,” the natural follow-up should be, “Are eggs and cheese okay? What about cream-based condiments?”

So, what do you guys think? I get that wasted ingredients cost money, but does this feel extra to anyone else? The other server kept checking on me—I think she noticed the tears I was holding back. But I’m really curious—do you think I was being unreasonable, or was this just bad customer service?