I would say most people go to a restaurant for convenience, for something different to eat, for atmosphere, and for good service.
Saturday I went to Applebee's for lunch. The server came by in a reasonable period of time and took my order... so far, so good. Then it all went to hell in a handbasket.
I ordered one of their new "combos", which is your choice of an entree and a dessert for one price. I got the Southwest Chicken/Raspberry cheesecake combo.
It took a long time to get my food and the place wasn't that busy for that day and time.
The cheese on top of the chicken was burned to ash on the edges. It actually disintegrated into black dust when I cut it.
The pico tasted old. It was all soft and watery.
The cheesecake was on a plate that had two spots of dried-up green stuff on the side, and some kind of brown dried up stuff, topped off with fingerprints and and like waterspots, or soap spots.
That's when I decided it was time to say something.
"I sat here and ate my chicken, which was burnt, and the pico, which was old, but look at this plate. What the hell is this dried up green $h!? It's nasty, and I'm not eating it!"
He apologized and brought me another piece, which was fine.
Normally, I don't hold the server accountable for the cook's mistakes, he didn't bring my food out, so he couldn't have known because I didn't say anything at first.
The nasty dessert plate though, anyone could have seen how dirty that plate was. He brought it out anyway, and for that, I left him a crappy tip.
What does it take for you to complain in a restaurant about things? Was I being too prissy?