Patron Permanently Banned From Edo’s Squid for Requesting an Ingredient Substitution
RICHMOND, Va. — What was intended to be a relaxing Saturday evening dinner at Edo’s Squid turned into chaos for Shannon Webster, who was escorted out of the establishment and permanently banned after requesting an ingredient substitution on her entrée.
Webster, 31, came up with the idea for the dinner at the famed Richmond restaurant with a few friends following their weekly group exercise routine. However, according to Webster, the event faced trouble from the beginning.
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The worst was yet to come, though. After being seated and served a beverage, Webster attempted to order a pasta dish with broccoli instead of the standard mushrooms. “Our server left immediately and then came back a few minutes later with a manager and two of the line cooks,” Webster said.
The staff brought her outside, suggested that she rethink her behavior when it comes to ordering food at restaurants, and then asked her to never return to Edo’s Squid again. One witness noted that the servers took Webster’s driver’s license and scanned it for their records.
This isn’t the first instance of a Richmond restaurant banishing a patron for requesting a substitution on an order. Earlier this year, Rappahannock Oyster Bar made headlines for physically ejecting a family of four after one guest attempted to order a tuna entrée without the listed oven-dried tomatoes. The restaurant defended the decision, claiming that their house recipes are beyond perfect and that any threats of order tampering would be met with proper force.
A representative from Edo’s Squid could not be reached for comment, but a source close to the restaurant’s staff said he wasn’t surprised by Webster’s story.
“The local Richmond restaurant industry has always had a delicate relationship with its consumer base,” he explained. “For some restaurants, 80 percent of the relationship is the patron being ‘grateful’ that they’re even allowed to dine at the establishment, and the remaining 20 is some damn good food. For some reason, the customers usually agree that the sometimes brutal service is worth it.”
“She’s just lucky she didn’t try that at Mamma Zu,” he continued. “That could’ve gotten very ugly, very fast.”
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The Peedmont 
Christ. You are restaurant employees. Your job is to serve. You live in Richmond for god’s sake. Get. Over. Yourselves.
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I am now going to this resturant & request multiple substitutions… & then go to Mama Zu’s for dessert & do the same.
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They can do whatever they want Bc it is thier restaurant. Want to get your own dish and have it made YOUR WAT?! Go eat at home. Or open your own place!
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No restaurant is that good. Perfection is relative and ultimately the perception of the patron determines if a recipe (and it’s execution) is good. A simple, “I am sorry, we don’t allow substitutions. Would you like to try something else from the menu tonight?” seems like the well mannered way to handle the situation. If I was ever treated like that at a restaurant, they would not have to ban me, I would willingly never return.
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that sounds rude.
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And I just realized this is a fake story… wow, my righteous indignation doesn’t sound as cool now. Time to go to Burger King and get a Whopper “my way”.
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I never eat at Mama Zu’s any longer because of the abusive treatment I have experienced there. While it’s too long a story to post, I’m sorry to hear that this same treatment of patrons is now allowed at Edo’s. Vaughan would be horrified. Too many other places in Richmond that will accept my money AND treat me well. Spend your money where your business is appreciated.
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In Dallas, at a middle of the road place, I actually had a “chef'” ( cook) bring his “sous chef and others” ( other cooks” out to my table, to accost me. I do not know how he even knew that I was wondering if my fish was done…but he was watching and then brought the entire group to my table for an argument. Bear in mind: the price here was less than Olive Garden. He was menacing and it was a very unsettling ordeal for me. Especially as the owner was standing at the next table, witnessed it, and did not say a word. I have dined in Dallas’ elite restaurants and have been treated with finesse. I do not know what this guy’s issue was but 30+ years later, it still bothers me when I think of it. No owner should allow a “chef” (cough)…cook…to intimidate a customer like that. Especially a quiet and retiring person such as myself…I am a female, was about 30 at the time. Even my husband sat by and allowed it. We re divorced now. 😀
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You do know that this is not an actual newspaper, right? Also, congrats on the re-divorce ShoSha.
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This is a satire site. Y’all.
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I’ve always hated Edo Squid. Way overrated.
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County people are the worst.
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Sometimes I think humanity is the result of millions of years of evolution that has funneled itself through a process of natural selection, resulting in the absolute peak of earthly intelligence. then I read the comments on a satire site and pretty much have to conclude that it’s got be aliens having a laugh, because people are absolutely retarded.
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Unbelievable! They should have been offered complimentary cocktails after waiting 2 hours for dinner!
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You guys it’s a joke.
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Their squid is DISGUSTING!!! And apparently their line cooks and waitresses are total douche bags. I’ll take a Chik Fil A instead any day of the week!
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I have eaten at Edo’s a lot. Their food is delicious and does not need altering. There is a two hour wait on Friday’s and Saturday’s for a reason. I learned after my first go around to make a reservation ahead of time if I want to eat there. While they don’t make changes to their recipes, or do many substitutions, I am sure that this article is missing a key component, Ms. Webster’s behavior. I have politely asked for slight changes to menu items and have either been accommodated or told nicely that they can’t make that change. NEVER, by simply suggesting something have I ever been met with such a stance from the wait staff or owners. My inclination is to believe that Ms. Webster was less than gracious with her request. I would take this article with a grain of salt, so to speak.
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You aren’t forced to eat there. So why complain about delay? Entitled and spoiled. Assuming article is a joke.
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I’m amazed at how many people don’t realize this is satire.
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