Just be mature about it.
“It’s not bad etiquette if you handle the issue in a mature fashion. Don’t nitpick the entire dish down to each and every detail. Simply flag the waiter down and let them know your complaints. If they are a reputable establishment, they will go discuss with a manager to see if they would be able to either comp the meal, or give you an alternative (or if they really are worth a damn, do both). If this is handled by all parties in a mature, functional manner, you can then leave a tip gauged on what you think is fair (generally IF there are any issues, and they handle it this way, I tip a little extra. If not, reduced, or no tip at all). In the end, what really is considered good etiquette is how YOU approach the situation.”
The burger is always the best option.
“It’s home to the Cuban sandwich. The Cuban sandwich is, above and beyond, the greatest sandwich one can consume. One day, the girlfriend and I went to a new restaurant that opened in the trendy Seminole Heights neighborhood. We had been once and the food was ok, but on this particular occasion, I decided to give their Cuban sandwich a try. Look, Tampa is the birthplace of the Cuban sandwich. I don’t quite understand why anybody would put a Cuban on the menu and send out… That… sandwich. It was awful. A complete slap in the face to anybody who is actually from this city. I sent it back. I got a burger instead. There were no issues. The trick is to be polite about it. It’s not the server’s fault.”
I’m not sure why you would pay for the first dish if you didn’t eat it but…
“It is not the restaurant’s fault you don’t like the dish. You can only “send it back” if your order was incorrect (fried fish instead of grilled fish) or cooked to the wrong temperature (well-done steak instead of medium-rare steak). The restaurant will fix their mistake. And it’s likely the restaurant will pay for the correction and the mistake. You’ll end up eating for free. If you order a dish expecting to like it, and end up not liking it — order another dish. Expect to pay for the first dish you didn’t like. It’s not the restaurant’s mistake. Often times, you’ll find that the restaurant will “comp” the first dish you didn’t like and charge you only for the second dish. Restaurants generally prefer happy customers.”
It really is okay.
“As a matter of etiquette, I guess it’s OK to send food back because of taste. As to whether you should send food back, that’s another discussion. So while it may be OK to send food back, I personally never do. I travel for work regularly. I once asked for a different salad, as mine came with tomatoes, which I specifically asked to be held. That night, I was sick as a dog. I’m convinced I got the Visine treatment in that salad. Another time, a gentlemen sitting beside me sent his steak back as it was not cooked well done enough for his liking. They brought it back burnt and shriveled up. He went postal…”
Additional tip if you take it off the bill.
“Restaurant owners want you to be happy with your meal. In the 1980’s my wife and I went to dinner with another couple to a high-end steak house they wanted to try. Everyone loved their steak, but I had tried another cut that the waiter had suggested. I hated it. I took one bite and couldn’t take another. The waiter was standing in a corner watching to make sure that all was well. He saw that I was displeased after my first bite and immediately came over to see what he could do. I was young and embarrassed because everyone else was raving about how great their steak was. He said, “”Sir, you are not pleased. I will fix it. Is it not cooked correctly, or would you like to try a different cut?” I told him I didn’t want to make a fuss, but that I would love a filet. He put the order in instantly. The owner came out and said that he was sorry. I explained it wasn’t his fault. I tried something new, but it wasn’t something that I liked. When the bill came, I saw that my meal had been removed from the tab. I gave the waiter an additional tip that was equal to the cost of my steak.”