DEAR ABBY: Millions of dollars (and tons of food) are wasted when restaurants serve poor quality food or it hasn't been properly prepared. What is the protocol if you are unhappy with your order? Should you leave it sitting and hope they will ask for a comment? Say nothing and take it home as expensive dog food? Speak up and hope for improvement for the next person? Pay, but don't return again? Now you've wasted your money, they've thrown away the uneaten food, and you're still hungry. Is there a solution for this problem? -- JOYCE IN THE SOUTH
DEAR JOYCE: If you are unhappy with how the food you ordered tastes, call the server over, explain what you think is wrong with it and send it back. A smart restaurant manager will replace it. If it's not the policy at that restaurant, do not return.