Restaurant pet peeves

[mhsjax]

We are going out to eat less often, so maybe that has some bearing on it. I want a positive experience. I don't really expect a lot. Just some common courtesy and politeness.

The chemical sprays near our table and sweeping bothers me the most. I just don't expect that kind of thing when I'm dining out. The times it's happened it wasn't a table top or floor catastrophe. It was something IMO that could wait. I have bit my tongue. I have been on the verge of asking the person if he or she could wait until we were done. It just wasn't pleasant right next to our table. I wouldn't do that at home near a table of food. I certainly don't expect it when I'm dining out.

And I don't think anyone would argue that point. No one wants chemicals sprayed near their food. But, servers saying no problem instead of you're welcome, or or you still working on that, or not filling a class that is almost half full, not placing the bill on the table at the exact appropriate time, is all just really petty and stupid. I knew this is a pet peeve thread but really, some people need to get a life.

 

[powellrj]

My pet peeve is when they give you your food and want you to cut into your steak right then. I will admit that I have my own system of eating. I know its odd, but when I get a steak and baked potato, I like my steak to rest while I get my potato ready. I want to cut into the potato and make sure the butter melts and let the steak rest so the steak juice stays in the steak and doesn't run all over my plate.

Don't put the plate down and then stand over me while I cut into it. I also don't like to cut into a steak, I like to eat the outside and work my way in, not cut into the middle. We stopped eating at Lonestar because they would always do this.

 

[TifffanyD]

And I don't think anyone would argue that point. No one wants chemicals sprayed near their food. But, servers saying no problem instead of you're welcome, or or you still working on that, or not filling a class that is almost half full, not placing the bill on the table at the exact appropriate time, is all just really petty and stupid. I knew this is a pet peeve thread but really, some people need to get a life.

Why do you even come in to these pet peeve threads? Everytime you do you just try to start fights and tell people they are shortening their lives by being annoyed. What's in it for you?

 

[MIGrandma]

And I don't think anyone would argue that point. No one wants chemicals sprayed near their food. But, servers saying no problem instead of you're welcome, or or you still working on that, or not filling a class that is almost half full, not placing the bill on the table at the exact appropriate time, is all just really petty and stupid. I knew this is a pet peeve thread but really, some people need to get a life.

Who are you to judge if someone's restaurant pet peeve is "petty and stupid." Geez. Take your own advice about getting a life. Oh, and bless your heart and have a nice day.

Several of these pet peeves don't bother me in restaurants, but it is THEIR pet peeve. I wouldn't call them "petty and stupid."

 

[Elmo9607]

I just googled that Springs1 person...holy COW! She sounds like a TOTAL...delight ugh.

I don't like it when servers pay attention to other tables but not yours. For example, at Chilis one night, my bf amd I decided to be simple and just get the 2 for $20 and waters. I usually tip a little above what I normally do for that(around 20%) because I know the bill tnds to be smaller for the same amount of work.

Anyways, there was a table next to us that had lots of food, drinks, ect. The waiter was paying A LOT of attention to them. Meanwhile we sat there with empty glasses and dirty plates. He asked us how everything was 5 seconds after he dropped the food off and disappeared. While he was taking ages to bring our check I actually overheard him say to them 'Wow, I'm going to be getting a really big tip from you guys aren't I?' I decided that since
he would obviously be getting a big tip from them he only needed a little one from us. He was totally clueless and tasteless.

Another time, we were at a local restaurant, kind of like a sports bar. We ordered appetizers, and I ordered a Mike's lemonade along with our dinners. Our table was next to the main aisle where everyone walked by. We got our appetizers from our waitress...and then she literally didn't come back to our table until she dropped off the check.

She must have walked by our table 50 times during the course of our meal, but was walking by so fast she was almost jogging, and she always looked the other way. Our drinks were empty, I was NEVER offered another Mikes, our appetizer was never cleared away, and we had to ask a different waitress for boxes AND our check. I was FURIOUS. It was the first (and hopefully only) time I insisted no tip be left.

She spent all her time socializing with her other (bigger) tables and coworkers. I could watch her in plain sight across the room. I really regret not speaking to the manager over it.

 

[mhsjax]

Who are you to judge if someone's restaurant pet peeve is "petty and stupid." Geez. Take your own advice about getting a life. Oh, and bless your heart and have a nice day.

Several of these pet peeves don't bother me in restaurants, but it is THEIR pet peeve. I wouldn't call them "petty and stupid."

Hey, I was just agreeing with the op that hers wasn't out of line. I think there are others here that have agreed with me. I do have a life, that is why I don't get upset with servers at restaurants, little things don't bother me. And yes, a pet peeve about the wording of a phrase is a little petty and stupid. IMHO. Just call it MY pet peeve.

Actually I think it makes me a MUCH friendlier person when I go out. Little things don't bother me.

 

[mhsjax]

Why do you even come in to these pet peeve threads? Everytime you do you just try to start fights and tell people they are shortening their lives by being annoyed. What's in it for you?

What's in it for me? Hopefully to show how silly and almost rude and superior these comments sound. THese poor servers are busting their butts and for someone to have a pet peeve because someone phrased something a certain way is just beyond me.

 

[mhsjax]

Who are you to judge if someone's restaurant pet peeve is "petty and stupid." Geez. Take your own advice about getting a life. Oh, and bless your heart and have a nice day.

Several of these pet peeves don't bother me in restaurants, but it is THEIR pet peeve. I wouldn't call them "petty and stupid."

Well, isn't that special. I have a life, that is why I don't have all these pet peeves. I just enjoy eating out and really unless it is over the top, I am very easy going.

 

[jen0610]

People who blow there nose at the table, it makes me one puke. As a server no one wants to clean up your snot rags

While my taste buds LOVE spicy food, my nose does not. I have an instant runny nose as soon as I enter a couple of different restraunts that we like to eat at. And NEVER once would I ever consider leaving my snot rags on the table for the waitstaff to dispose of. They are always tucked back into my purse or pocket for me to throw away.

Does this happen often? I can't say I've ever experienced this, but if I did I'd be a little put off too

There are several around here that do it. When we go out to the place that my SIL or neice works at, we always sit in their section. If it's not busy, I always scoot over and let them sit for a minute while they take our order. If it's busy, they usually don't have a minute to just sit and take a breather. I am sure that someone at another table saw it and thought it was rude of them, but not knowing family conction doesn't know that it's a big deal.



Oh and the pet peeve that I have, while it's not with a sit down restruant, it with fast food places.

During the lunch hour, you are getting food to take back to the office for you and 1 or more other coworkers. You order X number of meals with french fies and everybody wanted ketchup and even when you ask for A LOT of it, they only put 3 or 4 packets in there. HELLO - did you not see what you just passed out the window. Like 3 packets of ketchup are going to be enough for multipule people to use.

Call me weird, but I don't like cold ketchup on my fries. So keeping a bottle in the fridge at work doesn't work, because that would not be what I want on my fries.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I've seen it at places that go out of their way to present an informal atmosphere, like Logan's Roadhouse. It's one of those chains that encourages you to throw your peanut shells on the floor. (Why not? They're sterile, and they do sweep 'em if they start to build up.)

Only eaten there once and we had a booth, so no place for the girl to sit. We did enjoy the food and our server was very good. Nashville, TN IIRC.

 

[TifffanyD]

What's in it for me? Hopefully to show how silly and almost rude and superior these comments sound. THese poor servers are busting their butts and for someone to have a pet peeve because someone phrased something a certain way is just beyond me.

1... Pot to kettle

2... My usual response when people get all up in others' business. "Worry about yourself."

 

[mhsjax]

1... Pot to kettle

2... My usual response when people get all up in others' business. "Worry about yourself."

Actually I some what agree with you. I do have many pet peeves and I tell myself all the time that my pet peeves are mostly silly and stupid and I try to get over them. Makes life much easier. But when you post your pet peeve on a message board, you are opening yourself up to what others think of your pet peeves. Oh and as long as your specific pet peeve doesn't get in the way of the servers tip, then feel free. I do worry about other people, especially when it may affect them negatively.
Have a nice day.

Oh and by the way, I am one of those people that will walk by and look at your food. I won't gawk, but I may glance at it while trying to decide what I want to eat. Sorry cant help it, sometimes I am just not sure what I am in the mood for. I would never ask questions about it, but I would look.

 

[TinkerBelled]

I don't like being touched while I'm eating. I make an exception for diners, because it feels kind rather than presumptuous, but I've been to a couple nice restaurants where the waitstaff will clap their hands on your back, lean over, and ask how everything is. I jump a million miles, and it kind of skeeves me out.

I also don't love being asked my name. As in, 'Hi, I'm John, and I'll be your server today. What are your names?' I'm not looking for an obsequious waiter, but I find this kind of forced jollity to be really creepy and invasive.

 

[TifffanyD]

Actually I some what agree with you. I do have many pet peeves and I tell myself all the time that my pet peeves are mostly silly and stupid and I try to get over them. Makes life much easier. But when you post your pet peeve on a message board, you are opening yourself up to what others think of your pet peeves. Oh and as long as your specific pet peeve doesn't get in the way of the servers tip, then feel free. I do worry about other people, especially when it may affect them negatively.
Have a nice day.

Oh and by the way, I am one of those people that will walk by and look at your food. I won't gawk, but I may glance at it while trying to decide what I want to eat.

A quick glance is ok... esp if your head doesn't stop. I am talking gawking like they are walking and keep turning their head so they are looking right at it. So strange and annoying.

 

[mhsjax]

A quick glance is ok... esp if your head doesn't stop. I am talking gawking like they are walking and keep turning their head so they are looking right at it. So strange and annoying.

Gawking is rude, no question. my father instilled that into my brain at a very early age. we had a no starring, gawking rule and anything more than a quick look was rude and uncalled for in any circumstance. If I did have a question I ask the waiter. And if you catch me glancing I look away as quickly as possible.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Gawking is rude, no question. my father instilled that into my brain at a very early age. we had a no starring, gawking rule and anything more than a quick look was rude and uncalled for in any circumstance. If I did have a question I ask the waiter. And if you catch me glancing I look away as quickly as possible.

I went thru this just yesterday! I was at a restaurant during lunch with a coworker. While sitting and chatting, my coworker would STARE at everyone walking by! I dont mean glance, I mean stare up and down! It was so rude and embarrassing! So i pointed it out to her. I said "you do realise that your staring at everyone right?". She was surprised i made it known, but I just had to. I found it very rude.

 

[DebD4T]

I also don't love being asked my name. As in, 'Hi, I'm John, and I'll be your server today. What are your names?' I'm not looking for an obsequious waiter, but I find this kind of forced jollity to be really creepy and invasive.

At Bonefish Grill, DH and I like to sit at the bar and order appetizers and drinks. The bartenders always ask our names. They have a folded cardboard paper and they write our names on the side that face them, and their names on the side that face us.

We love that. It makes it more personal. YYMV.