10 Most Annoying Things About Dining Out

Jiro

Jiro

If You Know What I Mean
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10 Most Annoying Things About Dining Out
We often wonder why anyone would decide to own a restaurant. Not only can profit margins be thin, they also rise and fall on whims. Hire an inept server? Customers at that table will never return.

It's a precarious business.

From the guest's point of view, however, there's no reason to reward a bad experience. We've all encountered an uninformed waiter fumbling through explanations of that night's specials, a manager who refused to correct some mistake, or watched staff members fawn over those at the next table while ignoring yours.

There are, of course, issues a restaurateur can't control--the vagaries of Dallas' alcohol laws, for instance, or that screaming baby at the next table. But of those they can, these are the most annoying:

10. Wait staff asking "How is everything" at all the wrong moments
You know they're just trying to be polite, just fulfilling an obligation set down by management. But they can also see that you've chomped down on close to half of that burger only moments earlier. With cheeks puffed out and eyes bulging, you're hoping to survive this bite without having to find out who in the dining room knows the Heimlich maneuver. That's when they descend, all chirpy and bright, to pop the question. Happens every time.

9. Superlatives
Some restaurants can't resist this gimmick. They print "best pizza in Dallas" on the menu, scribble "best apple pie in the northern hemisphere" on chalkboards or paint "world's best ever foie gras" on the window. Instinctively guests see this as a challenge--one the restaurant will have a hard time winning. It encourages diners to find fault rather than discover something great. And discovery is part of the fun, right?

8. The practice of seating people in clusters
It's a slow night. Only two other tables are occupied in a 1,000 square foot dining room--and the hostess plants you right between them. Yes, this is easier for the wait staff to handle, especially as the manager sent half the crew home. But this also robs the guests of some privacy. In a quiet space, voices carry. The practice, therefore, can make for an awkward dining experience.

7. Restaurants not posting opening hours on the web site
That this happens--and frequently--is so damn absurd. Restaurants presumably create a web site to encourage people to visit. They make the effort to paste photos and upload the menu, so potential guests will get an idea of what's in store. Then they forget to tell you whether they open for lunch, what time the kitchen closes in the evening, whether you can visit on a Sunday...This is vital information.

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​6. Restaurants not keeping stated hours
Ran into this minor annoyance just last week. A glance online confirmed that a particular restaurant was open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday-Saturday. The same information was painted on their front door. One tug on the handle, however...Despite electronic and physical assurances, the place was locked up at 4:30 p.m. on a Wednesday. And they'd placed a barely visible sign behind the door that read "Open at 5 p.m." Changing your hours is fine. Just update the information.

5. By the glass wines at cocktail prices
In some instances, restaurants offer some rare and pricey vintage by the glass. We're not talking about those moments. Our concern here is with venues that put $10 or $12 tags on per glass pours from a $7 bottle. It's fine to make a profit (and $5-$7 a glass would generate one from a $7 bottle), not take advantage of customers.

4. Staff not bussing silverware between courses
Yes, most people use the same knife and fork throughout dinner when eating at home. When you dine out, however, you expect--or should expect--a different level of service. Far too often, however, wait staff leave used silverware on the table as they hustle off to bring out the next course. Knives streaked in butter, forks crusted with bits of cheese and spinach from the quesadilla--very appetizing.

3. Charging high corkage fees at BYOB-only restaurants
So, Mr./Ms. Restaurateur, you don't want to spring for a wine or liquor license and you want us to pay for your cheapskate ways? We understand the TABC is a royal pain. But anything more than a few bucks for the server's troubles seems unreasonable.

2. No reservation policies at popular restaurants
This annoyance is not so clear cut, mind you. Establishments benefit from the quicker turnover resulting from no reservation policies. And some people like the implied informality. On the other hand, when a restaurant is hot, guests piling into the place may have to wait two hours for a seat--in essence punishing those who plan ahead, those who have babysitters for a specific time frame, those hoping to catch a movie after dinner...Fortunately, most such restaurants will give a projected waiting time to people who call in advance.

1. Restaurants encouraging valet parking
In some locations, valet parking is the only option. But the most annoying feature of all is when asphalt-loads of parking space surrounds a restaurants, but the crew cordons most of it off for valet use--leaving the most distant slots to patrons who prefer to save a little cash (or who don't carry cash, as is often the case nowadays). In a perfect world, outlying spots would be reserved for valet parking. Is there anything more pathetic than watching a guy walk twelve paces to your car then paying him a fiver for the effort of pulling it around?
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once I was at a place and they served me a cold <was supposed to have been hot> tiny sandwich w/a mosquito resting in it. I took it up to the front staff and they're like - what's the matter with it?

I especially like that one about the hours - say there's this wonderful-looking, colorful website with all kinds of info. about the food, and the history of the restaurant and the personalities of the founders and how grandma came over to the States in 1820 w/2 candlesticks........but I wanta know - can I get IN to EAT there WHEN?
 
One of my pet peeves is having a gratuity automatically added into my check. The very definition of gratuity (tip) is that it is voluntarily offered. If I get outstanding service, I will tip more than standart 15-20%. If I get lousy service, I will tip less. But it is my choice, and it should always be the customer's choice, regarding any tip added to the bill.
 
I really don't like the servers asking, "Are you still working on that?"

About #8--Usually, if we request a booth, the porch, a quiet corner, etc., and business is slow, the hostess/host will accommodate us. If it makes an inconvenience for the server, we compensate by a little extra on the tip.
 
I can't stand chefs that fry everything or load all there dishes with half-and-half cream. Sometimes I want to go home from a night out without a brick in my stomach.
 
CJB said:
I can't stand chefs that fry everything or load all there dishes with half-and-half cream. Sometimes I want to go home from a night out without a brick in my stomach.
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If you don't like fried or rich food, why do you order it?
 
:lol: Reba, I was thinking the same thing.

I really don't like it when people claim they are "authentic," only to find out it is not.... Sushi places and "Italian" pizza places are really bad for this. Or Cantonese... claiming "authentic food just like in China homeland" only to find Chinese-American/Chinese-Canadian invented food (like chicken balls, ginger beef, orange chicken and so on.)
 
What bugs me is that sometimes there are no rolls on the table, and the waitress/waiter says "they'll be here shortly". Food comes, ur ready to eat...rolls still not coming and half way thru the meal they finally arrive.

Also, the bus boys/girls waiting like a "hawk" to clean ur table. They stand close by, waiting to jump on an empty plate. And they stare when ur done eating, and just having a convo...makes you feel like you got to jump up and run! Really bugs the shyt out of me sometimes.

And the waitress/waiters coming by over and over and over to "refill ur tea/soda, etc." Is that called "attentive serving" or what?....But let ur glass get empty, and no waitress/waiter is around! Try as you might to get their attention, stopping at hollaring at them, (I have waved)....they're too buy to see you!

Waitress/waiters cleaning ur table, after you have sat down with ur party! And cleaning it with a dirty rag. Yuk!
 
My only pet peeve with eating out is having to pay for the bill. I always hated that part. LOL!
 
Reba said:
If you don't like fried or rich food, why do you order it?
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My mom and I went to eat once and mom order cheese blintzes. They were deep fried and that is not the right way to cook cheese blintzes! Some cooks do deep fried food as it easier to cook that way! My mom did not eat her cheese blintzes as they were horrible! And we did not pay for them!
 
Reba said:
If you don't like fried or rich food, why do you order it?
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I don't. :giggle:

Sometimes I get invited to a restaurant where everything on the menu is fried or has cream in it. And other times I order something because there is no mention of "fried" in the description only to find it is fried.
 
If people have so many pet peeves about dining out, then the simple answer is not eating out. :P My family and I rarely eat out. We do takeout maybe once every 2-3 weeks though.
 
whatdidyousay! said:
My mom and I went to eat once and mom order cheese blintzes. They were deep fried and that is not the right way to cook cheese blintzes! Some cooks do deep fried food as it easier to cook that way! My mom did not eat her cheese blintzes as they were horrible! And we did not pay for them!
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Cheese blintzes with strawberries is one of my favorites.

Do you mean they deep fried the crepes, or they deep fried the whole blintz with the filling included?

I'm glad you didn't have to pay for them. Did they say why they were deep fried?
 
Loghead said:
If people have so many pet peeves about dining out, then the simple answer is not eating out. :P My family and I rarely eat out. We do takeout maybe once every 2-3 weeks though.
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I don't have that many pet peeves about eating out. I actually used to love eating out and still do as long as it's with a signer. :mrgreen:
 
CJB said:
I don't. :giggle:

Sometimes I get invited to a restaurant where everything on the menu is fried or has cream in it. And other times I order something because there is no mention of "fried" in the description only to find it is fried.
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:giggle: Man, what kind of restaurants are you going to? Most good restaurants include some healthy selections. Our seafood restaurants let us choose fried, broiled, blackened, or grilled for each menu item.

Maybe you should ask when you order, "Is this item fried?"

If you're eating out, you deserve to enjoy the food without taking a Tums. :)
 
My only pet peeve is when a waiter in a fancy restaurant puts my napkin in my lap for me. Dude, personal space! :giggle:

We usually only got to our favorite burger joint or a casual Italian restaurant, though. Not really gourmet--more gourmand. :D
 
I like to try different restaurants - East Indian, Iranian, Thai....
 
I seem to eat at less formal places than most of the posters. My main gripe has been children that are allowed to run wild, pull my wife's hair, throw food, pound on the back of our chairs; while the parents act like it is OUR problem. Next to smoking, this has bothered me for the longest time. Now smoking is banned. Kids with dismissive parents should be outlawed next. Grrrrrrr.
 
saywhatkid said:
I seem to eat at less formal places than most of the posters. My main gripe has been children that are allowed to run wild, pull my wife's hair, throw food, pound on the back of our chairs; while the parents act like it is OUR problem. Next to smoking, this has bothered me for the longest time. Now smoking is banned. Kids with dismissive parents should be outlawed next. Grrrrrrr.
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Yikes! :shock:

I wouldn't eat at that place again, and I'd let the manager know the reason why.
 
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