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Article created by: Vėja Elkimavičiūtė

Most people love food, especially good food, and that is why we often find ourselves going out to spoil ourselves at a restaurant and ordering our favorite meals, spending time with our friends and family. However, it's not always a pleasant event. Sometimes the experience doesn't meet our expectations and is quite disappointing, and when you're paying quite a hefty sum for an experience, you want it to be the best it can be.

There are many things we look out for when we go to a restaurant - the prices, the food options, and how nice the staff is. People online gathered together in this online thread to share some red flags that immediately show them a restaurant is not up to par and they should leave immediately. From dirty floors to a huge menu, these ideas might help you spot a place that just isn't worth spending your money on.

#1

Family enjoying a meal and drinks at a restaurant, highlighting things to look out for when eating out safely. Kids running wild. Apart from the inconvenience of the other diners it’s dangerous when staff are walking round with hot food. Edit. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many up votes. I thought I was posting something controversial. People sometimes get triggered when someone mentions badly behaved kids and think your just some bitter child hater. But actually I love kids. I just don’t want to eat in their playground.

McSillyoldbear , Pablo Merchán Montes Report

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    #2

    Close-up of a restaurant menu on a table with a glass of water, highlighting things to look out for when eating at a restaurant. Dirty menus. If they can't be bothered to wipe the menu then what else are they not cleaning? Edit: I see excuses like 'there's not enough time', 'it's not a priority', 'the last thing we're going to do is clean the menus'. There's always an excuse not to do something. Like I asked, what else are they not cleaning?

    IAmSagacity , Erik Mclean Report

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    #3

    Two masked restaurant staff working behind a counter under green lamps, highlighting things to look out for when eating at restaurants. Owners being rude to staff in front of guests

    LittleBlackBird0191 , Vanna Phon Report

    #4

    Person playing electric guitar on stage near amplifier and water bottle, highlighting things to look out for when eating at a restaurant Loud music. I've been in restaurants before where I can't hear myself think, let alone hear people opposite me talk. Edit: comments were irritating me, so I amended

    Philcycles84 , Hans Vivek Report

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    #5

    Restaurant menu boards and beverage shelves highlighting things to look out for when eating at a restaurant. I’m from UK so maybe not relevant but HUGE menu with loads of variety. If they can just master 5 or 6 dishes they will taste far better that the 50 different options that the kitchen has to offer.

    Stokehall , Foo Visuals Report

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    #6

    Person scanning QR code restaurant menu on phone, highlighting things to look out for when eating at a restaurant. QR code menus

    mdsMW , Proxyclick Visitor Management System Report

    #7

    Modern restaurant interior with hanging lights and busy patrons, highlighting things to look out for when eating at a restaurant. If they just ignore you for 10 minutes. Even if you are (too) busy at least acknowledge you've seen me and will get to me.

    domin8r , Rod Long Report

    #8

    Graffiti-covered restaurant restroom wall with a paper towel dispenser, highlighting hygiene concerns to look out for. Dirty bathrooms.

    SikhJedi , Wilhelm Gunkel Report

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    #9

    Empty restaurant table with chairs by window, showing key things to look out for when eating at a restaurant. If the table is sticky and it gets stickier after they wipe it.

    kissingdistopia , Alex Jones Report

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    #10

    Busy restaurant interior with customers dining and staff behind the counter, highlighting things to look out for when eating at a restaurant. Tables packed closely together to the point where you might as well just be sitting with the strangers next to you.

    jimcol , Rod Long Report

    #11

    Public restroom with multiple sinks and mirrors, highlighting cleanliness to look out for when eating at a restaurant. No hand soap in the restroom. Unless staff have their own restroom no one’s washing hands after doing their business into urinal or toilet.

    Stanford-baller , Wilhelm Gunkel Report

    #12

    Glass tip jar with handwritten label placed on counter, highlighting things to look out for when eating at a restaurant. Paying and tipping on a handheld electronic device while the waiter stares me down. One guy actually “instructed” me to press the 25% tip option as if it’s a required step of the transaction. Infuriatingly rude. I waited tables and bartended for over 8 years and it was always considered a huge no-no to stand over someone while they tipped, totaled, and signed the slip.

    MowBooVee , Sam Dan Truong Report

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    #13

    Dimly lit restaurant interior with tables set for guests, highlighting things to look out for when eating at a restaurant. The smell when you walk in. If you can smell sewage, mold or excessive bleach or ammonia when you walk in over the food, turn around.

    DarthGayAgenda , Andrew Seaman Report

    #14

    Customers seated in a quiet restaurant, reading menus and dining while paying attention to things to look out for when eating out. Being seated next to other diners *in an otherwise empty restaurant **if it’s not a shared dining experience like a BBQ

    Isorry123 , Rita Chou Report

    #15

    Basket of tortilla chips with two bowls of salsa, highlighting things to look out for when eating at a restaurant. if you go to a mexican/tex-mex spot and the chips and salsa are terrible just pack it up and leave, nothing will get better.

    thejamielee , Tai's Captures Report

    #16

    Cozy dimly lit restaurant interior with wooden tables and chairs, featuring vintage light fixtures and an illuminated arrow sign. When they keep the lights so low that you literally can’t see the menu. I’ve been in three places like this, and the food is always bad. The place is dark for a reason.

    onthedownhillslope , Nicolas Hoizey Report

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    #17

    Person paying at a restaurant using a mobile wallet on a smartphone, highlighting things to look out for when eating out. Taking forever to get the check grinds my gears. I'm less likely to return if I had to wait a long time to leave. I don't want to be held hostage after my meal.

    LuckyLawyer21 , naipo.de Report

    #18

    Unisex restroom sign on a wall, illustrating a point from things to look out for when eating at a restaurant. If I can smell the bathroom as soon as I walk in. I’m out.

    0nefatgrub , Tim Mossholder Report

    #19

    Close-up of a fly on a surface, highlighting one of the things you should look out for when eating at a restaurant. Flies.

    SallyJane5555 , Jin Yeong Kim Report

    #20

    Glass of water and bottle on a wooden table inside a restaurant, highlighting things to look out for when eating at a restaurant. Warm water served in a piping hot glass from the dishwasher.

    KHUSTOM , Clint McKoy Report

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    #21

    Outdoor restaurant seating with people dining and socializing, illustrating things to look out for when eating at a restaurant. Having no seats with backs. Nobody wants to sit on a bench.

    steve-lp , Robert Bye Report

    #22

    Person using smartphone for contactless payment at a restaurant counter, highlighting restaurant dining safety tips. Hidden fees or changing prices regularly. I'll go once, but if that happens, I won't return.

    ruvol23 , Jonas Leupe Report