“I Waited For Them To Come By”: Man Gets Abandoned By Staff In A Restaurant, Dines And Dashes

We’ve all experienced some form of poor restaurant customer service. It could have been dealing with a neglectful server or waiting half an hour for a plate of curly fries without any staff explaining why. 

A man ticked both boxes during a recent dining experience. After waiting 40 minutes for half of his order to arrive, no one communicated with him about the delay. It left such a bad taste in his mouth (pun intended) that he left without paying. 

As a customer service veteran, the author was left dumbfounded by what he went through. He now shares his very first dine-and-dash episode on the “True Off My Chest” subreddit. 

Bored Panda also had the pleasure of speaking with Jess Panganiban, owner of Sage Day Coffee in Pampanga, Philippines. She was kind enough to share her insights about restaurant management and the possible reasons for poor service. 

Some restaurants have poor customer service practices

Person waiting alone at a restaurant table at night, looking out the window.

Image credits: Jay Clark (not the actual photo)

A man had a terrible dining experience where he had to wait for his incomplete order for 40 minutes without explanation from the staff

Text about dining and dashing due to bad service in a restaurant experience.

Text about a customer waiting 40 minutes for service, including a cocktail and meal order.

Text describes a person waiting 40 minutes for service, noticing an adjacent table being served first.

Text expressing frustration about waiting 40 minutes without communication at a restaurant.

Text discussing a dining experience where food arrived after a 40-minute wait.

Text describing a dining experience where a guy waits 40 minutes for service.

Dirty plates and utensils on a table after dine and dash experience.

Image credits: Portuguese Gravity (not the actual photo)

He was so irritated that he left the restaurant without paying

Text describing frustration after a long wait led to dining and dashing.

Image source: Ghostspider1989

Three factors lead to poor service, and they are all the responsibility of management

Server handing over a bill to a customer at a restaurant table, highlighting a dining experience and waiting time.

Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

According to Jess, three main factors lead to subpar customer experience: the lack of prioritization of excellent service, policy implementation, and adequate training. As you can see, these are the responsibilities of management. 

Ultimately, the entire restaurant staff suffers from such preventable problems. 

“Some establishments charge damages from payroll, and I wouldn’t say that’s fair if they weren’t properly trained,” Jess explained. “The other way also isn’t fair when management shoulders the cost when the employee mishandled the situation.” 

Receiving good or bad service is also a matter of timing

Unfortunately, poor restaurant service exists; sometimes, it’s a matter of timing. As former New York City-based server turned bestselling author Steve Dublanica tells NBC News, customers will likely experience it during the busiest days of the week. 

As he explained, Friday and Saturday nights are the worst times to dine out; you will need a lot of patience. 

“Managers really want to turn and burn — get you in and out so the restaurant can make money,” Dublanica stated, adding that “off nights” like Wednesday and Thursday are the best times where you will likely receive the best service. 

You also don’t want to be too early or late for dinner. According to Dublanica, servers tend to be “at their worst” at the start and end of their shifts. It also doesn’t help to enter a restaurant before closing time. 

“You will never see food cooked faster than the food that’s cooked for the last customer of the night,” he said. 

Regarding servers supposedly ignoring customers, writer and former restaurant professional Darron Cardosa says it likely isn’t the case. In an article for Food & Wine, Cardosa, who has 30 years of server experience, says the waitstaff is reading the room. 

“It’s that the server is trying to give them the space they seem to want,” he explained, adding that servers intend to “be efficient without being seen.” 

The author’s experience could be one of the rare moments. As Cardosa assures, restaurants don’t deliberately ignore their customers. 

“It’s more of an oversight that any restaurant will want corrected because no restaurant wants to give anything other than exceptional service,” he said. 

A diplomatic approach is still the way to go

So, how should one handle poor restaurant service? Celebrity chef Robert Irvine advises against making snide remarks to “teach a lesson.” Respectfully expressing dissatisfaction is still the best way to go. 

If the situation remains unresolved, the only way to escalate it is to involve the manager. Irvine explains in an article for his website that managers have enough authority to offer a complimentary meal or a free drink. 

“Make the manager aware of what has transpired, and give them the opportunity to determine what should be done to make it up to you,” he wrote. 

Jess shared a similar sentiment, adding that most establishments will cater to your requests if escalated through the proper avenues. 

“Online reviews do make a difference for establishments that care, so I would resort to those instead,” Jess said.

The author could have tried talking to the manager, but according to him, none of the staff seemed to pay attention. Worse, his appetizer didn’t arrive despite the 40-minute wait.

The author could have tried this approach, but he said none of the staff seemed to pay attention. Worse, his appetizer didn’t arrive despite the 40-minute wait. 

Unfortunately for the restaurant, they had to pay the price through missed profits, which was entirely on them. 

The author provided more information about what happened

Reddit comments discussing a 40-minute wait at a restaurant before getting served.

Reddit comment asking if a main dish is called "entree" in the USA, part of a dining and dash discussion.

Commenters shared similar dine-and-dash experiences

Text conversation about dining and dashing due to a 40-minute wait for service.

Reddit post recounting a dine and dash experience due to a 40-minute wait at a Pizza Hut in 1990, Sydney.

A Reddit user shares a story of choosing to dine and dash due to poor service and long wait times at a local chain.

Text about a server's approach to serving tables, mentioning a 40-minute wait experience.

Text recounting a man's long wait for service at a French restaurant and ensuing dining experience.

Text describing a dining experience with a 45-minute wait, leading to a group deciding to dine and dash.

Text detailing a person's experience with poor restaurant service and leaving without paying.

Text post about a long wait at a restaurant reservation, leading to dissatisfaction.

Text recounting a 40-minute wait at a restaurant, leading to leaving without being served wings.

Reddit comment discussing experiences and opinions on dine and dash.

Text screenshot of a boss waiting 40 minutes for service, orders pizza delivery to restaurant table.

Text recounting a long wait to be served at a restaurant, leading to dissatisfaction with the experience.

Text story about dining experience, waiting long, and leaving without full payment.

Text about a customer waiting 40 minutes at Cowfish Grill and considering a dine and dash due to poor service.

Most readers agreed that poor service does not warrant a payment

Comment from user supporting decision to dine and dash after long wait.

Comment discusses a 40-minute wait for service and rationalizes dining and dashing.

Reddit comment by user "Haggis_with_Ketchup" saying "Hey! Where's my 20%?" about dining experience.

Comment on dine and dash, highlighting impatience with waiting long to be served.

Text screenshot discussing server attentiveness while dining.

Comment saying 'Yeah this feels justified' about a wait leading to dine and dash.

Reddit comment about dining and dashing, expressing support for action after ignoring poor service.

Reddit comment discussing a dining and dash experience, with advice to remember belongings.

Reddit comment about servers expecting a 20% tip and leaving a 2-cent tip.

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