“I’ve Left Places Due To This”: 30 Infuriating Things That Ruined These People’s Restaurant Experience
Trying new restaurants can be a bit like spinning a roulette wheel, you never know what might end up ruining your night out. It’s easy enough to find out if the food is good beforehand, though tastes vary and you might catch them on an off night. But loud guests, blaring music, and dirty dishes are just some of the other risks you run when trying a new place. It does not take much to turn a night out into a disappointing dining experience.
One person wanted to hear what ruins a restaurant experience for others and the internet delivered. So get comfortable as you scroll through and be sure to upvote the most relatable examples. If you have a restaurant-ruiner suggestion, comment it below.
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I'm going to get hated on for this, but..
Children.
However, not every child. I'm talking about the ones that the parents are obviously not putting much effort into. The ones that will run around, cause a scene, pester other diners, and just make themselves a nuisance.. And God forbid you ask them politely to stop, because then Big Mama's gotta not look at her phone for five seconds to tell you to not parent her kid.
B***h, I wouldn't have to parent your kid if you actually behaved like a parent!
I’m a parent but I’m definitely not hating on this person for disliking this. In fact, I agree. The main thing that it’s not really a kid problem, it’s an adult problem — the other parents 👎
One of my earliest memories was being at a restaurant, tearing up a straw wrapper into bits, and my Mom telling me, "You see that lady over there? She's trying to keep this place clean and you're making her job harder." It stuck in my memory because it was a big "Oh, I get it!" kind of moment.
It helps to see the person we're inconveniencing. Your mom chose her words wisely.
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A perfect stranger coming up to you in a restaurant telling you how behaved your kid is? That's the best compliment ever!
A few years ago, after spending over an hour looking for a restaurant for Thanksgiving dinner that didn't entail waiting at least an hour just to be seated, my late husband and I went to a Shoney's and were seated next to a dozen people, four of whom were kids. They were quiet and ate everything they put on their plates. Several times afterwards, their Mennonite grandmother told me how much my complementing them meant to her.
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Kids running around, servers having to step around them, screeching for no reason, tossing food on the floor... I've seen this way too often, and it's infuriating every single time. I get that parents want a meal out of the house from time to time, but damn. If you can't or won't make your kid behave, then stay at home until you've got that worked out, or go to a child-centric place.
We have 3 restaurant rules. 1) Sit proper 2) No throwing anything 3) Inside voices. They’ve worked like a charm. We’d rehearse them on the way to the restaurant to reinforce our expectations. Then in the restaurant all you’d have to say is “restaurant rules” and my son would settle.
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We were at a restaurant one evening and the booth behind us had a 3 year old that wanted to stand and stare down at us. He kept trying to get my attention, I was trying to enjoy my margarita and ignore him because it's Saturday evening and I did not have children for a reason. My husband (who is very non confrontational) finally told the kid to sit down and the parents got mad at us, tried complaining to the manager who told them to please keep their child seated. Not everyone thinks your child is cute. I also have a relative that we went to dinner with her toddler. That kid was well behaved and when she got cranky it was time to go.
Yes, you’re done eating when your kid hits their limit not when you finish your food. However, I will say those last 5 minutes while you’re trying to get boxes and the check are rough if there aren’t two adults with one to take the kids to the car and the other yo wrap up inside.
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My sister and her husband were at this upscale place (AKA: small portions/big bucks) and this couple had their kid there who was making a racket while they of course didn't do jack s**t about it. The lady must have seen my sister giving her the stink eye here and there because when my sister and her husband went to leave and they passed by their table, she said something to the effect of "I guess some people just don't understand....", so my sister turned to her and said "Oh...I DO understand. I've got three kids...and they're all at home....WITH A BABYSITTER !!!". Shut that b***h right the hell up.
As a fellow parent, couldn't agree more. My kids wound up getting year long bans from going out with us if they acted out while we were eating. If they threw another fit later it would get extended. That shìt stopped real fast.
Mine was the grocery store. Good behavior = no screaming, no running in the aisles, no fighting, no begging or whining - you can ask for something but no is no. Once, I walked out leaving a full grocery cart and took them home. I had warned them we would walk out if they kept acting up and they didn't believe it. The ride home was silent and I had their mother watch them while I went back and finished shopping. They asked to come shopping for six months and I refused. When they finally got to go back, they were on their best behavior from then on.
Load More Replies... When my stepkids were little, my wife and I had a plan. They were always fine as long as they were eating. We took turns focusing on feeding them and eating our food. We finished before they did. As soon as they started getting fidgety, she would take them outside while I paid the bill. Pretty much worked every time.
In Poland there are some restaurants with kid play areas in a corner. So while the parents are waiting for the food the kids can just play and they're not running around wild.
Honestly, as a waiter myself, I don't really tolerate this. I will 100% risk my tip for parents who are so aloof that they ruin everyone else's experience because I guarantee you I'm making it all back plus some from the other patrons who are glad that I spoke up and did something. It's helpful to have the backing of management in this area. If you want your kids to run around, McDonald's has a playplace.
I would be mortally embarrassed if my kids acted up in a restaurant like that. I taught my kids how to act in public settings. They weren't perfect but they knew what was and wasn't allowed. They also knew that if they were jackasses in public there would be consequences. A parent needs to be in control of the child, not the other way around. I've seen what happens when children have been spoiled their whole life and they become entitled little brats that grow into entitled adults.
“Don’t tell me how to raise my child!” Well madam *someone* needs to 🤷
Mine wasn't an angel by any means, but she was smart enough to figure out how to behave in a public place. I'd say she was a pretty good kid. But then we kept an eye on her and corrected behaviors as necessary.
I was recently at a restaurant when I heard this horrible screeching sound. It was the table behind me letting their 3-4 year old watch a cartoon on their phone. The kid was already sitting there quietly and why the dad thought it necessary to play a cartoon for his kid, I don’t know. The mom just sat there and ignored our glances.
I am a parent and I agree wholeheartedly! I would be ashamed if my kids behaved like that!
I had a kid run over & stick his hand right in my food. I kept on eating, scaring the kid that I was would be eating his hand next. And mom sat there watching him do it yet. Hey, I was hungry. I think mom may have had the kid do it on purpose for some reason.
My daughter was 4 when she saw a probably 6 year old running around screaming. She asked, loudly, "why can't be stop? Didn't his mom love him?" I couldn't stop laughing, as mom was at the table behind us.
It's hard to teach your kid to behave. But me and wife did that, with blood sweat tears, and patience of a saint that even us wonder how we managed to pull off. So when we see other people who doesn't even care about their children, we won't have much respect.
Agreed! I have 2 sons and when they were younger there was no way in hell I was going to let them run around a public restaurant causing a ruckus for everyone else. I chose to have children and I chose to raise my children to have respect for those around them in a public setting. I wish more parents would get off their high horses and teach their children respect for others. No child is perfect, but they can be taught how to be respectful and thoughtful.
I don´t like children in public places (sorry) but I don´t remember bad experiencies in restaurants, in flights and theaters yes, but not in restaurants really
Absolutely right on this one. Just stick your foot out and casually trip the little bastard.
My son is on the autism spectrum, I use it to my advantage quite a lot. Tell a kid to sit down and be quiet in a restaurant, when Mama comes to b***h me out, I tell her "My kid is autistic and sitting nice and quiet, what is wrong with your kids". Shuts them up immediately
I know what you mean. My children spoil the meal every time I go to a restaurant with them ;)
I used to have a favorite upscale sushi place I loved. One time I had a table's kids literally crawling underneath my table (they were seated way across the room). Lady bawled me out for "touching her kids" when I had to grab them and deliver them back to their table. Later, one of them fell into the indoor koi pond. I have no problem with kids - it's crummy parents. Unfortunately those aren't as easy to spot...
We were at a Cheesecake Factory and some parents were allowing their kids to run up and down the aisles! It’s not a park for gods sake, it’s a restaurant
Yes. If they are well behaved or playing patiently on a muted tablet or smartphone, great. Otherwise these parents should be made to pay for everyone else's meals, cab fare home, holiday flights and bar tab for two years. They should also have their children put to work in uranium mines, and then be sterilised. Too harsh ? 🤣
When the background music is too loud
I go out to dinner to catch up with friends. If I can't hear them, then I feel like it's not a restaurant I enjoy, regardless of food quality.
There is evidence that restaurants have gotten louder and louder over the last two decades. One study found that since the 1990s, the average noise level was roughly ten decibels lower than in 2018. Weirdly, this is primarily a result of customer demand. Most people don’t dine alone but feel uncomfortable speaking in a mostly silent room. You don’t want half the bar to hear your conversation after all. A lot of noise also looks attractive from the outside, telling us that there are lots of customers, no doubt for a reason.
Some specialists suggest that loud music also serves to keep the pace of dining quick. Normally, the level of noise creeps up on you only after you are seated as you slowly realize that you need to lean in to hear anything. The noise prompts you to eat faster, so you vacate the table sooner, generating more business for the location. Cacophonous music is one of those things a restaurant can get away with since some people don’t mind it at all and others tend to only realize it too late.
You can smell that they wiped everything down with a mildewy rag
Or even better, you can see the gray murky sanitizer bucket they dip it in to that hasn't been changed out in hours. Bonus if there's little bits of food floating on the surface
When the tables are too small. Nothing infuriates me more than not having room to eat my food because the tiny table has three other plates on it, drinks, condiments/sugar caddies, what have you.
Also I hate those cheap, light, metal chairs that are always freezing and make a loud noise when you move them.
And more restaurants should have purse hooks!
When parents let their kids run around and knock s**t over.
While less dangerous to your eardrums, many here noted that if a restaurant has a massive menu, it’s unlikely that they are going to be experts at every single item. After all, how can one venue pull off fifty-plus dishes, across at least three cuisines well? The reasoning is simple, they want to attract as many potential customers as possible. If your date is a picky eater, this sort of location could be great, as they will no doubt find something among the hundreds of items they like.
Being sat too close together. My elbows need air.
Went to a restaurant recently where there were just reaaally long tables where your group would be sat but so would other people, so you would end up with strangers sandwiching you in on either side of your party. The chairs were basically touching each other side to side, I felt like the guy next to me might as well have been on my lap.
A passive aggressive sign that complains about people not wanting to work anymore or some variation.
And getting food poisoning
If I wanted to get food poisoning I am quite capable of undercooking my own meat in the comfort of my own home
When they don’t put price on menu. Makes me not want to order anything just incase it comes out to $30 per dish and also feel embarassed to ask for price of each item
Speaking of menus, some respondents indicated a distrust of price-less menus, which they theorize are a method to hide the more ludicrous prices showing up these days. The origin of the idea is somewhat more benign. During business lunches or when a person was treating a group of guests, they would make sure everyone received a ‘blind menu,’ so people could order without feeling guilty. Only the person who made the reservation would get a menu with the prices on display, a setup that could probably be used in a sitcom to great effect.
When the table you’re seated in wobbles from the slightest touch
Does anyone else find this picture with what looks like a bathroom sink in the background, kinda gross? Also, wonky tables are the worst.
I live in redneckville and some honkeytonk places like to declare their political affiliations so for me the biggest restaurants to avoid are the ones flying the Back the Blue flags or the F&@k Biden flags over the front door.
Went to a small restaurant that I've liked before. For some reason the owners decided to put up a karaoke machine in the middle of the place. With the size of the place and how loud the machine was, you could hear everything at any table.
We sat down, heard a kid trying to sing Let It Go full blast and all decided to leave.
This practice is not as common anymore, now no one sees the price. Restaurants rely on social pressure to discourage the guest from asking for the specific price of something. There still are cases where the restaurant is acting in good faith. If you notice fish dishes where the price is ‘on request,’ or simply not shown, be sure you are getting something fresh as restaurant staff had to negotiate with fishmongers directly. Since the price would change daily based on supply, demand, and negotiation skills, it’s easier to not print a set price on a menu.
I personally like a dark and quiet atmosphere where I can sit in a high-backed booth and enjoy my meal with my family. Restaurants that are too open, too bright, and have loud music playing in the background ruin it for me personally.
Slow service coupled to food not served hot enough because it's been sitting in the kitchen too long waiting to be delivered.
This is why staffing enough food runners during busy times is so important
When they don't treat/pay their staff well. You can tell, especially if you've worked in the industry, and it seeps into every aspect of the place. You can practically feel it oozing out of the walls.
Same goes for how corporate treats them. Our closest Olive Garden was the best. Because the GM cared. We got in good with him and would let him know anytime we saw something he should know. He even kept items available when OG would drop them from the menu because his patrons wanted them. He was too good though. They wanted him to start traveling to fix other OG's with issues. With a newborn at home he wasn't about to do that, so he quit and opened his own place. OG replaced him with one of those idiot GM's that thinks he can manage a restaurant from the office or kitchen. Never comes out to speak to patrons. Thinks a gift card will fix any problem. I don't want a gift card, I want you to fix what's broken. We (and many others based on the parking lot) went from multiple times a week visits to 3 times in the last 6 years. Occasionally we ride through the parking lot and as long as we see Rhett Cobb as GM, we just keep driving.
A more modern abomination, at least according to some respondents, is the QR code menu. Yes, it was more sanitary during Covid 19, yes, digital menus can be updated more easily, and yes, it’s easier than listing a hyperlink somewhere if you insist on an online menu. But way too often, it will just be a scanned pdf that forces guests to desperately zoom in to figure out what is available. It also vaguely feels like ordering something from Doordash or an equivalent, not a feeling anyone wants to replicate when actually going out.
Bad food. It could be a hole in the wall with a leaky roof and horrible service, but people will still go if the food’s good. They’ll probably just call it a hidden gem with *character*
I used to go to various restaurants with a small group of work colleagues on a regular basis. On one occasion I had to use the toilet there as I had a bad case of the runs. When I got back to the table I asked if anyone else was having issues, but everyone seemed okay. But the next day the woman who had chosen this place came down with food poisoning (I assume it was a delayed reaction) and was off for a week. The thing which startled me is that several weeks later on she wanted our group to go to the same restaurant again. No way Jose, once bitten twice shy, there were plenty of other restaurants in town to try. Now whenever I drive past it I still remember.
A TV always on where you can't get away from it.
Depends on the place. For example, at a sports bar/restaurant where people actually go to watch a game and eat then obviously TV's are a big part of that. A quiet little spot that's supposed to be romantic or intimate then not so fitting.
Noise. Restaurants need to be thoughtful about how noise reverberates when designing the space, and then take other measures like playing music at a volume low enough that you don't have to strain to hear those at your table but loud enough it helps distract you from everyone else's conversations.
Sound baffles, I've seen restaurants that use these, and they are so god-damned helpful. I have also been in restaurants that have bare concrete floors, with bare brick walls, and metal fittings, and then wonder why patrons aren't interested in coming back, after their first experience of literally shouting across the table, to be heard by their partner.
A menu that's way too freaking big, saying this as a food service worker.
- loud music.
- loud patrons.
- loud children.
Music you have to shout over to have a conversation.
I think some places do this because, if you can't have a conversation, you won't be nursing that beer or cocktail, so you're more likely to drink faster and more of them.
Charging for ketchup.
Does this happen in regular restaurants? I've only known that to happen in fish and chip shops etc
Waitstaff walking towards me carrying a cake and singing Happy Birthday...
That's not the restaurant's fault, that's the fault of the other people at your table. Pretty sure the waitstaff hate this even more than the rest of us do!
Microwaved food
Restaurants that are too bright, too loud (with music or just poor acoustics so you can hear everyone else), no music at all is also a no-no, food being served on ridiculous items rather than plates, over or under attention by waitstaff, unattended kids, tipping being expected unless it’s for excellent service (I’m from the UK and Australia where tipping is NOT expected before you come at me, k)
What's wrong with receiving your food in a nice shovel head or old egg carton, or perhaps atop the Turbo-Fire V-8 engine of a 1956 Chevy Bel Air?
Christian music.
Insane fact I learned through experience: in Belize, on Sunday mornings, if you missed church, don't worry cuz every restaurant, grocery store, etc is playing the christian music station on their speakers. "Why yes, I love to shout to the lord, all the Earth let them sing...while I buy my groceries."
Concrete floors, high, open ceilings, metal or stone walls. When it's like they're trying to create the loudest, most echo-ey place possible.
Tablet menus and buttons to summon waiters. I’m here for an analog, human experience ffs.
There used to be a restaurant near our house growing up where you would raise this little flag on your table to call the waiter over. Worked really well, they noticed it pretty quick and you didn't have to spend twenty minutes staring at the waiter to make eye contact or figuring another way to call them over that didn't make you feel rude.
cutting quality to save money. Sometimes prices need to change, I get that as frustrating as it can be (and in all fairness that can ruin a restaurant for me just because of my budget, but I think that's an exception), but cutting quality to save money doesn't just make your food worse, it makes your image worse to your regulars.
It's a fine line. The customer already complains about spending $18 on a gourmet pizza.... then the price of the good flour used goes from $30/bag to $60/bag. Use a lower quality or raise the price of the pizza that already "costs too much"?
A rude waiter/waitress.
Can I rant? I took my partner out to a fairly nice restaurant for his bday. I was paying. The server catered to him, brought out all his food, and spoke to him properly. Meanwhile she persistently 'forgot' half my things, and treated me like an idiot whenever I would flag her down and ask for them. And I had to do quite a bit of flagging to get her attention, as she had a tendency to throw my things down and run off. Or, maybe she was the one acting like an idiot, because at one point I found myself having to explain to her that I couldn't just carry my leftover soup home in a bowl without a lid. The topper was when she called me "Baby". This is South. I'm aware terms of endearment get thrown around at strangers, but I'm 40, and this girl looked maybe 20 years old. "Ma'am" would have been far more appropriate. I honestly wouldn't have cared if she'd called me "Hey You," but "Baby", in this situation, seemed intentionally degrading. For whatever reason, she was acting weirdly cocky. At the end, she handed my partner the bill, and I proceeded to get out my wallet before she'd quite left the table. Where I live, servers rely heavily on tips, which is unfortunate, but this time it worked out in my favor. I don't reward sexism. Sorry for the boring story, I like to use the comment section sometimes as free therapy, lol. If you made it this far, thanks for listening.
When their menu doesn't match the one in their website. I'm a picky eater and plan what I'm going to order ahead of time. When I go in person and the menu is different than online, I panic a little inside. What if they don't have anything I'm okay ordering without asking for more than 1 thing taken off???
When you are needing to cater for allergies, this is even worse. I usually pick a place based on online menu because I have so many allergies, so if the menu is different, there is a high chance there is only like one option for me.
Loud obnoxious customers. Snootiness. Ridiculously high prices. Small portions. Under or over attention by the staff. Dirtiness. Bad parking situation. Seating much too close together. Should I continue?
Small portions are a blight, especially if they are served on a ludicrously big plate which just emphasises how meagre they are. I know we are supposed to enjoy the culinary skill, but what's the point of going out to eat if you end up going to McDonald's afterwards because you are still hungry?
Smell of the toilet when sitting near it
This is reminding me of the place we walked into about a month ago where we got hit with a STRONG sewer smell (bathroom plumbing problems apparently) and they still tried to insist we stay 🤢 I started gagging so hard I had to rush outside to keep from throwing up in their entryway
Televisions. Teevee screens positioned all around the place and above the bar playing ‘the game’ and whatever other c**p. The only time it works is for some important sporting event that everybody wants to watch and listen to. Otherwise it’s constant, distracting visual noise.
I don't mind TVs present so long as they are turned down. If they are tuned to a sporting event then people can still enjoy it without hearing the witless and superfluous commentators
Crying babies and tables to close to each other. Honestly prefer outdoor dining for sure. Your telling me I have to sit next to Bobby and Sammy with a kid spitting his pasta out and making helicopter noises?
Crying babies that the parents are seemingly oblivious to...and also oblivious that others didn't go out for dinner to hear their brat throw a tantrum.
Too much focus on ambiance and photogenicness and not enough on what turns out to be a basic sloppy menu
There's a famous restaurant in Denver called Casa Bonita that had legendarily bad food. I went there once as a kid, hated it, and never went back.
But people love it and will try to convince you to go. If you point out that the food is terrible, they will even agree with you but say that it's worth it for the atmosphere. And I'm always like, it's a RESTAURANT! Who cares about the atmosphere if the food is terrible?!
I heard a few years ago that it's under new ownership. No idea if the food got any better.
The restaurant was made more famous from South Park. The new owners are Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the South Park creators
I personally can’t stand when the bussers or servers are going at 100% speed. Makes me feel anxious and like I need to be eating quicker.
I worked at a restaurant like this and they were borderline abusive and my coworkers would literally be sprinting around trying to get 10 things done at once. I prefer a relaxing environment and I’ll wait a bit longer to get my food.
"Mandatory gratuity"
In the US, most restaurants have mandatory gratuity of 15 percent for parties of 8 or more. This is to help the server not get screwed out of a top after running their butt off for one table for an hour or more. You'd be surprised how many cheapskates try to get out of paying this.
When the manager comes over to have an extended conversation with us, as if we're becoming friends.
Not an extended convo, but the owner of my favorite restaurant makes it a priority to stop by every table and welcome everyone. They have a nice atmosphere and the staff is well paid and well treated. I've personally known six or seven people that had worked there over the years and they all talked about how well they were treated. It's always nice to see a business that the owners really love.
No vegetarian or vegan options
Depends on where. If you go to a steakhouse and are shocked that they don't have something for you as a vegan, that's on you
The wait staff and kitchen not pacing dishes appropriately or asking if we need anything 3 times in 10 minutes and then f*****g off for the next 20 when I actually needed my water refilled. Or refusing to just drop a water pitcher on the table when we ask and bringing multiple glasses of water that are 3/4s ice. I have a narrowed esophagus and am a teacher. We're basically camels that refill each night because we can't pee during the day. Give me the water I ask for so I can eat your food!
As a cook myself, I can say the thing that upsets me the most is all the waste. The outside really has no idea how much s**t we have to throw away because it's old, a mistake, or it's only good for a day (soup of day, mashed potatoes, etc.)
Or the guest ordered a beautiful dish and then "forgot" to mention that they have allergies....on the bright side, us servers are like sharks to bloody water when a mistake comes back. Nom!
I hate it when employees have conversations with each other, loudly, while working! I don't want to hear it, take it out back or to the kitchen!
I hope you are referring to the time when you are asking for something to one of the employees and the guy you addressed ignores you and keep chatting with their coworker so you assume the plant mode
Most of the time, other customers.
When the room temp is to high.
I'd kind of rather have it too cold than too hot. I can always put on a sweater, but there's only so naked I'm allowed to strip down to in public.
Inattentive, or overly attentive, wait staff.
The universal wait staff rule: wait until the customer takes a bite to ask if everything is ok.
Finding out they did not follow critical food handling procedures.
I had to fix an aircon unit for a pub that had a Chinese restaurant on top and I had to go through the kitchen to get to the machine. Jesus efing Christ it was disgusting. Grime and grease all over the place, surfaces were filthy and the staff all ate on the floor scooping food out of a common pot. everything was dirty and it smelt like farts!!
Children eat free!
I cannot comprehend how anyone can work at a restaurant that caters to this slogan. And it's always at a restaurant that already has low prices...so Karen & her bf who just got outta prison bring their litter of unbathed children and make a ridiculous mess while their kids run free as if it was a playground.
When they have more than one type of cuisine...we are a japanese restaurant but also make "great" thai food.
We make the best jerk chicken....also come try our butter chicken.
Plus this makes the menu 6 pages long
+++...when I go to new restaurant I always like to ask them what's your best dish and they say...all of it is great....SMH
That's my 2 cents.
One of the best places in our area serves both Vietnamese and Chinese food. The place is really popular because everything is fresh (not a lot on their menu that could potentially be ordered frozen), lots of fresh meat and vegetable dishes too. Just because a place has more than one cuisine doesn't mean they are a bad restaurant.
A lot of good answers here but bugs top them all for me. The restaurant could have a 10/10 atmosphere, food, drinks, waitstaff, etc… but if I’m trying to swat flies away from my face and food every 10 seconds, my experience is ruined.
I’ve left places due to this. One of my favorite places in a downtown area has an amazing outdoor patio, but there’s a bee problem there they refuse to deal with. It’s a deal breaker!
The outdoors comes with animals, and animals are attracted to food for, you know, survivial purposes. Not sure what the restaurant is ecpected to do about this. If you mind dealing with bugs so much, just don't eat 'al fresco'.
A herd of angry ostriches.
I wouldn't mind them so long as they have booked and wait for their table to be ready patiently
Lights on in the evening - ambient mood lighting is best
29-year industry veteran here: when you don't see/hear the FOH (front of the house) staff laughing or having fun with each other and guests. Yes, there are times when we get super-busy and have to focus (we have about a million things going through our heads), but we should still be taking moments to mess around a little bit. If I see staff that is staid and uptight and taking their jobs *wwwaaaaaaayyyyyy* too seriously, that ruins it for me. Believe me, people are an endless source of entertainment...might as well laugh about it--even the a******s. 🤷♀️🤷♀️
I managed a restaurant in northern California and worked closely with the owner who tried several times, to no avail, to get my staff to stop chatting with each other. I agreed, and spoke to them, that they could get a little too loud, quiet down. But there was NO way I could (or was even gonna try) to get them to not chat. I explained to her that that is part of being good at their job is being friendly and easy to talk to. AND I had cultivated a pretty awesome comradery amongst my team, I wasn't about to dampen that.
There was a restaurant I'd wanted to try for a long time. It was small and it was popular so it usually booked 6-8 weeks out.
As a surprise, my husband booked reservations for us. Awesome. It was a French restaurant with a prix fixe menu and seatings at 5pm and 8pm.
Well, we get there for our 5pm seating and everyone is getting settled in by around 5:10. There were four empty seats.
Around almost 5:30, a group of six people comes to the front and says they're arrived for their reservation. If I were the hostess, I just would have turned them away at that point as wine and the 1st course were already being served. The hostess says, "Yes, we have your reservation, but it's for four, not six. I can seat only four of you." Well these a******s start making this huge scene because they said THEY made reservations for six and the restaurant f****d up. They were 100% full of s**t - this place was so popular that they called to confirm all reservations a couple of days beforehand and also confirmed the # of people the reservation was for.
I'm sure these people were just trying to bring along 2 friends. They make such a stink that the hostess calls the owner/chef, who is COOKING THE FOOD, out front to deal with it. He actually agrees to SEAT THEM. To do this, involves moving all the people on one side of the restaurant to different seats to accommodate the 2 extra people. Now the wait staff moved all the dishes, but we had to move our wine glasses, purses, jackets, etc. It was extremely disruptive and, honestly, with the scene that preceded it kind of ruined the meal for me.
We figured we'd get some kind of compensation for the disruption, but nope. Just apologies from the wait staff and that was it.
Never went back there again. Food was good, but I could NOT get past how they handled that situation, SO incredibly unprofessional.
The restaurant has since closed, not surprised.
The customer is always right, even if they're lying, and especially when they throw a tantrum. 😒
Warm beer on tap.
Serve warm beer here in Australia (regardless of the time of year) and the place will be burned to the ground by angry patrons
Gunshots, I guess.
A group of Real Estate agents doing post work drinks.
Letting people bring their filthy dogs inside where other people are eating.
If you don't like dogs or don't want them near your food that's perfectly fine, just don't go to a dog friendly restaurant and get angry about it. Also, don't try and guilt or challenge people with legitimate service animals when they go out to eat.
Paper straws
Better get used to it if you come to Australia; plastic straws pretty much banned everywhere now I think
When the staff can't let you eat without constantly quizzing you.
Food arrives then every 5 minutes or every time you just try to eat it 'is everything okay?' god when yeti delivery arrived in my area was a boon, the food I liked without the constant questioning.
If you pay your waitstaff a pittance then you are encouraging them to ingratiate themselves to the diners in order to get a decent tip. Start paying them a living wage and you will probably find that the service will be more tolerable as they focus more on timely delivery of food to tables
mutant vampire bats just swooping around everywhere, draining the life from customers and staff
We have fruit bats in Australia rather than vampire bats but I have never known them to flock en masse into restaurants and intimidate people
I don't like restaurants that don't have a toilets for their customers. Was at a restaurant like that in a mall where i live, I had already ordered and asked where the toilets were. They tried sending me to the mall toilets were they charge you for using them, I just cancelled my order and left. Never gone back. Wtf is that about?
This might be an urban pandemic adjustment, but lately I have been in multiple restaurants and there are no napkins available. No napkin dispensers on the tables, nor general napkin stations. Just completely absent from every diner, restaurant, and fast food joint in the city. I think when I order a messy bbq sandwich, I will need more than one flimsy paper napkin please.
And spoons. NONE of the restaurants where I live will include a spoon in the table setting. You either have to beg for one or order coffee with no guarantee a spoon will be included with that, either.
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As it disabled person, it really annoys me when restaurants don't have proper facilities for disabled people: even if it's just one step, how is someone in a wheelchair supposed to get down or up? Also I am a rather large lady and I hate having to walk sideways through any gap between tables. Also not having proper, comfortable chairs... If you expect people to sit for long periods of time and enjoy their meal, the last thing they will want to do is sit on an uncomfortable chair. And as other people have stated, too loud, too bright, too busy... I'm on the autism spectrum and I find it very difficult to not feel overwhelmed. For me the perfect place is a little booth where I have my back to a wall and I can see everything in front of me not too far from the entrance and not too far from, or too close to the toilets.... Yes this is why I never eat out anymore.
If my food is served on anything other than a plate, it's a no. The so-called 'creative plating' often uses items that are not made of food grade material. I'm not eating my meal off of a shovel, out of a shoe, or impaled on barbed wire.
That's a whole 'nother BP article ! Did you see the one with the toilet bowl ? There should be a law.
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Serve my food on a plate, or in a bowl. If you bring my steak and potatoes out and they are sitting on a piece of driftwood the owner found while strolling along the shores of Lake Ding-a-Ling, I'm leaving.
Restaurants that are even slightly too noisy for most ruin the experience for me. If there’s too much noise (loud music) or too many noises (even if its “quiet” music, and tvs, and kitchen noise, and lots of people close by combined) I can’t understand what anyone is saying.
If the food is served on a wooden plank, a shovel, in a shoe or in any other ridiculous "trendy" way.
when they don't bring dishes at the same time for the whole table. I mean, difference within 1 minute is normal, but longer makes everyone on the table feel miserable, not to mention the first ones t get served get to eat cold dishes
Did I miss the elephant in the room ? HARD CHAIRS !!! Be they plastic or wood, I expect them at McDonald's but NOT anywhere that coffee is $3+. I can't enjoy a meal when I'm in physical pain. And I second the motion about acoustics. I was treated to an exclusive members-only restaurant recently. There were only a few tables occupied but I had to WHISPER so that the table nearby wasn't disturbed.
I can't stand when people are talking ways too loud. I also don't like the small restaurants that have way too many tables to where everybody's on top of each other. I do not want to hear other people's conversations. Also if you don't have enough weight stuff you should definitely only open up a small section not the whole restaurant.
I've given up on several of my favorite places because they decided to add TVs on every wall. If they want to have one TV viewing area, that's fine, as long as it's not too loud. But not being able to get away from the constant lights and movement (and often sound, too), is torture for someone with sensory issues. Given how easy it is for people to watch TV from their own devices, why do we need TVs everywhere?
I said this already. Doctor's offices. Ugh. I'm sick, don't make me hear rubbish on a TV hung ten feet high on a wall with my back to it, and it echoes. I'm playing solitaire on my phone you idiots. Or reading emails.
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Rude staff. Kitchen being closed for no apparent reason. Restrooms that look like they've not been cleaned in a month. Broken locks on stall doors. FLIES! How can you still get flies in a restroom in the middle of December?
I've definitely grown to love the cozy, dark steakhouse vibe now that everything is so industrial.
My husband mentioned he wanted some fried chicken and I was out so I thought I'd pop into the Church's fried chicken. I walked in and a wall of stank hit me, the smell was very old, very burnt cooking oil. I turned around and left. Both Church's have subsequently shut down.
I hate all these new age restaurants that sell 'de-constructed' meals and try so hard to be different! If I wanted to create my own meal I would stay at home. Also, these restuarants that serve you tiny portions for the same price as a regular sized meal at another restaurant. My family don't eat out often because it can be so expensive with for a family of 4, but when we do, I want to get my money's worth and come out feeling full, satisied and relaxed.
There’s a place near my work that’s the go-to celebration place. During the pandemic they went to QR code ordering, and it’s awful. I’m pretty sure they eliminated waiters altogether because all they have are runners, and they default add 18% to your bill. If I’ve only seen a runner once my entire meal, and I never see a waiter at all, I’m not tipping 18% plus. It’s a pretty expensive restaurant, at that. I got so mad I changed my tip to $1, and I’m usually a really good tipper.
This is probably just me, but no decor or just plain white walls have caused me to leave certain dine in restaurants. I tend to glance around while I eat, and I like to look at the space I'm eating in. It helps with ambiance for me. It feels like I'm in a hospital when I should be out to have a meal, if there are no decorations or if the walls are just white.
Ambiance, definitely. It gives a restaurant character.
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Some people just don't realize that there is more than one body type in the world.
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I don't like restaurants that don't have a toilets for their customers. Was at a restaurant like that in a mall where i live, I had already ordered and asked where the toilets were. They tried sending me to the mall toilets were they charge you for using them, I just cancelled my order and left. Never gone back. Wtf is that about?
This might be an urban pandemic adjustment, but lately I have been in multiple restaurants and there are no napkins available. No napkin dispensers on the tables, nor general napkin stations. Just completely absent from every diner, restaurant, and fast food joint in the city. I think when I order a messy bbq sandwich, I will need more than one flimsy paper napkin please.
And spoons. NONE of the restaurants where I live will include a spoon in the table setting. You either have to beg for one or order coffee with no guarantee a spoon will be included with that, either.
Load More Replies... As it disabled person, it really annoys me when restaurants don't have proper facilities for disabled people: even if it's just one step, how is someone in a wheelchair supposed to get down or up? Also I am a rather large lady and I hate having to walk sideways through any gap between tables. Also not having proper, comfortable chairs... If you expect people to sit for long periods of time and enjoy their meal, the last thing they will want to do is sit on an uncomfortable chair. And as other people have stated, too loud, too bright, too busy... I'm on the autism spectrum and I find it very difficult to not feel overwhelmed. For me the perfect place is a little booth where I have my back to a wall and I can see everything in front of me not too far from the entrance and not too far from, or too close to the toilets.... Yes this is why I never eat out anymore.
If my food is served on anything other than a plate, it's a no. The so-called 'creative plating' often uses items that are not made of food grade material. I'm not eating my meal off of a shovel, out of a shoe, or impaled on barbed wire.
That's a whole 'nother BP article ! Did you see the one with the toilet bowl ? There should be a law.
Load More Replies... Serve my food on a plate, or in a bowl. If you bring my steak and potatoes out and they are sitting on a piece of driftwood the owner found while strolling along the shores of Lake Ding-a-Ling, I'm leaving.
Restaurants that are even slightly too noisy for most ruin the experience for me. If there’s too much noise (loud music) or too many noises (even if its “quiet” music, and tvs, and kitchen noise, and lots of people close by combined) I can’t understand what anyone is saying.
If the food is served on a wooden plank, a shovel, in a shoe or in any other ridiculous "trendy" way.
when they don't bring dishes at the same time for the whole table. I mean, difference within 1 minute is normal, but longer makes everyone on the table feel miserable, not to mention the first ones t get served get to eat cold dishes
Did I miss the elephant in the room ? HARD CHAIRS !!! Be they plastic or wood, I expect them at McDonald's but NOT anywhere that coffee is $3+. I can't enjoy a meal when I'm in physical pain. And I second the motion about acoustics. I was treated to an exclusive members-only restaurant recently. There were only a few tables occupied but I had to WHISPER so that the table nearby wasn't disturbed.
I can't stand when people are talking ways too loud. I also don't like the small restaurants that have way too many tables to where everybody's on top of each other. I do not want to hear other people's conversations. Also if you don't have enough weight stuff you should definitely only open up a small section not the whole restaurant.
I've given up on several of my favorite places because they decided to add TVs on every wall. If they want to have one TV viewing area, that's fine, as long as it's not too loud. But not being able to get away from the constant lights and movement (and often sound, too), is torture for someone with sensory issues. Given how easy it is for people to watch TV from their own devices, why do we need TVs everywhere?
I said this already. Doctor's offices. Ugh. I'm sick, don't make me hear rubbish on a TV hung ten feet high on a wall with my back to it, and it echoes. I'm playing solitaire on my phone you idiots. Or reading emails.
Load More Replies... Rude staff. Kitchen being closed for no apparent reason. Restrooms that look like they've not been cleaned in a month. Broken locks on stall doors. FLIES! How can you still get flies in a restroom in the middle of December?
I've definitely grown to love the cozy, dark steakhouse vibe now that everything is so industrial.
My husband mentioned he wanted some fried chicken and I was out so I thought I'd pop into the Church's fried chicken. I walked in and a wall of stank hit me, the smell was very old, very burnt cooking oil. I turned around and left. Both Church's have subsequently shut down.
I hate all these new age restaurants that sell 'de-constructed' meals and try so hard to be different! If I wanted to create my own meal I would stay at home. Also, these restuarants that serve you tiny portions for the same price as a regular sized meal at another restaurant. My family don't eat out often because it can be so expensive with for a family of 4, but when we do, I want to get my money's worth and come out feeling full, satisied and relaxed.
There’s a place near my work that’s the go-to celebration place. During the pandemic they went to QR code ordering, and it’s awful. I’m pretty sure they eliminated waiters altogether because all they have are runners, and they default add 18% to your bill. If I’ve only seen a runner once my entire meal, and I never see a waiter at all, I’m not tipping 18% plus. It’s a pretty expensive restaurant, at that. I got so mad I changed my tip to $1, and I’m usually a really good tipper.
This is probably just me, but no decor or just plain white walls have caused me to leave certain dine in restaurants. I tend to glance around while I eat, and I like to look at the space I'm eating in. It helps with ambiance for me. It feels like I'm in a hospital when I should be out to have a meal, if there are no decorations or if the walls are just white.
Ambiance, definitely. It gives a restaurant character.
Load More Replies... Some people just don't realize that there is more than one body type in the world.
Load More Replies...