Comments on: Eating out — what are your expectations?

By: katrynova

katrynova — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:18:39 +0000

Freezing temperatures…how can one relax and enjoy what is meant to be a special treat of eating out if the temperature of the restaurant is geared for the employees because it’s so hot in the kitchen?!!

By: Elaine

Elaine — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:11:06 +0000

@Kevin M Yes, perhaps if servers were paid a decent wage tipping wouldn’t be a problem, but although as you said Federal law states everyone must be paid minimum wage, many restaurants ignore that law or say “You will make at least minimum wage when you add in your tips.”

@Liz and @Ed I agree there should be a no-children area, especially in places where you are going for a fine dining experience. @Diane, if every parent raised their children as you do, there would be no need to call for a separate area for kids.

By: Peter Klim

Peter Klim — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:11:56 +0000

I usually pay with cash and about half or more of the time the waitperson will ask “do you need change?” If I had paid with a credit card would they ask if they could apply any amount of tip they wished? Of course not! This is one of the rudest arm-twists going on out there right now. When they do this my wife wants to crawl under the table because I not only let them have it with both barrels I tell the owner or manager in no uncertain terms that I will not return. If they give me any static I also write a letter to the editor and mention their restaurant by name.

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:58:42 +0000

My husband and I used to dine in a local steakhouse. One day I noticed a red stain on the tablecloth and hoped it wouldn’t transfer to my clothing. Funny thing, we went back two weeks later and I noticed the exact same stain on the tablecloth….they used double linens and NEVER changed the bottom linen. I called the busser over and he explained that management saves money by only changing the top linen. Needles to say, we’ve never returned. I would have called the health department but the owner golfed with my husband! YUK!

Also, I dislike unruley children. For heavens sake, if you have to bring a child, bring a book or toy. Over the years I have taken both of my sons to restaurants (expensive 5 star too) and they have been perfect. I’ve received numerous comments about their excellent behavior. It’s up to the parents to take the kids out when they are monsters.

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:50:33 +0000

@Liz Zollner I have to agree with you…you only have to be vomitted on once by someone else’s child to make you not want to go to that restaurant ever again…(and yes, this happened to me)
Additionally, I agree somewhat with Terry…but I would like to add that if I’m eating a meal, I don’t want to be listening to a vacuum cleaner going on next to me…or smell of the spray of an aerosol cleanser being sprayed on the table behind me. The smell of Windex can turn you off your food very quickly!.
What also gets me is that my wife is very beautiful and if we have a male waiter, he invariably converses with my wife on everything and only gives me a passing “what d’you want”….
ed

By: Kevin M

Kevin M — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:10:46 +0000

@Elaine: I don’t think Joe misunderstands that wait staff in restaurants make less than minimum wage. His point was that if one restaurant would pay its servers a decent wage, and note on its menus that fact and that tipping is thus not necessary, others might follow suit. Federal law does require that the paid wage plus tips MUST equal federal minimum wage, but that requires servers to report their tips accurately (and many do not).

From the list: I’m not bothered by servers who don’t write things down, as long as they get it right. My favorite restaurant of all time (now sadly closed) had a policy of not allowing a waiter to serve a table alone until he could correctly memorize the orders for a table of eight. The service there was always impeccable. Then again, they weren’t trying to be all things to all people, with a seven-page menu; the restaurant had about four appetizers, two salads, about eight entrees, and four desserts. All Italian, all superb, and the place was usually busy (and blessedly quiet).

By: Keith Klarin

Keith Klarin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:12:44 +0000

We eat out a lot, and have experienced virtually everything listed above. I make no excuses for bad restaurants and service personnel, but feel compelled to comment that the good ones should be treated accordingly. Running a restaurant is an extremely difficult business, and being a server is even worse. Therefore, I always leave a tip greater than the standard15% even if the service is only “acceptable.” Of course, I leave 20% or more if the service is excellent. In the past month, I have asked to speak to managers twice because the servers were superb. On the other hand, in the same month I refused to leave a tip in a restaurant where the service was so bad that we were infuriated (even though the food was pretty good).

Sometimes, patrons are so obnoxious that it is embarrassing. Remember, servers and managers have to put up with that every day. So give them the benefit of the doubt.

By: Liz Zollner

Liz Zollner — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:56:07 +0000

Screaming kids! Kids running up and down. Kids banging on their tables. Kids doing pretty much anything, especially having their diapers chaged IN the dining room.

Please, now that all restaurants are “no smoking,” may we have “no children” sections?

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:42:47 +0000

Pet beef: Restaurant staff who clean the seats, then the tables, with the same unwashed/unrinsed cloth. The most horrific example I witnessed: after a family with a high chair using toddler — whose diaper was so full the exterior clothes were soaked and soiled — left the restaurant, the hostess grabbed rag, wiped down the seat of the high chair, then the tray, then the bench seats of the booth and finally the table. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she then tossed the same rag to a waiting server, who proceeded to clean the next table. No rinsing. No washing. We left. I did ask to speak to the manager, who was less than receptive to the information. I then called the local health department.

By: Carrie Charney

Carrie Charney — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:45:14 +0000

As a seniors, my husband and I tolerate, but do not like being greeted with, “Hi, guys!” We also don’t care for hearing, “No problem!” for every request.

A really bad experience happened at a local diner that we visited very infrequently before this stopped us completely. I was on my way back from the airport and my husband and visiting daughter went to eat there. They ordered their food and a take-out meal for me. They got soup and salad. Then the meal was brought out. My husband’s medium rare steak was quite well-done….dark brown through and through. While my daughter ate her meal, he asked if his order could be redone. My daughter had finished her meal, when the server then put a raw steak in front of him. He asked to see the manager and the manager blew up and told him to get out of the restaurant. My husband is not one to cause a scene and my daughter couldn’t believe their treatment. They had already had soup and salad and my daughter had finished. They picked up my meal, which had been delivered and walked out. We have since heard quite a few stories about the crazy manager and why others have stopped going to that place. We think he is actually the owner and not worth investigating.