And in reverse, I've heard patron ask "what's the soup du jour today."

Well, when you're in a fancy, 'gourmette' resto you don't want 'soup d'hier.'

The remark I overheard was delivered with a sneer. The question you relayed should be borne with grace and tact by long suffering wait staff.

Jim

eleven madison park, several years ago (right before nomad)
http://ny.eater.com/2015/8/24/919537...n-madison-park
http://observer.com/2015/08/dinner-a...-madison-park/

I guess the attitude of the waiter is poor but it is acceptable from other posters.

Did you crumble crackers in it? DID YOU CRUMBLE??!! If so, well it could be a meal.

Ha! No, it was onion, so the crumbs would have just sat atop the cheese in a sad little pile. However, considering it basically had a mini-sandwich in it (bread under a thick blanket of cheese), I would say it counted. :)

Also, it was lunch, FWIW. I wouldn't order soup for dinner.

When you order onion soup with bread and cheese on top in Paris, is calling it "French onion soup" redundant?

Funny you should ask--I originally wrote "French onion," then added, "but I guess it's just onion there," and then finally just deleted all of that.

But yes, it's just "onion soup" on the menu there.

I know I would really like to know which restaurant this was? I'm sure others here would be interested. If nothing else, we would know what we could be in for or we could choose to avoid it.

Server attitude (real attitude) happens all the time in China. Just explain your dissatisfaction to the management and watch the server get fired on the spot, if the situation warrants it.

So you didn't want it. Pay up and order something else. It's a pretty bizarre line of logic to assume because you didn't like what you were given the kitchen should take it back and make you something else. :rolleyes:

Lectures from the waitstaff
 

Definitely would be helpful to know which restaurant we're talking about. I was at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay recently and noticed something similar. Utterly overbearing waitstaff, taking intrusiveness to a new level

Sounds like they've learned from the boss.

I don't know why but service staff who work in establishments frequented by the more affluent clientelle think they are one of them

The meet and greet guy at 5 star london hotels. Doesn't matter what hotel you work at , your still the git who opens doors for people for a living !

a waitperson at a michellin star restaurant is still just a waitperson

not looking down on those professionals, but just stop acting that you are better than you are

Like others have said, I'd like to know what restaurant this was -- not so that I would avoid the place myself next time, but perhaps it gives context into why the waiter behaved the way they did.

I've been to restaurants where every detail of the meal was meticulously planned, including the right types of flat and silverware. I've also been to Texas barbecue where only knife is provided, no fork, and they proudly say so on the blackboard. I guess both instances can be interpreted as "snooty" in their own right. Or, there are more reasons behind them such that, whether you agree with them or not, that's the way they want their food to be eaten.

Could the waiter be actually providing "service"? A stained tablecloth might be interpreted as a distraction from the food, and the waiter might be reprimanded if they overlooked it. Some diners do complain about inattentive waitstaff for a matter like this. I personally don't like excessive "service" like that, but some chefs demand it from their waitstaff.

Again, I'm inclined to believe that there is more context behind your observations, but still, sorry to hear that your experience was made unpleasant by them.