Or when they rattle off a list of specials, usually at breakneck speed and with intricate descriptions (and usually without prices). Is it so hard to print up a sheet with the specials on it?

I have few peeves, but strongly held ones:

1) Service charge included, but ask for an extra tip;
2) no printed menu just a long litany of pseudo-sophistication;
3) My name is...
4) any wine list that does not have wines of the country I am in (except those that do not produce the drinkable stuff. Especially Italian and French places outside Italy and france with only Italian or French wines. Thus my antipathy for the Fasano Group in Brazil. How pretentious not to have wines of the country and region.

I love it when restuarants don't have the same old same old on the menu! When I first moved to Canada, we went out a lot for dinner, a mix of chain and non chain, and it became a standing joke that I could order without even looking at a menu! Maybe north americans think the same when they go to Europe, but it isn't something I was conscious of, outside of the 'usual chain suspects'.

My pet peeve is restaurants who come right out and say 'we won't change anything on our dishes for you' on the menu. I can understand if I ordered e.g. a cassarole, and wanted it without a certain ingredient, that it wouldn't be possible, as the dish has been prepared in advance, hours ago. I can't fathom how asking for a salad without onions, or spagetti without parmasan is impossible. If the salad and pasta is made that far ahead of time that you can't change it, I don't think I want it anyway! Normally it is just laziness tho, and that bothers me a lot.

For brunch, I certainly don't expect a buffet, but I would expect some breakfast-type items. I am fine with them being in addition to the regular menu, after all, not everyone wants eggs at 2pm!

1. Putting specialty domestic beers under the "Imported" heading.

2. Servers who won't write down your order and then get it wrong.

3. Servers who introduce themselves, ask your name and then proceed to call you something else when they come back.

4. Being seated at a dirty table and having to watch the server or hostess inadequately wipe off the table while simultaneously moving the filth onto your lap.

5. Those high-end white paper napkins that leave your black pants covered in fuzz that can't be removed without a professional dry cleaner involved.

Not really one of my pet peeves, although I do usually find it rather silly... The best I saw was at one chain restaurant, where Rolling Rock was listed under the "Imports" heading. I know that Latrobe, PA (where it was brewed back then) can be pretty remote, but really?

We were in HNL a few weeks ago and I asked the waitress why the Kona Longboard I ordered was on the Import list. She replied without a smile that it was imported from the Big Island. I think she'd heard the question before and was a little tired of it.

Having the AC set on "Arctic Waste." The staff may be comfortable, but they're hustling. I sitting still, stuffing my face. I carry a sweater, even in Florida, even in summer. If that won't keep me warm, there is something wrong.:mad:

Yes, I expect a very special menu for brunch. It is IMO supposed to be a high-end breakfast/lunch experience. I expect to see creative, innovative breakfasty entrees with expensive, quality ingredients and proper presentation. And I expect to pay dearly for it.

I guess I view brunch somewhat differently then - brunch is what I eat when I was too lazy to get up in time to eat breakfast at the normal time, but can't wait till lunch for food because I am hungry NOW! A nice 'event' brunch (like a wedding brunch, or at a high end hotel where it is their 'thing') is something very different from just 'brunch' which is simply a meal too early to be rightfully lunch, but too late to be 'breakfast' - it is also why I find it odd that places 'start' brunch at 12 noon (defeats the purpose!) I have brunch most weekends, normally in the comfort of my own kitchen!

Also, I like being able to get brunch on the cheap! I don't see why I should pay $$$ for bacon and eggs, just because someone used the word 'brunch' on the menu! Brunch should be, IMO, a good 'value for money' meal, even at the high end (with champgane, exotic seafood etc) that is, I should pay considerably less for 'brunch' than I would for dinner.

Why would you expect crab and shrimp to cost less in the morning?


When I see the word brunch, I expect that there will be breakfast type items served until 2pm, whereas they would normally not be served at all, or stop being served by 10 or 11. I don't expect it to be a buffet, and I don't expect it to be cheaper than having the same quality food served to me 6 hours later.


But back to the OP... I always check out a restaurant website before I go. If you don't see anything you think Grandpa will eat, then take him elsewhere?

This is the context we are speaking of here. If I just want a late breakfast, I go to a coffee shop/diner.

For the same reason that I tend to pay less for lunch than dinner at the same place when I order the same thing (and yes, same size). I don't know whay, but restuarants charge less during the day than in the evening, I am guessing because the average person has a lower 'mental limit' in mind for brunch / lunch than they do in the evening.

I think part of it comes down to the fact the restaurant will still do its evening meals, brunch is a 'bonus meal' for them, and they know people have a lower price point in mind, and given the margins they make in the evening, can afford a more customer friendly price point for brunch.

But I think that is why your expectations are not met, as per your first post. Not all places do 'event' brunch, nor should they. For a lot of people (including me 45 weeks out of the year), brunch is a lazy Saturday / Sunday thing to do, and they don't want a buffet, or unlimited seafood or what have you. Thus I don't think there should be an expectation of a buffet, or 'high end' foods, although those places can easily be found if that is what you are after. To criticize places for not having a buffet when they advertize brunch is completely unfair as that is not what 'brunch' means.

Main courses which come with no rice/ potato or vegetables so you HAVE to order the (usually overpriced) "sides" of fries/ potato vegetables to get a nicely balanced meal.

menus with no choice

as mentioned above - the places that won't accommodate a polite "no X with that please" request

waiters who come around topping up your wineglass every couple of minutes - I am NOT buying more than one bottle between the 2 of us at a single meal....

leaving the credit card slip blank when the bill says service already included

Or places which refuse to allow you to split bottles over a 2 night stay..... my hubby and I like to order a white with starter and a red with main - and will happily buy 2 bottles to drink over the 2 nights ..... but we aren't going to buy 2 bottles EACH night