+1. This ticks me off to no end as well. Sometimes I will intentionally put my mug in a hard to reach place for the waitress to top off.

I drink my coffee black, so this doesn't bother me, although Mr. Kipper's pet peeve in regards to coffee is when they give you the individual creamers, and don't bring more when they top off your coffee.
This annoys me. If customers are expected to butter their own toast/biscuits, and the butter is like an ice cube, bring it right after placing the customer's order, so it has a chance to warm a bit.

And my continuation of this. When they're pouring your wine from a bottle the glass should just be partially full. It's different when you're buying just a glass. Then the glass ought to be slightly fuller so the restaurant doesn't look like they're being cheap. I'm not referring to oversized wine glasses but normal sized ones.

My pet peeve in restaurants is hearing other diners complain about things that aren't really valid complaints.

An "oversized" glass is or should be a normal glass.

A modern restaurant means many things. Not all of them require expensive wine glasses. It depends on the price of the restaurant.

I've worked as a waiter, and that was the way I always did it. I was trained to never ask if a customer needed change. There have been times where I've had to bring back small amounts of change because the customer didn't say anything, but counting out change is not enough of a hassle to warrant taking a potential tip reduction, as some previous posters have mentioned.


As for my pet peeve, it would have to be sharing fees. I don't mind them when the kitchen will split the plate (splitting the protein, and giving nearly-full size servings of the sides), but I can't stand it when they charge a sharing fee when they just bring out the food and an extra plate.

Wow, a fee for an extra plate :confused:

Fortunately I've never run into such a thing.

When you order a second bottle of wine for the table (same brand/year) and the waiter pours into the same glass that you used for the first bottle. Is it too much to provide a fresh glass and not mix wines?

If you're sticking with the same varietal, it's standard to use the same glass. If you want a new glass, ask for one. If you're ordering a second bottle that is identical to the first, why would you need another glass?

Because there can be slight variations from bottle to bottle. In order to properly taste a wine, there should be no residue from a previous glass.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. If the wine isn't exceptionally old, variations between bottles are usually nonexistent.

If the wine in question is, say, a 1971 Romanee Conti...then yes, I'd probably want a clean glass on ordering a second bottle...and I'd probably also want a winning lottery ticket to pay for it. :)

Frozen butter

I'll agree with you, the variations are usually nonexistent. I have however on several occassions been able to taste a slight variation with some wines.

Regarding the '71 Romanee Conti....I'd gladly bring clean glasses to your uncorking!!!:D

Cheers!

Servers acting annoyed when I ask for fresh bread to go with the entrees.