FlyerTalk Forums - Consolidated "Restaurant Pet Peeves" thread

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I hereby nominate this thread for "Longest List of Whining About Nothing" on FT. :)

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Originally Posted by gfunkdave (Post 15933986)

I hereby nominate this thread for "Longest List of Whining About Nothing" on FT. :)

That itself would make a good thread but I'm guessing this one's not even close, given this long and honorable FT tradition. ;) Just look here for starters. :D

restaurants that automatically add the "optional" gratuity to the bill, and state that if you dont want it you have to ask for it to be taken off. Really pisses me off, especially since the service at some of the chinese joints that do this is non existant.

really infuriating when they do this and you've ordered take away!@!!

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Originally Posted by emma69 (Post 15869544)

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.

Go to coffee shops. You won't experience the markup as they often serve breakfast all day.

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Originally Posted by gfunkdave

hereby nominate this thread for "Longest List of Whining About Nothing" on FT. :)

Not even close. Open any thread in OMNI/PR for that. ^

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Originally Posted by elusive1

Lately I have had many servers asking me if I want change when paying for my bill. The last time was with a $100 bill on a $25 check, of course the don't know what I am paying with. Has something changed in training?

I'd assume that the waiters are told to ask that question no matter what is left. You could have asked him/her, "You're kidding, right? I'm giving you $100 bill for a $25 check and you're asking me if I want change?" It would be fun to hear how he/she responds.

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Restaurants that advertise Sunday Brunch that do not have a Sunday Brunch Buffet, they are just are open in the late morning on Sunday. Somewhat deceiving in my opinion.

Brunch doesn't equal buffet. If anything, not having a buffet is a plus. The food won't be stuck out there under some lamp or heating agent as others have picked at it.

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Eclectic restaurants that do not have any standard items on the menu.

How do you define an eclectic restaurant? What are standard items on a menu?

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Servers who without asking, top off my coffee. Thus destroying my perfect balance of cream and coffee.

Your dislike is what I love. I have no problem adding more cream and equal. I appreciate when they are cognizant that I'm drinking my coffee and are on top of offering me more. Same applies with iced tea. Though I don't think I remember a waiter or busboy not asking first.

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Originally Posted by KoKoBuddy

18% automatic tip for parties of 6 or more.

Then don't go to that establishment. It isn't like they don't tell you that in advance.

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Originally Posted by CMK10

Having only chocolate, vanilla and a sorbet as ice cream choices. At least have one "fun" flavor!

Chocolate IS fun! And it's delish! :)

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Originally Posted by tcl

Once a waitress never came back with change. I had to ask for it and she said "You want change?" in disbelief. The total was $12 and I paid with a $20 bill. I have no idea why she expected an $8 tip on a $12 meal since it was just a plate lunch with included drink delivered on a tray and otherwise required no effort from her. To top that performance off, she was rude about actually bringing the change over.

Wow, did you actually leave a tip after that mistreatment? I wouldn't have. Talk about a chienne.

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Originally Posted by mjcewl1284

Waiters/waitresses pushing recommendations on me without me asking for one.

Pushing? How do you define 'pushing'? Merely telling you what they are without you asking? If so, where's the harm?

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Originally Posted by kipper

Letting my drink go empty. If I'm drinking a soft drink or water, bring more, please.

I agree.

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If I'm drinking alcohol, when my glass is down to about 1/3 left, ask if I'd like another, please.

I'm not sure I'd want them hounding me with 1/3 left but if I'm about finished, whether I'm drinking wine or water, I'd like to be asked if I'd like another glass (or a refill in the case of water).

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Originally Posted by emma69

My pet peeve is restaurants who come right out and say 'we won't change anything on our dishes for you' on the menu.

That's pretty bold. I don't think I've heard that before.

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Originally Posted by BamaVol

Putting specialty domestic beers under the "Imported" heading.

That's makes them congenital morons. Sorry, but Yuengling isn't imported. :D

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

Asking for your name? No thank you. Don't remember experiencing that.

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Originally Posted by scubadiver

Having the AC set on "Arctic Waste."

When it's hot outside, I welcome it. ^ It's the hot restaurants in which we see they leave the doors open? No way. We'll walk on by.

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Originally Posted by sent

We were at an NYC steakhouse and although my husband ordered a hunk of meat, I felt like eating seafood + pasta so I picked out a New Zealand white wine. The waiter comes back and tells me that he has to substitute the wine. I've never had that happen to me so I let it go, but now after reading this thread, I should've been more careful and just ordered something else. Then when the wine does come, he pours us our glasses and disappears with the bottle to store it elsewhere. We've ordered white wine in NYC in cramped restaurants before and never had this happen either. Even if they can't keep the bucket right next to us, they usually keep it somewhere visible. A small part of me felt like he was going to stiff me and not pour us the entire bottle. Why the need to hide it? I wanted to (politely) raise a fuss about the disappearance of the bottle but I already knew what his canned answer would be - "We have no room" seeing as we were elbow to elbow with the couples next to us. I should've just ordered red. Those who ordered red had their bottles left on the tables, allowing them to drink and pour as they please.

Did he tell you in advance the price of the bottle? Just curious.

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Originally Posted by Analise (Post 15938554)

Not even close. Open any thread in OMNI/PR for that. ^

+1,000,000

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Originally Posted by Fredd

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Originally Posted by gfunkdave (Post 15933986)

I hereby nominate this thread for "Longest List of Whining About Nothing" on FT. :)

That itself would make a good thread but I'm guessing this one's not even close, given this long and honorable FT tradition. ;) Just look here for starters. :D

And dont forget the thread about the change of chocolate brands in BA first.

My pet peeved are the use of the terms "modern restaurant" - can we still go to ancient ones; and "fine dining" which seems to range from Denny's to the The French Laundry

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Originally Posted by Analise (Post 15938554)

Did he tell you in advance the price of the bottle? Just curious.

We picked the bottle from the wine list which had the prices on it. He came back and said the substitute bottle was the same price, maybe even a few dollars cheaper. The substitution didn't bother me as much as the disappearance of the bottle.

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Originally Posted by gfunkdave (Post 15933986)

I hereby nominate this thread for "Longest List of Whining About Nothing" on FT. :)

I'm pretty sure Seinfeld could have gotten 4 or 5 episodes out of this thread alone.... who knows how many series from FT as a whole.

I have to say rock solid butter really irks me.

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Putting specialty domestic beers under the "Imported" heading.

I complain about this regularly, and I don't even drink beer. Here in DFW, Shiner Bock always appears with the imports. It's from the same state for heaven's sake!

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Originally Posted by emma69 (Post 15931649)

... I think most people who don't eat pork for relgious reasons would know that, or at least, if they weren't sure, check with the restaurant....

this reminds me, i can't eat pork, and i don't speak italian or french, so i typically avoid anything i don't recognize, especially if the menu does not identify what's in it. i acknowledge that when i order off the menu, it is my job to pay attention.

but i do believe the server has an obligation to identify the major ingredients of the off-menu specials. again, if they announce a dish i don't recognize, i typically pass on the special. but when you tell me that one of the specials is a pasta salad with chicken, roma tomatoes, mushrooms, and artichokes, i should not be served a dish with BACON bits mixed in.

I agree, if they are telling you the dish, they should identify any ingredients that one could reasonably object to (shellfish, pork, eggs etc). However I don't expect everything to be listed and I will often ask 'are there mushrooms in that' for example, just to be sure.

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Originally Posted by emma69 (Post 15960452)

I've learned that if it's something to which you are allergic, don't eat, or cannot eat, it's always best to ask if it is in the dish.

Bartenders who can't answer your questions.

A recent example from the bar at the Holiday inn DEN:
CMK: Which beer do you prefer? The New Belgium 1554 or the O'Dell's Shilling?
Bartender: I don't know. They're both different.

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Originally Posted by kipper (Post 15868979)

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?

Went to some french restaurant in Rancho Bernardo (?) CA and when I asked for "a local beer" instead of bringing me some microbrew they come back with a sam adams.

The waiter continues to get in an argument with me assuring me it's a local beer!

But my pet peves:

1. rude waiters - but thats ok, no tip for them.
2. prices not being listed
3. lack of vegetarian options (just 1 will suit me)