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.

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!@!!

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Chocolate IS fun! And it's delish!

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

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

I agree.

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).

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

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

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

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.

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

+1,000,000

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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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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)