The idea of cracking pepper at the table or adding last minute fresh herb is to preserve the aroma of these herbs and pepper instead of it being heated or steamed by the food on the way to your table from the kitchen.

I get the idea of that, but surely people still need to taste the food first to see if it is needed? Plenty of chefs do use pepper to season e.g. sauces while they are being cooked, so whilst the taste may vary slightly, the dish may not need additional pepper.

Overall, I think I would rather a small pepper grinder was available on the table (not pre-ground pepper) and then there isn't any awkwardness!

That is one of the reason why we leave a small pepper mill, little ramekin(s) of herbs and if needed small cheese grater. Customers love this policy. It let them add these as needed (half way through the plate) and full control of how much is added and when.

Useless without a link, or a name of restaurant and city!

Fingers crossed for Toronto ;)

Most restaurants in North America don't seem to be able to do tea properly. Often they seem to put hot water in a stone cold mug and then drop a tea bag in it. By the time the tea has steeped the water is now cold.

Proper tea shold be made in a warmed teapot with boiling water, so it stays hot while the leaves are steeping. Decent tea leaves would be nice too, a crappy tea bag will make crappy tea no matter what.

Most places in the UK seem to be able to make good tea, but it's hopeless in the USA.

You should read How's Your Drink?: Cocktails, Culture, and the Art of Drinking Well by Eric Felten. He's a WSJ columnist who, like many newspapermen, likes the sauce. The book is a really entertaining (and suitably snooty) history of the cocktail, with lots of recipes.


I never feel cheap about it. Usually at a restaurant that asks, I'm going to be spending plenty anyway. But sometimes I do want fizzy water, in which case I'm happy they ask.

I find it amusing... no, actually, more like annoying when your server greets the table with "Have you all eaten here before?" As if the restaurant has such an original menu or operating scheme that we're going to be struck dumb with awe and require a crash-course in how to conduct ourselves in public.

Most restaurants in the UK don't seem to be able to do coffee properly. Often they seem to put hot water in a stone cold mug and then drop in freeze-dried instant coffee. By the time the coffee has dissolved, it is still horrible.

Proper coffee should be made with a clean filter, clean water, and fresh ground roast beans, so it is drinkable. Decent beans would be nice too, a crappy bean will make crappy coffee no matter what.

Most places in the US seem to be able to make good coffee, but it's hopeless in the UK.

I never drink coffee in UK nor tea in US. When in Rome? Drink like the Romans!

You didn't visit the Italian coffee places that seem to be on every second corner in London? I got excellent coffee the UK.

However, this isn't a "US vs UK" thread, it's a restaurant peeve thread. If you're going to put something on the menu, know how to prepare it and use quality ingredients. Surely that's not too much to ask for?

I had excellent tea in Rome! All over Italy actually, it surprised me.

cin cin

Funny, most places in the US seem to be selling hot brown water instead of coffee. Coffee should have a strong aroma and flavor - otherwise, it's just brown water.

Like my dad used to say, "I like my coffee like I like my women: strong and black." :D

The only thing remotely coffee I'll take is a Mocha Frappe with a coffee base.. and maybe coffee flavoured ice cream..

Tea in N. America would be ok if they put the tea bag in the pot before they add the hot water - I don't like how the teapot arrives, with the teabag wrapped on the side! You then have to do all kinds of fangled dunking!

I can honestly say I have never been served instant coffee in a restaurant in the UK. More often than not there is an espresso machine, which makes far nicer coffee than the drip coffee you seem to get in so many US restaurants.

In Rome I had excellent tea - in Babbingtons! Utter tourist trap, but delicious tea and yummy snacks! Needed before hiking up the steps! I also had excellent coffee in Rome! Rome wins on hot drinks!