Consolidated "Restaurant Pet Peeves" thread
#361
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#362
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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!
#363
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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!
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!
#364
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Fingers crossed for Toronto
#365



Join Date: Feb 2009
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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.
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.
#366
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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.
#367
Join Date: Jul 2011
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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.
#368
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 971
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.
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.
#369
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
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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.
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.
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.
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.
#370



Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: YYC
Posts: 5,088
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?
Last edited by Jagboi; Aug 4, 2011 at 6:54 pm Reason: added comment
#373
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Like my dad used to say, "I like my coffee like I like my women: strong and black."
#374
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The only thing remotely coffee I'll take is a Mocha Frappe with a coffee base.. and maybe coffee flavoured ice cream..
#375
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Join Date: Feb 2010
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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!
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!

