What is Your Restaurant Pet Peeve?
 

I don't care for the butter, but there is never enough bread. Often 3 pieces for two people (Huh?)

Although I enjoy Sandra whatchamallit on the cooking channel with the show, Semi-homemade, I wish that more restaurants made things from scratch. I understand that by buying premade entrees or sauces or partial ingredients that they save money on paying for skilled cooks and pass it on to us, but sometimes it does taste premade and frozen, because part of it, or all of it is.

A waiter or waitress asking me, a 76 year old,

"What would you like, YOUNG MAN? (in a very LOUDDDDDDD voice)

Lemon in my water.

I like lemons in my water, but restaurants (and bars) NEVER wash lemons (or limes) prior to cutting and serving. :yuck:

My pet peeve is 'ambiance' lighting that is so soft one can not read the menu.

The butter is frozen and you cannot get it to spread.

Z

Yup, hard butter and soft bread.

Patrons on cell phones calls or text

Agree with Graciegirl (as usual), frozen or premade/packaged food has little or no place in restaurants outside of fast food. I expect better at a restaurant and don't mind paying for it

Inept service! Most waiters & waitress are pretty much delivery people and sometimes they don't get that right. But every now and then you get someone
who is a professional and cares about their job.

Does anyone know that the term TIPS stands for? 10 out of 10 wait people have no idea.

My pet peeve happens even before entering the establishment--restaurants that don't take reservations.

Ditto that Uptown Girl. I have taken a menu to the mens room to read it LOL

Salads that I have to cut into smaller pieces.
Server not knowing what the soup of the day is.

Just a thought I had at Olive Garden while having lunch this week. There were two different large groups having lunch, and they were loud and boisterous. This didn't bother us, but I found myself wondering what folks would think of us if we, just a couple, were talking and laughing that loud. In the interest of advancing sociological research I will find out next time we eat at OG.

I have 2 and neither have to do with the restaurant.

Parents who allow their unruly children to run wild while they just sit by and enjoy a meal.

Parent who go out to eat with small babies at 9 or 10p when it obvious that the child is tired and cranky and needs to be home in bed.

When my dinner is served before I have finished my salad.

Servers who refer to us as "you guys".

Servers who clear anybody's plate before all have finished eating.

homemade food
 

Gracie,

A place that makes wonderful homemade items is the little cafe over the antique mall across from Russell Stover. Went to lunch there and the food is great. I didn't have the soup but those who did raved about it. My choice was delicious and the desserts to die for. So if you're out and about and want a great homemade lunch that's the place.

We go to places where the music is soft so the we both enjoy it and can hear ourselves when talking, servers wait until we finish our sentences before they interrupt with what they have to say (and they don't act so familiar and join our personal conversation), the food looks and tAstes good so we don't have to compliment the photographer, the kitchen is clean even if the restaurant is old.

I put a flashlight app on my iPhone! It helps!

The waiter doesn't come to the table after the meal is served to see if we need condiments.

cell phones at the table!!!

Rude, insensitive.....should not be allowed in the door. Minimally turned off + being asked to leave the room if it rings/ answered.

My top two are:

Butter that is hard to spread

If I am eating alone, I hate to have to sit and wait for the check after I have finished eating.

I agree with those who mentioned hard, butter, being called "you guys" and waiting for the check. The "you guys" thing is the worst. Very unprofessional.

Sorry, but doctors eat out, too. I wouldn't want mine to have to not have his phone. As for me, since my husband does not communicate, I have to have mine with me when I'm out and he's not with me in case there is an emergency with him. He wears an ID bracelet with my info in there and our alarm system at home has the number as well. This gives us both needed independence. When we are together, it is either off or silenced.

I DO NOT sit and engage in idle chatter.

1. Sticky tables that never get washed with hot water and detergent and a well-wrung out dishcloth or sponge.

2. "Food runners" or sweaty kitchen workers bringing the platters of food who do not know which plate belongs to whom, as the "server" does. The runners bring out all the platters and stick them under people's faces or to grab and stare at, to figure out who gets what. I've had this happen at expensive places as well as cheaper ones. Serving should be done by the server.

Restaurants who do not teach staff hospitality basics and keep tabs on them.

Crowded restaurants, bad service, low quality and cold meals, waiting to be seated, unreasonable prices, restaurants that allow dogs, dirty dishes, darken areas so that you can't even read a menu.:D

Wandering children if the parents don't want them at their table neither do I

Bringing my food but not refilling my drink until I'm half-way thru my meal. Hard butter too.

Looking all over for your server only to have he/she come back stinking of cigarettes.

Don't know why my post for this thread ends up in Disrespect for Village employees thread. I know I put it on this thread. Strange

I don't think that was in any way directed at you or others in your situation, dillywho. But the phone can be on vibrate and still get the job done.

And if people absolutely have to communicate while in a restaurant, they can walk outside while answering the phone.

We've had breakfasts next to contractors communicating with each other in walkie-talkie mode--loud beeps followed by loud voices. Rude, inconsiderate, and unnecessary.

I hate it when the waitress brings the meal before I'm done with my salad.

Restaurants that feel like meat lockers.:cold::cold::cold:

My two cents: wild children, dim lighting, and music too loud. One other thing I hate to see is wait staff bussing tables, then deliver food to a table. I'm sure they don't run wash their hands after carrying someone else's dirty plates. Other staff should walk around and do that. I get that it wouldn't work at Waffle House.

That, too!!!!!!!

I hate to be freezing and I hate music because I can't hear people's conversation because everything is made louder by my very expensive hearing aids...lol.

This is my #1 complaint.