I also have an issue with those wiping rags they use. From what I understand they are supposed to have them in bleach water when not in use. I was at a certain Chinese restaurant about a year ago. The server wiped the table with a rag while we were sitting there. It was the stinkiest rag I've ever smelled. I asked her to please use a clean rag that that one was smelly. There was a language barrier. Instead she used the same stinky rag and gave me a disgusted look. We should have gotten up to leave but instead we stayed. Five minutes later our soup was served. I thought it tasted funny even asked my friend to taste her soup to compare and hers tasted different from mine. About 20 minutes after eating my soup I was sicker than a dog. I was in the bathroom constantly and had to stop three times on the way home and was sick all that evening. This was the only thing I had had to eat all day except buttered toast that morning and 2 other people at our table had the same entree as I did and none of them got sick. I was feeling fine when I went in. To this day I believe she put something in my soup and have never gone back.

Top Ten Pet Peeves
 

After reading most of the posts here I decided to compile my list of Top Ten Peeves.

#10 - Servers repeatedly saying "No Problem" to every question/request.

#9 - Servers that never check back to see if you have everything you need especially the drink refills.

#8 - Restaurants that have the air down so low it feels like you are sitting in a cold storage locker.

#7 - Waiting and waiting and waiting for the check long after the meal is complete.

#6 - Ordering an appetizer to tide you over while waiting on your meal only to have it delivered with the main course.

#5 - Helicopter servers who seem to check back every 30 seconds only to ask if everything is OK just when you have a mouth full of food.

#4 - Being seated by the hostess only to be ignored for the next 30 minutes until someone finally says "Have you been helped?"

#3 - Two or more of any of the above items in any one sitting ='s poor service and possibly poor tip along with a conversation with the manager.

#2 - Cell phone conversations from the adjacent table! Get up and walk outside if it is that important, PLEASE!

And the #1 Pet Peeve of this decade is............

#1 - Out of control children running around and crawling under tables while the parents sit and talk completely oblivious to their screaming, crying, whining kids. Oh, and how about the little ones that stand up in the booth next to you and stare hole through your head while you try to have a nice, quiet meal. I love children but come on parents...take control at least in public. Shish!

I'm done!!!! :rant-rave:

My pet peeve is loud music. Have left because we knew we could not have a conversation.

I agree. Applebees comes to mind at the moment. Why would you play current up to date hard rock music to a bunch of retirees?

My wife often comments that I'm overly generous with my tips. As someone who had jobs in his younger years where I hustled tips, I understand well how much the restaurant staff depends on our tips. That's why for breakfast I usually tip at least 40%, often more. The server of your breakfast works just as hard, sometimes harder, keeping your coffee cup filled, as your dinner server. It seems fair to me that the tip should be a larger percentage of a minimal check.

Alternatively, you could tip the non-breakfast servers less.

What gets me is that some of the bills have recommended tip amounts based on 15%, 18%, and 20%, but use the after tax cost as the basis. To me that is scamming.

Oh no!
 

I am a breadie too. Hate to bear bad news, but read online last night that Olive Garden was going to start bringing out 1 breadstick per person and 1 "for the table". You can request more and they will bring out 1 breadstick for you at a time. Yuk![/QUOTE]

I wonder if all Olive Gardens will do this...if not, we'll search out another one. One time I was with a group of 10 at O.G. (and yes, they were pretty loud) and three bowls of salad were placed on the table and the server disappeared! I didn't say anything because I didn't want to draw attention as it was my first time out with them, but how inconsiderate was this?
Enjoyed the lesson on what tipping means and what tip stand for...it will make a difference on how much we tip. My husband lets me set the tip and I always erred on the side of generosity.

Good job.
 

Oh I hate that "nat a problem" stuff...typo intentional

Yikes! I never hit my kids and I was always complimented on their good behavior. There were consequences they knew could be carried out after only one warning, like having to go to sit in the car with either mom or dad while the rest of the family got to finish. And there was a reminder that next time they would do better. This gave a pretty clear message. If they did it again then they simply were not ready to dine out with the rest of us and I could get a sitter for them until they were "ready". I always said that they weren't ready rather then "Bad". That behavior was unacceptable for what ever reason and that was that. This went for running away in a store etc,. Sometimes you just don't know that the child isn't up for it until it's too late or you just aren't up for the challenge. We all have our good and bad days as parents, it's not a job for wimps. :o

When someone says that to my son in law, he replies,"is that something like you're welcome. Lol
I like friendly, courteous service but my pet peeve is when some are so overly friendly and intrusive that I feel I should invite them to join us. I guess it's hard to balance not enough with too much.

Poor delivery of food/drink and attitude
 

We went to a restaurant in SS last week and when our "server" brought the drinks, her fingers held the glass around the rim right where we would be drinking from. She also had her finger on the plate when setting the food on the table. I thought if Gordon Ramsey would have seen this he would have had a heart attack. A server should never do that. I use the word server loosely because of the way she spoke at us and her level of service. There was nothing polite or nice about her. She was a poor server and our tip reflected her poor service and attitude. We always tip at least 20% when we go out if the service is worthy. Sometimes 25%.

We always tip 20 percent. Serving is hard and patient work.

This thread disgusts me. Never heard so many silly complaints. Lets do the movie theater next, at least there will be popcorn.

I don't know who you are Walter, but I changed my post above, It was too direct.

I've had fun reading this thread and even contributed to it. Back in the 80's husband and I used to own a nightclub. One night a couple of our servers called in sick. I ended up on the floor waiting tables. You talk about a difficult job. Wow! I did this for only about two hours in my life and I remember how hard it was. After that I really had a soft spot for our servers knowing how difficult their job really is.

Walter: Please expand on why these are silly complaints? Should people just accept mediocrity pay the bill and shut up?
What about movies, hotel stays, air travel or ocean cruises ? Come on, admit it you are capable of complaining. I mean you just did with your post:wave:

Personal Best Regards

I wonder if all Olive Gardens will do this...if not, we'll search out another one. One time I was with a group of 10 at O.G. (and yes, they were pretty loud) and three bowls of salad were placed on the table and the server disappeared! I didn't say anything because I didn't want to draw attention as it was my first time out with them, but how inconsiderate was this?
Enjoyed the lesson on what tipping means and what tip stand for...it will make a difference on how much we tip. My husband lets me set the tip and I always erred on the side of generosity.[/QUOTE]

Regarding Olive Garden. The reason for not bringing more breadsticks is that they get cold. Also, there may be some at the table who doesn't eat bread.

A major Stockholder supposedly wanted to cut back on waste. It's all about profits but this policy could backfire.

I admire the hard work Servers do---tough job pleasing everybody. I do agree some could use better training.

Group noise is my pet peeve. When people get too loud it's often caused from too much drink. More partitions would help in some restaurants and a separate room for large groups.

Olive Garden is fighting for its survival. Its 49 day pasta campaign ended badly when people were told they could not sell their 49 pasta day passes over e-bay.

The best of Olive Garden is their bread sticks and salad and so they may want to re-think that change in bread policy.

Restaurants primarily make their money over the bar and so they may want to focus there.

The turnover rate in this business is high so it doesn't take much to gain in management responsibility but too often restaurants don't invest enough in training. and if they have a good employee they need to do their best to retain that employee too often they do not.

The prime season is returning and I am afraid the next time someone starts a "What's Your Restaurant Pet Peeve its going to be more than just a pet peeve...its going to be A PET PEEVE@#$%^&*

Seating us by a table with screaming kids

And adults who talk at the top of their voice
(What is up with that?)

These rags wipe off the table and usually also the seats..........This is a good reason to never put your silverware on the table, but on a napkin or plate.

You said what I think. Those huge, howling herds are my pet peeve, too. I guess some of it could be blamed on booze, but there are other behaviors that factor in. An anthropologist could have a field day observing and taking notes. Could be just what some PhD type caught in that publish or perish thing is looking for. :024:

I have wondered if certain restaurants are purposely designed to create a loud environment. Turns those tables, you know.

And, I hope you will smile along with me because I cannot resist letting you know that you were sabotaged by your spellcheck or autocorrect. . .

I know you meant to write 'partitions' would help to keep the noise down. But when it came out 'petitions' it made me smile and say, "Hey, justjim! Where do I sign?" :wave:

That's a pretty cold way to look at tipping. Let's not tip the non-breakfast servers less. Any server who provides good service deserves a decent tip. That $10.00 breakfast with umpteen coffee refills is worth more than a measly $2.00 tip. While we're at it, is it really going to break the bank to calculate the tip on the total check, not on the the pre-tax amount? These servers work very hard, and it isn't just the physical work that is exhausting. The tough part is putting up with some really difficult customers. I think most customers in TV treat the restaurant staff very well but it only takes a small minority to make the job miserable for the restaurant workers and we've all seen customers berating servers in our local restaurants.

Agree agree agree

I always try to avoid complaining about service until after my meal has been served to avoid any unnecessary and unordered "add-ons." However, when a young server says to me, "Not a problem" I always want to respond with, "I would hope not" complete with a great big cheesy smile. I usually don't.

I'm not as bad as a former co-worker. She consistently ordered water without lemon and always added, "If I wanted lemonade I would order it." Boy did she throw a fit if they accidentally forgot and put a lemon in her water. She would make them go get her a new glass of water, sans lemon slice.

Another co-worker would ask for something, and if the server didn't ask the table as a whole if there was anything else she could bring, he would ask for a second item when the server returned with the first item, stating to the server, "Use your head or use your feet."

I have an Italian friend who used to own a restaurant, and when going out to eat loves to teach/point out to servers waiting on our table how to open wine, pronounce words, how to serve, etc. etc.

So you see, some customers can be just as dreadful as some really bad servers. I guess in the end that is my biggest pet peeve -- eating with people that exhibit such bad behavior I have to sieve my food to make sure I didn't get the loogie meant for them. :eek:

Not a major issue, but my pet peeve is when a servers asks if you have saved room for desert when you are only half finished with your main course.

Also, the poor sentence structure with "If you want anything, my name is so and so". I often feel like asking what their name is if I do not want anything.

Thanks for my morning laugh!:laugh:

That never occurred to me, but it's funny. :laugh:
You must have majored in English or Journalism.

The first part was tongue in cheek.

The part about the post tax calculation is just an observation that the restaurant's software is pulling a fast one.

I don't use percentages anyway. The other day, I undertipped at OG because the server had his head up his backside...after three requests, he brought the breadsticks...I was done with the salad by then. Two days later, I tipped ten bucks on a $32 bill at Lighthouse because I thought we were treated courteously and efficiently.

When the waitperson asks, " so how are you guys ? " Number 1, my wife is not a guy and number 2, I am 40 years older than you, Ma'am and Sir is more appropriate.

Blowing one's nose at the table. Disgusting

Regarding Olive Garden. The reason for not bringing more breadsticks is that they get cold. Also, there may be some at the table who doesn't eat bread.

A major Stockholder supposedly wanted to cut back on waste. It's all about profits but this policy could backfire.

I admire the hard work Servers do---tough job pleasing everybody. I do agree some could use better training.

Group noise is my pet peeve. When people get too loud it's often caused from too much drink. More partitions would help in some restaurants and a separate room for large groups.[/QUOTE]

Darden is having an attempted takeover in progress. I have received proxies from both sides, each saying how they can boost revenue. The site Olive Garden giving out too many breadsticks. My wife wants more black olives, seem like at most 1 per salad bowl,

Oh jeepers, it must be hard for servers to get it right and please everyone.
I wouldn't even notice if the server addressed us as "you guys". But I dislike being Ma'amed.

Hence the reference to grouchy old people!chilout

I must be another grouch. I just got back from NY Pizza. We didn't finish the pie and the waitress asked "Are we going to want a box?".

Was it Jack Nicholson who went ballistic when Nurse Crachet used the word "we" in every question?

"You Guys" or "Youse Guys" from where I'm from, is like "Y'all" down south. It's a "one size fits all" expression that northerners don't even notice in all but the classiest of establishments.

I think there is way too much salt in the food and sometimes floating in butter.

I think that the folks that have complaints for the servers, obviously, have never had that job. I was a waitress in collage and I would rather stand on the corner with a cup than be a waitress again. I always tip at least 20%, and as long as I feel they are doing their best, that is fine with me. They have no control over the kitchen, which is a ZOO, or the bartenders. I could give a laundry list, but I won't.

I agree - totally disgusting!

Well I for one am a Northern Girl and I hate it when they say "you guys". This was not a term that anybody used in my generation. It's a generational thing. This only started about 15 yrs ago unlike our Southern counterparts who have always used the term Y'all.:spoken:

I'm from NY and I've been hearing "you guys" or "youse guys" for at least 50 years, probably more. I don't think anything of it, if fact I've used these terms for years. I had a history teacher in high school who often called the class "youse guys.

Us too Gracie:icon_hungry: