Eating at a restaurant should be a positive experience. But is it? After all, it’s the time when someone else shops, cooks, serves you what (you think) you’ve ordered and takes away the dishes and glasses to a mysterious place. Best of all, you’re not responsible for washing them. In spite of these definite pluses, people appear to have more gripes than you’d think. And they make no bones about voicing them.
Whether it’s your local joint down the road, a recently opened trendy new café or a big name/big chef /big tab restaurant that’s drawing rave reviews, small and large irritations can mar a dining experience.
Pet peeves about dining out — Here’s a laundry list of what a survey of dedicated eaters had to say.
- Dining rooms that are so noisy you can’t hear yourself think much less hold a conversation with your tablemates.
- Tables that are placed so close together you have to be a contortionist to get in and out and there’s no possible way to hold a private conversation.
- Music too loud. People want to eat their meals in peace and relative quiet and not feel as if they’re in a high-decibel dance hall.
- Lighting should be bright enough that you can read the menus; but not so bright that you feel as if you’re getting the third degree.
- Restaurants should have coat rooms and sufficient space that you and your things aren’t competing for space on the chair and at the table.
- Bathrooms should be clean and well stocked. More than a few people feel there’s a direct correlation between the cleanliness of a restaurant’s WCs and the kitchen.
Service irritations:
- Being greeted at the door and grilled as to whether or not you have a reservation. If you don’t, the host or hostess will often shoot you a dirty look and lead you to a table as if they’re doing you a favor.
- Finding yourself even more irritated because when you get up to leave, the restaurant is still half empty.
- Sitting down and waiting more time than you care to before being handed a menu.
- When you’re ready to order, being forced to wait. The group of people, who were seated after you, have the waiter’s attention and are firing away what they want to eat. You’ve missed your chance.
- While you’re waiting, not being asked if you’d like to order a drink or being served water. Some restaurants serve bread immediately, Others force you to wait so you’re crying, “bread and water — please.”
- Waiter etiquette: There are the ones who act as if they’re doing you a favor by serving you. Then, there are too many who want to become members of your family and participate in the conversation. I’m glad your name is John but please remember who’s the waiter and who are the clients.
- The service personnel not being sensitive to your needs and wishes: e.g. – when you want attention and when you don’t. There are times conversations are private and should remain that way. Professional waiters appear to have a sixth sense about anticipating a diner’s needs and seem to have eyes behind their heads.
- Spare diners from waiters who refuse to write orders down. Being able to memorize a list of dishes may impress some people but others would prefer being served the correct dish.
- Please don’t ask, “Is everything all right?” before someone has tasted the food.
- Not serving everyone at the same time; Ditto for clearing the table. Many people find it offensive when a waiter removes a few plates at a time, as if to say to the diners who are still eating, “hurry up and leave.”
- Meals that arrive so quickly that you know they’ve been sitting on a steam table or have had a quick zap in a microwave.
- Having to wait forever to be served and then receiving the check before you’ve had a chance to drink your coffee. A meal should not be a marathon. Rather, it should be orchestrated to fit the scenario.
- Some people complain that portions are so large they detract from the meal and its presentation. Not everyone wants a doggie bag.
- Waiters who fail to check back with you after the meal is served.
There were complaints about parking, stratospheric menu prices, outrageous mark ups on wine. People jumped at the chance at adding their input. And I want to hear yours. You’re bound to have a lot of comments and post away.
Before you do, please stop and ponder what complaint is missing. It seems so obvious. But it doesn’t appear to be a high priority among the majority of people who eat out.
Karen Fawcett is president of Bonjour Paris
(Photo: seventh.samurai/Priscilla Flickr/Commons)
Karen Fawcett loves to travel anywhere. Karen was a founder & president BonjourParis.com while living in Paris for more than 25 years. She has traveled across Europe and the rest of the world. She is now based in Washington, DC.
