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| How annoying is this? |
By Zagat Staff
Going out to eat is usually a blast, but there are those inevitable annoying moments that you'll encounter while on the scene. Whether it's ridiculous door policies and velvet ropes, obnoxious crowds at otherwise cool spots or restaurants that are so noisy you have to shout to be heard, we want to hear about the most annoying dining moments in your city. Tell us your thoughts in the comments, by
e-mailing us or by using the hashtag #DiningPetPeeves on
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Twitter, and be sure to let us know which city you're writing about.
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ReplyDeleteI eat on the road traveling 8 months a year away from home, so I have lots of gripes for 30 yrs!
DeleteSome noticeable changes w/ youth & caliber of help in both fancy and cheapo joints:
Waitresses and waiters that are clue-less about service:
just walk by and start talking mumbling bs about how everything or whatever mindless jabber....interprupting my chewing or conversation.
I make them wait for a reply as I chew and swallow or when we get done conversing. If they keep walking and mumble about being right back - I dont even acknowledge them....except when not tipping them much, if any, on exit. Itz the only way you dumbass servers will learn or go away and not serve anymore. itz about SERVICE, get it?
Dumb or un-trained kids even in fast food drive thru can really stand to learn how to speak clearly....and maybe not mumble, too.
Drive thru joints need to go outside and listen to that phuktup speaker that no one can hear also - even if the mofo wasnt mumbling.
Choptle, same problem---brainless rotbotic trained girls just mumble so fast no one knows what theyr saying, so I just make them repeat it over and over til they get it...speak clearly and slower and w/out assuming I come there daily and know your small world menial routines like the ipad in yr trousers...I make them wait and slow down ...sometimes I figure I will call the supvr mgr right then, but then they'r the same! wtF?!
Healthy SF Fee
ReplyDeleteDinner at Michael's restaurant in Santa Monica California. Sitting on patio couple next to us allowed their child to run around in circles all evening long. Child almost ran into waiter with full tray of food. Restaurant didn't say a word to customer to control their child. This restaurant is not age-appropriate for small children at dinnertime.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely #1 are children not controlled by parents and restaurant not saying anything. Leave (or stay home with) your kids if you're not adult enough to parent them. Oh yeah, and by the way, wait a few years.....what goes around comes around.....
ReplyDeleteagreed
DeleteHaving musicians interrupting your dinner with a serenade when you honestly have no interest. Even worse if they then expect you to tip them for the "privilege".
ReplyDeleteSeeing but far worse, HEARING other restaurant patrons on their phones. Man, does that irritate me! I'm hard pressed to believe that the world won't continue to turn if you check out for 60 to 120 minutes. Don't act like such a self-important jerk. Do what -- ostensibly -- you came here to do: eat, drink and enjoy the company of those you are with.
ReplyDeleteI only make plans with people whose company I truly enjoy, so I do not talk or text while at dinner. When others do, I find it to be extremely rude. If you really must, do it away from the table. Not whilst sitting with your dining companions in front of you.
ReplyDeleteSomeone coming to mop or sweep around you while you are eating your food....soooo unsanitary.
ReplyDeleteThe noise level is so high that you cant hear your dinner companions. And it can be both just the general noise of everyone there (whatever happened to noise abatement technology?) or one table near you where people are extremely loud and raucus, or background rowdy music that is painful even at lower levels!
ReplyDeleteThe last few times I went out to eat, I walked into the restaurant and there was no host/hostess to be found. So I was stuck waiting to be seated for several minutes while servers walked past me and ignored me. Not cool.
ReplyDeleteEating in a japanese teppanyaki restaurant when suddenly the smell of bleach came out of the kitchen. Apparently it was closing time and guests (even if still eating) were signalled with the odor that it was time to leave....
ReplyDeleteEating in a highly rated very expensive reaturant in the Napa Valley on Father's Day Week end and finding out after we had started our appetizers that the air conditioning had been out for 2 days. Our bill was $150. The temp was 113. I won't be back.
ReplyDelete1) The high noise level in so many restaurants. You cannot have a conversation with your dining partners. Restaurateurs are sorely mistaken if they think diners find this a "lively atmosphere." We don't go back!
ReplyDelete2) Too many specials rattled off by the server. They should be on the menu if there are that many. 3) Tables that are so close together you get bumped every time the server or other diners pass by.
4) Servers who are not trained to continuously scan the tables to see if anything is needed, or who deliver the dishes and don't return for 30 minutes.
5) If there is a problem, the waiter should always say, "I'm sorry, I will take care of that." Explaining, justifying, contradicting, etc. not necessary or desirable. The diner is paying for food and service and their complaint should be acknowledged.