Do you have any pet peeves when you dine in a restaurant?

[ajrsmom]

My family took me out for Mother's Day today. We went to Texas Roadhouse :)

The waitresses there always do one of my biggest pet peeves---they leave the table full of empty, dirty dishes! :mad: It's hard enough eating at a small table with the 4 of us! It drives me crazy when they can clearly see that we are stacking the dishes up to make more room. Come on, they know that we arent using the extra, empty glasses sitting there or the empty appetizer plate.

To me, this is a common sense thing! I just had to vent about this because it happens a lot to us.


Any other pet peeves out there?

[barbszy]

I don't like having to sit at small tables. Most of those four-tops are really only big enough for 2, with the extra plates, menu card that sits in the middle, candle or vase or other "decorative" thing... I like a little room to spread out & be comfortable.

I also don't like sitting so close to other diners that I can hear everything at their table. Sometimes it's entertaining ;) but usually it's a pain & always a distraction.

Finally, I don't like when "servers" pull up a chair to your table so they can take your order.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

You really don't want to get me started! LOL

I hated when the waitress/waiter is talking to friends and forgets he/she has customers. I also hate it when someone brings us our order and then never comes back until we are finished eating. We usually need something such as ketchup, steak sauce, etc...

Also, I hate it when I order coffee and nobody ever refills it. I have even gone behind the counter and got my own refill! My DH hates it, but I refuse to tip if I get bad service unless the person waiting on us is having problems of no fault of his/her own.

[egsavoy]

One pet peeve I have is people who take their children to a nice restaurant, and then let them loose to do whatever they want to. I have seen little kids running around through the tables, screaming at the top of their lungs, and generally being brats!! In the meantime, Mommy and Daddy are peacefully sitting in their chairs ignoring little Johnnie or Janie, and enjoying THEIR meal!! And I resent it when the management doesn't do something about it. After all, I left MY kids with a babysitter so that I could go out and have a nice peaceful meal. Should I be expected to pay top prices at a fancy restaurant and put up with this? I can see this happening in McDonalds or Burger King, but please control your kids when in a nice, sit-down restaurant!! P.S. I am now almost a grandma, and my kids are all grown up, but when they were smaller, I made sure they did behave themselves when appropriate.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

First, welcome to MM Egsavoy!

I totally agree. I do not see why people cannot make their children behave in any restaurant!

[momperson]

1. Rude men who are so used to using filthy language in thier everday vocabulary that they don't even moderate thier speech when out in public. The use the Lords' name in vain & the 'f' word constantly. It turns my stomach!!!
2. those same unruly kids as the rest of you have encountered : (

momperson

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I think I could easily tell the men to watch their language as I am trying to eat. But, I have not found an easy way to deal with the children except to make the waitress move me to another table at a different area of the restaurant. We encountered such children at Red Lobster last time we went. There were 3 of them too!

[tutterbear35]

We went to Bob Evans this morning and i got my first cup of coffee and that was it. The waitress never came back with more refills that makes me so fast when they dont come back to refill your cups!!

[cat lover]

The biggest ( not the only one) thing I can't tolerate is when any member of the restaurant staff goes into the restroom with their apron on! Then they come back into the food area and prepare food, serve it, etc.

The second one is when they take your entire glass away to the kitchen to refill your drink. You never know you are getting your glass back. One place I really liked otherwise continued to do that and I brought the question up to management on "how do they know you are getting your glass back and not someone else's?". They brushed it off so.... I marked on the bottom of my glass with a magic marker and guess what? I didn't get my glass back! :mad: Needless to say I phoned the local health department after that! Now they bring the pitcher of refill to your table!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

The biggest ( not the only one) thing I can't tolerate is when any member of the restaurant staff goes into the restroom with their apron on! Then they come back into the food area and prepare food, serve it, etc.

I have never seen that, but...Ewww.

[ajrsmom]

The second one is when they take your entire glass away to the kitchen to refill your drink. You never know you are getting your glass back. One place I really liked otherwise continued to do that and I brought the question up to management on "how do they know you are getting your glass back and not someone else's?". They brushed it off so.... I marked on the bottom of my glass with a magic marker and guess what? I didn't get my glass back! :mad: Needless to say I phoned the local health department after that! Now they bring the pitcher of refill to your table!


OMG!! I cant even start to think of how I would've reacted had they brought me a different glass!! :eek:

Here in NC, 99% of the place will bring you a new glass that has been filled--and most of the time they leave all of the other empty glasses! :mad:


I no longer allow anyone to take my plate to the back for a doggy bag either. I have had them tell me that they have to do it--that is when I ask for the manager and tell him I want to pack my own food.

[cat lover]

Most places around here also bring you a new glass . Just some seem to want to do it different! The thing about the wrong glass issue that always bothered me the most was it even the wrong glass from my table!:eek:

Luckily we don't eat much in restaurants any longer so I don't have too much of that to worry about any longer!;)

[Coll]

My biggest pet peeve while dining out?
Can't decide if it is a waitress who forgets about you once served or the one who bugs you during the entire meal.
But I also can't stand the unruly children. Mine have to behave so why can't theirs?
The tip I leave depends on the service I receive.
If the service is lousy, I leave 10 %, if the sercvice is good its 15%. If it is great then I'll leave 20%. I'll also tip more if the server is someone I know and I'm certain they need the extra money.

How about when you order delivery? How do you tip? If its an older person, they always get an extra tip. If its a younger person with a car that is more expensive than mine, they get $2. They shouldn't be driving something they can't afford.

Coll

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I haven't ever notice the car that the delivery person is driving. I tip based on the cost of the meal and whether the service was prompt and friendly.

Coll, have you ever thought about the fact that the person may have borrowed the car for work?

I tell you when I cannot decide how to tip and it's at those drive-in, curb service type places (Sonic). Are there any rules for this?

[cat lover]

Back in the city where my sons live most of the delivery places now charge for delivering the pizza or whatever food it is. My son has a friend that used to do that job, but has since quit since he says the tips have become far and few with the charge for delivery now. Most people just told him that the charge now eats up the money they use to tip with so no tip any longer. So is any one else having that same effect on tipping on delivery food person?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I have always tipped the pizza delivery person unless the tip is already figured in.

[ewriggs]

<SNIP>
You never know you are getting your glass back. One place I really liked otherwise continued to do that and I brought the question up to management on "how do they know you are getting your glass back and not someone else's?". They brushed it off so.... I marked on the bottom of my glass with a magic marker and guess what? I didn't get my glass back! :mad: Needless to say I phoned the local health department after that! Now they bring the pitcher of refill to your table!

In my experience, most of the time they bring you a new glass. I've watched at places that do that, and the old glass goes into the dirty bin and a new glass comes off the shelf. That may be why the management brushed you off - they didn't understand the concern with getting a new glass instead of the old one back. OTOH, it makes sense to me from an economic point of view to simply refill a glass rather than getting a fresh one each time.

I *love* going to restaurants where the waitstaff know the "proper" way to do things: total unobtrusiveness, no chattiness, "serve to the left, take away to the right," and they keep up with what you need simply by careful scrutiny. Of course, you pay a "premium" for places like that! Emeril's is one of the chains that give this kind of excellent service. But I can't afford $18.00 for a hamburger very frequently - even if it IS made from Kobe beef!

Cheerio!
Elizabeth

[cat lover]

Oh I would love to even have the chance of going to one of Emeril's restuarants. Maybe it would be okay price wise for a special "date" time like an anniversary or so.:)

[ellenmelon]

I don't like it when I order before another table and they get their food ahead of me and it is the same type of food as we ordered.

[cat lover]

Hello ellenmelon; nice to see you here!

[mouse]

My biggest thing is when my glass or coffee cup run empty, if it is empty for more than 5 minutes the tip starts going down. Last night we went to a new Mexican restaurant in town and they brought the chips and dip out as soon as we sat down but it took them 15 minutes to get our drink and food orders. I don't usually walk out of restaurants but we were minutes away from leaving. I mean you can't eat the chips or anything without ice tea or something or I can't.
I don't like crying babies either when I eat out. One of us would always go to the car if one of ours started crying and the other one would get the meal to go and we would just eat it at home.
$18.00 for a burger, no way!! I wouldn't pay $18.00 for ANY burger no matter how good it was. For a lobster yes a burger no. But then again it would cost almost a $100.00 for my family to eat burgers there, well over a $100 time you left the tip.
mouse

[cat lover]

Ths one isn't about the food, but it is IN a restuarant! The bathrooms! I can't stand it when you wash your hands and the can to put the used paper in is not near the door. I hate to use the handle bare handed to open the door; I mean did the last person that touched it really wash their hands? So it makes it a mad rush to open the door, throw the paper away and get back to the door and catch it with your shoulder or your foot so you don't have to touch that handle:mad: !

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Today, I got in the mail a voucher from Chik-fil-a. I HAVE to tell this story!

During the week of finals, I went to Chik-fil-a to get a combo meal. In the past, I have had trouble as they want to charge me extra if I do NOT accept the soft drink that comes with the meal. So, this time, when the girl asked me what I wanted with my meal, I told her that I wanted water. She told me that she would have to charge me separately, which would cost more, if I did not get the soft drink!!!! I did NOT believe this. So, I inquired why I could not get water for my drink? She said that was just the rules. I got the soft drink and dumped it in their trash can as I was NOT about to pay more! When I got home, I noticed that I did not get the brownie that I paid for as well. I called the manager. She stated that this was true!!! I went on the Chik-fil-a Web site and told them of my complaint. I stated that I could not understand why I would have to pay MORE to get LESS!!! I asked why I could not get water for my drink as some people cannot drink soft drinks! They apolgized and sent me a voucher for free food, but I will NOT go back to that store! I don't ever get fountain drinks as their diet drinks have that artificial sugar that I just cannot stomach. I have never had trouble in the past in getting a meal deal without the drink. They charge me for the meal and just don't give me the drink.

[cat lover]

That is really strange I agree! We always order water on the rare occasion we eat out. I have been waiting for them to tell us they can't give us a glass of water, but will be more than happy to sell us a bottle of water! More and more people are ordering water as their drink. I would think it would not be a problem as the soft drinks cost them, but how much does that water considering most restarants have city water. We just bought 35 gallons of drinking water form the local water company for $1.00!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

That was my arguement when I went there the first time and did not want a drink and they wanted to charge me more! I didn't understand why they would have to charge me separately for each item if I did not get the drink?!!! I told them that they would save money on the cup, lid, straw, ice, and soft drink if I did not get it when all I am going to do it throw it in their trash! Go figure!

[mouse]

DeBora got this joke in today and thought of you.

We went to breakfast at a restaurant where the "seniors' special" was two eggs,
bacon, hash browns and toast for $1.99.

"Sounds good," my wife said. "But I don't want the eggs."

"Then I'll have to charge you two dollars and forty-nine cents because you're
ordering a la carte," the waitress warned her.

"You mean I'd have to pay for not taking the eggs?" My wife asked
incredulously.

"Yes!!"

"I'll take the special."

"How do you want your eggs?"

"Raw and in the shell," my wife replied.

She took the two eggs home.

DON'T MESS WITH SENIORS.....

We've been around the block more than once.

I know that won't work with the drink issue but I thought it would give you a laugh anyway.

mouse

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Good one! I guess with their being jokes like this I must not be the only one.

[oochiegoo]

mouse - that's great!!

All - the pet peevs are all good one's...I can't share mine with you, cause they have been all mentioned!! Ooooh wee!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

You're welcome to mention them anyway. We went out last night and had wonderful service! The waitress was actually very attentive.

[oochiegoo]

Here's one...

I think my nephews have ants in their pants because everytime we go out for dinner, they have to get up and use the bathroom 4 or 5 times or "look around" (I think that's just as bad as letting your kids run around the place!)....

I can't take it anymore!! I'm so sick of it. I brought it up to my sister and that didn't do any good. We didn't get to the bottom of it...

Oh, well.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Do have the relationship with your sister that you can tell her that you'd prefer not to go out to eat with her with her children? I had a friend one time that none of her family and friends could tell her how her children really acted when she'd come to the pool or school to gripe some poor soul out for punishing her poor children. (sarcastic)

[Janet]

My pet peeve eating out is always having to ask for things, like a napkin, ketchup, a clean fork..If I have to make 3 requests..no tip is given..Of course I tell the waitress upfront about my policy..now if it is extremely busy, I understand..but not when they are sitting and rolling silverware in napkins.

Janet

[ajrsmom]

Of course I tell the waitress upfront about my policy
Janet

Just curious, do you actually tell them when you sit down that this is the way it is? I am the same way with tipping but I dont know if I would have the nerve to say something upfront like that--I would be afraid that they would spit in my food or something. :eek:

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Janet made me think of another pet peeve. I really get upset when I go to the drive-through at a fast food restaurant and they either get my order all wrong, forget to put condiments in the sack (unless they have a notice otherwise), or both! :mad: I now check my order, right there are the window BEFORE I leave because they get it wrong so often. I actually wonder what is so difficult about getting a fast food order correct? It is such a pain to go all the way back to the restaurant and have them fix the order. If I can just get DH to check the sack before he leaves.

[Janet]

Yes, I tell them up front..now I live in a small town, and know most of the waitresses...and I tip well. So most of them already know.
Now if it is a new place...after I have to ask for a new glass for one is chipped ...I tell them I have a 3 time rule, and in a light handed way.

I am very easy, but I will not put up with a sticky table, dirty fork, chipped glass, etc.

Usually the food is excellent...it is more of a cleanliness thing.

No one has missed their tip yet..so it works for me...

Janet

[Janet]

DeBora, Our fast food places check the order at the window..to make sure everything is there...I was surprised..no more mixed up orders or forgotten Onion Rings. lol

We don't eat thru windows very often, since it is such high fat and salt..and now I have to watch that.

We seem to only eat out 2 times a month now, unless it is someone's birthday and they want to go out to eat.

Janet

[cat lover]

Another one of my pet peeves is when you have to call the restaurants headquarters because once you go inside you SEE how dirty the food equipment is. Even the register has never had the cover over the buttons cleaned! Yuck!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I tototally agree about the nasty tables, silverware, chipped glass, etc... I don't hesitate to tell the waitress to send things back and bring me some CLEAN silverware or to even bring me a rag so I can wipe my table down. DH was going to take me out to eat at a restaurant in Carlsbad. I told him NO. We went there 3 different times a while back and all 3 times the dishes looked like they hadn't been washed, we had to bus our own table and clean them, and the entire place was gross. DH said, "Maybe they have new owners now?" I really don't care. If I bought something that had been that filthy, I would be advertising, "Uner nre management!"

I have gone to drive-through restaurants when I have traveled. I just don't see what is so hard about making an order correct!

Janet, I am like you in that I am a great tipper. Since I moved here to finish my BA, DH has a fave restaurant. Many of the staff is getting to know us as we like to go out for breakfast. So, we get pretty good service. If we ever get bad service anywhere because the waitress is busy talking to her friends, or the phone, etc... I won't tip anything! However, if the waitress has been triple sat or worse because someone didn't come to work, I'm very understanding and will still tip well.

[Coll]

I don't like drive-thrus. I prefer to go inside to order my food.
Once I ran to McD's ordered breakfast and went back home. They forgot to put in one of the breakfast sandwiches in the bag, I called them and they told me I had to take a lunch sandwich because they were no longer serving breakfast. I've only been back to that McD's once since then. I did get the sandwich but it was 6 miles there and 6 back, so it wasn't really worth the effort.

Coll

[oochiegoo]

It seems as though every time I go to fast food, they get it wrong, even when I check. By then, I have to move my car out of the way because I seemed rushed by the person who's waiting behind me. It shouldn't be the customers responsibility, it should be the workers!!!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I tend to bit of a hard nose. I won't move and if the restaurant makes me move, I ask for my money back right then. I am usually in a hurry because I am on my way to or from somewhere. If it is a restaurant that I have visited before and they don't usually get it wrong, I am more forgiving as I know we all have bad days. However, there are a couple, especially in small communities that you don't have a choice to go to when traveling. (I have to go to Ruidoso every 2 months for a check-up at the doctor's office.) I am usually in a hurry because of my school schedule.

I long, long time ago I was a manager at a McDonald's. The high school kids were either always late or they didn't work when they got there. I would tell them to do their job or find someone who wanted to work and earn money. I remember the owner telling me that they are just high school kids and will be this way!!!! My argument was that if they are old enough to work at an adult job they are old enough to do it. Otherwise, we should have a different pay scale as there were older adults working there for the same pay who were doing their job. I think that is part of the problem is that we expect teens and certain people not to take responsiblility. jmo

[oochiegoo]

Right on! I agree. Teens should be tought more customer service skills too! Where ever you go these days, why should the customer say "thank you". There are really some rude people out there!!!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I cannot help if it is because of the "Blame Game" mentality. It seems socially acceptable to blame abuse, parents, society, and so on for personal bad behavior!

[ewriggs]

...
$18.00 for a burger, no way!! I wouldn't pay $18.00 for ANY burger no matter how good it was. For a lobster yes a burger no. But then again it would cost almost a $100.00 for my family to eat burgers there, well over a $100 time you left the tip.
mouse

It was worth it for 3 adults out to have a good time for a special occasion (celebrating my SIL getting her SS)! The wait staff hovered just far enough away that we didn't get claustrophobic, but the water level never got more than 1/3 of the way down, the coffee was never allowed to get more than 1/2 way down. No more than 6 minutes went by after completing a course (appetizers, main meal, dessert) before someone was discretely asking if I was done, and clearing away the dirty dishes. When we were through, they did not "abandon us," nor did they hover to the point we felt rushed away. They kept refilling coffee and iced tea and water while we sat around and visited and talked and laughed for another 30 minutes! It's a wonderful place! I'd go there again - on a special occasion!

Cheerio!
Elizabeth

[ewriggs]

Today, I got in the mail a voucher from Chik-fil-a. I HAVE to tell this story!
During the week of finals, I went to Chik-fil-a to get a combo meal. In the past, I have had trouble as they want to charge me extra if I do NOT accept the soft drink that comes with the meal. So, this time, when the girl asked me what I wanted with my meal, I told her that I wanted water. She told me that she would have to charge me separately, which would cost more, if I did not get the soft drink!!!! I did NOT believe this. So, I inquired why I could not get water for my drink? She said that was just the rules. I got the soft drink and dumped it in their trash can as I was NOT about to pay more! When I got home, I noticed that I did not get the brownie that I paid for as well. I called the manager. She stated that this was true!!! I went on the Chik-fil-a Web site and told them of my complaint. I stated that I could not understand why I would have to pay MORE to get LESS!!! I asked why I could not get water for my drink as some people cannot drink soft drinks! They apolgized and sent me a voucher for free food, but I will NOT go back to that store! I don't ever get fountain drinks as their diet drinks have that artificial sugar that I just cannot stomach. I have never had trouble in the past in getting a meal deal without the drink. They charge me for the meal and just don't give me the drink.


This is NOT what Truett Cathey would do - and is NOT what he wants going on at his restaurants! He's a GA boy, and is **very** customer-service-oriented. No wonder they sent you a voucher!!

In addition to what you already have done, call up the store and ask for the manager. Tell him/her what happened, then ask for the number for the regional manager. Keep going up the line. This is because Chik-fil-a WILL do something about this in terms of service-level training.

I like Chik-fil-a because it is a basically ethical corporation. Any problems I've had have been because of poor understanding of proper customer service by either the line-staff or the manager of the store. All problems I have encountered have been taken care of in a reasonable time. A line-staff refused to make an adaptation for me, even though it was on the menu board that the adaptation could be made. I asked for the manager, who apologised, had the line-staff apologise to me, and then gave me my food free. This is really above and beyond for a fast-food place, if you think about it.

Cheerio!
Elizabeth

[cat lover]

Yeah special occasions are okay for a high price meal,but then how many special occasions do you have? So maybe once in a while would work. Years ago we used to go to a restaurant where it cost $18.00 per adult and then an additional amount for your main course. That was back in the
1970's so back then that was expensive! We only went once a year though! You just have to make up your mind you'll pay it if that is where you want to go.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

In addition to what you already have done, call up the store and ask for the manager. Tell him/her what happened, then ask for the number for the regional manager. Keep going up the line. This is because Chik-fil-a WILL do something about this in terms of service-level training.

Elizabeth, I did call the store manager who told me that was there policy--no water with the meal combos, only soft drinks! That is when I contacted the company. The main company sent me a voucher and told me they had contacted the owner of that restaurant. I have not heard from him at all. I have had nothing but good service from Chik-Fil-A in the past. I have always got no drink with my meal combo with no problems. It is only at this one store. I figure if I have to pay extra to get no drink or water, then I will go elsewhere. I still haven't used my voucher. We don't have Chik-Fil-A here in Carlsbad and I will not go to the one there at the Mall in Cruces. There is one at the university, but it is set up so that you pay the school somehow and you pay per item there. So, the voucher wouldn't work there. I figure I'll either use it when I go to Texas or send it to my DD. I really thought the owner would have contacted me about this, but he hasn't. (Can you tell this gets me steamed?)

[mouse]

Your right Elizabeth, it does sound like a really nice place. I still couldn't pay that much for a burger but I guess it all depends on where you are willing to spend your money. We just got back from vacation and we spent $35.00 each on some show tickets that came out to $175.00 for the family and there wasn't even a meal served at this show but it was well worth the money to us. It is called "The Miracle" and it tells the story of the beginning of time when God was creating the world to when Jesus rose again. We had seats on the 4th row and the kids really loved it, they even had real camels and such on the stage. It was a lot of money but well worth it. Not something we could do very often of course. I mean my oldest bought a flat screened TV the other day and it is really nice but no way would I spend that much on a TV.
mouse

[cat lover]

Elizabeth, I did call the store manager who told me that was there policy--no water with the meal combos, only soft drinks! That is when I contacted the company. The main company sent me a voucher and told me they had contacted the owner of that restaurant. I have not heard from him at all. I have had nothing but good service from Chik-Fil-A in the past. I have always got no drink with my meal combo with no problems. It is only at this one store. I figure if I have to pay extra to get no drink or water, then I will go elsewhere. I still haven't used my voucher. We don't have Chik-Fil-A here in Carlsbad and I will not go to the one there at the Mall in Cruces. There is one at the university, but it is set up so that you pay the school somehow and you pay per item there. So, the voucher wouldn't work there. I figure I'll either use it when I go to Texas or send it to my DD. I really thought the owner would have contacted me about this, but he hasn't. (Can you tell this gets me steamed?)
DeBora, I think I'd be contacting the headquarters again about that manager! He at least owes you an apology!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I've already dealt with them several times and they apologized. However, I did tell them that unless the policy at that store was changed I would not be coming back. The kept sending me emails informing me that they were in contact with the store owner and blah, blah, blah. He and they not only have my email, but my phone number and address as well.

[cat lover]

You would think the corporate office would make them follow corporate rules. It's a shame some managers can be that way.

[barbszy]

Elizabeth, if I were a restaurant owner or manager I would seriously treasure a comment like you made about the place you ate with your friends. That is a huge compliment to their management and staff. Have you considered sending them a letter with the same comment? So often, places only hear about the "bad stuff" and never the compliments on the wonderful & friendly service they are providing. You all left happy, and you would go back and probably recommend it to friends.

[Coll]

For my husbands 40th birthday I hosted a dinner for him at TGIFridays. Maddie wasn't born yet, so it was 5 of us, my parents and niece, husbands sister and grandmother, and husbands best friend and his wife. I called a week before and asked what I needed to do, they said call an hour in advance, and said You do know the gratuity is added in for parties of 8 or more? I said thats okay. So the day came I called an two hours in advance, they said they had no record of me wanting to have the party. But they'd accommodate us. Since I didn't trust them I went there an hour early. (I had already sent out invitations because it was a surprise). When I got there, the person in charge said there was no party of 12 scheduled. Needless to say I was very unhappy. They set it up, everyone arrived, we had a great meal, but we weren't finished with dessert and you could tell they were trying to get rid of us. They didn't ask me if we were finished, they kept bothering my dad. So I paid the bill and they did not leave an extra tip.

Coll

[cat lover]

Dont' blame you for that one! If I don't get good service I reflect it in the tip! I really hate it when you have to go ahead because you aren't sure if people have done their job correctly!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Coll, if you did not get ahold of the associate manager, you should call the district manager or owner. Sorry about the bad time. I didn't have a good experience at TGI Fridays eithers.

[Marie]

Hubby and I both worked for food service places when we were in HS and have family members that still do so we try to be understanding but if my coffee cup is empty or I have to wait more than 5 min. for you to get your duppa to my table, your tip goes down. Cold food is another one.

About tipping at the drive thru? What the heck is up with that? All they do is bag the food and hand it to me so why should I tip them? If that's the case, I want my customers to start tipping me when I deliver their orders, LOL (that's a joke-I get very uncomfortable when someone does actually try to do that). I do tip the pizza delivery person because I know for a fact that some places don't give the delivery charge to the delivery person.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Marie, I agree with you. My experience with drive-throughs is that half the time they don't even get the order correct! If I have to tip the person behind the drive-through window, then I am not driving off until I have throughly checked my bag to see if every single hamburger or item was made exactly like I ordered it. I am under the understanding that a tip is for service. If my meals look and taste good, then they get the tip.

As for the empty or even half empty coffee cup, that is a dining sin!

Here's one. I dislike Sonic (sorry Sonic lovers). However, the once in a blue moon time when we go there, what are we supposed to tip? The regular 15%. I think the car hops are taxed like waitresses, but I am nit sure. I know the IRS taxed 9% of everything, whether or not they make that amount.

[cat lover]

I really dislike it when the waitresses have to pool their tips and it gets shared amongst everyone! The ones that do a good job and work hard for it are carrying the load for the slackers! I try and not frequent the places that do that as it is my own little protest! LOL

[Marie]

Marie, I agree with you. My experience with drive-throughs is that half the time they don't even get the order correct! If I have to tip the person behind the drive-through window, then I am not driving off until I have throughly checked my bag to see if every single hamburger or item was made exactly like I ordered it. I am under the understanding that a tip is for service. If my meals look and taste good, then they get the tip.

As for the empty or even half empty coffee cup, that is a dining sin!

Here's one. I dislike Sonic (sorry Sonic lovers). However, the once in a blue moon time when we go there, what are we supposed to tip? The regular 15%. I think the car hops are taxed like waitresses, but I am nit sure. I know the IRS taxed 9% of everything, whether or not they make that amount.

We don't have any places with "car hops" out here. I don't know if I'd tip at a place like that, it depends on what they do. If they just bring the food out then I'm not tipping. If they took the order, brought out the food and then came back to take a tray, etc. I probably would (depending on the service). But at a McDonald's or some other place where I'm talking into a speaker and then driving to a window (and like you said, half the time the order is screwed up), the person at the window did nothing but fill a bag and hand it to me. I'm not going to tip for that.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I know that ppl are supposed to tip at places with car hops. However, I am not sure if I would tip them the same as someone who cleans your table and refills your coffee.

[ajrsmom]

DeBora, I think that we are thinking along the exact same lines when it comes to tipping.

I have made it a point to contact the main office of any restaurant where the food and service is terrible. I have done this starting with fast food, all the way up to fancier restaurants. A few years back I wouldn't have said anything but boy how I've changed!

When I contact the main company, I explain as much as possible what has happened. Then I always include my phone number and tell that that I would appreciate a phone call to discuss the matter even more. I also let them know that I want (and expect) a refund of my money. After talking to someone from each place, I have always received a refund and most places will offer a free dinner if you are willing to try their restaurant again. I do not do this to take advantage of a free meal but I do believe that if I am paying to eat in a place, it should at least be decent.

The most recent place I have complained about was Pizza Inn in Shelby, NC. The food was horrible, the service was lousy and the manager could've have cared less when I mentioned some of the problems to her. She didn't say one word to me, just collected my money and told me to have a good day. This used to send me into orbit when someone wouldn't even address the problems but now I don't even blink an eye. I knew that I was going to go home and contact someone who did care what was going on. After talking to this chain's administrative secretary ( she was going to blow it off too), I insisted that she put me in contact with the district manager. She didn't want to do that but my reply was that I wasn't stopping until I talked to someone and if she didn't want to help me, I was going to include her name in my list of complaints. It usually doesn't take this much but I was determined that I wasn't going to let this one drop. I finally received a phone call from the district manager telling me that he was going to refund my money and in fact he had made a lot of changes to that particular restaurant--he was calling me from that restaurant at the time.

Of course, I believe there is a time and place to complain. If you go into a "local dive" for that special hot dog, you should know what to expect ahead of time. You are not going to get 5 star food or service. On the other hand, even if you are eating fast food, you should expect the order to be right, the place to be clean and not expect an attitude from the staff. Another story... We stopped to get a quick bite at Wendy's a couple of weeks ago. My son and I both got burgers but with different toppings. They made both of them wrong. When I went to the counter to explain the problem, one of the guys making the burgers actually said to the cashier " I knew that I made one of them wrong but I was waiting to see if they would say anything" :mad: HELLO! I am standing here and I can hear you! I bit my tongue, got the new burgers and continued our meal. I didn't take it any further but if it happens again, I will say something.


GGGRRR!!!!

[cat lover]

I've done the same thing; I don't let the jerks in the restaurant that act that way bother me any more, if they don't want to take care of the problem right there they can deal with the head office on it. I've always gotten a good response from the higher ups. There have been times though that I've told them I don't want a coupon for a freebie because I will not be going back into that restaurant, so I'll only settle for a refund. That has worked too!

On rare occasions I've called the local health department on a restaurant when it is so dirty that it is horrbile. I figure if it is that way then the higher ups aren't tending to the problem either so I bypasss then and report it to the local health department. You'd be surprised at how quick usually a place gets cleaned up!

I figure those departments are there for a reason and if the restaurant doesn't want a bad mark with them and really cared for their customers they wouldn't have to worry about the health department coming in.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Well said Tami. I hate to complain, so it has to be really bad when I do. Then, when I complain, I go all the way! I got a free meal with Chick-Fil-A when I originally ordered 2 meals and a brownie. I am still miffed at that! I still cannot get over the fact that I have to pay extra to get water or no drink!

I liked the good ol days when the customer was usually right.

[ksuzy]

I've worked in restaurants for 31 years. In "the old days" guest service was the most important thing next to good food. Unfortunately, these days most people don't love their jobs, they are just "doing time" and could care less. It is really hard for someone like me who truly loves what I do and really cares about people and their dining experience. I try to compensate for the ones who don't care but it is really difficult.
The no refill on coffee gets a huge cut on a tip for a server with me, because I LOVE my coffee! I always tell a manager if I see something that seems unsanitary to me...of course being in the business all these years....sometimes the managers are just doing their time too and could care less. Customer service in general, not just restaurants is truly LACKING. It is sad.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I really miss the good ol days.

[cat lover]

Hi ksuzy, been awhile since we've seen you! Nice to see you back! You are rioght, it is really sad about the attitude from even the managers in a restaurant, how in the heck do us as the consumer deal with it? I recently was in a Golden Corral and the three managers were causing an uproar with all the floor employees. Someone was stationed in the wrong place and they made all the employees change stations because of the one, something about the rotation schedule was out of wack due to one. So he upset all the employees and service went for the day I suppose, I know it did while we were there. When we finished eating I spoke to one of the managers and told him first of all thought he should have discussed this with the employees in back not on the floor for all the customers to see the uproar and hear it. And secondly the headquarters were going to hear of it because it sure wasn't good for the people trying to have a nice dinner to have to listen to all the agurements and actually yelling some of them were doing! He preceeded to tell me he was new and the other two were his boss so he couldn't let it go or it would have been his job! So I told him we'll just see how the headquarters feels about the older two managers allowing him to conduct business that way. I will not go back into the one at all! Okay guess I've vented enough! LOL

[cat lover]

DH and I stopped at a Ruby Tuesday's yesterday for a quick lunch while we were on the road. Well I just don't understand why restaurant employees think peoplke trying to have a nice meal want to see them put up a fit about thier working conditions! This particular one had several new employees and several of them were not happy employees for unknown reasons. But they stomped around the restaurant and threw fits like 2 year olds! And the managers let them continue! When they would wipe off the tables they threw the cloths down on the tables, practically kicked the chairs in to place and I heard several customers complain about the attitude of the employees. It is really a shame when your meal is disrupted like this. I never let my children behave at the table like that and don't feel like I should be witness to adults behaving in a place I'm paying to be there behave like that!

Did I vent enough! LOL Anyone else ever witness such behavior out of the employees?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I have seen employees behave in such a manner. I have even heard them bad mouthing someone--which isn't appetizing when one is going out to relax and have an upbeat time. When that has happened, I call the manager over and talk to him/her. If the management isn't willing to deal with it, I call the owner of that franchise or the corporate office.

[wakyzackmom]

My worst pet peeve is when parents let their kids run around like animals.:mad:

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I am totally with you there. Unless I go to Chuck E. Cheese, I want to sit down and have a relaxing meal without listening to crying, screaming, and whining. My kids were always required to behave during a meal when we went out to eat. They knew I wouldn't take them out if they didn't behave.

[Bilby]

A friend and I were catching up at an eatery (enclosed but not really a restaurant) having lunch and the 2 youngish guys beside us 1 did the biggest fart you could imagine, as everyone looked, then they got up and left. Left the stench of the big billowing wafting gas hung over us all, PHEWWW! They laughed. They only left after the smell started wafting, they couldn't stand thier own smell they must have eaten before we go there.
So my peeve there would be lack of considration for others, and many you've all mentioned above.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Bilby, I will have to say that tops any horrible experience that I have had.

[Janet]

Kathy, You have the best Pet Peeve.

I have no complaints here.

Hugs, Janet

[cat lover]

Wow:eek: that is one I haven't experienced; thank goodnesss!:o

[Bilby]

I tell you what I don't know what they'd eaten but it was indescribable LOL
My usually quiet friend let out a few choice words at their backs.

I was talking about this somewhere else, manners just seem to go out the window with some people, what makes them better than the rest of us that give that consideration. I 'd have to say that eating out can be fraught with to many things from horrilbe kids to horrible grannys and all inbetween there is no age barrier.
I just give up sometimes, ok I'm off my soap box now, I just hope my kids don't grow up that rude.

[cat lover]

Isn't it funny (well not really funny),but how people can be so rude and it not bother them? I'd be mortified to act the way some of them do!