Is there a polite way to tell waiter/waitress you want zero small talk?

[Anonymous]

We grabbed brunch earlier. We thought were made it obvious we weren’t the “chatty” types. We immediately ordered our drinks and food. But the server kept lurking and prodding and trying to force conversation through the meal, even trying to be funny that we weren’t chatty. So freaking annoying. I’m frankly never interested in it but especially with Covid we just don’t want to converse with random strangers, period. We always tip 20 to 22% so it doesn’t help or hurt anyone. Is there a polite way to say this? Obviously we don’t want to piss off anyone with control over our food.

[Anonymous]

Unless you just had something like a death in the family what’s wrong with humoring the waiter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless you just had something like a death in the family what’s wrong with humoring the waiter?

Covid

[Anonymous]

Wow, I have never had this issue. Maybe I give off an untalkative vibe or something.

[Anonymous]

Just be brief in your responses and physically turn yourself body away from the serve when you’re done speaking. Or you can just smile vaguely when s/he says something. They will get the picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you just had something like a death in the family what’s wrong with humoring the waiter?

Covid

I mean...you're already there at the restaurant. You already made the decision Covid was not keeping you away. I can get not wanting to be chatty but it's weird in the context of Covid the server chatting is somehow the big Covid health risk you cannot take, but going to a restaurant was fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just be brief in your responses and physically turn yourself body away from the serve when you’re done speaking. Or you can just smile vaguely when s/he says something. They will get the picture.

Agreed. And if that doesn't work, try "hey, I appreciate your help, but my mind's on something else, and I'm not up for talking. Don't mean to be rude, and thank you." Or something like that.

[Anonymous]

You point to the person you are with and say that you came to chat with them.

[Anonymous]

When you “grabbed” brunch, what did you do with it?

[Anonymous]

You just say that we are discussing something important and do not want to be interrupted except for the food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you just had something like a death in the family what’s wrong with humoring the waiter?

Covid

I mean...you're already there at the restaurant. You already made the decision Covid was not keeping you away. I can get not wanting to be chatty but it's weird in the context of Covid the server chatting is somehow the big Covid health risk you cannot take, but going to a restaurant was fine.

My gosh, you sound like an annoying server!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you just had something like a death in the family what’s wrong with humoring the waiter?

Covid

I mean...you're already there at the restaurant. You already made the decision Covid was not keeping you away. I can get not wanting to be chatty but it's weird in the context of Covid the server chatting is somehow the big Covid health risk you cannot take, but going to a restaurant was fine.

My gosh, you sound like an annoying server!

Uh, nope. I never said I was a server. I am not.
If you are so worried the server is giving you Covid you probably should have stayed home or gone elsewhere though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you “grabbed” brunch, what did you do with it?

That's an idiom. Some people, even in this highly educated area, use idiomatic English.

BTW, is your refrigerator running?

[Anonymous]

There is no way to actually say this without being rude.

[Anonymous]

No, you just act like a human and have awkward small talk while internally rolling your eyes. There is no socially acceptable way to tell your server not to briefly chat with you.