Restaurant Annoyances

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the restaurant. If I buy a bottle of wine, I pour. A bottle of water will be opened and I pour. Coffee is rarely a bottomless cup, and a pot is brought if asked and I pour. I can’t think of a place I’ve been where they kept refilling- maybe at the vegetable garden up at white flint? They had that filtered water they’d bring around?

[Anonymous]

Team OP

Im paying $3 for a soda. There better be a refill. And I shouldn't have to ask for it.
The server has 2 jobs - take my order and refills. And it's annoying when the waiter can't fulfill both of those.

The rest of my restaurant experience is hostess, chef, line cook, and server assistant who brings out the food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the problem is you’re going to lowbrow restaurants if you’re expecting free soda refills. No nice place does this anymore. Also, you don’t need more soda. Drink water.

So lowbrow restaurants are exempt from customer service and shouldn't be expected to notice low beverages?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the problem is you’re going to lowbrow restaurants if you’re expecting free soda refills. No nice place does this anymore. Also, you don’t need more soda. Drink water.

So lowbrow restaurants are exempt from customer service and shouldn't be expected to notice low beverages?

I mean...yes? Cheaper restaurants are not training their staff to high levels and are likely not securing the best servers. I expect different service at Applebees vs Torrisi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you the lady who needs something really delicious to wash your food down and cannot drink water at a dinner party?

OMG, thank you! I loved that thread. "Water doesn't really quench my thirst."

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/715974.page

For your review! I have no idea why I loved that thread so much, but here we are 7 years later and it still brings me joy.

Thank you! Will definitely go down this rabbit hole today!

[Anonymous]

This is why serving isnt just a do x or y job. You have to read people. For every person like the OP there is 1 other person who doesnt want the server around unless they want them to specifically do a task. They want to be left alone. They dont want a pitcher coming over to fill water glasses when they are talking, especially business. They dont want hands reaching in to grab their drink from the back corner seat of the booth. They dont want multiple glasses and god forbid you bring a full Coke when they are 1/4 through and try to clear the near empty glass. Its an immediate "Im not done with that". And then theres the complaint following up about how the server didnt clear plates appropriately and it was cluttered.
See the PP above who pours their own wine. Servers are supposed to pour the wine.
For every person who wants their plate cleared as soon as they are finished, there are another group of people who dont want the plates cleared until everyone at the table is finished. For every group that wants to order immediately, there is a group that wants to talk first and then order.
And its funny because you should be placing your silverware in a specific position to indicate you are finished but NO ONE does that anymore. If it was taught and server could rely on it then thered be no need to ask.

I am not saying there arent bad servers or wait staff. I am not saying that they dont disappear but it used to be that you could walk through a dining room and there would be nonverbal signals. Patrons expect servers to read their minds and no one- even at the same table- follows the same cues.

[Anonymous]

I prefer to be asked don’t just fill my glass.

[Anonymous]

How are you drinking that much soda in one meal? I love soda! Drink it daily in overall large amounts. Thank god I only like diet or I would weigh over 150 lbs! Even I don’t drink a full soda at meals let alone multiple refills.

Same with coffee, who chugs multiple cups of coffee at a restaurant?

[Anonymous]

Many servers these days seem sullen and like they’d rather be anywhere else. We’ve cut way back on going out. It’s just not worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you the lady who needs something really delicious to wash your food down and cannot drink water at a dinner party?

I instantly thought of this too. Man we have been here too long....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why serving isnt just a do x or y job. You have to read people. For every person like the OP there is 1 other person who doesnt want the server around unless they want them to specifically do a task. They want to be left alone. They dont want a pitcher coming over to fill water glasses when they are talking, especially business. They dont want hands reaching in to grab their drink from the back corner seat of the booth. They dont want multiple glasses and god forbid you bring a full Coke when they are 1/4 through and try to clear the near empty glass. Its an immediate "Im not done with that". And then theres the complaint following up about how the server didnt clear plates appropriately and it was cluttered.
See the PP above who pours their own wine. Servers are supposed to pour the wine.
For every person who wants their plate cleared as soon as they are finished, there are another group of people who dont want the plates cleared until everyone at the table is finished. For every group that wants to order immediately, there is a group that wants to talk first and then order.
And its funny because you should be placing your silverware in a specific position to indicate you are finished but NO ONE does that anymore. If it was taught and server could rely on it then thered be no need to ask.

I am not saying there arent bad servers or wait staff. I am not saying that they dont disappear but it used to be that you could walk through a dining room and there would be nonverbal signals. Patrons expect servers to read their minds and no one- even at the same table- follows the same cues.

Look, if you're around and pour it when I want it, that's great. But I'm not going to sit there waiting for you to pour the wine when you're across the room helping others, the bottle is sitting in front of me, and I have two arms that work. That's just silly.

[Anonymous]

A personal chef would solve a lot of your complaints OP

[Anonymous]

You sound like the ****ing Queen of Sheba, OP. Have you ever worked in food service? And why do you need to drink that much in the first place? Could you be more of a provincial demanding weirdo?

Get a life.

[Anonymous]

Don't suck down your mountain dew before I've had a chance to put your order in.

When I "disappear" I'm in the back getting drinks for another table or ensuring my party of ten's order is ready to come out properly.

[Anonymous]

Just checking for a reply.