My Top 5 Restaurant Service Pet Peeves
Dear BA Foodist,
I love going out to eat, but I'm puzzled by the odd practices that even some of the best restaurants seem to follow. No salt on the table is one of my biggest pet peeves. What are yours?
Floyd Partinson, Skokie, Illinois
Dear Floyd,
I once had a colleague (a restaurant critic colleague, to be exact) who said that if she were awarding stars, restaurants would receive one for warm bread and another for saying "Thanks for coming" as she exited. The point she was making was that the little things a restaurant does (or does not do) can have a big effect on your meal--and many of them have nothing to do with your actual food. Some are minor (soft as opposed to rock-hard butter served with your dinner), and some are major (clean bathrooms). With that, here's my list of restaurant practices that tick me off. (And don't act as if you don't have a list of pet peeves, too.)
No one to greet you as you arrive or say thanks as you leave. Both are equally important (just because a restaurant has taken your money doesn't mean its responsibilities are over).
Waiters who say one of three things:
1. "Hello, my name is X, and I'll be your waiter tonight";
2. "Have you dined with us before?";
3. "Everything on the menu is great."
Removal of one single piece of cutlery or plate before everyone at the table has finished eating. It's disruptive and rude.
Offering up freshly ground pepper, grated cheese, or anything else for a dish before I've even had time to taste it. How am I supposed to know if it needs pepper? Isn't that what chefs and kitchens are for?
Dirty tables going uncleaned. (And on a cleaning side note: Restaurants should never, ever start mopping or dragging trash through the dining room until every customer is gone. Period.)
What are your restaurant pet peeves?
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