Things to Avoid When at a Restaurant
When planning to meet up with family and friends, a restaurant always seems to be an ideal place for a catch-up. Eating out allows us to take time off from cooking and be free to relax and enjoy each other’s company, without the added pressure of ensuring everyone is well fed in our homes.
Eating out, however, is not the same as eating in one’s home. Even in the most relaxed restaurant environment, there are certain behaviours that we need to steer clear of so as not to ruffle the feathers of the restaurant staff. Here are a few to be mindful of:
Time always seems to move slowly when we are hungry or tired. This may be the case if we are famished by the time we get to our restaurant of choice. In the event that service is quite slow, try your best not to call over and try to order from a server that has not been assigned to your table. Restaurants have systems in place to allow service to run as smoothly as possible. Your server will approach your table as soon as they are assigned, and they will be available to help you throughout your meal.
Try not to continue your conversation when you are ordering your meals. When your server is taking your orders, it is respectful to give them your full attention, which helps them process your order more efficiently. Choosing not to pay them any mind and chatting through the order process creates a negative experience for everyone and may impact the quality of service you receive for the remainder of your stay.
With the point above, don’t say you are ready to order when some members of your party are still undecided. The server has other guests to attend to and making decisions as they wait at your table wastes time for everyone involved. If you are the host, wait until everyone has made a decision to draw the server’s attention to your table.
Don’t snap your fingers when trying to get your server’s attention. That is plain rude.
With the exception of allergies and extreme food intolerances, try not to stray off the ingredient list for your chosen food item. The menus offered to us list dishes that have been tested and perfected over time. If we decide to tailor our food differently from what is on the menu, it may result in an unpleasant surprise that is completely different from what the chef would have curated.
Depending on where you are, it may be common practice to let the server know in advance if you are splitting the bill. Do not leave this until the end of your meal as the restaurant’s billing system may not allow for the splitting of bills after a table has made their order. In the event that this turns out to be the case, try not to argue with the server about the process. If possible, find a way to designate one or two people to pay for the group and settle your balances after this payment has been made.
If you are the host, pace yourself with your guests and try not to finish eating before everyone else. Also, don’t announce that you are full before dessert is ordered. Some of your guests may be looking forward to the dessert menu and this may deter them from indulging.
Encourage young children to stay at the table until it is time to go home, unless they need to be excused. We understand that kids may be excited to see their friends or cousins, but a restaurant is not a playground. Running around might cause accidents with servers who are delivering food to other tables, and the noise may cause unwelcome interruptions to conversations at and around your table.
When you are finished with your meal, you might think you are being helpful by stacking your dishes. Please don’t do it. Restaurant staff have systems that help them balance the dishes, and you don’t want to interfere with them.
Taking leftovers home has become a common sight in some establishments, yet others still frown at the idea of someone asking for a doggie bag. Be an astute diner and avoid any kind of embarrassment. Usually, a restaurant that practices this will offer a takeout container at the end of your meal.
As a single person, don’t assume that your attractive server is single as well and start flirting with them or give out your phone number. This is a faux pas that needs to be avoided.
Respect the restaurant’s closing time and don’t linger as staff need to clean up and get ready for the next opening. Remember that they also need to get home for a much-deserved rest so the next group of patrons can receive the good service you have just been privy to.
Most importantly, be a savvy diner and enjoy your meal and the company of those at your table.
Happy dining!
