Share your pet peeves about dining and diners

Food Network Fan · 07-02-2008, 11:48 AM

Share your pet peeves about dining and diners -- Restaurant Row
The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com - Cleveland,OH,USA

What bugs you when you're dining out? And if you're on the other side of the equation -- as a server, manager or chef -- what bugs you about diners?

........The restaurant features dishes that appear in the works of popular food writers, such as Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten, Michael Lomonaco and Martha Stewart. ...

BerryBaby · 07-02-2008, 04:12 PM

Out of control parents and children....meaning the children are running around and the parents say nothing!

The other day a friend took me out for my birthday. We were at the lakeside restaurant and all of sudden a group of 10 children came up right next our table and were hanging on the rails, crawling over them and almost fell in the lake! The group of 5 parents just sat there and said nothing!!!

Finally, I had to give them 'the look' and one came over and told the children to move. What if one had fallen over into the lake? I just don't get it.

ibcheft · 07-02-2008, 04:43 PM

That is called the me generation, all they care about is me. I could go into a long speech but for one it would probably upset a whole lot of people, only problem is BB we come from a generation that taught respect, and as children we knew what would happen if we acted like that, today wouldn't happen, can't happen and so sad to say kids know it. Okay that's enough before I get into trouble. Guess my peeve would be not keeping my drink filled, rather it be water, tea, or coffee. Actually that is how I base my tip, if it is kept filled with out me asking, you get a good tip, if I have to ask more than once, your tip goes down, if you do not come around and my glass or cup gets empty, sorry you did not do your job, so your tip is slim to none.

bakerman · 07-07-2008, 10:29 PM

I have to agree about the children, especially in places that are more adult, and not really appropriate for children.

I do have a good experience with children. Last fall I was on a cruise, and the large table next to us had about 6 young children and 3 adults. The table on the other side had a baby about a year old. I was worried about this, but by the second night I forgot that they were even there. The table with 6 children, the children were so well behaved, and the adults kept them entertained by interacting with them. The baby at the other table, was just a doll, so happy and cute, when she started to get restless one parent would take her out of the dining room to run around in the lobby area, and she was fine.

It also annoys me when the waitperson interrupts a conversation more than once to ask if we like our food, we recently had one ask 3 times. I don't mind the first time, just keep an eye on our glasses , keep them full and you will be tipped generously!

MAC