BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Italian Food Restaurant Rules That Bug You

I have an article entitled The Tyranny of Restaurant Rules

What restaurant rules really bug you?

I think those rules that you described are utterly ridiculous! As you say, those restaurants are losing potential income.

I haven't had an experience like that where the restaurant has refused to seat us until all the party arrives - on Saturday we had a huge farewell at a hotel with a restaurant, bar, and nightclub. When my hubby and I arrived we found most of our party enjoying drinks at the bar, and after chatting for a bit, a few of them went to go and find our table and then we all gradually wandered over there. I think this was perfectly acceptable. The restaurant section didn't care what we did, they just served us when it looked like we were all there. I wouldn't call this a proper elegant restaurant though - (in fact it was chaotic and noisy being part of the nightclub and bar, but that was the atmosphere).

But I have been to a few really nice restaurants where the maitre d' offers you the choice of beginning with a drink at the bar or being seated straight away. I like that. Especially if you've arrived alone and are waiting for another person or two. I would be far more likely to order a drink at the bar and sit there happily alone, than I would if I were sitting self-consciously alone at my table waiting - at the table I would feel that I should rather order whatever I am going to be drinking with my meal (which then raises the question, what am I going to eat? what meal and drinks are my friends going to order? etc), whereas at the bar I would feel I could order, say, a beer and probably finish it before we move across to the table. The restaurant wins because I would be more comfortable and relaxed and likely to order more and tip better - especially if the bar tender was also attentive and put me at ease.

Something else I love is when you tell the waiter/maitre d' that you're not in a hurry, or that you are, and they adjust the service speed to suit that. We went to the most fabulous restaurant on Philip Island in Aus (now sadly not open to the general public, only hotel residents). We wanted to have a quick dinner first and then shoot off to see the penguin parade. That's what we told the hostess and they zipped us beautifully through the entree and brought out the mains as soon as we were done. At that point the stunning food and atmosphere got to us and we said forget the penguins. The staff then turned the service down to slow and discreet and we stayed another 3 hours!

Oh, I have gone on a bit. And about what I do like rather than what bugs me <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Sorry im Diebetic i dont wait!!! i dont care if its a nine course meal for $1!!!! my friends and i would have left completely!!! Another "rule" i find quite irratating is putting smoker at the very worst spot in the building with the worst wait staff they can find!!! and thats if they have a smoking section at all. but at lest the no smoking sections make scents. its not like smoke knows what section it allowed in!!! and aother thing is going some place to eat and the building is all most empty and they put every one right together so you have to hear what everyone else has to say about what your talking about!!! and dont even get me started on the lack of hygene the worker have or there additude!!! there is nothing worse then a waiter who wipes down a table then get you bread WITH HIS BARE HANDS...

Eating near smokers _ now that is disgusting! very unhygenic indeed. People are not allowed to smoke anywhere where food is served here and as a non smoker I am glad.If smokers want to slowley kill themselves all very well but I should not have to breath in their smoke.

My biggest gripe about resturants is a feeling of being rushed out of there - nothing worse!

You're right, I hate being rushed. We have often told wait staff not to hurry the courses and then the next thing we know we're getting the salad before we've finished the appetizer. I'd like to actually taste my food, thank you.

When the whole dining area is open, but the wait staff insists on seating everyone in one area. Why not put one party over there and another party on that side, at least until the restaurant fills up? And usually, it's a loud, obnoxious party that they seat next to you when the entire restaurant seating is open. Why cram everyone into one spot? Convenience for the server? The other servers need customers, too, so I can't see that as the reasoning. When I complained to a manager about this on one occasion, he couldn't understand why it bothered me. Would you want a loud party sitting right next to you when you can see that the majority of the tables in a large restaurant are open? I don't know, but for me it's a no-brainer. I guess that's why he's the manager...

I can actually answer that one; floor cleaup.

They don't have to waste time on sweeping the floors under the tables if they don't seat people in all sections. But if they opened every section, then every section would need to be cleaned.

Also, the wait staff still shares table - even if only one section is open; but it makes it easier if they only have one small section to go to, rather than run to several sections over the entire restaurant. It's all about what is easiest for the restaurant - which from a money making point of view kind of makes sense.

I ask for the no smoking, no perfume, no children section.I am a small child magnet sooo no matter where I sit the 4 women with 9 children under 5 will be seated next to me(you have been warned.) And you know that not one of these women Or children will know the meaning of the word "no"...then to add insult to injury one or more will be yelling into her cellphone while multiple children stand(If it is a good day) and watch me eat...BUT what really irks me is when the parent lays on the guilt w/o discipline...arg!! And if you follow the"It takes a village to raise a child theory" and ask the child to go away...the mpommies will turn on you like ravenous beasts...(yes I have children)

BTW: Isn't a "no smoking" section in any restuarant rather like a no peeing section in a swimming pool?

No separate tickets in parties larger than 4. This can be an absolute nightmare--divvying up the tab, figuring tax, divvying up the tip. It drives me crazy! Not to mention, there will always be at least one occasion where this group will be a business thing and everyone needs a ticket for tax purposes.

LOL! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Yes - like the air is going to just stay in that one spot.

I especially like the ones where there is a chest high wall separating the 2 sections. Like the smoke should know to stay on its side! I have 2 children w/ asthma - plus a pretty bad reaction to cigarette smoke myself.