Restaurant Ordering

[Deleted]

Anyone else know someone that needs to ask 9/10 questions about menu options to their server before ordering? DW, my mom and one of my best friends all do this and it gets annoying, I'm more of a shoot from the hip and order what looks good and these guys make me wait. DW always gets pissed to because most of the time I end up with the better meal.

[Deleted]

I do, if I'm eating somewhere new.

[lynnerself]

Not that exactly.
But I had a co worker/friend who could never get anything just as it was on the menu.
She ALWAYS would ask for substitutions. It became a running joke.

I think many times she was trying to upgrade stuff for free,

[Sam_2.0]

I rarely ask questions. It drives me nuts when DH is trying to decide on something. He's started giving the server 2 options and asking them to surprise him with one I am sure he annoys them by it, but most have played along.

[justme]

I don't ask a ton, well there was one time my one question kept shooting my option down lol.

I'm a wimp about spicy food so I'll often ask about that. There's a few things I just hate and might ask if it's possible to get the dish without. Or I'll ask if it's possible to switch sides.

I'm nice about it and if the answer is no I just move on to my backup. I figure a few questions is better than the waiter having to deal with a dish being too spicy for me where I went be eating it.

[mmhmm]

I don't ask questions. I'm not a picky eater. If it's something I like I'll get along just fine provided the cook isn't drunk, or just masquerading as a cook. If it's decently prepared I'll eat it.

[NancysSummerSip]

I don't have an issue with a couple of questions, if someone is new to the establishment or is unfamiliar with the particular cuisine.

But I think a line has to be drawn with it, along with asking for too many changes to a dish. I saw this the other day, at lunch in a very fine French bakery/bistro. The place has a nice, but not extensive menu of classic French bistro dishes, plus pastries to die for. Two women came in and literally held up the line for 25 minutes, ordering their lunch, but asking for all kinds of substitutions on their salads and sandwiches.

For pete's sake, if you are going to be that picky, eat at home. The restaurant owner is justifiably proud of his/her work, or they would not be in this insane business. Don't rip apart the classic Salade Niçoise so you can have it your way.

[Deleted]

I am picky but I don't do this.

 I do  go out with someone who does and it drives me crazy.

It's one meal. If it's not perfect you will survive and not starve anyway.

We also go out with a couple who we call the" food critics" lol.

We laugh about their "reviews'.

[Deleted]

I do try to ask to the side. I like when there is an allergen book, or if I can just go talk to someone from the kitchen.

[tskeeter]

Feb 20, 2015 17:04:47 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

I don't have an issue with a couple of questions, if someone is new to the establishment or is unfamiliar with the particular cuisine.

But I think a line has to be drawn with it, along with asking for too many changes to a dish. I saw this the other day, at lunch in a very fine French bakery/bistro. The place has a nice, but not extensive menu of classic French bistro dishes, plus pastries to die for. Two women came in and literally held up the line for 25 minutes, ordering their lunch, but asking for all kinds of substitutions on their salads and sandwiches.

For pete's sake, if you are going to be that picky, eat at home. The restaurant owner is justifiably proud of his/her work, or they would not be in this insane business. Don't rip apart the classic Salade Niçoise so you can have it your way.

I've dealt with that type of person from the kitchen side.  Servers come with very specific instructions about how dishes are to be prepared.  Not too bad if it's slow.  But don't be asking me to stand on my head while I prepare your meal if it's really busy.

By the way, try it my way.  You might like what I do better than what you've been doing for the last 40 years.  Even if mine isn't better, it'll be different.  Expand your horizons a little.  If you don't want your horizons expanded, maybe you'd be happier staying at home.

[Tiny]

Yeah, whenever I go out with a group there's always one person who winds up asking a boatload of questions about an item on the menu and then basically changing a menu item into something else by asking to  have atleast two ingedients modified or removed and having the 'meat' part cooked a different way.  


I ask questions about dishes I'm not familiar with - or when the menu uses fancy words or "renames" stuff with themed words.  

I generally don't feel the need to revise any particular main entree - although I do ask for dressing on the side if I'm getting a salad and then proceed to put as little dressing as possible on my greens  - versus the people who ask for the dressing on the side (usually a good 4 to 6 ounces of dressing) and then the whole thing on their salad....

I've also asked for a 1/2 order (or one scoop) of fries if they are a side for a burger or whatever I've ordered.  I don't need to eat a pound of fries... with my pound of burger.     Yeah, I'm paying for a pound of potatoes -but I don't care.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Sounds like the Delicatessen scene from "When Harry met Sally" - Sally placing her order after Harry:

[MarleyKeezy78]

We go to a lot of the same places because of DS peanut/tree nut allergies because we have a ton of great places in our town and it's nice not to have to question everything on the menus. Last new place we tried, DS got his meal and I had forgot to ask and just before DS took a bit I found out everything was cooked in peanut oil (kids food ) (my fault for not asking,) and DS cried because he couldn't eat and we had to scramble to find something for him to eat! Never again, I felt like the world's worst parent   Otherwise no, I am not to picky, unless it contains undeclaired bivalves(scallops, clams, ect...) then I get to spend the evening hugging the toilet   Happend on my last birthday, ordered chicken and beef at a Korean place and it either had oyster sauce or was cooked on the same surface as the seafood, not a fun night, blarf!!! 

[Tiny]

Feb 20, 2015 17:07:10 GMT -5 @xmascookie said:

I am picky but I don't do this.

 I do  go out with someone who does and it drives me crazy.

It's one meal. If it's not perfect you will survive and not starve anyway.

We also go out with a couple who we call the" food critics" lol.

We laugh about their "reviews'.

I asked a friend who asks questions, asks for adjustments, or orders the same thing over and over and never tries anything new about that...   

Her response was:  why would I pay for something I MIGHT NOT Like?    I don't want to have to eat something I don't like.

I guess I just have lower standards for what I'll eat... I'll make due with a mediocre meal.  I've never had a non-edible meal at a restaurant - I have had some mediocre so so meals though (and I won't go back to that restaurant OR I'll order something else if I go again).  
  
 

[Tiny]

I totally get the asking about allegen kinda stuff.  Totally...

but the "is there mustard on that?  What kind of mustard? is that a brown spicy mustard or Yellow?  Does it have Brown Sugar or Molasses in it?  Can you put that on the side.   a So, onions come with that- what kind are they? sauted? fried?  what are they fried in?  Can I have those grilled (since they only come sauted or fried)?   Bun? OK,  Is that really whole wheat or are you pulling my leg?  Does it have High Fructus Corn syrup in it? Do you have a gluten free option. No.  OK,  How about the rye - oh, it's got carraway seeds... ok, just skip the bun... Soup of the day? Sure what kind you got..... "

I've sat thru orders like that...

[shanendoah]

On MLK day, I had a girls' day with 4 of my closest friends. There are 2 of us who have no food issues and can eat just about anything. One has Celiacs and is allergic to red meats, another has pancreatitis and cannot eat any peppers (with a note that paprika IS pepper), and the third was recently diagnosed with diabetes and is on a very strict low carb diet. After our movie, we had the discussion of where to eat...

We ended up going to Zoopa, basically a soup and salad bar buffet, where we each had much more control over what went on our plates AND no poor waiter would be stuck trying to manage an order with that many special restrictions.

[cronewitch]

I will if I have to eat out on a diet. I mostly just order something I know I can have like I went to olive garden and ordered a salad, but ask about what was in the dressing, then asked not to have dressing at all, the waitress offered vinegar so that was nice. Now I just refuse to eat out at all, I am not eating salt, sugar, refined carbs or much fat. If I had to eat out I would look for a salad bar. I would love to get Chinese food but I would swell up from water retention and gain at least 5lbs from one meal and spike my blood sugar. ISO wanted to take me to a steak house for Valentine's day I told him I didn't want to go, overcrowd holiday anyhow. If I had I would have gotten a small steak, baked potato and side salad with any condiments on the side.

[wvugurl26]

If I ask questions they are related to my food allergies. I don't want to barf up my meal later or end up in the hospital.

[Blonde Granny]

What irritates me is what a good friend of our does.  The 4 of us order and suddenly she has to try the food on her DHs plate, then insists he try some of hers. Then she tells me (insists) that I try some of her food etc. Eat your own darn food and leave mine alone. And stop eating off your DHs plate.

Oh, and she can't possibly order without making a big fuss about the food to the waiter, asking all these stupid little questions, i.e what type of olive oil does the chef use? Who cares, order the damn food and shut up!!

[shanendoah]

Blonde Granny - As a note, if we ever meet in person, you should not go out to eat with C and I. In C's world, all meals are family style. At some point during the meal, he absolutely will take a bite of food from my plate (often without asking). If what you ordered sounds good, he'll ask to try a bite from your plate. He will offer a bite from his plate.

Our group of friends has been pretty solid for over 15 years now, so everyone knows this and it doesn't seem to bother them. In general, we're all kind of "family style" when it comes to new places, and often plan our menu choices so that no one repeats a dish and we call all try as much as possible.

But, I totally understand this bothering people and tend to warn new people who might be joining our group that we're family style, and give them a chance to object before any food shows up.

[Blonde Granny]

Nope, family style is a way to serve the meal, it doesn't mean eating food off another persons plate. Yuck!

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

We went out for Valentine's day last weekend and I had pomegranate molasses glazed duck breast on top of smoked gouda barley risotto that was to die for.  I swear, if no one could have seen me, I would have picked the plate up to lick it.  I asked the waiter what was in it and he said he'd ask the chef - but when he went back to the kitchen, the chef was getting slammed.

Last night, we were at the same restaurant for a beer and food pairing and the same chef was the one who put together the pairing.  I got a chance to ask him how he did the risotto as we were both leaving the restaurant at about the same time.

Normally though, if I'm ordering at a restaurant, I'm usually asking what veggies are in a stir fry or if there is any blue cheese in something.  Otherwise, I'm fairly easy in ordering.

[Green Eyed Lady]

I'm not picky. I do not ask a bunch of questions. The most I will say is "I'll take the club sandwich - no tomato please." If I'm so picky that I have to give 10 different directions and ask 20 questions, I need to stay home and eat, cause I'm just being a pain in the ass.

Something that could make you sick is a different story. I don't blame people for asking questions when not doing so could cause a serious problem.

[Deleted]

Feb 20, 2015 18:21:43 GMT -5 Tiny said:

I totally get the asking about allegen kinda stuff.  Totally...

but the "is there mustard on that?  What kind of mustard? is that a brown spicy mustard or Yellow?  Does it have Brown Sugar or Molasses in it?  Can you put that on the side.   a So, onions come with that- what kind are they? sauted? fried?  what are they fried in?  Can I have those grilled (since they only come sauted or fried)?   Bun? OK,  Is that really whole wheat or are you pulling my leg?  Does it have High Fructus Corn syrup in it? Do you have a gluten free option. No.  OK,  How about the rye - oh, it's got carraway seeds... ok, just skip the bun... Soup of the day? Sure what kind you got..... "

I've sat thru orders like that...

[Malarky]

Feb 20, 2015 18:49:18 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

If I ask questions they are related to my food allergies. I don't want to barf up my meal later or end up in the hospital.

WVU,

You're one of the people I think would accept when I say "I can't guarantee no cross contamination."  You can't eat here.  

We use every known allergen in the bakery except actual peanuts.  But we order and use stuff that is made in facilities with peanuts. Think M&M's.  And we are an open facility.  There is no door between retail and the main baking area.  The cake room is open to the main baking area, although there is a door to the retail area.  Which is frequently opened.  We put nuts in lots of things and sell them out of the same case as the items with no nuts.  Celiacs beware.  There is flour in the air.  You may not see it, but every single day, we dust every single surface because it's covered with flour.  There is dairy, eggs, nuts, coconut and soy.  

So we tell people this from the outset.  I can tell you my ingredient list.  I can tell you my source.  What I can't do is promise you that it wasn't contaminated when it gets to me.   I can't promise you that we didn't accidentally contaminate it ourselves.  Case in point.  Coconut is a (not well known) tree nut/allergen.  The shredded coconut I use on cupcakes is in the basement until I fill my bin and take it upstairs.  I forgot the lid today.  So I walked and uncovered known allergen throughout the whole facility. But that doesn't really matter because we use it in every area of the bakery.  

Even as a food service "professional" for the past 30 years, I don't see how any restaurant/food establishment can guarantee your safety.   

And no I can't change my recipes.  Baking is chemistry.  If you upset the balance, the end result changes.  So no, I can't  make you a single carrot cake with no nuts or pineapple.  The first ingredient on the recipe card is 30 pounds of carrots...

[dannylion]

Now I want carrot cake.

[Malarky]

Feb 20, 2015 20:11:25 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Now I want carrot cake.

Moist and delicious with spices and pineapple and nuts and amazing cream cheese frosting?   Yep.  I can do that.

Dairy free, gluten free, nut free and vegan.  Not so much.  

[dannylion]

Feb 20, 2015 20:17:57 GMT -5 Malarky said:

Feb 20, 2015 20:11:25 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Now I want carrot cake.

Moist and delicious with spices and pineapple and nuts and amazing cream cheese frosting?   Yep.  I can do that.

Dairy free, gluten free, nut free and vegan.  Not so much.  

You don't happen to be in Maryland, do you?  'Cause now I want carrot cake moist and delicious with spices and pineapple and nuts and amazing cream cheese frosting.   

[Deleted]

I don't have any allergies or any "dealbreaker" foods (mushrooms, onions, spices, etc.). I'm careful about fats so I ask if it's in a creamy sauce or deep-fried.  If yes, I just order something else.  I'll also ask for dressing on the side, no butter on the potato, etc.  Other than that, I hate asking the chef to make major changes to the recipe.  I can nearly always find something I like.  Sometimes I just order two appetizers, with one of them being green and virtually calorie-free.

[milee]

There are usually plenty of things I like on a menu, so I don't usually ask questions or modifications. About the only two things I ask fairly often seem to be

1) what are the specials (if they aren't printed or announced.) I often like specials since it's a way to try new things as long as you know it's not just a lame attempt to use up leftovers or whatever's about to go bad.

2) What kind of fruit is in the "fruit crepes"?  I love fruit crepes with a little yogurt on top and they're a common breakfast offering around here, but for some reason many of the restaurants don't list what the fruit inside the crepes is.  I like almost all fruit, but think that melon - especially honeydew and cantaloupe which are really common here -and grapes are yucky in a crepe and the thought of them with yogurt skeeves me out a little.  Of course, melon and grapes is what a lot of restaurants use as their fruit mix, so I want to know that before I order.