Irritating/Endearing Restaurant Quirks

[bam bam]

Are there any restaurants that you frequent that have some unique ways of doing business that you either abhor or find endearing? I dislike the fact that Casamento's seemingly is never open. I never particularly liked the way the way one ordered their food at Uglelisch's. I do love the no reservations policy and the being assigned a waiter at Galatoire's.

I also enjoy the wait at Lola's. It gets no better than sitting on the porch next to the restaurant drinking sangria from a carafe in the most interesting neighborhood in the city.

[#7 throw away to do list.]

i am irratated that the Royal Palm was built using ill gotten gains via bribing edwin edwards for the treasure chest casino license.

[EatinAintCheatin]

Let's see....

Making a reservation, arriving 5 minutes early, only to be told "OK bud, I got ya covered, just a minute" while several other parties pass you and are seated at the remaining main dining room tables when eventually you're led to the tables by the bar where your face is at the same level as the a$$ of all the people standing at the bar and only 2 feet away when one, or more, of them relax their anal sphincter and float an air biscuit between you and your wife while your trying to enjoy your meal.

Not exactly the aromatics I want above my food.

Actually happened and I haven't been back since.....

[BTG]

Cash only restaurants.
Specials that have no price and a server who doesn't feel like telling you.
Paying over $8 for a simple on the rocks drink where the cup is filled with ice and exactly 1 perfectly measured pour of alcohol is put in.

[hungryone]

Restos where it isn't clear if you're supposed to seat yourself or not, with no visible host/hostess station at the entrance. Would it kill 'em to put up a little "please seat yourself" sign? I hate lingering by the door, while everyone in the dining room gawks at you, and the server closest to the door inevitably turns away, leaving you standing there.

[edible complex]

if I drank iced tea or coffee, refilling me before I'm empty forcing me to re-adjust. I've seen too many people get their hands wet trying to fend off a refill.
and no hard, cold butter please.

[Pas Bon]

Restos where it isn't clear if you're supposed to seat yourself or not, with no visible host/hostess station at the entrance. Would it kill 'em to put up a little "please seat yourself" sign? I hate lingering by the door, while everyone in the dining room gawks at you, and the server closest to the door inevitably turns away, leaving you standing there.

Experienced that just this weekend at Elizabeth's.

[Schuarta]

Back to the old standard - applies in 80% of restaurants from "chains" to the very top-notch - pepper shakers where the "grind" is too coarse for the holes in the top, resulting in pepper that has aged (dried out) in the shaker for months!

[Gourmondo]

The same CD/mp3 has been playing the background music at Nirvana for at least 3 years. And the food isn't getting any better, either.

---------- Post added at 05:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:51 PM ----------

And another thing, in quite a few breakfast places I go: those little micro-tubs of butter that hold about a microgram of butter. I understand the reason for the damn things, but it chaps my ass when I want a buttered biscuit or grits, particularly at 7 AM and the coffee hasn't kicked in yet.

I had my lipid profile done last week and it's excellent, thank you, so gimme the damn butter!

[cstoehr]

Back to the old standard - applies in 80% of restaurants from "chains" to the very top-notch - pepper shakers where the "grind" is too coarse for the holes in the top, resulting in pepper that has aged (dried out) in the shaker for months!

Yes! That and overfilling so nothing comes out at all (applies to salt and pepper). Then you take the top off and of course it spills all over. And would it hurt to glance at the menus before handing them out when they have dried food or sticky sauce on it? That is disgusting.