10 things restaurant and café guests do thinking they’re being polite (but are actually incredibly annoying)
Dear restaurant and café guests, you often mean well. Really. But sometimes your ‘helpfulness’ is about as useful as a corkscrew with a can of soup. We asked people in the hospitality industry about the habits of guests that are awkward, rude and, frankly, just annoying. They know you mean well, and they’re not angry either—but here’s a little plea to stop doing these things when you go out for dinner or enjoy a drink on a terrace.
1. Help yourself (but preferably don’t)
Yes, that tub of ice cubes is on the bar. No, that’s not an invitation to rummage around in it with your grimy fingers before putting them in your glass of rosé. Hospitality staff see everything, including your hand in the ice.
2. Stack plates as if you were at home
At home, it’s the way to clear the table. But 1: you’re not at home. And 2: you don’t have to clear the table—I do that, because it’s part of my job. It’s very sweet that you want to help, but stacking plates isn’t necessary. What’s even worse, by the way, is people who stack plates and then put them on the empty table next to their own. Not okay!
3. Impatiently grab for the menu
You’ve just sat down, the server is on their way… and yet you go and get the menus yourself. Dear restaurant and café guests: we really did see you.
4. “How much should I tip?”
That’s up to you. It’s awkward to answer this honestly. And no, nobody dares say “ten euros,” even though it’s deserved.
5. Paying separately (the ultimate hospitality nightmare)
It’s well-intentioned, but really, don’t: paying separately. Nine people, each with their own share, all drunk and without a tip. In the age of payment apps, it really isn’t necessary anymore.
6. Ordering for the whole group
Again, the idea isn’t bad. “There are eight of us, so I’ve already taken everyone’s order for you.” Then you still have to go back to the group because you don’t know how anyone wants their steak cooked, whether they want jalapeño on their burger or whether they want fries with their mussels. Double work! Sweetly intended, but very impractical.
7. Renovating the terrace
Moving tables and chairs “so we can get past more easily”. That terrace is arranged that way for a reason.
8. Throwing off the balance
Tray full, perfectly balanced… until you grab your glass from it. Result: five red wines all over the table.
9. Hanging around at the bar for your cappuccino
A beer can be quick. Coffee can’t, especially when there are still twenty orders ahead of yours. Just take a seat—we’ll bring it to you.
10. The hungover chatterbox
You’re hungover, you open the place, everything is quiet… until that one guest at the bar wants to make extensive small talk. Timing is everything, dear restaurant and café guests.
The moral of the story
Restaurant and café guests, you’re welcome—very welcome—but sometimes ‘doing nothing’ helps the most. Sit back, order, enjoy… and leave the rest to us.
Also read:
- “The ice is too cold”
- You don’t have an allergy, you’re just being a pain
- 8 x bizarre and disgusting behavior from restaurant and café guests
