7 Irritating Restaurant Behaviors You Might Be Unknowingly Displaying, According to Industry Professionals
Kindly refrain from excessive snapping.
After a tiring week at work, few things are as enjoyable as dining at your favorite restaurant, whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply satisfying a craving for that ideal dish. We understand that you’re looking to relax and be catered to during your visit. However, this doesn’t mean you can engage in annoying restaurant habits that upset the waitstaff. If you want to enjoy a fantastic dining experience while being a considerate guest, here are seven common behaviors that might unintentionally irritate restaurant staff — along with tips on how to avoid being that bothersome customer at your local eatery.
Kindly refrain from snapping your fingers. Brian Nagele, the CEO of Restaurant Clicks—a digital marketing firm specializing in the food and beverage sector—and a former owner of Kings Oak restaurant in Philadelphia, has a simple plea: Avoid snapping at the staff. This is just one of many annoying restaurant habits that can detract from the dining experience.
"In the restaurant industry, snapping fingers is generally seen as disrespectful. Waitstaff are often juggling several tables while managing bustling surroundings. This impatient call for their attention can exacerbate their frustrations at work," explains Nagele. He recommends, "Instead of snapping fingers, a courteous wave or trying to make eye contact can significantly improve your interaction with the staff."
This approach helps to avoid some of the more annoying restaurant habits that can create a negative dining experience.
Refrain from contrasting their dishes with those from other establishments. Each restaurant has its unique flair, so it’s best for diners to steer clear of making comparisons between different places when interacting with the restaurant team. This is one of the most annoying restaurant habits that can
"Each restaurant and chef has their own distinct style," explains Andy Diep, the head sushi chef at Seminole Reef Grill. "It can be quite frustrating when customers begin by asking, ‘Is your sushi (or soup, fish, or any other dish) similar to what they serve at another restaurant?’ As a chef, restaurant owner, or server, you can’t help but wonder, ‘If that’s what you’re looking for, why didn’t you just go there instead?’"
Diep suggests that diners should "embrace the unique flavors and cooking techniques of the restaurant instead of trying to recreate a dish they could find anywhere else." He also mentions, "I enjoy engaging in discussions with my guests to understand their taste and texture preferences, allowing me to tailor the sushi experience just for them." This approach can help avoid some of the more annoying restaurant habits that detract from the dining experience.
Avoid initiating unrequested or surprising physical interactions with restaurant staff. Much like you wouldn’t appreciate being touched by unfamiliar individuals, restaurant servers also prefer to maintain personal boundaries.
Nagele points out that it’s simply not acceptable. "Not every person in the hospitality industry is outgoing, and they deserve to have their personal space respected. If you wouldn’t approach someone outside of a restaurant and touch or tap them, then don’t do it at the dining table. Restaurants are professional environments and both staff and patrons should maintain that standard." Instead, consider making eye contact to connect. If you really need to get a server’s attention, just approach them and politely say, "excuse me." This can help avoid some of those annoying restaurant habits.
Avoid talking on your mobile phone throughout the evening. This behavior is undoubtedly irritating for both the restaurant staff and fellow diners. Diep emphasizes the importance of putting your phone away and paying attention to your server instead.
According to Diep, it’s better to silence your phone, store it away, or even leave it in your vehicle while dining out. It’s advisable to handle important calls either before you get to the restaurant or after you finish your meal. If you must take a call, consider stepping outside to avoid contributing to annoying restaurant habits.
Avoid sitting at an unclean table. Even if you’re feeling hungry, it’s best to wait a moment for the staff to clean the area. This way, you won’t contribute to any annoying restaurant habits.
"Occupying a table that hasn’t been cleaned can be frustrating for the waitstaff, who may already be busy with other responsibilities. When you choose to sit at an unprepared table, it forces the employee to abandon their current tasks to assist you, which can be challenging, particularly during long shifts or when the restaurant is short-staffed," says Nagele. "Additionally, it creates an uncomfortable situation as you have to observe them tidy up in your presence. Some diners might even begin to critique the waiter’s cleaning techniques based on their own opinions, which can contribute to annoying restaurant habits."
If you notice that no clean tables are available, Nagele recommends allowing the staff a five-minute window to prepare a space for you. This can help alleviate some of those annoying restaurant habits we often encounter.
Avoid expecting the staff to change the weather.
While waitstaff can assist you with various tasks, such as stabilizing a shaky table, helping you choose the best spot, or recommending a delicious dish, it’s important not to become frustrated when they are unable to manage every detail of your dining experience. This is one of those annoying restaurant habits that can lead to unnecessary tension.
"For instance, if you’re enjoying a meal on the outdoor patio during a scorching day, there’s little I can do to change the temperature," explains Ashley Schuering, a blogger from Confessions of a Grocery Addict and a restaurant industry expert with two decades of experience. "I’m more than willing to provide you with a piece of paper to create a makeshift fan, keep your ice water topped off, or assist you in any other way I can. The same applies to dealing with outdoor nuisances like flies—if you choose to dine outside, you’re accepting the risks. Additionally, if you’re dressed in a tank top during winter while others are bundled up, I can’t magically warm up the environment for you. I can offer you a mug of hot water to help warm your hands, but that’s about the limit of my capabilities.”
This highlights some of the most annoying restaurant habits that customers might exhibit, such as expecting servers to manage uncontrollable elements or their own discomfort.
Avoid being a no-show. One of the most frustrating habits of restaurant patrons is failing to arrive for their reservations.
Currently, there’s a growing issue where diners are booking several reservations for weekend evenings. Tiff Meikle, the front-of-house manager and co-owner of Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar in Chicago, refers to this as "reservation shopping." "This behavior is incredibly harmful to our business. Many customers either fail to show up or cancel right before their reservation, which severely affects our profits since weekends are crucial for our income. To complicate things further, we could have accommodated other guests if we had received at least a day’s notice." This is just one of the many annoying restaurant habits that can hurt the dining experience for everyone involved.
In the wake of the pandemic, Meikle emphasizes the significance of customers recognizing how their behaviors can adversely affect restaurants. Addressing those annoying restaurant habits is crucial for fostering a positive dining experience
"We kindly ask our patrons to respect their reservations. It’s important for our guests to either keep their bookings or provide a proper 24-hour notice, particularly on our peak nights, to avoid those annoying restaurant habits."