Thread by @MrAlanCooper

I’ve been a foody most of my life. I cook my own fancy meals. I have dined around the world. I have eaten at restaurants with Michelin stars (even a couple of 3s) so I know what good service looks like and what it costs. 1

I also really like to eat at the local pho place, Mexican eatery, and fish-and-chips diner. The food is good, the service is good, and I feel special when I get to leave a big tip (20% is my minimum). 2

What burns my toast is upscale dining establishments that charge as though they had a couple of Michelin stars but offer food, dining room, and service as though they were a linoleum-and-paper-napkin place. 3

I’m not amused when the waiter does his little routine with introducing himself by name, reciting the specials, taking my drink order, but then fails to notice that there’s not enough setups, we’re out of water, and our drinks take 15 minutes to arrive. 4

This in itself isn’t a bad thing, but then I get a check for $250 and I feel like I’ve been had.

Just for the record, I still tip 20%.

It’s just that I’ll be goddamned if I’ll be silent about it. 5

It’s funny but the restaurants I know and go to where the owner, or chef, or chef-owner comes over to the table to see if everything is okay always seems to be where everything is okay. Those that are NOT okay are the ones that use the wait staff as a defensive line. 6

It’s as though there is a correlation between the chef-owner paying attention and the quality of the food/dining room/service. 7

And I am not being mean or rude when I ask the server to bring me water or salt or a fork instead of him/her trying to hustle me out of the restaurant so he/she can turn the table faster. 8

And it’s funny that I rarely have to ask for water or salt or a fork at those cheap diners. Only at those overpriced places. Funny, but not ha-ha funny. 9

I understand that waiting tables is a shitty job and that waiters are underpaid and maltreated. Frankly, so is just about every other job in America today, except maybe being a billionaire. All I can do is speak the truth. 10