Walking into a restaurant, you’re probably ready to enjoy a good meal, some excellent ambiance, and maybe even top-notch service. According to 89% of customers, exceptional customer service influences their decision to return, indicating that service quality plays a key role in retention.
As someone who’s worked in the industry—and spent way too many hours scrolling through servers’ rants on social media—there’s one thing I’ve learned. Servers have a list. Oh, yes, a mental list of dreaded questions that chip away at their soul every time they hear them (especially on busy nights when they’re already stretched thin).
I’ve narrowed it down to four questions that’ll instantly mark you as “that customer.” Trust me, you don’t want to be THAT customer.
“Can you make me this drink/food I had at another establishment?”
You walk up to me and say, “I had this amazing blue drink at that place downtown. Can you make it?”
Uh, no. I can’t read your mind, and I definitely don’t have the recipe for every cocktail created at every bar in the city. This is akin to saying, “I’d love for you to recreate my grandmother’s secret cookie recipe.” No ingredients, no instructions—just an unwavering belief that I can conjure up the exact flavor of your childhood. All while trying to manage the ticking clock of my other tables.
And ‘blue drink’ is very vague. Is it a Blue Bayou? A Chi-Chi? A Blue Margarita? A Frostbite? The Something Blue? The list is endless. Your bartender isn’t going to know a drink recipe from another establishment they’ve never worked at. Even if they did, we might not have the specific ingredients that made that drink special.
Stick to classics or ask about our signature cocktails instead. We know those recipes by heart and can make them perfectly.
“What’s the cheapest thing on the menu?”
When you ask this question, you’re basically telling us three things: you can’t be bothered to read the menu yourself, you don’t want to spend money, and (let’s be real) you probably won’t tip well either.
Menu prices are right there in front of you. Most restaurants aren’t hiding their prices like some kind of secret code. Plus, when you make it obvious that you’re looking for the absolute cheapest option, we start mentally preparing for a rough night.
What to do instead: Just scan the menu quietly and order what fits your budget. We respect that everyone has different spending limits, but keep that info to yourself. FYI, planning ahead and checking prices online can save you from awkward moments later.
TouchBistro’s 2024 Diner Trends Report, as reported via Blue Book, shows that 85 per cent of people look at the menu online first, while 80 per cent look at the restaurant’s website. During this research, 54 per cent are seeking value for money.
“What’ve you got?”
“I got a whole damn bar, dude. What do you want?” – that’s what one Reddit user said, and honestly, I felt that in my soul.
Why this drives us nuts: You’re basically asking me to recite our entire menu while you sit there like a deer in headlights. That’s what menus are for! Over 70% of restaurants have also integrated QR codes into their operations in one form or another, after COVID-19 made most of us germaphobes, notes QRCode. co. uk.
Among these, over 85% use QR codes for digital menus, providing patrons a touchless method to view their food and beverage options. You can browse everything before I even get to your table.
A 2022 report published by The Food Institute even found that 49% of the surveyed individuals have used a QR code menu at a restaurant. This figure increased to 68% for Gen Z and 78% for millennials.
Give me something to work with. Ask about appetizers, vegetarian options, or our most popular dishes. But please don’t make me list every single item we serve.
You might be interested in: 10 Outrageous Reasons People Were Kicked Out of Restaurants.
“So, what’s your real job?”
Aaargh! Every time someone asks this, they’re basically saying my job isn’t legitimate. News flash: serving tables IS my real job. It’s how I pay rent, buy groceries, and live my life.
The restaurant and foodservice sector is expected to create over 200,000 new jobs, bringing the total workforce to 15.9 million employees by the end of the year, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2025 State of the Restaurant Industry report.
1 in 3 Americans indeed has their first job in restaurants, and many go on to build fulfilling, lifelong careers. However, for most of us, this isn’t a side gig or something we’re doing “while we figure things out.” It’s our career, and we’re damn good at it.
Questions like “Are you in school?” or “What do you want to do when you grow up?” are just as insulting. Would you walk into an office and ask the accountant what their “real” job is? I didn’t think so.
So please, next time you’re out, remember that the person serving you is a professional. Respect their career choice, just as you’d want them to respect yours.
The bottom line
Dining out should be fun and relaxed. But remember, there’s a real person behind that apron trying to make your experience great while juggling multiple tables.
Quick tips to be awesome:
- Read the menu before ordering
- Be specific with your requests
- Respect that extra stuff costs extra
- Treat us like the professionals we are
With labor shortages hitting restaurants hard and QR menus becoming the norm, these questions are more annoying than ever. A little consideration goes a long way.
Next time you’re out, skip these four questions and watch your server’s face light up. We notice good customers, and trust me, you’ll get better service when we’re not secretly rolling our eyes. 🙂
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
Disclosure: This article was developed with the assistance of AI and was subsequently reviewed, revised, and approved by our editorial team.
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12 Laws And Rules About Food In Other Countries
12 Laws And Rules About Food In Other Countries
Food is more than just nourishment; it’s a reflection of culture, tradition, and, in many cases, the law. Around the world, various countries have established distinct food regulations that may surprise travelers and food enthusiasts alike.
These laws reveal how deeply societies value what ends up on their plates. Here are 12 fascinating food laws and rules from around the globe that show just how diverse and sometimes unexpected our relationship with food can be.
