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 Below are Dev's
answers to questions about dining out at restaurants. Have
your own question?
Ask
Dev for advice!
WOULD YOU LIKE CHANGE BACK?
Hey Dev,
Is it rude for a server to ask a guest if they need change,
or should they just assume that change is required everytime?
- Jessica
Dear Jessica,
Many diners take offense when asked if they'd like change
back. They assume that the server is asking for a tip, and
consequently might leave less of a gratuity than they would have
otherwise. A server's best response is, "I'll be right back
with your change." - Dev
DINING ROOM BECOMES A PLAY ROOM
Hey Dev,
Last night we ate at a restaurant where two kids ran
rampant. Despite nasty stares from other diners, the parents
didn't seem concerned about their unruly kids running,
yelling, and even playing hide-and-seek under some of the
occupied tables! Surprisingly, even though the restaurant is
a pricy one, staff ignored the situation. What should I have
done? - Peeved
Dear Peeved,
There's a special place in hell (where the thermostat is set
on extra high) for inconsiderate parents who allow their
little demons to use the dining room as a substitute play
room. All too often, attempts to enforce social norms (such
as glances of disapproval) aren't effective against such
clods. The responsibility of dealing with these matters
ultimately lies with management. Since nothing was done, you
could have spoken with the manager or server. And if that
didn't work, then it would have been best to tell the
restaurant that you're going to take your business
elsewhere. - Dev
WHAT TO WEAR AT RESTAURANT
Hey Dev,
I'm a casual guy,
but my girlfriend is always getting on my case about not
dressing up when we go out to a restaurant. Could you please
get her off my back? - Jorge
Dear Jorge,
It depends on where you're dining.
If I'm
sitting at a tiki bar on the beach slurping raw oysters and
drinking cold beer, you'll catch me wearing nothing but
faded shorts and a DinnersFromHell.com t-shirt. However, when
I'm attending the Beelzebub Ball, for example, old Dev is looking
dapper
and acts like a dandy. The point is, one should dress for
the setting, as well as for the occasion. - Dev
MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN
Hey Dev,
There's nothing I hate worse than spending my hard-earned
money at a restaurant I've never been to before, then end up
feeling I've wasted it with bad food and poor
service. Should I just stick to restaurants
that I know from experience are consistently
good? - C.
Dear C.,
I sympathize with you since I've been to my share of hellish
restaurants. But if you don't take a gamble, then you'll
never hit the jackpot and discover a hidden gem. To increase
the odds of experiencing a dinner from heaven, ask
your friends if they've ever been to a restaurant that you
were wondering about. And don't forget to use our restaurant
review and dining blog resources! - Dev
POOR TIPPER
Hey Dev,
My boyfriend is a
tightwad. He insists on paying 12% for a tip, regardless of
the quality of service. What amount do you think is sufficient? -
Jen
Dear Jen,
Servers have a
tough job. They have to keep up with constant demands
from multiple tables, deal with the kitchen, bite their
tongues with rude customers, contend with poor base pay, and
somehow show an upbeat attitude. For exceptional service,
20%+ is called for; decent service 15-20%. On the other
hand, subpar service and a bad attitude shouldn't be
rewarded either; such cases would warrant a tip less than
15% (sometimes much less). A patron shouldn't have to
pay to have a bad time thanks to a server needing an
attitude adjustment. Nor should a server be penalized for circumstances beyond his or her control,
such as a slow kitchen or poor food quality. Tell your
boyfriend that if he continues to pay 12% for decent
service, then he's going to end up being served by Hell's
minions - well done! - Dev
STEAK PREPARATION
Hey Dev,
I like my steak prepared medium-well.
All too often, however, I receive it overcooked and dry. I hate
to go through the trouble of ordering it undercooked and
rare. What do
you suggest? -
Chad
Dear Chad,
Where I live, everything is on the crispy
side, if you know what I mean. Personally, I'm a lacto-ovo-pollo-pesco-wacko,
but I can tell you what the Mrs. does. She asks for the
server's advice and orders the steak accordingly. - Dev
WHAT FORK TO USE?
Hey Dev,
My partner and I have a disagreement and a
bet riding on the outcome. He says etiquette dictates that
the fork closest to the plate is the one to use first; I
think it's the one farthest out. What say you? - Jack.
Dear Jack,
You win the bet. Even in Hell, etiquette dictates that
you work from the outside in towards the plate; the fork
farthest away is the one to use first. I hope that you had a
dinner riding on the bet. And if it happens to turn into a disaster,
send us the story so we can publish it on the
Dinner Stories page! - Dev
Ask Dev your restaurant dining questions.
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