Restaurant Talk - Modern Rules Of Dining (1 Viewer)

[Scoresman]

I’m guessing the 90 minute rule is only posted so that if you’re still dawdling for 30 minutes after dinner they can politely tell you to GTFO

Restaurants here should cut their reservations down at least 25%. In Europe by contrast, they are much more relaxed and it is unheard of to rush people through a meal just to seat the next table. Hell, they don't even give you the bill until you ask for it. But here, it's all about how many butts you can serve and how much money you can make.

 

[bigbottom]

People okay with folks bringing their cats into restaurants? Let's assume they are leashed.

I'm in favor of business owners running their business the way they see fit. Consumers then get to decide what works for them and what doesn't.

I'm not sure if this is meant as a "gotcha" question for those in favor of dogs (or legit question), but I'll answer sincerely and say personally in outdoor seating situations people can bring their dogs, cats, or lizards, if they are leashed and tied up and aren't bothering anyone. Children don't bother me either - even the occasional not so well behaved ones, as long as the parents address it (and they usually do).

I personally haven't really experienced most of the stuff people in here have experienced as far as dogs being everywhere - and I live in an extremely dog friendly city (there's a dog beach, Yappy Hour Bar, and poles with poop bags on every other street. I've only seen dogs in outside dining areas that invite them. I have never seen one in a supermarket, fast food place, deli or department store (outside of the rare tiny dog in a handbag and that's maybe been twice in 4 years). The only stores I've seen people bring their dogs in is PetSmart, and I have to since my vet is located in there.

While New Jersey gets a bad rep, I guess we are respectful of rules and others here.

I don’t know what you mean by “gotcha” question. For those who are in favor of dog friendly restaurants where dogs are permitted indoors, do you or do you not favor cats being treated similarly? Unlike the horses and goats question, cats are very common domesticated pets. I would presume that they would still need to be leashed like a dog so they don’t go roaming around. People bring cats on planes all the time. But it seems like you’re in favor of only having animals on outside patios, so the question isn’t really directed at you.

 

[eoMMan]

Big NO!!! to dogs in a restaurant! I've left pubs that allowed them and I certainly don't want poochie wandering around slobbering all over the place and shedding his fur into my food. People who bring dogs to restaurants are ignorant, entitled jagoffs in my book. Whats that? your little poochie never bit any one before?!? I guess I'm the first then.

I will unapologetically bring my dog to a dog-friendly establishment and think you're over exagerating how this experience typically goes. If you got bit at a restaurant by a dog, that's a problem and I hope you took it up with the dog's owner and the restaurant.

There's nothing wrong with bringing a well behaved dog to a dog-friendly restaurant. Those of us that vacation by car with our dogs would much rather bring them to the table than leave the dog in the car.

And I’d much rather have a well behaved dog near me in a restaurant than someone’s human toddler/baby.

What about a well behaved human toddler/baby vs a demon spawn animal? If all are well behaved what's the problem?

An argument could be made that a well behaved baby/toddler is still more prone to outbursts/temper tantrums than a well behaved dog. Even a well behaved baby isn’t well behaved 100% of the time. They are a baby.

 

[JohnnyU]

I’m guessing the 90 minute rule is only posted so that if you’re still dawdling for 30 minutes after dinner they can politely tell you to GTFO

If I spend $100 to $150 on a meal no one is telling me to leave after 90 minutes unless I want to.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I don’t know what you mean by “gotcha” question

Honestly you’re not the type that would do it, and I probably didn’t word it quite properly anyway.

 

[bigbottom]

I don’t know what you mean by “gotcha” question

Honestly you’re not the type that would do it, and I probably didn’t word it quite properly anyway.

I love dogs. And I have a dog. But I am generally anti when it comes to dogs invited into indoor dining areas for the following reasons:

1) I don’t have a high comfort level that the dogs in the restaurant are all well behaved.

2) I don’t know whether or not the dogs in the restaurant have had their shots.

3) I don’t know whether or not the dogs in the restaurant have fleas. If 20-30 dogs are in and out of that place each day, chances are one of them has fleas.

4) A couple of my family members are allergic to dogs and dog hair (cats and cat hair are even worse).

As a dog owner (hypoallergenic dog), I would never take my dog to an indoor restaurant, in part because of reasons 1, 2 and 3 above, but mostly because my dog is a total spaz around strangers. No blinders for me when it comes to my dog.

 

[Scoresman]

I wouldn't bring my cat to a restaurant, because it would be miserable. With rare exceptions, cats don't like being outside of their territory. My cat also cant tell me when it has to go to the bathroom.

 

[bigbottom]

Was on a plane a month ago or so and a woman in the row in front of me had her cat with her. Took about 15 minutes before my allergies got going. Hey, the rules are the rules, so nothing for me to get upset about.

P.S. also witnessed an altercation between two dogs on a plane a couple weeks ago - started snarling and barking at each other when one walked down the aisle past the other.

 

[Terminalxylem]

As others have said, being considerate of other patrons, and the restaurant staff, are paramount. So I don’t favor imposing most of these rules.

The two I have an opinion on are dress code (no) and time limit (yes).

I live in an informal place, and shorts/hats/slippers are accepted nearly everywhere. None of that stuff detracts from my dining experience. FWIW, I don’t like the pretense of “dressing up” in nearly any situation.

As far as time limits, I‘m impatient. I start to get annoyed when people chit-chat before looking at the menu, and the server needs to come back because someone hasn’t/can’t make up their mind. I also don’t like the custom of taking drink orders prior to ordering the meal.

It should take no more than a couple minutes to decide what food and beverage one wants, and it’s typically easy to review the menu even before you are seated. Big fan of QR code menus/orders to streamline this process.

Ninety minutes is more than enough time to accomplish a relaxed meal imo. The one exception may be tapas and sushi places, where it isn’t always clear how many dishes you‘ll eat a priori, and multiple orders are often placed over the course of the meal.

Somewhat related, I can do without all the cork-sniffing, glass swishing, and waiting for approval post first-sip that goes with wine drinking. Just order and drink it, like any other beverage.

 

[Willie Neslon]

3) I don’t know whether or not the dogs in the restaurant have fleas. If 20-30 dogs are in and out of that place each day, chances are one of them has fleas.

Exactly. Imagine if every single dog owner brought their dog with them every time they went out to eat? These people who bring their dogs into the grocery store or strarbucks or wherever else are just being selfish, plain and simple. It's unsanitary and illegal. Not to mention it's a liability issue for the establishment. Dog friendly places where you can sit outside with the dog? No problem. But to bring a pet, sometimes multiple pets, into a place where food is being prepared and consumed is just wrong. What planet are these people on who think this as acceptable?

 

[Joe Schmo]

3) I don’t know whether or not the dogs in the restaurant have fleas. If 20-30 dogs are in and out of that place each day, chances are one of them has fleas.

Exactly. Imagine if every single dog owner brought their dog with them every time they went out to eat? These people who bring their dogs into the grocery store or strarbucks or wherever else are just being selfish, plain and simple. It's unsanitary and illegal. Not to mention it's a liability issue for the establishment. Dog friendly places where you can sit outside with the dog? No problem. But to bring a pet, sometimes multiple pets, into a place where food is being prepared and consumed is just wrong. What planet are these people on who think this as acceptable?

Their dogs are well behaved. Besides, your kid might have lice or covid or something that I can catch so it's fair.

 

[Scoresman]

3) I don’t know whether or not the dogs in the restaurant have fleas. If 20-30 dogs are in and out of that place each day, chances are one of them has fleas.

Exactly. Imagine if every single dog owner brought their dog with them every time they went out to eat? These people who bring their dogs into the grocery store or strarbucks or wherever else are just being selfish, plain and simple. It's unsanitary and illegal. Not to mention it's a liability issue for the establishment. Dog friendly places where you can sit outside with the dog? No problem. But to bring a pet, sometimes multiple pets, into a place where food is being prepared and consumed is just wrong. What planet are these people on who think this as acceptable?

Take this exact post and replace the word "dog" with "kid", and replace the word "fleas" with "COVID/RSV/flu/colds/lice/etc"

Seriously, kids are constantly sick. If you want to talk about introducing something unsanitary into food preparation scenarios, lets start there. Fleas on a dog are a much less common thing.

 

[coyote5]

Big NO!!! to dogs in a restaurant! I've left pubs that allowed them and I certainly don't want poochie wandering around slobbering all over the place and shedding his fur into my food. People who bring dogs to restaurants are ignorant, entitled jagoffs in my book. Whats that? your little poochie never bit any one before?!? I guess I'm the first then.

I will unapologetically bring my dog to a dog-friendly establishment and think you're over exagerating how this experience typically goes. If you got bit at a restaurant by a dog, that's a problem and I hope you took it up with the dog's owner and the restaurant.

There's nothing wrong with bringing a well behaved dog to a dog-friendly restaurant. Those of us that vacation by car with our dogs would much rather bring them to the table than leave the dog in the car.

What is a dog friendly restaurant? One that allows them?

I'm sorry, I'm a pretty easy going guy, and I love dogs as much as the next guy, but your pet does not belong in the restaurant. Your dog is with you? Guess you're getting take out.

The idea that people feel comfortable now imposing things like this on other people is baffling to me. Because that is what you are doing. People do not expect to have to deal with strangers animals in a restaurant. I don't know the pet owner, and I don't know their pet. It's an imposition on the rest of the diners and it's selfish and rude.

Sure it's a problem if I get bit (I'm not particularly concerned it will happen, but still), but to shrug it off and say oh well deal with the dog owner and the restaurant is to ignore the fact that I should never have been put in that situation to begin with.

And for Dr. Octopus's comment of - well just don't dine there... Why the hell should I be the one to not eat at the restaurant. This is not something that has historically been allowed, at least around these parts, so this is a new trend fostered by service animals and then hijacked by every other clown (not directed at you GM) that thinks their little chihuahua or whatever should also be a service animal and be with them everywhere.

What happens when there's more than one dog in the restaurant, and they are barking, fighting whatever. Sure, not a common occurrence I'm sure, but it's certainly a possibility, and now the rest of the diners are forced to deal with whatever happens with that, and they shouldn't have to.

Man, you know what, I don't even ever see this happen at any restaurants around here, so I'm not sure why this wound me up so much, but it did I think it's just speaks to the general erosion of some societal norms as we hurtle towards the apocalypse. 30 years ago people wouldn't dream of just deciding, I want a steak, so I'm gonna pack up the family and the dog and head on over to the steakhouse.

Anyway I generally respect your opinions GM, this one just caught me.

 

[Willie Neslon]

3) I don’t know whether or not the dogs in the restaurant have fleas. If 20-30 dogs are in and out of that place each day, chances are one of them has fleas.

Exactly. Imagine if every single dog owner brought their dog with them every time they went out to eat? These people who bring their dogs into the grocery store or strarbucks or wherever else are just being selfish, plain and simple. It's unsanitary and illegal. Not to mention it's a liability issue for the establishment. Dog friendly places where you can sit outside with the dog? No problem. But to bring a pet, sometimes multiple pets, into a place where food is being prepared and consumed is just wrong. What planet are these people on who think this as acceptable?

Their dogs are well behaved. Besides, your kid might have lice or covid or something that I can catch so it's fair.

Yes, humans can carry disease too but they are there to eat food and the reason the restaurant exists is to feed them.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

And for Dr. Octopus's comment of - well just don't dine there..

I mean I’m not sure what part you didn’t understand but my opinion is the restaurant owner makes the rules for his establishment- and then you get to chose.

I also don’t have any experience where doges are allowed inside restaurants around me, but if a place wanted to allow it and it was within the law, then it would be up to you if you wanted to go there or not. Seems simple.

 

[rockaction]

I think it's just speaks to the general erosion of some societal norms as we hurtle towards the apocalypse.

I think a lot of it is this. As we decide that we're our own masters and overthrow three hundred years of common sense, we're left reconstructing what was in its wake, and we're doing a pretty terrible job of it.

 

[bigbottom]

As others have said, being considerate of other patrons, and the restaurant staff, are paramount. So I don’t favor imposing most of these rules.

The two I have an opinion on are dress code (no) and time limit (yes).

I live in an informal place, and shorts/hats/slippers are accepted nearly everywhere. None of that stuff detracts from my dining experience. FWIW, I don’t like the pretense of “dressing up” in nearly any situation.

As far as time limits, I‘m impatient. I start to get annoyed when people chit-chat before looking at the menu, and the server needs to come back because someone hasn’t/can’t make up their mind. I also don’t like the custom of taking drink orders prior to ordering the meal.

It should take no more than a couple minutes to decide what food and beverage one wants, and it’s typically easy to review the menu even before you are seated. Big fan of QR code menus/orders to streamline this process.

Ninety minutes is more than enough time to accomplish a relaxed meal imo. The one exception may be tapas and sushi places, where it isn’t always clear how many dishes you‘ll eat a priori, and multiple orders are often placed over the course of the meal.

Somewhat related, I can do without all the cork-sniffing, glass swishing, and waiting for approval post first-sip that goes with wine drinking. Just order and drink it, like any other beverage.

I am NOT a wine guy, so this may be totally appropriate wine behavior, but I was at a dinner with someone who did the wine-sniffing, sip thing. And then sent the bottle back. I was horrified, but perhaps this is appropriate and acceptable.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

I’m guessing the 90 minute rule is only posted so that if you’re still dawdling for 30 minutes after dinner they can politely tell you to GTFO

Restaurants here should cut their reservations down at least 25%. In Europe by contrast, they are much more relaxed and it is unheard of to rush people through a meal just to seat the next table. Hell, they don't even give you the bill until you ask for it. But here, it's all about how many butts you can serve and how much money you can make.

Its an interesting cultural contrast for me. My first time going out to a nice dinner in Holland I got a bit antsy just because it was taking so long, until I realized that for them this was an event that everyone expected would last all night - like 3-4 hours. When you get used to going into it with that mindset, it is more enjoyable. Its more about time together rather than just nonstop filling our pieholes with food and drink before being escorted out. My German friend was pretty shocked the first time a waitress topped off his coffee without asking him, the plates are being cleared away as he's lifting the last bite to his mouth and before others are done eating, leftovers boxed up and the check delivered moments later. Its neither right nor wrong, but for me an interesting if somewhat minor cultural difference in our dining experience.

 

[Hu-Tang Clan]

I’m guessing the 90 minute rule is only posted so that if you’re still dawdling for 30 minutes after dinner they can politely tell you to GTFO

Restaurants here should cut their reservations down at least 25%. In Europe by contrast, they are much more relaxed and it is unheard of to rush people through a meal just to seat the next table. Hell, they don't even give you the bill until you ask for it. But here, it's all about how many butts you can serve and how much money you can make.

Its an interesting cultural contrast for me. My first time going out to a nice dinner in Holland I got a bit antsy just because it was taking so long, until I realized that for them this was an event that everyone expected would last all night - like 3-4 hours. When you get used to going into it with that mindset, it is more enjoyable. Its more about time together rather than just nonstop filling our pieholes with food and drink before being escorted out. My German friend was pretty shocked the first time a waitress topped off his coffee without asking him, the plates are being cleared away as he's lifting the last bite to his mouth and before others are done eating, leftovers boxed up and the check delivered moments later. Its neither right nor wrong, but for me an interesting if somewhat minor cultural difference in our dining experience.

"No rush, I'm just going to leave this here though for whenever you're ready. But again, no rush."

 

[Instinctive]

As others have said, being considerate of other patrons, and the restaurant staff, are paramount. So I don’t favor imposing most of these rules.

The two I have an opinion on are dress code (no) and time limit (yes).

I live in an informal place, and shorts/hats/slippers are accepted nearly everywhere. None of that stuff detracts from my dining experience. FWIW, I don’t like the pretense of “dressing up” in nearly any situation.

As far as time limits, I‘m impatient. I start to get annoyed when people chit-chat before looking at the menu, and the server needs to come back because someone hasn’t/can’t make up their mind. I also don’t like the custom of taking drink orders prior to ordering the meal.

It should take no more than a couple minutes to decide what food and beverage one wants, and it’s typically easy to review the menu even before you are seated. Big fan of QR code menus/orders to streamline this process.

Ninety minutes is more than enough time to accomplish a relaxed meal imo. The one exception may be tapas and sushi places, where it isn’t always clear how many dishes you‘ll eat a priori, and multiple orders are often placed over the course of the meal.

Somewhat related, I can do without all the cork-sniffing, glass swishing, and waiting for approval post first-sip that goes with wine drinking. Just order and drink it, like any other beverage.

I am NOT a wine guy, so this may be totally appropriate wine behavior, but I was at a dinner with someone who did the wine-sniffing, sip thing. And then sent the bottle back. I was horrified, but perhaps this is appropriate and acceptable.

I am very much a wine person, as is my wife, and we did our WSET certifications together.

You should not sip. But it is normal to check the cork, and definitely worth a swirl and then a deep nose smell. What you're doing is checking to see if the wine has been cared for properly, or if it has been "corked." Generally, it's VERY easy to tell, as it will smell like wet moldy cardboard, or it won't.

One cool thing about our time in New Zealand a little over a year ago is that many of their vineyards have moved to screw tops, so it's actually kind of rude to check/test it, as it means youre doing it for taste because a screw top can't be corked.

Now, there's a lot I don't know still, but that probably covers 80+% of people 80+% of the time. If you want to look like you know about wine in front of the table and the somm, swirl it, stick your nose in there and smell, and if it doesn't smell like moldy wet cardboard, look back up and say thank you.

 

[massraider]

I think the key to being a good restaurant - is doing what you do - really well.

I think it's the lease.

 

[massraider]

The thing about time limits is only if you can justify it.

You justify it by being busy. I have had time limits enforced on me at a fancy place on a Saturday night, and at a diner after Sunday church, and at several restaurants in the South.

Cool with all of them.

 

[parasaurolophus]

humans can carry disease too but they are there to eat food and the reason the restaurant exists is to feed them.

Infants and dogs should cost extra money. Like 1000000000 dollars.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I’m guessing the 90 minute rule is only posted so that if you’re still dawdling for 30 minutes after dinner they can politely tell you to GTFO

Restaurants here should cut their reservations down at least 25%. In Europe by contrast, they are much more relaxed and it is unheard of to rush people through a meal just to seat the next table. Hell, they don't even give you the bill until you ask for it. But here, it's all about how many butts you can serve and how much money you can make.

This seems like the constant refrain about how wonderful Europe is with people spending 4 hours at dinner.
For the US, I don't know "it's all about how many butts you can serve and how much money you can make." From what I can tell, a restaurant is a tough business with ridiculously narrow profit margins. I'm not sure I fault a restaurant for wanting to turn their tables every 2 hours.

 

[Judge Smails]

Is it? How?

It seems to me that yes, it is usually pretty clear if dogs are welcome. There are often signs. Or dog bowls.

But that's just my experience.

There's a website dedicated to listing restaurants and hotels by city/state that are dog friendly. It took me 4 seconds to find that Dallas, TX where Culdeus lives has 347 dog friendly restaurants.

I hate dogs. I don't want to be confronted with them while eating. The entire trend in this way is disgusting.

I'm sure that same website has solid data integrity on mask policies and enhanced cleaning or whatever nonsense is leftover from COVID too.

Restaurants have no city code to say yes no on this, and there's no thought that some patrons are wanting to opt out. Id rather you smoke than bring a damn dog in.

Hate dogs? #1 character flaw. Tell me you like cats

 

[Judge Smails]

Few restaurants are in the position to turn away money, but I would love to see some sort of dress code enforced at higher end places. Rarely happens. People make so little of an effort these days.

This is an interesting one.

There is the classic scene in Sopranos where Tony tells the guy to take his hat off as they stopped selling hot dogs here a while back.

My friend was the Executive Chef at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill in Ceasar's Palace and they had a strict no hat rule. They asked one of the people in our party one time to remove his hat and he thought they were joking. They were not.

I asked my friend, "If Jay Z walks in here wearing a hat, you ask him to take it off?" He said yes.

I love Mesa Grill at Caesar’s. Haven’t been there in 10 years though at least.

Biggest problem was the low ceilings by the sports book. Reeked of cigarette smoke then. But loved it as well

 

[Judge Smails]

Dogs are cool. Cats are not.

Cats ****ing rule.

You’re the kind of guy who complains about the health hazard of dogs on a restaurant patio, meanwhile you and every other cat owner will let Mr. Frisky hop on eating areas in the kitchen after walking in the cat litter sh!t box, with his whiskers in all of our appetizers. Disgusting creatures.

 

[rockaction]

How about no pets at all?

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Dogs are cool. Cats are not.

Cats ****ing rule.

You’re the kind of guy who complains about the health hazard of dogs on a restaurant patio, meanwhile you and every other cat owner will let Mr. Frisky hop on eating areas in the kitchen after walking in the cat litter sh!t box, with his whiskers in all of our appetizers. Disgusting creatures.

Every dog I’ve ever had will eat cat feces if they get the chance. I’ve never had a cat try and eat dog feces

 

[Scoresman]

I’m guessing the 90 minute rule is only posted so that if you’re still dawdling for 30 minutes after dinner they can politely tell you to GTFO

Restaurants here should cut their reservations down at least 25%. In Europe by contrast, they are much more relaxed and it is unheard of to rush people through a meal just to seat the next table. Hell, they don't even give you the bill until you ask for it. But here, it's all about how many butts you can serve and how much money you can make.

This seems like the constant refrain about how wonderful Europe is with people spending 4 hours at dinner.
For the US, I don't know "it's all about how many butts you can serve and how much money you can make." From what I can tell, a restaurant is a tough business with ridiculously narrow profit margins. I'm not sure I fault a restaurant for wanting to turn their tables every 2 hours.

Then how do they figure this out in Europe? How can a restaurant there afford for people to claim a table for hours?

 

[rockaction]

No pets
No pest
No pests
No pestilence

 

[urbanhack]

Dogs are cool. Cats are not.

Cats ****ing rule.

You’re the kind of guy who complains about the health hazard of dogs on a restaurant patio, meanwhile you and every other cat owner will let Mr. Frisky hop on eating areas in the kitchen after walking in the cat litter sh!t box, with his whiskers in all of our appetizers. Disgusting creatures.

I don’t let my cats anywhere near the counter or eating areas.

 

[Terminalxylem]

As others have said, being considerate of other patrons, and the restaurant staff, are paramount. So I don’t favor imposing most of these rules.

The two I have an opinion on are dress code (no) and time limit (yes).

I live in an informal place, and shorts/hats/slippers are accepted nearly everywhere. None of that stuff detracts from my dining experience. FWIW, I don’t like the pretense of “dressing up” in nearly any situation.

As far as time limits, I‘m impatient. I start to get annoyed when people chit-chat before looking at the menu, and the server needs to come back because someone hasn’t/can’t make up their mind. I also don’t like the custom of taking drink orders prior to ordering the meal.

It should take no more than a couple minutes to decide what food and beverage one wants, and it’s typically easy to review the menu even before you are seated. Big fan of QR code menus/orders to streamline this process.

Ninety minutes is more than enough time to accomplish a relaxed meal imo. The one exception may be tapas and sushi places, where it isn’t always clear how many dishes you‘ll eat a priori, and multiple orders are often placed over the course of the meal.

Somewhat related, I can do without all the cork-sniffing, glass swishing, and waiting for approval post first-sip that goes with wine drinking. Just order and drink it, like any other beverage.

I am NOT a wine guy, so this may be totally appropriate wine behavior, but I was at a dinner with someone who did the wine-sniffing, sip thing. And then sent the bottle back. I was horrified, but perhaps this is appropriate and acceptable.

It is appropriate, but behavior which I can do without. Thank goodness my wife is content with the house red, and has no need to broadcast the “ sophistication” of a wine connoisseur.

 

[ChiefD]

Dogs are cool. Cats are not.

Cats ****ing rule.

You’re the kind of guy who complains about the health hazard of dogs on a restaurant patio, meanwhile you and every other cat owner will let Mr. Frisky hop on eating areas in the kitchen after walking in the cat litter sh!t box, with his whiskers in all of our appetizers. Disgusting creatures.

I don’t let my cats anywhere near the counter or eating areas.

Do you monitor them 24 hours a day?

 

[urbanhack]

Dogs are cool. Cats are not.

Cats ****ing rule.

You’re the kind of guy who complains about the health hazard of dogs on a restaurant patio, meanwhile you and every other cat owner will let Mr. Frisky hop on eating areas in the kitchen after walking in the cat litter sh!t box, with his whiskers in all of our appetizers. Disgusting creatures.

I don’t let my cats anywhere near the counter or eating areas.

Do you monitor them 24 hours a day?

Yes, yes I do.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Dogs are cool. Cats are not.

Cats ****ing rule.

You’re the kind of guy who complains about the health hazard of dogs on a restaurant patio, meanwhile you and every other cat owner will let Mr. Frisky hop on eating areas in the kitchen after walking in the cat litter sh!t box, with his whiskers in all of our appetizers. Disgusting creatures.

I don’t want this to become a dog vs. cat thread, but let’s not pretend either animal is particularly concerned about hygiene.

And we’re talking about dogs at restaurants because, unlike cats, people feel a need to take their canines everywhere. Are cat-friendly restaurants becoming a thing, too?

 

[Tick]

Big NO!!! to dogs in a restaurant! I've left pubs that allowed them and I certainly don't want poochie wandering around slobbering all over the place and shedding his fur into my food. People who bring dogs to restaurants are ignorant, entitled jagoffs in my book. Whats that? your little poochie never bit any one before?!? I guess I'm the first then.

What about a restaurant dog? This restaurant in France had a big shaggy dog named Floofy (though probably like Fleuffi) who lived there when I was working there around 2000. Incredible restaurant, too.

 

[Mister CIA]

My link:

https://youtu.be/lkTlQt4vDG8?si=7ljTEzN5zQkexjAd&t=80s

 

[DA RAIDERS]

As others have said, being considerate of other patrons, and the restaurant staff, are paramount. So I don’t favor imposing most of these rules.

The two I have an opinion on are dress code (no) and time limit (yes).

I live in an informal place, and shorts/hats/slippers are accepted nearly everywhere. None of that stuff detracts from my dining experience. FWIW, I don’t like the pretense of “dressing up” in nearly any situation.

As far as time limits, I‘m impatient. I start to get annoyed when people chit-chat before looking at the menu, and the server needs to come back because someone hasn’t/can’t make up their mind. I also don’t like the custom of taking drink orders prior to ordering the meal.

It should take no more than a couple minutes to decide what food and beverage one wants, and it’s typically easy to review the menu even before you are seated. Big fan of QR code menus/orders to streamline this process.

Ninety minutes is more than enough time to accomplish a relaxed meal imo. The one exception may be tapas and sushi places, where it isn’t always clear how many dishes you‘ll eat a priori, and multiple orders are often placed over the course of the meal.

Somewhat related, I can do without all the cork-sniffing, glass swishing, and waiting for approval post first-sip that goes with wine drinking. Just order and drink it, like any other beverage.

I am NOT a wine guy, so this may be totally appropriate wine behavior, but I was at a dinner with someone who did the wine-sniffing, sip thing. And then sent the bottle back. I was horrified, but perhaps this is appropriate and acceptable.

It happens. Sometimes the wine is bad. Etiquette dictates that you turn away a bottle because it has gone bad, not because you simply don’t like it.

 

[Zow]

I’m guessing the 90 minute rule is only posted so that if you’re still dawdling for 30 minutes after dinner they can politely tell you to GTFO

Restaurants here should cut their reservations down at least 25%. In Europe by contrast, they are much more relaxed and it is unheard of to rush people through a meal just to seat the next table. Hell, they don't even give you the bill until you ask for it. But here, it's all about how many butts you can serve and how much money you can make.

This seems like the constant refrain about how wonderful Europe is with people spending 4 hours at dinner.
For the US, I don't know "it's all about how many butts you can serve and how much money you can make." From what I can tell, a restaurant is a tough business with ridiculously narrow profit margins. I'm not sure I fault a restaurant for wanting to turn their tables every 2 hours.

My understanding is the same as yours and I don’t blame restaurants at all for imposing a reasonable time limit and, if you have a table during like an NFL Sunday or a UFC fight or something, imposing a minimum cost per hour or something.

Restaurants are there to serve, but also to make money. That’s just how the world works.

 

[rockaction]

Does anybody really want to sit still for four hours? I get that actual, physical space in Europe is a commodity and that when people go out that cost of space is tacked on to the food price, but a four hour dinner—no matter the company—sounds like a bit of a drag just because of the sitting in one place aspect of it.

I know when I was in Italy I had trouble getting used to the length of the dinners there.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Somewhat on topic - how to send a dish back https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-send-food-back-restaurants

 

[JohnnyU]

Does anybody really want to sit still for four hours? I get that actual, physical space in Europe is a commodity and that when people go out that cost of space is tacked on to the food price, but a four hour dinner—no matter the company,—sounds like a bit of a drag just because of the sitting in one place aspect of it.

I know when I was in Italy I had trouble getting used to the length of the dinners there.

Probably not 4 hours, but there are times when friends get together that 3 hours isn’t unreasonable.

 

[rockaction]

Probably not 4 hours, but there are times when friends get together that 3 hours isn’t unreasonable.

Yeah, if it's an intimate get-together of long-time friends or a big gathering of friends, I can see that.

 

[simey]

The thing about time limits is only if you can justify it.

You justify it by being busy. I have had time limits enforced on me at a fancy place on a Saturday night, and at a diner after Sunday church, and at several restaurants in the South.

Cool with all of them.

In the late 80s, a group of about 10 of us were at a restaurant in Greenwich Village on New Year's Eve. After we were done eating, we were still sitting at our table drinking, and our waiter told us they would give us a round of drinks on the house if we moved to the bar. We did, and we understood why they wanted us to transition from the table to the bar.

 

[Joe Bryant]

The thing about time limits is only if you can justify it.

You justify it by being busy. I have had time limits enforced on me at a fancy place on a Saturday night, and at a diner after Sunday church, and at several restaurants in the South.

Cool with all of them.

In the late 80s, a group of about 10 of us were at a restaurant in Greenwich Village on New Year's Eve. After we were done eating, we were still sitting at our table drinking, and our waiter told us they would give us a round of drinks on the house if we moved to the bar. We did, and we understood why they wanted us to transition from the table to the bar.

This illustrates a good point. If more people were empathetic like @simey here, things would work better.

 

[Scoresman]

Does anybody really want to sit still for four hours? I get that actual, physical space in Europe is a commodity and that when people go out that cost of space is tacked on to the food price, but a four hour dinner—no matter the company—sounds like a bit of a drag just because of the sitting in one place aspect of it.

I know when I was in Italy I had trouble getting used to the length of the dinners there.

Four hours is an extreme. The point is you can go through a meal at your own pace without having to check a clock or feel hurried at all.

Europe is somehow able to make this happen, while restaurants here would clearly struggle to survive without getting people in and out as quickly as possible.

I don’t know how they do it because I definitely remember that dining out in Europe is cheaper than it is here for the most part.

 

[culdeus]

Does anybody really want to sit still for four hours? I get that actual, physical space in Europe is a commodity and that when people go out that cost of space is tacked on to the food price, but a four hour dinner—no matter the company—sounds like a bit of a drag just because of the sitting in one place aspect of it.

I know when I was in Italy I had trouble getting used to the length of the dinners there.

Four hours is an extreme. The point is you can go through a meal at your own pace without having to check a clock or feel hurried at all.

Europe is somehow able to make this happen, while restaurants here would clearly struggle to survive without getting people in and out as quickly as possible.

I don’t know how they do it because I definitely remember that dining out in Europe is cheaper than it is here for the most part.

Dining is cheaper and they don't ask for a tip and don't rush you off. Often you have to beg for a check. Nowadays in the US they drop it off. "just so you are ready"

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Does anybody really want to sit still for four hours? I get that actual, physical space in Europe is a commodity and that when people go out that cost of space is tacked on to the food price, but a four hour dinner—no matter the company—sounds like a bit of a drag just because of the sitting in one place aspect of it.

I know when I was in Italy I had trouble getting used to the length of the dinners there.

Four hours is an extreme. The point is you can go through a meal at your own pace without having to check a clock or feel hurried at all.

Europe is somehow able to make this happen, while restaurants here would clearly struggle to survive without getting people in and out as quickly as possible.

I don’t know how they do it because I definitely remember that dining out in Europe is cheaper than it is here for the most part.

For one thing those restaurants don’t expect people to leave and talk about the portion size and how stuffed they were.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Dining is cheaper and they don't ask for a tip and don't rush you off. Often you have to beg for a check. Nowadays in the US they drop it off. "just so you are ready"

Got it. European restaurants are able to offer lower prices, better food with no concern for how many customers they're able to serve. It's a miracle!