I'd Like to Know Customer's Opinions in a Restaurant

[Springs1]

1. If you are an iced tea drinker, do you rather get a new glass instead of them pouring at your table?

For me, I rather it due to:

1. Ice gets melted
2. Less Interruption.
3. If I want lemon, a new slice of lemon with each glass.
4. Sweetened it "just right", now I got to fix it without knowing exactly how much sweeter to put in.

2. If let's say you are with your significant other or even a friend, meaning a party of 2. You and your friend order an appetizer as well as a side salad or soup.

Would you rather have your side salad or soup BEFORE your appetizer comes or afterwards?

I personally rather BEFORE and this is why:

1. I'M HUNGRY
2. Most likely if the appetizer is something that needs a decent amount of time to cook like for example, the bloomin onion at Outback, I would probably be finished my side salad before it was even ready.
3. I just plain don't like waiting for things, period and if so happens that the appetizer came while I was still eating my side salad, I can just put it to the side, because the lettuce isn't going to get wilted in that little bit of time while I share the appetizer.

3. Has anybody ever ordered an appetizer and an entree for themselves, while the other person at the table got a side salad or soup?

My husband and I have.

If you ever did or would do this would you:

1. Want your side salad BEFORE the appetizer came?

2. Want you side salad WITH the appetizer since you won't be eating any of it and would like to eat together?

3. Want your side salad first, because you are VERY HUNGRY?

I am asking this stuff, because at different restaurants, we have been served at different times without requesting to such as at Outback, they automatically serve the side salad or soup AFTER the appetizer. At Macaroni Grill they served my side salad BEFORE the appetizer and I even finished eating it well before the appetizer came. I am not a fast eater either.

As a server, would you automatically assume everyone SHARES appetizers?

Once, we had a waiter assume I wanted my appetizer with my meal(which was a huge full rack of ribs meal even and I was(still am) under 100lbs even. We just didn't want the same things, so we figured we'd bring back the leftovers.

My husband(was my fiancee at the time) ordered his appetizer, then his entree, then I ordered my appetizer, then my entree.


We found out when only his arrived, but not mine and we eventually after waiting a while asked where mine was(considering it was only chili cheese fries, it wasn't something that would take that long to make) and he said I quote "I thought you wanted it with your meal" and I was like "I NEVER SAID THAT!"

I was in the state of shock, because the MENU states it's an appetizer, so I didn't think I'd have to tell my server "I want my appetizer as my appetizer unlike when I have ordered an appetizer as my meal, because the menu states it's an appetizer, so if I wanted it as my meal, I have always ordered in that manner by saying I wanted it as my entree or my meal.

I also at the time, RARELY at out since my mom had cooked a lot(I was 23 yrs old) and at the time still living with my parents, so I never would have thought to tell the server "WE ARE ORDERING TWO appetizers", which I don't feel you should have to say since it's labeled on the menu it is an appetizer already. Although, ever since then, the rare times we have done this, I made 100% sure they knew we were ordered TWO appetizers to be out at an appetizer time. I just think it's crazy servers make assumptions that people always share appetizers. We do most of the time, but once in a while, we don't.

Anyway, I am just looking for opinions. I would like to know how many people agree with me or think totally different than I do.

Thanks for the feedback ahead of time!

[terrortoys]

I agree completely, I often order appitizers as my meal. Also I like a new tea as well for a new lemon and so it isn't watered down as you stated.

[loaslaen]

I'd rather have my tea refilled because it seems a waste to get a new glass that needs washing. I even try to use the same glass at home all day and rinse between beverages.

I'd rather have all my food served at one time because I like to choose what I want to eat and in what order. It also takes your brain about 20 minutes to realize your stomach is full and I don't want to feel full off of appetizers. I don't particularly like "course" meals anyway. Just give me a buffet and let me choose what I want to eat.

[Springs1]

I agree completely, I often order appitizers as my meal. Also I like a new tea as well for a new lemon and so it isn't watered down as you stated.

Thanks for your opinion, I appreciate it.

[ladywaterwind]

I wouldn't really care about the tea. I'm in TN and they do sweet tea right. I don't know where you poor darlins are drinking tea where you have to add your own sweetener :P Bless your hearts.

Though, I would care a little if I wanted lemon with it. I would like a new lemon with the refill, and if that's the case I'd just ask the server to bring some lemon.

We usually go to Texas Roadhouse when we go out for big meals and they always bring whatever pops up first, which is fine with us. Usually hubs and I order a salad with our steak and they bring that out followed by an appetizer if we get that, and then our food. That seems to be fine with us.


The only thing I really don't like, and they usually don't do this at TR, is when they bring everyones meals to the table right when they're ready. Considering we have a 4 year old, and these other places do like the hot plates or etc, her stuff is always insanely hot. If we order french fries or chicken strips for her, forget it. I can't even break the food apart to help it cool down without burning my fingers. What hungry 4 year old is going to be ok with seeing her food there and not getting to eat it?

Besides TR the only other place they ever put a hold on the food was in a small bbq/steak place my dad took us to when we visited him in AL. The woman server, and she was middle aged and we usually get younger servers so maybe that was a difference, asked us if we wanted to wait a bit to let things cool down.

[Smee]

1. If you are an iced tea drinker, do you rather get a new glass instead of them pouring at your table?

For me, I rather it due to:

1. Ice gets melted
2. Less Interruption.
3. If I want lemon, a new slice of lemon with each glass.
4. Sweetened it "just right", now I got to fix it without knowing exactly how much sweeter to put in.

As long as fresh ice is present, I don't care if it comes in a new glass or is poured from a pitcher unless the server rests the pitcher on the rim of the glass while pouring (shudder). I'm not much of a germaphobe, but that gives me the hibbity jibbities. I'll politely request a new glass then. I drink a lot of tea with my meals, though, so it doesn't usually have a chance to get watered down. I'm flexible with how sweet it is since one person's sweetened "just right" is another person's syruppy is another person's not sweet enough. I like mine only very lightly sweetened, so if I have to adjust anything at all after the first taste, I just have them bring me a glass of unsweetened to mix with it. They'll usually offer to refill with half sweet/unsweetened after that. I'm ok with it since I realize that most people around here prefer their tea much sweeter.

2. If let's say you are with your significant other or even a friend, meaning a party of 2. You and your friend order an appetizer as well as a side salad or soup.

Would you rather have your side salad or soup BEFORE your appetizer comes or afterwards?

I think appetizers usually come first when I eat out, but I don't really care what order they come out. Sometimes they'll come at the same time which is awkward if there isn't much room, but if it fits, we'll make it work. I can just decide which one to eat first. It's not something that's a big deal to me.

3. Has anybody ever ordered an appetizer and an entree for themselves, while the other person at the table got a side salad or soup?

My husband and I have.

If you ever did or would do this would you:

1. Want your side salad BEFORE the appetizer came?

2. Want you side salad WITH the appetizer since you won't be eating any of it and would like to eat together?

3. Want your side salad AFTER the appetizer due to you want to make sure one course doesn't run into the other.

I am asking this stuff, because at different restaurants, we have been served at different times without requesting to such as at Outback, they automatically serve the side salad or soup AFTER the appetizer. At Macaroni Grill they served my side salad BEFORE the appetizer and I even finished eating it well before the appetizer came. I am not a fast eater either.

We order different things all the time and each get what we want. We don't really pay attention to the order in which it comes or who got what first. We're probably going to be picking off each others' plates anyway. It's not something that matters to me as long as there isn't a huge, long wait between courses.

As far as the appetizer stuff goes, I don't generally get too het up about miscommunications. Maybe my standards are just low, but as long as the server isn't obnoxious, the food is good, the order is correct (not intended to mean in any correct order), and there is no excessive waiting for service, I'm good. I can even be flexible on some of those issues depending on several things like how busy the place is or if the server may be new or if there's just a simple miscommunication. I honestly have never even noticed most of the things mentioned.

[jen276here]

1. Tea- Yes I love tea, but I don’t mind them reusing the glass. I usually ask for no ice as it is because I like most drinks at room temperature. Now if they tried to reuse the same bottle for my beer…...

2. I’m not a big soup person, but love my salads. I like my salad before everything, but if it came after the appetizer it wouldn’t bother me - I’ll still eat them both.

3. I prefer our foods come together just simply so he isn’t drooling over my salad or me over his appetizer… after a few years of marriage you’d think we’d share with each other, but hey - they honeymoon is over - time to fend for yourselves!

I am very laid back when dining out - the only things that really bother me are bad service and dirty dishes. Other than that, I can be flexible.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I guess I prefer a new glass for my tea however I am laid back enough to not make a big deal out of it if they just refill my glass. I don't like lemon in my tea. And can just as easily adjust my sweetener (miss that sweet tea in the south!)

On occasion when everyone is drinking tea I politely ask the waiter/waitress if the would bring us a pitcher and leave it at the table. They have never had an issue with that request.

I always ask that the kids drinks be brought with their meals. And again, never had an issue with that request.

I am usually too frugal to order appetizers but on the rare occasion I do I like it to come before the meal and the soup or salad is part of the meal.

[Smee]

I love it when I can get a server to leave a pitcher at the table. More often than not, they tell me that management won't allow it. I don't get that, but it's not that big a deal.

[dionada]

I am very laid back when dining out - the only things that really bother me are bad service and dirty dishes. Other than that, I can be flexible.

Same here. I always get a kick out of tipping/serving threads because some people are so particular about how they are served.

I guess it's one thing if you're in a fine-dining establishment and dropping $100 a person. But when it's a generic crappy chain restaurant, or even your local favorite hole-in-the-wall, is it really worth getting all worked up because your queso didn't arrive long enough before your entree so that you could snorf it down before the burrito stops steaming?

I couldn't wait tables just because of the people who are incredibly picky and somehow expect the guy making 2 bucks an hour to employ Jedi mind tricks to know exactly how they want things. Honestly, I think most of them just get off on the idea of having someone cater to their every whim.