Shutterstock: CREATISTA
Eating out should be a pleasant experience, but certain behaviors can make it anything but. While most people follow unwritten rules when dining out, others act in ways that make fellow diners want to hide their heads in their napkins.
From being disrespectful to the staff to disturbing other diners, these behaviors can quickly turn a pleasant meal into a frustrating ordeal. YouGov surveyed 1,000 Americans about restaurant etiquette to determine the most unacceptable actions patrons do while dining.
These are the most cringy of all:
6. Outside Food Is a No-No
Shutterstock: mrLebong
71% of people agree that bringing outside food or drink into a restaurant is unacceptable, while 14% think this action is fine. The rest are unsure about this action and likely fall into a group thinking about younger children or dietary restrictions for some guests that the restaurant cannot accommodate.
5. Snapping Fingers to Get the Waiters Attention
Shutterstock: Nicoleta Ionescu
Surprisingly only 81% of those surveyed agree snapping fingers is not a good look in a restaurant. 11% think this action is okay. Entitled sounds like a better description for this group but I shrug when I see this happen out in the wild.
4. Staying Passed Closing Time
"neon waiter" by Joelk75 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Closing time, you don’t have to go home but should leave here. 83% of respondents agree staying past closing time is unacceptable. Finishing cocktails and chatting into the night sounds like a fun time but the restaurant staff is still hours away from going home and each minute you stay after closing meaning the workers have to sit around until they can finally end their shifts.
3. Hassle Menu Prices With the Staff
"Vora Cafe Menu" by avlxyz is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
I have never witnessed this behavior personally, but 84% of people said debating menu prices with the staff is crossing the line. The staff does not set menu prices and this decision is almost always out of their hands, so save the hassle and consider menu prices before visiting the dining establishment.
2. Allow Children to Run Amuck
Shutterstock: EvgeniiAnd
Restaurants are already loud establishments but the noise level and comfort of guests are diminished with kids roaming freely through the dining room, according to 90% of those surveyed.
Even leaving a mess on the table, included spilled drinks and food crumbs is seen as more favorable (22% acceptable) than kids on the loose.
1. Refusing to Pay For A Dish They Didn't Like but Ate It
Shutterstock: Fancy Studio
The Most unacceptable behavior on the list was folks eating their food and then refusing to pay because they didn’t like the item.
84% of people think it is perfectly acceptable to return food you don’t like, but eating the whole item is over the line.
Other Notable Unacceptable Behaviors
Restaurant traditionnel Victor Montes (Plaza Nueva à Bilbao) by dalbera is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Other noteworthy behaviors and what Americans think of them:
- Take photos of your food: 75% Acceptable
- Split the bill between a large group: 71% Acceptable
- Zero tip after bad service: 51% Acceptable
- Flirt with the staff: 23% Acceptable
- Show up later than 15 minutes from reservation time: 17% acceptable
Comment below for other unacceptable behaviors you have witnessed while dining!
