Bloedirritant: doe dit nooit meer als je uit eten gaat

Say wine, snacks or haute cuisine and the food lovers of online food magazine FavorFlav know where to drink, how to eat and what to cook. This time our chefs serve you: 10 annoying things you do when you go out to eat.

Dear restaurant guests, you often mean well, but oh so often it is just awkward, rude, and actually just annoying when you try to help restaurant staff. We asked people in the hospitality industry – they know you mean well, they are not angry – what you really need to stop doing when you go out to eat again or enjoy a terrace.

Help yourself
The bucket of ice cubes may be on the bar and I may be busy, but that doesn't mean that if you're drinking a Bloody Mary at the bar and want an extra ice cube, you should reach into that bucket with your clumsy fingers. Thank you in advance.

Stacking
Stacking plates. At home, the way to clear the table. But 1: you are not at home and 2: you don't have to clear up, I do that, it's part of my job description. This is my work. It's very sweet that you want to help, but stacking plates is not necessary. What’s even worse: people who stack plates and then put them on the empty table next to their own table. Not okay.

Impatient
When a guest comes in and sits down without making eye contact: yes, that is already quite rude, but okay; I have seen you. I pour a glass of water and walk with the menu under my arm to the table. Meanwhile, the person in question without eye contact has managed to spot the place with the menus. He gets up, walks over, and grabs a menu himself. How impatient can you be? Dude, I'm on my way!

How much tip?
People who ask how much tip they should give. “How much should I make it?” Jesus, think about that yourself. I can't see into your wallet and if I answer honestly and say I earn ten bucks, that’s probably rude again.

Paying separately
It's well-intentioned, but really, don't do it: paying separately. A group that has eaten and drunk beer all evening and then each comes to pay their own part. Awkward. Why? You're drunk, you don't remember how much beer you've had. Secondly: the last one is always the jerk because there are all kinds of things on the bill that they didn't have. Thirdly: we are the jerks, because it’s all nicely calculated, but you didn’t think about the tip. Fourthly: it takes a long time! And I could go on like this. Just don’t do it. Especially not because we live in the Tikkie era; just send a Tikkie afterwards (or beforehand) and choose one person to pay for everything. With tip please, because the bill is three hundred euros and you had a nice evening. Thank you.

Ordering for the group
Again, the idea is not bad. “There are eight of us, so I’ve already taken the order for everyone.” Then you still have to go back to the group because you don’t know how everyone wants their steak cooked, whether they want jalapeño on their burger, and whether or not they want fries with their mussels. Double work! Well-intentioned, but very awkward.

Bob the (terrace) builder
Renovating the terrace and then saying: “This way you can get by easier.” No, that terrace is there for a reason. But thanks.

It’s all about the balance
Admittedly: I might be standing a bit awkwardly with a full tray in my hand, but there’s a reason for that: I have a full tray in my hand. Full yet completely balanced. What happens when you take your wine off it? Exactly: the balance is lost and the five other red wines spill over me or you.

“Go ahead and sit down, I’ll bring it to you soon.”
People who wait for their coffee at the bar. A beer, okay, that’s fine. I can pour that in seconds, so that can be done in between. But the lady waiting for her cappuccino doesn’t know that I still have to make twenty lattes first. “Go ahead and sit down, ma’am, I’ll bring it to you soon.” “Oh no, it’s fine, I’ll wait a bit.” “GO SIT DOWN!”

The hangover talker
The following scenario always happens when you have to open with a hangover. Always. You’ve managed to open the doors at 10:00 AM with difficulty and nausea, the place is empty: chill, hopefully, it stays like this for a while. But no, an American tourist comes in for a cup of coffee and chooses your hangover safe haven, right: the bar. Just to have a little small talk. Thanks, but no thanks.

Text: Favorflav