An American survey conducted amongst 1000 diners has revealed that dirty cutlery and table tops (76%) is the most off-putting aspect of eating out in a restaurant.
Complaints relating to food are too much nutritional information provided (16%) or too little (14%), water not being brought to the table spontaneously (27%), the food not look or taste as described in the menu (54%), the food or beverages served at the wrong temperature (66%), and not being served what one ordered (62%).
Gripes abound about waiters: the wrong dish being given to the wrong person at the table (17%), service being slow (51%), feeling rushed to eat (61%), errors on the bill (48%), a tip of 18%+ added automatically (50%), called ‘dear’ or ‘honey‘ (24%), sloppy dress and poor hygiene (67%), impolite or condescending waiters (72%), and removing the plate or glass before one has finished eating or drinking (59%).
The restaurant design and facilities can also annoy diners: tables too close together (39%), being too close to the door or kitchen (38%), and poor cloakrooms (73%).
Two further annoying aspects about restaurants is other customers sending text messages or talking on their phones (38%), and tables not being available within 15 minutes of the reservation time (50%).
While the survey was conducted in America, it is likely that similar results would be generated were the survey to have been conducted in South Africa. Begging for a tip, when paying by credit card, or not returning change when paying cash, are inexcusable, nor is chewing gum whilst serving customers, as I have experienced on a number of occasions in a very popular Bree Street eatery. Further pet peeves are the strange interpretation of the request for the bill to mean that the table should first be cleared as happened in Hermanus last weekend, even though there was no one else in the restaurant, or the odd question at the same restaurant as to whether I wanted the food as a take-away!
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
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